Junkyard Bastion

A Girl Like Her

<10:32 am>

When me and Orion arrive back, there are worried looks and mutters going around.

Well. They seem to know why we're so late.

"Beck, are you okay?" My dad asks, examining my body for any wounds or injuries. "I'm fine dad, me and uh... Well me and.. him were able to get to the emergency building in time."

He lets out a sigh of relief, and he rubs my back reassuringly. "Well, you can take a break from those missions for a few days alright? Take it easy kid."

Orion eyes me warily and I don't really know why until he grabs my shoulder.
"Why did you hesitate with telling him my name?"
"Well, I didn't know if you wanted to tell them yet?"
"It's fine Beck." He gives me a small smile, and pats my back.

We walk back to my house, and I nearly fall just trying to lay down onto my bed. Finally something comfier. I grab a book from my shelf and I instantly start to read, nearly forgetting about Orion.

"So..." he says, his tone a little unsure.
"You said something about a crush yesterday night right..?"

Oh my God. I seriously told him that?

"Where is she?" he looks out the window of my house and he props his head into his hand, watching for her, his eyes following every girl he sees.

Look. I've only really seen her around for a bit around the junkyard, but this place is pretty huge. It used to be a military base but it got bombed before the people here claimed it as their camp.

One of those "Founders" was a girl named Navaeh. She wasn't much older than 8 when she helped found this place. I mean she was such a young girl yet she was able to lead a whole community of scared and traumatized people, who needed a strong leader.

But that was like, 9 years ago and she's grown, into what I could only describe as the girl of my dreams.

And damn was she beautiful. Beautiful dark skin, curly hair that curls around the shape of her face perfectly, her eyes a beautiful shade of pale blue, and God, her smile.

I mean if I were to just list off every beautiful thing about her you'd think she was a Goddess. And she is.

Just thinking about her made me turn red, and of course he notices.

"Someone's crushing hard." He snickers, poking my shoulder. I swat him away—carefully this time and he just laughs harder.

"Why don't you introduce me? I mean with the way you were explaining her last night, she sounds amazing."

"Please don't tell me your gonna turn into a wingman."
"Maybe. Who's that girl over there? She's cute."

He points to the far-side of the junkyard, my house is near the middle of the junkyard, and it forms a circle around other houses to the main area. I look down the pathway of houses to where he's pointing and my eyes widen.

Okay. So it looks like he's got a thing for my older sister, Amy. Well she isn't my actual sister, but I still consider her to be.

But, I seriously can't see how she's beautiful, considering how ugly she can be in my eyes.(I'll never forget the time she squirted some weird garbage juice all over me when I was late to wake up for some dumb meeting.)

His gaze never breaks from her and I start to worry if he's gonna start drooling, until he looks at me, his head still propped on one hand.

"Can we go out? I haven't introduced myself yet right?" he says, playing with a strand of his near-black hair.

"Oh uh, yeah I forgot about that honestly..."
"Well, should we go see your dad then?"
"Yeah, I guess so."

We walk out together into the "Main circle" of the Junkyard and I almost immidiately spot my dad, talking to one of the founders of the base.

"Uh.. hey dad?" he gestures to the man to hold on, and he turns to me. "Yeah kid?"
"Uhm, well he- Orion, is ready to uh, be introduced to the Junkyard."

"'Bout damn time." he sends a fake scowl at Orion, and he stiffens. "Dad c'mon... he doesn't know your joking." He laughs loudly, and Orion just stares, now confused.

<1:32 pm>

There were cheers and laughs, celebratory things, really. We always celebrated survivors, no matter how many there were.

Life was valuable to us, which is why our Junkyard got the nickname "Saviors". We didn't gloat about it.

Orion laughs and gets along with the people well, and I can't help but smile. I notice Nevaeh at the celebration to, I mean why wouldn't she be here?

I took a deep breath and mentally prepared myself, I walked up to her, and I tap her shoulder and she turns to me, staring with the most beautiful blue eyes.

"Hey Beck!" She says with her beautiful southern accent, giving me a bear hug. I would be blushing but she's quite literally crushing me.

Have I mentioned she's a total workout girl? Yeah she's stronger than most men in our camp. She releases me and I awkwardly chuckle.

"H-how've you been?" I ask her, regaining my composure.
"Kicking some zombie ass. How 'bout you?" Shes always been a badass, but I can't help but fanboy over that.

"Well y'know, just scavenging for things, trying to find what we need and stuff."
"Well I heard what happened.." She grabs my shoulders, her eyes shining worriedly.

"Oh, we'll I'm fine really." I squirm a bit beneath her hands, and she releases her grip.
"Well.. You know where to find me." She gives me a small smile and walks off to talk to her friends.

Look I know she's just worried and it's kind of her job to worry, but I feel like she's worrying for me a lot..?

Well now I'm just being delusional.

I sigh, running a hand through my hair, until I feel another hand on my shoulder.

I turn to see my friend, Zeriah.

My eyes widen as I take a step back, my back hitting against someone's house.

"Haven't seen you in a bit, asshole." He signs to me with that expression on his face I've known since I was just a baby.

His "I-Hate-You-But-I-Still-Care-About-You" stare, I've always liked that about him. I could tell what he was feeling, just by looking at his eyes.

I don't know what expression I was making, but his eyes soften, and he got closer, as if he were going to tell me the one thing we've separated for. Like an endless reminder.

I felt the guilt rise in my stomach, and I look away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN: Look guys. I know you guys are probably confused about the chapter name and Becketts crush..
"YOU HAVE BL TAGS!!!! GRRRR WHY ARENT THEY KISSING!!?!?!!?!??"

Look I'm getting there. Just trust the process, I love slow burns okay so yknow... IMA MAKE THIS SLOW ALR 😭🙏

Anyways. I think y'all can see the uh, yknow the uh.. THE TRAJECTORY IM GOING WITH AT THE END HERE.

Don't worry baby girls I'ma cook you all a good next chapter 😁😁 Stay tuned!!!!! 😜😜