After the end

one

before outbreak day

September 25th 2003

Lexi and Rosa Rodriguez were the two people Sarah Miller went to when she needed someone to talk to when her dad Joel wasn't around. Lexi and Sarah loved each other like a mother and daughter do and Sarah loved to refer to Lexi as her mother figure. Rosa was a aunt to Sarah and she loved her too but Lexi and the young Miller had more of a parent daughter relationship. Whenever Joel was working late and Rosa was working at the diner late Lexi and Sarah would go to the Miller house or next door to the Rodriguez house.

Lexi Rodriguez was a waitress at a local bar and Rosa was working for a electric store across the road. They moved next door to the Millers a few years ago and had small jobs so either of them could take care of Sarah when they needed to. Joel and Lexi would always have a long conversation outside either of their front yards in the morning and the evenings, you could say they were close because they were. Lexi would tell Joel everything that happened to her at the bar and he would just listen and admire her face.

"Lex, how was work?" Rosa asked as she placed her keys in the bowl on the side table next to the door and hung her coat up. "It was alright, just some drunk idiots tryna ask me out again." Lexi said in a tired tone. Rosa joined Lexi on the sofa and put her feet up next to her annoyed sister. There was a few minutes of silence when the younger Rodriguez spoke. "Well I think you should get some sleep you work too much," Rosa said dragging her older sister up and taking her upstairs.

The sun shone through the window of Lexi's room. The girl got up and got her clothes out for today she had a day off so when she goes out for her morning chat with Joel Miller her neighbor she'll ask him if he needs someone to look after Sarah while he works late. Lexi got ready and left the house to see Joel there waiting for her. "Hey sunshine you alright?" Joel asked his strong accent seeping through his sentence. "Yeah fine thanks, just long night last night." Lexi said taking a deep breath in and out. They held eye contact for a moment when Lexi remembered what she was going to ask him. "Hey, do you need someone to take care of Sarah tonight or are you not working late tonight?" Lexi asked the man as he replied "Yeah I do actually I was about to ask you do you mind?" He asked with a soft, hopeful look in his eyes. "Oh don't worry I'll be fine I'm always happy to look after her she's a good kid." Lexi replied smiling which caused the man facing her to smile back at her. "Joel c'mon we need to get going or we'll be yelled at stop making out with your neighbor," the pair heard Tommy Miller yell to his brother. Joel started to go red as Lexi held her laugh in with a grin. "Alright Tommy I'll be there in a second, sorry about him anyway I'll see you later sunshine keep my daughter safe," he yells the end part of his sentence as he runs to Tommy's car. "Don't worry cowboy she's in good hands," She yelled back at him smiling. With a wave goodbye from Lexi the two men left and Rosa walked out the house in her uniform and heads over to her older sister. "So, how's flirting with Mr cowboy Joel miller doing sis?" She asked causing her sister to start blushing and smiling to herself.

It's true Lexi and Joel are in love but can't admit to each other which is really weird because they think the other person doesn't like them but everyone else sees it. Why can't they. "Rosa shut up I don't like him, anyways don't you have somewhere to be?" Lexi questioned the younger sister and panic rose on her face. "SHIT, yeah Richie is gonna kill me if I'm late!" Rosa yelled. "Well if you are late you could just fuck him and he might let you off," Lexi said and Rosa stared at her "THAT WAS ONE TIME!" She yelled defensively as she got in her car and drove away flipping her sister off. Lexi laughed to herself 'how did I end up with a sister like her' Lexi thought to herself as she walked back into the Rodriguez house.