New World [Gay Chandler Riggs/1D fusion fanfic]

Chapter 15

Chandler's POV

I shivered slightly to myself in the early morning light; this was the best time to go anywhere since the cold make the walkers slightly sluggish.

Ever since I arrived at the police station I've been making slow spirals outward and scavenging in any buildings I came across; I haven't found anything worth bringing back since we seemed to be in the middle of a shopping district but looking at the apartment building in front of me, I was hopeful.

Going inside the building I climbed up the stairs to the first floor, attaching the small flashlight I had to the end of my crossbow. The hallway was dark, without electricity the only source of light was a window at the far end of the hall, I listened for a second before letting the door to the stairs close and trying the doorknob of the first apartment.

I kneeled down when the door wouldn't opened because it was locked; using a small flat-head screwdriver, a bobbi pin, and a nail file I picked the lock and opened the door. It was a trick I learned from a person in the first group Candy and I joined, and has saved my skin more than once; I threw the screwdriver into the apartment, at an angle so it would bounce around and waited. I turned my head as I heard a sound come from another apartment but nothing moved in the one I was in now.

I went inside and cleared the rooms one by one, even the closets; taking no chances. After clearing the apartment I set up a can-trap, placing three empty cans in front of the door so if the door opened they would fall over and I would at least have some warning.

I sighed and finally took off my backpack, the real work was just starting. Opening the drawers and cabinets one by one I started checking the entire house; the people that lived here seemed to have evacuated since the only edible items left where mainly spices. I found two bottles of alcohol in one of the cabinets, tequila to be exact, and placed the bottles carefully in my bag; I didn't drink but they could be used to make molotov cocktails and walkers were attracted to light as much as noise.

I sighed as I went into the bedrooms; I wasn't just out here to find some supplies, I came to find some for Cole also. Yesterday after dinner I actually realized something about myself; I actually had no idea how to be a boyfriend, for God's sake I haven't even had my first kiss yet.

I've never had a real relationship since I was always so standoffish, even before Candy died, and both relationships I did have only lasted a few weeks. My biggest issue, and I knew it, was that I didn't let anyone close because I didn't want to get hurt. I wouldn't communicate, wouldn't open up.

For the longest time I thought love was a lie, something that existed only in movies and stories; most of the people in my family were divorced and those still in marriages had issues, like my own parents...although theirs were a little more extreme.

However being with Cole's family and seeing the way Harry and Louis, Zayn and Liam would look at each other gave me hope. I really wanted things to work out with Cole, I was tired of being alone and...I really liked him.

I terrified me, it scared me that I liked someone because my psyche wouldn't be able to handle it. Ever since Candy died my life has sat on the edge of cliff and only how was I starting to walk away from it.

Yesterday I managed to get Liam alone and I asked him, directly, for advice. Liam chuckled, even though I didn't say Cole's name it was obvious who I was talking about. The only thing he said though were that actions speak louder than words; I picked up a butterfly bracelet that used to belong to the people that lived here before tossing it aside, I was looking for something to give to Cole, something that could say what I couldn't.

I left the apartment with only with the bottles of tequila and a candy bar I found; I was so wrapped up in my head that when I picked the lock and went inside I didn't check if anything was inside before going in and placing my backpack on the counter. As I walked into the bedroom a walker fell on me.

As we fell, my crossbow fell and fired the bolt that was loaded in it, embedding the bolt into the wall; I scrambled to my feet and looked around for anything that can be used a weapon. I kicked the walker under the chin as I could, causing it to fall backwards again and buy me extra time.

I reached for the my knife from my back pocket and swore loudly as it wasn't there; I ran to the kitchen and grabbed the pan full of some long rotten food and swung it as hard as I could to the walker, splattering the contents all over myself, the wall and hitting the walker with a satisfying clunk. I bludgeoned the walker repeatedly with the pan until it stopped moving and pan was dented so badly it wasn't even recognizable. "You stupid idiot" I said to myself out-loud, "Never let down your guard!"

I kicked the walker in the stomach for good measure before going to the bathroom and grabbing one of the towels and wiping my face; thankfully my long sleeve shirt and pants kept me from getting anymore dirty.

The food or whatever it was was apparently red and make me looked like I just splattered walker blood as all over myself "I just found my new Halloween costume" I chuckled to myself to myself as I dropped the towel on the bathroom floor and continue checking the rest of the apartment.

This place a gold mine, the person that turned into a walker stayed here until the bitter end; the place was full of food and water, but the empty ointment, painkillers and antiseptic told the story that this person was infected and turned via some kind of wound.

I filled up my backpack with supplies and used some plastic bags I found inside to carry the rest of the stuff; grabbing my crossbow and finding my knife again to I make my way back to the police station

Before I left however I combed the apartment again, beside the bed I found a necklace that had an circular silver pendant on the front. A shield was engraved on the front and on the back it had "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me". Perfect, I thought to myself as I placed the necklace in my pocket and started to walk back to the station.

"I know kids these days have crazy fashion sense, is warpaint making a comeback?" Liam joked as I walked into the station with my stained clothes "But in all seriousness, are you alright? Are you injured?" I shook my head and placed the bags in front of Liam, not even to bothering to look at Jordan and Eric who were with him.

"Wow you found all this? This is great Chandler! Well done" Liam said, opening one of the plastic bags, I nodded and Liam went on "You should get cleaned up son; Jordan and I will sort through these". I nodded again and left the bags with them before walking down the hall. Zayn sat in one of the offices with Katelyn; Faith sat in Zayn's lap while Katelyn played peekaboo, causing the baby to giggle. Zayn glanced at me, gave me a small smile and turned back to the baby and Katelyn as I walked passed.

I went down to my room before taking off my shirt and pants; debating whether to just throw away my stained clothes or keep them. The old food on my clothes didn't smell but there really wasn't anyway to get the stains out now, since washing machines didn't work anymore.

"Hey Chandler I heard your back I-" Cole said as he walked into my room and instantly turn red as he saw me standing in my underwear "I...sorry...I should have knocked...sorry...glad you're back" he stuttered as he closed the door again. I smiled, he was so awkward it was endearing.

After changing into another pair of black jeans, a green long sleeve shirt and a blue undershirt I found Cole again, throwing tennis balls for his dogs. He gave me an unsure smile, as if he was scared I would yell at him or something. "I got you something" I said, awkwardly, not knowing how to actually give a gift; wow I'm pathetic.

"Cl...close your eyes" I mumbled, Cole gave a questioning look before he did as told. Walking behind him I pulled the necklace from my pocket; Cole shivered slightly as my fingers brushed against his neck while I fastened the clasp on the necklace "Ok...you can open your eyes now".

Cole opened his eyes and looked down at the necklace "Thank you Chandler, I love it" he said as he read the inscription on the back. "Yeah, no problem" I said as he looked at me; he glanced at my lips and slowly started leaning forward. I panicked.

"Yeah...umm...I'm kinda tired, I had a run-in with a walker today so I'm going to go lay down for a bit" I quickly said. "Oh, sure; well ok, I'll be around" Cole said, trying to keep the disappointed from his voice. After I went back into my room I softly banged my head against the wall in self-frustration.