Look For The Light | Ellie Williams

XXI

Look, sometimes things don't work out the way we hope. You can feel like... like you've come to an end and you don't know what to do next. But if you just keep going you find something new to fight for.
~ Joel Miller
*•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•*

A few days had passed and Auburn was currently running on not even a blink of sleep.

She'd been staying awake during the night to ensure no walkers were around and trying to break in. Even if she wanted to sleep, she couldn't.

She also didn't eat.

She had a sip of water or two, but that's about it. She was so mentally and physically exhausted that she couldn't eat, sleep or relax.

She was tense all the time.

Stressed, overwhelmed.

Scared.

They hadn't faced any walkers in the few days that had passed.

Some of the group would go outside for fresh air, maybe even just collect more weapons of any sort they find around the backyard or shed.

Some of the group stayed in the house, the fear of seeing one of the clickers again.

There were a few times when Auburn would overhear some of the other house students talk shit about us for being old Fireflies already, especially Ellie.

They blame her for the reason Tommy is dead and they want nothing to do with the Fireflies, as well as old WLF members, but she can see the other house students are trying not to cause any problems as of right now.

"Alright, you're done," Auburn spoke, brushing the hair off Syiir's bare shoulder. "Can you tell Williams I can cut her hair now?" she asked, brushing off the hair razor.

Syiir nodded. "Thanks, Reid," he flashed a smile, putting on his shirt again before walking out.

Ellie walked in the bathroom shortly after, removing her shirt and tossing it on the marble counter, leaving her in a sports bra before taking a seat in the stool in front of Auburn.

She felt the breath leave her lungs at the sight of Ellie's picture perfect body.

Ellie's under eye bags were heavy, but not as bad as hers. Ellie hadn't been sleeping much, but she was eating more than Auburn was.

She never ate anything.

She sprayed Ellie's hair with the spray bottle, damping her hair. She used hair cutting scissors to trim her bangs before trimming the length of her hair.

"You don't have to be a caretaker for everyone, Reid," Ellie broke the heavy silence.

But it's easier to take care of everyone than to deal with everything I'm keeping bottled up.

"No, I don't have to," Auburn mumbled, shrugging lazily as she trimmed the back Ellie's hair.

"You haven't been eating or sleeping. You need to give yourself a break," Ellie drawled, looking at Auburn from the mirror.