Zombie attack (a billdip au)

Chapter 27: They're Fourteen?

Bill's POV

"Hey Susan can I have a plate of those dried fruit? And some glasses of water?"

"Oh Bill! Yes dear of course." She grabbed a plate and put different dried fruits on it. She grabbed two glasses and filled them then handed it to me. "I heard what happened, are you alright?" I smiled widely.

"Yep! Pine Tree took good care of me."

"You keep that boy close," I looked at her confuse. "You'll know what I mean eventually."

"Alright Susan, I'll see you at dinner. Thank you for the fruit." I turned on my heel.
"You're welcome Bill." she said and then I left the kitchen. I made my way to the trap door and unlocked it. I went down the steps and red-stripes (Pine Tree referred to them that way so might as well) was still curled up on the mattress but now was under the blanket.

"Hey kid I'm back. I got you food and some water." they glanced over their shoulder.

"Thanks." They mumbled. I took a breath and sat at the bottom of the mattress.

"Come on, sit up kid." I told them. "You shouldn't eat while laying down." Red-stripes slowly sat up. "Here." They took the plate and a glass from me and looked at it skeptically.

"There isn't any poison in this is there?" I chuckled.

"Don't worry kid, I wouldn't poison it." They slowly started eating taking small sips of water

"Why do you call me kid?" they asked after a minute.

"Well do you want to tell me your name?" They shook their head. "Well since you don't want to tell me your name and I don't think you want me to call you 'red-stripes like Pine Tree does so you're stuck with kid."

"Who's Pine Tree? Is it that other boy that was talking to me when I," They paused. "You know." they tapped their neck. My fist clenched and I resisted the urge to touch my neck. I took a breath and nodded my head.

"Yep, that's Pine Tree. Everyone else calls him Dipper though." they thought for a moment and took a bite out of a piece of fruit. They set the glass down and looked at me.

"Is he your boyfriend?" My eyes went wide and I felt my face heat up.

"No! Oh my god no he is not my boyfriend!" I said quickly. Red-stripes looked like they didn't believe me. "He's not!" they laughed.

"I didn't say anything." They paused. "Bill right?" I nodded my head. "Short for William I'm assuming?"

"Nope, but that was my brother's name."

"Was?" I looked down.

"Zombies." I said blankly.

"I'm sorry." I put my hand on their shoulder but they quickly shrugged it off. "Please don't touch me." They didn't say it mean or rude, more like a request.

"Oh I'm sorry, not good with touch?" they nodded.

"Yeah." They quietly said. I shrugged.

"That's valid. And don't be sorry about Will, you couldn't have done anything about it." They rubbed their wrists, lines from the rope still covered their arms. "I'm sorry about how my friends man-handled you like that. Especially since you don't like touch."

"I understand why, I did try to kill you." Their fists tightened. "Sorry about that by the way." they quickly added looking away. I touched my neck lightly.

Why did they try to do it? And why did they seem hesitant? They were a kid, couldn't have been older than fifteen. The red lines on their arms looked permanent although the lines on their face couldn't have been more than paint since they were smudged. Outside they had seemed crazy, but now, this kid in front of me, looked tired, scared.