Not even twenty minutes after Gray had stormed off, Bellamy questioned him about what had happened. He didn't know whether to believe Gray or not, but when both his sister and Murphy had told him the same story, he found it hard to believe all three of them were lying.
He trusts his sister the most, and Murphy only slightly less. Gray, not so much, but he's come to learn that Gray always has a reason for lashing out, no matter how small. He may not like it, but he knows he can't change the boy. The only person who could do that would more than likely be Carson from what he's gathered.
Which is why when Clarke suggested hunting parties, Bellamy put Gray and Carson on one team with Sterling. Even if they sneer at each other and fight a lot, Carson is the only person that can keep Gray in check. Bellamy was honestly reluctant to give some of the delinquents guns-- mostly because of why they were arrested-- but he knows these kids are too hungry to fight. All anyone cares about is getting food so they're not starving when the grounders finally come.
Each group is given two spears and a gun-- spears for food, gun for grounders. Gray is the one that takes the gun. He knows he's the best chance at actually hitting his target when it comes to guns. Carson is decent with a spear seeing as he usually helps out with hunting anyway. Sterling also helps out with the hunting so he opted for a spear too. Although, he's not too sure he likes the idea of Gray having the gun behind him.
The three of them walk out of camp, choosing a random direction to take away from other groups. Gray trails a few feet behind Carson and Sterling, scanning the surrounding area for any potential threats. Ahead of him, Carson and Sterling are making conversation, but Gray doesn't bother listening to what their saying.
He doesn't care.
It has nothing to do with him whatsoever. But for some reason-- unbeknownst to him-- it pisses him off. Gray rolls his shoulders, wincing slightly when pain shoots through his arm. Looking down at the cloth wrapped around his burn, his anger spikes slightly. Clarke had cleaned and bandaged the burn shortly before they left.
"You're telling me you've never even been curious?" Sterling laughs, giving Carson an incredulous look. The curly-haired boy shakes his head, nose scrunched slightly at the question.
"Not really. It doesn't sound or look enticing to be completely honest." Carson pauses for a moment before shivering and shaking his head. "Nope. Just thought about it and I don't think I ever want to."
Sterling laughs boisterously, the sound making Gray's face twitch with annoyance. He hardly knows this kid, yet seeing him laugh with Carson has Gray's blood boiling. He's also giving away their location to any grounders that may be in the area.
"Apparently it was a pre-war delicacy. Really expensive too."
Carson shakes his head again and mutters, "I don't get how people could eat that crap. I mean, literal fish eggs?"
Sterling smiles at Carson, and Gray feels his fingers twitch against the gun in his hand. Scoffing quietly, he turns his attention back to the trees around them. Another moment longer and Gray'd sure he'll snap. He honestly can't tell if he's more pissed at Sterling or at himself for caring. Nothing about Gray's relationship with Carson is normal. They fight all the time, they're not even friends, and they don't get along.
A good ten to fifteen more minutes pass and Carson and Sterling are still laughing and talking and Gray finally has enough of it.
"Hey, can I ask--" Sterling is cut off when Gray steps between them, pushing the blond boy away slightly. His brows furrow and Carson watches Gray with confusion written all over his face.
"Okay. That's enough."
Sterling's eyes flick back and forth between the two boys before his mouth opens, forming an "O" shape. "Oh, shit. I'm sorry. If you two are together, I didn't mean anything by it."
"Toget-- what? No. Just keep your eyes peeled. We need to watch for food and grounders. All the noise you two are making probably scared off anything in a mile radius of us." Gray let's out a sigh and let's himself fall behind like he had been before. Sterling's face is pink with embarrassment, but he doesn't argue with Gray because he agrees 100%. He knows he was being loud. Instead, he grips his spear tighter and scans the area ahead.
In that moment, Carson's confusion soon turns to understanding when I realizes that... Gray is jealous? Carson shakes his head slightly, he almost wants to laugh out loud at the thought. Gray would never, he doesn't do jealous. And it's not like he actually cares... Carson cringes to himself at the sliver of hope lingering inside him.
Maybe-- just maybe-- Gray does care but he's too damn stubborn to show it.
Taking a deep breath, Carson pushes his thoughts aside and focuses on finding food. They haven't exactly been looking much since they left camp. Well, he and Sterling haven't.
Gray and the others had managed to scrounge a few berry bushes, fish, and small animals before heading back to camp. By the time they reach the gates the sun has completely set. After Gray had split Carson and Sterling up, he hadn't said a single word. It didn't go unnoticed by Carson. He also knew better than to try asking about it in front of Sterling, seeing at the blond boy may be the root of the problem.
They sort their findings before returning to the drop ship to drop off their weapons. Sterling gently places his spear beside the others before turning to Carson with a friendly smile and says, "See you around, Carson."
Carson replies with a smile and as the blond boy walks away, Gray's eyes follow him, narrow and full of annoyance. Once Sterling disappears from sight, Gray sets his gun down, feeling Carson's eyes burning holes into the back of his head.
"What do you want?" Gray grumbles. He doesn't bother facing Carson when he finally speaks.
"Are you alright?"
Gray shakes his head and mutters, "Why wouldn't I be?"
Nothing but silence. But only for a moment, and then Carson speaks, cocking his head slightly as he does so. "You were quiet the entire hunt. And not your usual quiet, more of a pissed off quiet."
"I told you I'm fine."
"Was it something Sterling said? Because you've been sending him dirty looks ever since we left camp."
"He has nothing to do with it," Gray hisses as he sends Carson an angry sideways glance. "I told you I'm fine so get off my damn back."
Carson silently scolds himself and backs off. He pushed Gray too far and now he's even more pissed off, his anger now directed toward Carson himself. Gray doesn't move from his spot facing the weapons and Carson takes his silence as his time to leave. The curly-haired boy spins on his heel and walks out of the drop ship. He knows better than to push Gray into talking about something he doesn't want to talk about.
But his curiosity got the better of him this time.
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