Fate Series: Unsure Fate

Chapter 2: An Old Friend

****This made my blood boil just writing it.****

    It was day two of just walking. Rick was incredibly stressed to where the only thing he'd talk about was survival. We found a small shopping center and cleared it so we could at least have a roof over our heads. It was strange how little walkers there were. Almost as if someone had been there.

    "Rick. Please... Don't go crazy over this." I said rubbing his shoulders. He stayed quiet. "We'll get through it." I whispered. He looked over at Judith peacefully sleeping in a make-shift bed we made her from a box and a few blankets from around some stores.

    "I hope." He said. I sat beside him. The whole area was silent aside from the breathing of everyone sleeping. A couple miserable sobs but that was it. "You don't have to stay awake with me." He suggested. I shrugged. "I don't feel like sleep-"

    We were interrupted by the sound of music playing from some stereos on the walls. Rick grabbed a gun and a few other people got prepared to shoot. I grabbed Judith and went to a corner where a few other people were.

    Laughs came from the other stores around. Talking even. Suddenly, a group of people came into the store with lights and lanterns. They all stopped and stared at us. "Uh.... We mean no harm. Really dude." A guy said. He was tan with light brown hair. Closer to my age than Rick. In fact, he looked familiar.

    "My name's Jamie. You guys can join if you want. We have food, drinks, hahaha music like you hear right now." He said nervously. I did know him!! We were close friends in high school. "Rick, we should-"

    "Nia! Be quiet!" Rick ordered. I felt like a child being scolded. It was... Embarrassing. "Hey dude maybe you should listen to the girl. She's smart enough to notice that we're obviously not gonna kill you." A couple people on our side stood up and walked over there. "So... You guys in?" Jamie asked.

    "Fine!" Rick gave in. Everyone lowered their guns and walked over to the other group of people. Rick approached me, taking Judy and tried grabbing my hand but I crossed my arms and walked away from him. I could feel his eyes on my back. In my mind I could just see his puzzled face.

    I walked ahead toward Jamie. "Jamie!! Hey!" I called for him. He turned around and looked at me. "Wait a second... Nia? Nia... Nia Nicole? Oh my God!!!" He shouted. He hugged me tightly, so tight it made me squeak.

    "I missed you, Red!" He said. Jamie had a nickname for me. Him and everyone else would call me Red because of my red hair. Rick came up to us and gave me a hurtful look. "Oh... Um Rick this is Jamie." I said. "We were close friends." I added. Rick eyed him closely.

    "Is this guy your boyfriend?" Jamie asked. I froze. How was I going to answer that? I didn't know if I should have called him that after what he did. "Yes." Rick said, still staring at Jamie. "You guys didn't have a kid together did you?" He whispered. "No!!" I laughed.

    "He's pretty scary." Jamie joked. I giggled. Rick was getting jealous. I could see it all over his face. They both glared at each other. "Okay. Let's go. Enough of this intense staring." I pushed them apart and walked ahead of them.

    We all entered a bigger store. It was lit up with lanterns and candles everywhere. Some music continued to play. People were dancing and chatting while several others were on watch. Maggie and Glenn decided to dance a little. I grabbed some water for Rick, Judith, and I.

    "Nia. What's your deal?" Rick asked. I stared into my water. "You act like a stranger when I get near you. Just a second ago, you didn't even let me-"

    "Look Rick. I just.... I don't know how I feel about... You know what forget what I said. It's nothing really." I said. Rick stared into my eyes with blue intensity. He knew what I was going to say. I really love him... But I can't get over the fact that he would confess how he felt about me and leave me the next day.

    Judith was getting cranky. "I'll take her." I said. "Hey Jamie do you have a quiet room where we can sleep?" I asked. Rick approached us and wrapped his arm around me. He kissed my forehead to add more wood to the fire. Jamie glared at Rick. "Yeah. Just down that hall to your right." Jamie said.

    "Does your guy friend have a problem with me?" He asked.
    "She doesn't know. Why don't you ask me, Pal?"

    I rolled my eyes and stormed off to put Judith down for sleep.