Firehouse Oasis 118

8. Buck

Buck liked Hen, Bobby, and Chim. Plus they seemed to actually like each other, which was something that Buck probably couldn't say for his own group of kids. They seemed to like him too, which was something he definitely couldn't say for his group.

So when Hen asked him if he liked it here, he froze.

"I can't complain. I'm not in a camp, I've got a roof over my head and plenty of supplies." He responded, even though it felt like a bit of a lie.

It was true though, he really shouldn't be complaining, the only thing he really could complain about was that the other kids were kind of mean sometimes. He didn't really know how to phrase that though, not without sounding like a five year old complaining about some kids who weren't nice to him on the playground, so he didn't.

"What about the other kids, do you like them?" Hen pressed, apparently seeing right through him.

She was a green though, so he guessed he shouldn't be surprised. He just shrugged in response, not really sure what to say.

"Because if you don't," she continued, eyeing him carefully, "you could always come with us."

His head whipped around to stare at her, eyes wide. He felt hope bubbling up in his chest before he quickly stamped it down.

"Really?" He asked quietly, not entirely sure if she really meant it.

"Really." Hen promised him with a nod, "up to you."

He considered her offer as he led them to the aisle with the drinks, offhandedly explaining the water situation but offering them whatever other liquids they wanted.

On the one hand, he had a living environment that was as safe and stable as one could hope for in these times. Though, he was pretty sure that the others did too, given some of the items on their shopping list, the seeds especially. The fact that they weren't particularly worried about there not being enough water for them to take was reassuring too. It meant they had their own source.

They genuinely seemed to get along too, even when they teased each other it was fond. There were no biting remarks like there sometimes was in his own group. A part of Buck, a big part of him, yearned for that type of atmosphere, for those types of companions.

It could always not work out, he could be wrong about them, or they could get caught or killed. But then again all of that could happen if he stayed here too. So he tugged on Hen's sleeve before they headed out of the aisle.

"Wait, I want to come with you." He whispered to her, and she grinned at him.

"Good, is there anything you need to grab?" She whispered back.

He considered it, he didn't have any possessions with him that he cared about, but he could definitely grab a backpack and some supplies. He didn't want to be bringing nothing to the table in a new group.

"Yeah, it'll just take a few minutes." He told her as they walked towards the exit.

"Ok, go quickly, we'll wait for you in the car out front." She instructed him, and he took off with a nod towards her.

He ran back to the school supplies aisle and grabbed the biggest backpack he could find, then he dashed over to his secret stash of supplies. Some of the good snacks and drinks that he didn't tell the others about. He was sure they each had their own stashes anyways. He filled the bag with as much of it as he could and then filled his arms before jogging to the front of the store. He considered letting the others know that he was leaving, but he wasn't sure how they'd take it, so instead he just slipped out the front door.