Once dusk had finally set over the fields and darkness cast it's shadow upon the world, the moon came out fully and the illuminated stars shone brightly without the city lights to block them out. Sitting for a moment more, Ash admired the silence and beauty of nature.
Turning to Jack, she saw his eyes had closed and he was humming some tune she thought she recognized. As soon as she pulled her hand away and stood up, his eyes opened slowly and he stared at her,
"Going so soon?" he asked with a soft smile. She nodded,
"I need to get back. It won't be easy to get through a night outside of my house and something weird happens at night with the Walkers..." she explained as she stared at the moon reflecting off the creek.
"Mhm." he muttered in response, the smile fading from his face. Then they sat in silence. She could tell what he wanted, but she wasn't sure she could trust him... even though something seemed so familiar about him like she had met him before. She shook off the feeling and sighed,
"Do you want to come back to my house? It's closer, just up the trail. I have three empty bedrooms." she said impassively. His smile slowly returned,
"Sure, that'd be great. Thank you so much." He smiled, hopping up. As the groans of the dead got louder, Ash slapped her hand over his mouth. Like a child would, he licked it and she flinched back with a disgusted face.
"You're so immature." she whispered. His grin only widened as he followed her back.
• • •
Slipping into the house, the door creaked slightly as the two walked in. Locking the door behind her, she took off her gear and set it on the table next to the food she had left from earlier. Pulling a stool out, she sat down and plopped her head down on the wood, exhausted. Her stomach rumbled as she grabbed one of the chip bags and began tearing into it. Jack set down his stuff neatly on the counter and smiled, sitting across from her.
After scarfing down a few handfuls, she stared at him, amusement twinkling in his eyes,
"What?" she said through a mouthful, swallowing after. He chuckled,
"I suppose manners didn't make it through the apocalypse either." He smiled. She rolled her eyes then set down the bag, her hunger satisfied for the time being, then she stared at him. As their eyes met, strangely enough, he quickly glanced away.
"Nice house. You've been here since it started?" he asked. She nodded,
"Yea. All I've got to remember my family. Where have you been living?" she responded.
"Up aways, I wanted to stay with you cause I knew it was too far and I was bound to run into trouble." he murmured.
The moonlight being the only light they had, lit patterned lines on the kitchen as it fell through the blinds. She began to admire his face.. The way his structured jawline was visible and the light stubble covering the bottom of his face. The way his blonde hair fell back like some model and his eyes shone blue. She knew she had the same blue eyes, but they had dulled and would sometimes turn greenish grey. He turned his head back to face her, a relaxed expression on his face. She blushed slightly,
"So you said there'd be help at the Iron Bridge. I don't see much help except you." she mentioned. He shrugged,
"It was the only way to get you to go there and I didn't want to lose the chance of meeting another human, especially someone as beautiful as you." He smiled. She rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but blush a little more,
"Look, I only trust you because you haven't killed me yet. Last thing I need is you trying to hook up with me." She frowned, standing up and pushing the stool in.
"Guest room is upstairs to the right. Night." She finished, turning around to walk upstairs,
"Wait," Jack said as he grabbed her arm. She turned back to face him,
"Sorry. I didn't mean to come off creepy like that. I was just saying." he said as he rubbed the back of his neck, looking down in shame. She pulled her arm away gently,
"It's okay. I'm just tired and I don't know if I can fully trust you yet. I still can't believe I let you into my house." She sighed,
"I'm going to bed. Catch you in the morning." She said as she attempted to make eye contact.
He lifted his head and stared into her eyes, his bright blue eyes making her feel strange. He looked so tired, almost like a puppy as he stared at her and nodded,
"Goodnight." He said as he moved closer and leaned down, kissing her on the cheek. She blushed madly and stared at him as he turned away and walked up the stairs.
Following him upstairs, then turning to her own room, she stopped,
"What the actual fuck." She muttered to herself.
