Brandy Creek (Book Two Completed)

Part 18

After we made a gross zombie stew on the pavement we all combed through the parking lot and killed any stragglers we could find. The area being clearer, we decided to start up one of the trucks and start at the Home Goods next to Micheal's, which indeed had been an appliance and furniture store. We added all of the mattresses, they didn't have many but we also took all of the big freezers. Hopefully we would be able to figure out power, but they would be good storage either way. A few other things make it onto the back of the truck and we move over to the next mattress store where we fill the truck completely.

We have to get a second one to fill, both with the mattresses and big things from Meijer. It was a relatively quick job, apparently when the world is ending around you, you don't go shopping for new furniture.

By time its almost dinner time we each had something to drive, two semi trucks packed to capacity, the two electric cars, and three work vans we had found around the parking lot and stores. We hadn't even scratched the surface on the stores, we had a lot of work ahead.

Grills and boxes of frozen foods are being hauled out now, I help by dragging some bags of charcoal out of one of the vans. Hands grab it from mine for the bag can hit the ground. I look up to see a sculpted torso and chest, covered in black tattoos. Looking up from the chest I meet Norths gaze and he gives me a nod. "Good haul."

The way he said it, the undertone of something sexual.. I swear to god, if he had said good girl instead I think I might melt. And for fucks sake I normally wouldn't have a reaction like that. I did bad things in my life, I worked for bad people, I was a hard ass. But in that moment my mind thought of what his deep voice would sound like saying 'good girl' and I almost turned into a mess.

He gave me a little smirk, lifted the bag of charcoal over his shoulder and.. did he caress the bottom of the bag? And give it a little smack?

With my mouth open stupidly, he throws me a wink and walks away from the back of the van. Flirty message clearly received.

Seb

The smell of grilling food is welcome over the smells of other things that have been going on lately. There's much less people here then back at Brandy, but still enough to feel like a neighborhood party. There are only four children - not counting Hunter - that are running around laughing and screaming. We did have a few teenagers that seem happy enough to play with them, while keeping an eye on them.

Some were still moving things from the haul around, others were getting the big bar-b-q ready. One thing seemed to be unanimous among everyone, everyone was in good spirits. A good night of sleep somewhere safe, and the promise of something better helps peoples mental health a ton. Walking over to where the new grills are set up I grab a beer from one of the coolers, popping the top I give a nod to Alberto, Norths grandfather. He's standing near his wife, a smaller Latina women who's coordinating the grill out.

I move over to where Mato sits with his own large bottle of water. He wipes a rag over his forehead as I sit down. It is a hot day today. The heat though, doesn't stop Casey from bounding up to us, a Theo hot on her heels. But her attention is for Mato. "When can we start gun training?"

Mato gives her a frown before taking a large, long drink of his water. He sets it down and faces her fully. "Did you ask Micah?"

"He said as long as him, you, North or Natalie do the training." She says and I give him a nod.

"I over heard that conversation, Micah seemed clear that the teenagers could learn to handle guns. Only under certain people though."

He looks away for a second then nods off to the side, I look to see Natalie. He turns back to her and says. "Ask Natalie, Micah, North and I are building the wall. See if she'll teach some of you."

Casey gives him a bright smiles and a cheery, "Thank you!" Before running off to where Natalie is, Theo of course taking off after her.

"She's going to have a tough time peeling off the kid." I remark and Mato grunts in agreement.

"Knowing Natalie, she'll start training them as soon as possible. Probably after dinner, Theo will be knocked out after eating." He was right about that, plus all the running around they have been doing, he will be exhausted after they eat.

Taking another sip of beer I glance over to Mato. "Did Lex talk to you?"

Matos movement pauses for a second before he nods, he grabs his rag between both hands and asks me. "How do you feel about that?"

"How do I feel? How do you feel about it?"

He gives me a frown. "I asked first, plus he is your brother."

"Truthfully?" I ask and he just stares at me. "I'm jealous I'm not as close with her as he is, but I am not upset about them being together. I like that she likes my brother, because he is a huge part of my life. Also I know he would never do anything to hurt her, I trust him and I trust her."

He lets out a sigh through his nose and twists the rag. "I am a little jealous about them being together, but I think it is more of the fact that I wanted to be the one in the shower with her. I agree with everything you said, I think we all just need to have some time with her. Not for sex, just time to get to know her better and to have quality time."

"We can set that up." I tell him. "Well all have date nights with her."

There's a snort of laughter and I smile. "But really, try not to worry about it. Relationships take time and we've already speed ran through the beginning of it."

"Right. Right." He nods a few times and drops the rag. "Your right, we'll make her go on date nights, think taking her out to set a building on fire will make her happy?"

I let out a laugh at that. After what we were told today, she does seem to like fire. Maybe burning down a building would excite her.

Natalie

"No, spread your legs a little more, feet firmly on the ground." I tap the inside of a foot with mine, Casey adjusts her stance. "Good."

A gun shot rings out next to us and I watch a zombie about twenty feet away spin and hit the ground, before making moaning noises and starts to get back to its feet. "I hit it!"

That is from Emily, one of Casey's friends that joined us. I had all three teens out, we found a short building with a flat roof that we could stand on comfortably. Another shot rings out from my left, beyond Casey and a bullet hits the ground right next to a zombie. So far, Emily is the only one to actually make contact with a zombie. Dylan, the only boy of the group had seemed confidant, at first because his uncle is on team Charlie. Maybe he thought shooting skills were genetic.

Dylan is also the youngest, Casey made sure I knew that. Even though he's only a few months younger then she is. Emily is a year older then them, and really close in age to me, which I found really weird. I had to mentally shake off that weird feeling.

"Its getting dark out so well give it a few more try's." I tell them moving along behind them to keep an eye on their stance. I don't stand like that when I shoot, hell I don't even use both hands on one gun, but they needed to practice the right way before they went all Rambo.

Casey takes two shots, one after the other with her small pink gun I had gifted her. Micah had requested she used it since it is her personal gun, she had to get familiar with it. The other two I had picked out specific guns, two glock 19 gen 5, a basic favorite for most beginners. Its not to big or to small, and is extremely reliable. It's probably one of the most perfect starter handguns to train with.

Dylan takes another shot and groans as the bullet digs its self into the pavement next to a zombies foot. I cluck my tongue. "So close but so far."

"If your so good, be my guest." He waves towards the ledge, I take a step up, pull my gun and fire. I had only aimed for a second, but the zombie drops, half its head missing. Dylan looks down at the scene, perplexed. I give him a shoulder pat.

"You'll be able to hit something some day... with a looot of practice." My jab lands with the girls and sends them into cackles. I smile in satisfaction with my self and Dylan just goes to sit down in a huff.