Apocalypse Rising: The First Month

Chapter 3: I Possibly Can't

 stare at my dad. "You can't be serious."

He shrugs. "Why not?"

"What do you mean, ‘why not’? One more person means another mouth to feed! Dad, you know this..." I say, almost in tears at the end.

"I'm sorry that we haven't talked about getting another person in our group,” he says, “but we need the extra man to survive."

"Do you even know if he can use a gun!?" I shout.

He doesn't reply.

I roll my eyes. Suddenly I realise I’m standing, although I don’t remember ever pulling myself to my feet. I also notice that the new addition is still silent, as if he’s trying to fade away and avoid the argument.

"Just stay put, kiddo," I say to the boy.

He raises his eyebrows like he is surrendering. I motion him to come forward, and he comes one step closer.

I nod in appreciation, then knot my eyebrows together so that I don’t seem the least bit thankful. Through the corner of my eye I notice my dad’s lips are pressed into a thin line.

"Well, aren't you two getting along!" he says. I note the sarcasm.

I roll my eyes again, then spin on my heel in the direction of the hut. I stop once I reach the fire and get comfy. A yawn threatens to escape from me, and after a few seconds I can’t help myself.

Everybody looks my way.

"What?" I say, shrugging back into sleepy mode. I need my beauty sleep. But then again, what kind of beauty is supposed to come in this mess? Honestly I don’t really care about my looks to begin with. I mean, I'm not ugly but I'm not beautiful, either. I guess I like the way I am, but I can pick out my imperfections just like everyone else.

I crawl inside the hut and close my eyes with a pistol tucked up in my hand, just in case Others invade at night. I start humming an old lullaby that my mum sang to me when I was a little kid, and realise that's not me anymore. Now, I'm a zombie killing, couldn't-care-less, teenage girl. But hearing that lullaby makes me sleep in comfort...

"Hey, I'm sorry about before.”

The voice startles me at first. I jump up, firmly grasping the pistol in my hand. Once I see it’s only the new boy in our group I relax and offer him a faint welcoming smile.  

“I didn't think that it would be such a big problem me joining your group,” he continues. “By the way, I’m Ted.”  

I sigh deeply. "It's not your fault, Ted. If anything, my dad could have told me and I shouldn't have overreacted. I'm sorry too..." I say. Honestly, I am sorry.

A small smile curls at his lips. His floppy blonde hair shimmers in the faint fire, and his intense brown eyes are staring at me. I can almost feel them burning through my soul.

"Do you know how to use a gun?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "No, I don't. I have no idea why your dad would have let me I the group if I didn't know how to use a gun, but... oh well." He smiles.

I let out a small chuckle. I like having company with someone other than my family. It's nice. Especially when he's that cute... wait, God, what am I saying? I can't possibly like this guy, can I?

Well... maybe?

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