Discoveries | TMR | Three

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Tucked up in bed in his most comfortable of clothes, with his neck bruised, body screaming for some well earned respite and his brain prepped and primed for whatever shit tomorrow will bring, Alby flinches when Nick bursts open the door to their cabin.

He saunters into the room, quite the thing, whistling to himself as he flops onto his own bed; kicking his left leg up and flinging himself to the side, allowing the full weight of his body to crash down on top of the quilt.

Alby is taken aback by his chipper tone. He had not seen, nor heard from the boy in a number of hours. Actually, he had not seen, nor heard from him since this morning; since Adeline held a knife to his throat and so brutally threatened his life. Physically exhausted and mentally drained from the tribulations of the day, his mind had been gradually dwindling into a gentle state of chaos over the lack of his friends presence, yet, here he is, strolling on into this godforsaken boat; whistling a soft tune and wearing a smile on his face.

What is he doing?
Where is he?
Is he okay?

Alby feels stupid for allowing those questions to invade his thoughts for so long, especially when he looks so happy. The whistling has quietened, but that giant, shit-eating grin is still prominent. A smile as wide as the Maze doors, is what he has, and it infuriates Alby to no end.

"You seem happier than you did earlier." He wastes no time in commenting on the cheerful demeanour of the boy, trying to concentrate on his book, yet finding it increasingly difficult to do so.

Nick sighs contentedly. "It's been a good afternoon."

"For you, maybe," Alby scoffs, rolling his eyes and wondering if the boys sole purpose today was to piss him off.

At the other end of the cabin, he catches sight of Nick adjusting himself on the bed; flipping over to his side and propping himself up slightly, with his head resting upon his palm. "What you reading?"

"Dunno." Alby screws his face and shrugs. "It's missing the front cover. Something about dinosaurs."

"Hmm," he hears Nick hum. "How you feeling?"

Alby huffs. So, now you care. "Well, my heads still attached to the rest of me, so, that's a plus, I suppose." He still does not look at him directly. "Where've you been all day?"

"Went to the boulevard with Ads." Already, that statement has irked him. "Got her some sunglasses, got Daniel a hat." And the slightly sing-song air to his voice does nothing to help. "We actually found an old shop that had a shit tonne of food and water in it. Brought back what we could but, I'll tell Vince about it in the morning."

"You've been with her all day?" Alby is stunned by the proclamation, and the nonchalant manner in which it came. "After what she did this morning? I can't believe you-."

"Aw, Alby," the boy groans, flopping onto his back. "Give it a rest."

Alby is taken aback by the interjection and raised voice. "No, Nick, no I won't give it a rest." He slams his book closed and drops it on the bed next to him. "I could've been hurt today. Addy could've seriously hurt me today, and you don't seem to care." He can sense that he is not being listened to, that his words are only hitting surface level, but it does not deter him. "What happened to us sticking together? What happened to you telling me that I could rely on you? Hmm? Where was that Nick?"

Nick rolls his eyes, and this makes Alby even more frustrated.

"Instead of having my back, instead of making sure I was okay, you went straight to her, and for why?" Alby scoffs and shakes his head. "Klunk, the girl smiles at you once and you're absolutely head over heels for her again."