Beginning of the End

XI

It's been about two weeks since Elyas got shot. His shoulder was healed. He was back to his old self. Jed and him talked about partnering, and Jed decided to give Elyas the job. Jed mainly lets Elyas do everything. Which, Elyas wasn't complaining about. Elyas felt in control of something, and that put him at ease. It also helped run smoother. Lamar and Aysa had bonded and had weird inside jokes. They ran excellent teams together. Khalil and Cymon worked very well together, but Khalil was weary of everyone, pretty much. Besides Tyler, Nick, Lamar, and myself, Khalil didn't let anyone behind the walls he built. He had just got home from deployment when this all went down. He went home, and his wife wasn't home. He didn't get to say goodbye before it all happened. He packed up and headed up this way.

My dad and stepmom fit right in. My dad would always start every meal off with a horrible joke. It lightened everyone's moods, even though we all cringed and groaned at the jokes. My little sister was growing so much. She was almost one. But she was walking. Jenni would take her and walk her around the Community. Everyone loved Gabbi. She was proof that no matter how stressful it was, we were all smiling and alive.

I was walking around Community today, just to get a breather. Not a lot has been going on around here since that night. A few walkers here and there, but nothing other than that. I walked over to the garden to see Marcus pulling off some tomatoes.

    "Hey, Jade." He smiled at me.

    "And to think I absolutely fucking hated those before this went down." I chuckled as he set them in a basket.

    "Yeah, your dad requested them for dinner tonight."

    "Spaghetti?" I asked, stepping in between the barbed wire to help with the tomatoes.

    "I assume. Which is fine with me. But that deer and rice a few weeks ago was incredible."  He was continuing to set tomatoes in the basket, so I picked some, and did as he did.

    "Hey, Jade..." Elyas walked up.

    "What's up?" I smiled as I looked up at him.

    "Do you mind if Cymon and I go and practice shooting?" He asked, pointed back to Cymon.

    "You know you don't have to ask me that, right? All I ask of you is to tell me if you go on runs." I stood up and brushed my pants off, which had dirt all over them now.

    "Sorry. I gotta get used to it." He chuckled as they walked off. I waved to Marcus as I stepped through the barbed wire again, and walked over to the Cafeteria. I walked in to see my dad, Brittany, and Travis preparing dinner.

    "I heard it's spaghetti tonight?" I walked over and noticed they had a small fire going as they boiled water.

    "You heard right." Travis smiled as he stepped over and dropped the pasta in the water.

    "Yep," My dad walked over and gave me a hug, "How are you?" He asked once he pulled away, but still looking deep into my eyes.

    "I'm alright. It's calmed down a lot." I gave him a weak smile.

    "If he shows up again, send him my way. We could cook him." My dad smiled wickedly and then started to laugh.

    "I don't ever want him anywhere near my mouth ever again, so I'll pass." I cringed.

    "Gross." MY dad walked back over to the water. Marcus walked in.

    "I got your tomatoes." He walked over with two baskets full.

    "I'll see you guys at dinner," I walked out and looked off towards the Back Gate, where I saw Lamar, Aysa, Khalil, Nick and Tyler sitting and talking. I could tell they were laughing. I breathed in and smiled. I walked up to them and sat next to Aysa, "Hey guys."

    "Dude, you gotta tell the joke." Lamar said in between laughs.

    "Alright, alright," Tyler regained his composure, "So. I've been thinking. Maybe we should start another Holocaust. Except 6 million more Jews and a clown." I looked around at everyone.

    "Why the clown?" I asked.

    "See? Nobody cares about the Jews." Tyler busted out laughing, as did everyone else.

    "Oh my fucking god." I started laughing so hard, tears filled my eyes.

    "Dear god," Aysa calmed down, "The world is falling apart but here we are, still making terrible jokes." He shook his head. I looked over at him. He glanced over and caught me staring. I began to blush.

    "Well. I'm gonna go home and read until dinner." I got up, grabbing Edge. I walked off towards my house. I saw Audrey leaned against my door.

    "I was beginning to think you ran away." She chuckled. I smiled.

    "Just walking around," I opened the door and allowed her to walk in, "I'm sorry you were waiting a long time." I said as we both sat on my couch.    

    "It wasn't that long, but I wanted to check in with you. You doing okay?" She looked at me. I sighed. I hated it when she asked me. She read me like a book.

    "I'm still a bit shook up." I rested my elbows on my legs, placing my head in my hands.

    "I understand. I would be too." There was a knock on the door.

    "Come in." I called. Jed walked in.

    "Hey guys, it's dinner time." He smiled.

    "So fucking excited." Audrey hopped up and they walked out together. I slowly stood up and walked out behind them.