After the End [ The 100 ]

23. High, friend

day trip

[bex]

"Ah, hello boys," I announce. Throwing each arm over Monty and Jasper, a lame smile sits on my face. The movement was a mistake, but thanks to the painkiller I barely feel the wound on my ribs.

"Beatrice," Monty says with a grin.

Jasper adds a, "Care to join us?" but my legs are already shakily falling to the ground.

A content sigh leaves my lips and slow blinks follow as I trace my fingers through the dirt. With each breath, pain sears through my side, but Jasper's words distract me from it. And the painkiller. Thank fuck for the painkiller.

"What do you guys think they're gonna do with the grounder?"

"Set him free! I love freedom!" I slur, throwing my arms in the air. Monty looks spooked, but Jasper grins, so I giggle hard.

"No, I'd rather not think about that," Monty says.

"Well, how long till his friends come looking? We've already given a few days."

I cut in, sticking out my finger and jabbing it at Jasper. "Well, I think they're fucking cowards," I hiss. "My friends go missing? Those fuckwads who did it don't get 'a few days'."

"Wow, Bex. Whose side are you on? Good thing the grounders don't have you as their leader-"

"No, Monty," I say softly, slowly looking at him. My light head bobbles, but I speak anyway. "I wouldn't fuck with the hundred. I wouldn't fuck with us."

My mind's fuzzy, but I'm never one hundred percent there anyway. Especially not since we went looking for Octavia, and the grounders killed Diggs and Roma and, almost me, almost Finn. But Eiden showed them. And then she came right back here and bandaged me up, wanted to change them before she left too, but it would be a waste of resources. She left with Clarke... and Bellamy.

"Hope so. I'd hate us all to be dead from hypothermia. At least we won't be hungry." Monty pops a tree-nut into his mouth.

My mouth grimaces as I look at the handful. "They're edible," he defends himself.

My eyebrow raises, but I'm hungry and drunk. Or high. "Right here," I stick my hand out. He drops a few into my palm.

His arm lifts to throw one to Jasper who opens his mouth just like Todd that day in the mess hall.

Anger surges though me as I chew on the dark nuts. I turn my head just as they start their handshake and find Todd's long blond hair. He's working with the meats but is too weak to hold them up. So he fumbles with our food in his arms.

My wobbly legs push me up before I know, and my fingers fly to my ribcage while I walk over, struggling to stay upright.

I grab the bottom slabs of meat just as Todd meets my eyes. "What, no magic words?" I joke. I send him a small smile.

Strands of yellow hair fall into his blue eyes just as we hang up the meat the others hunted for us. Eiden along with them. I push his hair back, but he takes over, throwing it on top of his head.

"Bex, I-" he starts.

Monty's hooch streaming through my blood helps dissipate my anger. I shush Todd before gingerly placing a few nuts between his lips, concentrating on his mouth.

His eyebrows sink as he watches me before he's leaning down. I reject his kiss by telling him, "Eat."

There's trust in his eyes as I slowly back away, pulling him along by his wrist.

[...]

We're all in my tent, but I'm the one laying on Todd's lap, giggling. Monty doesn't need to know I still have his bottle, and Eiden forgot to ask for it back, so it's hidden under a heap in the corner.

"I'd like to give earth a giant hug," Monty cooes.

"Settle for me, Monty!" I yell, throwing my arms up and out. Monty stands and tumbles into my arms, and we both roll off of Todd in a long hug.

He's laughing as he peels away from me, but I don't let go of his hand. "Where did you find those?" I ask. "Or put in them? You and Jasper, always putting something in something," my voice quiets down.

"Today is a good day, all's I know," Monty exhales heavily. "Jasper would know if he was back in here," Monty says loudly, and I laugh.

My breathing's quickened from our tumble on the ground, but I still laugh despite letting go of Monty's soft hand to grab my side. The bandage wrinkles beneath my shirt. The pressure causes me to cough lightly, but I shift my head to look up at Todd.

"You're more than I ever thought you were-"

Todd's voice slowly cuts out. I cough again. A fit of coughs follows. Then it's so bad I'm getting on my hands and knees and just coughing up what seems to be air.

My throat weakens as my shaky elbows try not to buckle. There's a hand on my vulnerable shoulder that causes it to fall slightly.

Two sets of hands pull me up to my feet, but with how dazed we all are, it's hard to find the tent's exit.

Pale skin pushes aside the flap before we go through the chilly night air. My teeth actually start chattering, and the very occurrence of that causes me to sharply inhale. Then it's more pain, and I'm vaguely aware that I cry out sharply.

The roughness of the blankets transfer through my shirt as I'm laid down on the makeshift gurney. My eyes flutter open and closed, bringing the drop ship interior to life, and killing it all over again. Todd grunts in pain, and only then do I realize how tightly I'm holding onto his arm. I don't let go though.

"Bex? Bex?" Monty asks.

"Tent," I grunt softly. "Ah," my voice wheezes, teeth gritting and gums now in pain. "Your painkiller."

Monty doesn't leave, his hurried footsteps go as far as a yard or two before circling back.

The pungent smell is under my nose, and the smooth lip of the bottle touches my own. My lips quiver as I part them, and the difficult liquid stings my tongue before my throat. I let out a satisfactory sound before dropping my head back down.

"What?" Monty asks in disbelief.

There isn't much else they can do after that. It's hours before the tarp is flown aside with a loud bang.

A/N:
So... Bex isn't as invincible as everyone seems to think. I'm rooting for her though.