Survive - Zalfie (BOOK 1)

12. Kind of sad really

Chapter 12 - Kind of sad, really

It was strange to continue our journey without Poppy. Megan always walked up front but next to her Poppy was supposed to walk. Megan had told me that she found it weird that she was now 'alone'.

Today was a very rainy day. We were still in the forest where the ground was really muddy. I shivered as some more raindrops fell from the leaves onto my head.

"We should find some kind of shelter," Thomas suddenly said from behind me. "It doesn't look like the rain will stop any time soon."

I did a little happy dance inside. Since about an hour I felt really ill. But of course I didn't tell anyone that I would rather stop for a minute. I didn't want to hold them up.

After a while we found some wooden cabin, randomly placed in the woods. Without even asking Megan headed that way which I was very pleased about. I entered the little shed and released a happy sigh. It was nice and warm in here. But most importantly: dry.

I sat myself down on the ground, leaning against the wall. Jim and Megan were going to have a look outside the cabin. Thomas went over to me and sat down next to me. Our shoulders were slightly touching which gave me a nice, warm feeling.

"How's your wrist?" he asked me. I just shrugged because I didn't want to admit that it was hurting as hell. "Let me have a look." He gently took my wrist and removed the splint. I whimpered as he touched it.

"Zoe," he looked at me concerned. "Why haven't you told me that it hurts a lot?"

"How do you know?" I asked.

He gave me a meaningful look. Oh right, doctor.

"Didn't you forget a lot of things? I mean, you teach now so you're not really a 'doctor doctor'." I realised how bad my explanation was. Oh well, he'd understand.

"Of course I forgot a lot of things. But I still know the basics."

"How's it like, teaching at university?" I asked him curiously.

"It's... was, amazing," he sighed sadly. "I've learned so much the last few years. I've done so much research. It's brilliant."

"Have you ever dated a student?" I blurted out randomly trying to make it seem like a joke. I slapped myself mentally. Questioning his love life already isn't the way to go, Zo.

"That's not really your business, is it?" he replied, turning scarlet.

"Oh my goodness," I exclaimed. "You have!"

He smiled shyly and turned his head away. "I've had a few-"

"Few?!?"

"Don't judge me, okay. Students nowadays are really persuasive."

I couldn't believe what I heard. A few days ago I felt bad for him that he didn't have a family or friends but he had shagged lots of girls. He had probably convinced them, I then thought. He is a man who always gets what he wants.

"Don't give me that look," he looked me in the eyes. It was now that I realised how close his face was to mine. Damn it, Zoe. Why do you keep thinking about him that way? He takes advantage of young girls all the time. He's probably playing the same trick on you. I told myself this to make me feel better.

"So you like younger girls?" I asked trying to joke it away.

"Hmm..." he nodded. "You're young, aren't you?"

Could he just stop flirting for once?

"Did you ever even have a serious relationship?" I ignored his last question.

"I actually did... She was a student of mine as well. We got really attached to each other," he said. His face zoning out, thinking of her. After a moment of silence he found my eyes again. "She's the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Why don't you look for her?"

"We broke up a few months ago. She said she wanted someone of her own age and not a grandpa."

"That's so rude!" I yelled. My sympathy for him was slightly coming back.

"I've never dated a student after her," he said avoiding my eyes this time. This whole love story was kind of sad, really. I put my hand on his shoulder to show some support. He then took my hand of his shoulder and started to caress it. What's he doing?

"Sorry for interrupting," I jumped when I heard Jim's voice coming from the door. I quickly pulled my hand back. Thomas uncomfortably coughed and said: "Let's but your splint back on, shall we?"

Nice way to try to cover the fact that you were flirting with me, I thought.

"Isn't Megan back yet?" he questioned. I shook my head. Jim looked concerned but didn't go back to look for her. In the mean while Thomas was putting my splint back on.

"I thought you would go around the cabin together?" I asked Jim suspiciously. I could already guess what had happened.

"We would," he nodded. I couldn't read his facial expression. "But you know Megan. She wanted to split up so it would go faster. So we did but she should've been back by now."

Thomas finished reattaching my splint and stood up. He started walking circles in the shed.

"Something might've happened," he spoke more to himself than to any of us. Jim gave me a funny look because he obviously found this a little strange behaviour. "We should go look for her," he concluded and finally stopped walking around like that.

Just after he had said that Megan came back. She was soaking wet and looked exhausted. Has she been running? I could also spot some blood stains on her shirt that weren't there before. Oh goodness.