Collision

Chapter Eleven

~ Chapter Eleven ~

Ellie's P.O.V.

I hated to admit it, but they were right. Someone was running the windmill. The only question was: who? We were in the middle of nowhere and it was only going to get worse. The sun would set in less than five hours, and we still had no idea where we would stay. I stayed quiet as they argued about the paths.

"The train tracks are going to lead us to a station which will probably give us shelter," Joel stated.

"And what if there isn't one? What are we going to do? Stay on the tracks risking exposure?" Rick questioned. They were both in a deep argument, each one trying to prove themselves right.

"What are you trying to imply? That we stay here until the morning of tomorrow? Is that the best plan?" Joel started to raise his voice. I sighed and got up, time to cool him down again.

I walked in between the two, "would the both of you just please settle down? There doesn't need to be a stupid fight about where to go. How about this, the group votes! Either we walk on the tracks until we find something good, or we stay here until the morning and God knows what next. Hands up for the train tracks? Okay, that's five. Sorry, Joel, we're gonna have to camp here for the night."

Joel gave me a defeated look and walked back into the forest.

"Where's he going?" Asked Carl, trying to catch up.

I gestured him to stop moving, "it's fine, he just needs to cool down."

I jogged to where Joel was, and kept quiet. He was sitting down on a tree log, his face buried in his dusty hands.

"A friend of mine always told me that 'moving keeps you alive,'" Joel said, catching me off guard with his story. I sat down next to him and listened. "He's dead now, but his words keep sticking in my head. He told Tommy the same thing, but you know my brother; never listens. Ever since Tommy died, I keep thinking about those words 'Moving Keeps You Alive.' I keep thinking, if Tommy just came with us, would he be with us right here, right now? If Tommy kept on moving, instead of staying in that city, would he still be alive?"

I laid a hand on Joel's back, trying to comfort him, "Tommy was a good guy; those people were all good people, but it was their choice not to keep moving, Joel - not yours. You're different. We're different. We keep moving for the sake of staying alive. They stayed where they felt safest, and it turns out it wasn't as safe as they thought. Now, it turns out maybe Rick will have the same thought. So what? You've got to let other people make decisions too. Sometimes, other people's lives aren't yours to take care of, to protect. Let them take the lead, you've worn yourself out."

"You know, Rick reminds me of Tommy. Always trying to keep the peace in the most horrendous moments," He chuckled to himself, shaking his head.

"I guess that's why you two always get in fusses," I smiled, letting him know that everything was okay.

"Let's head on back there, don't want them to start eating without us." We stood up and walked back to the windmill. The breeze sharp on our tails.

In a matter of five minutes, a camp had already been set up. A small tent was built, and the fire was already alive and burning.

"Hey, Ellie, can you lend me a hand with this?" Aaron asked, his voice making me melt on the inside. I turned around and saw him holding pieces of rope with empty cans of soda.

"Yeah, sure," I replied, taking the rope from him.

"We're just tying this around and hanging the cans just so that when it gets touched, it makes a sound," he informed, busy putting the can through the rope.

I nodded and did as he told me to. Halfway through it, he cut the silence. "Do you like Carl?"

I gave him an odd look, "he's still a stranger, of course, so I don't know if he's got good intentions or not. Why do you ask?"

He shrugged, "it just seems like you've really tried getting to know him well. Better than you tried with me, anyways."

"Huh, jealous?" I teased. I'd never been a good flirt in my life, and this was the least awkward I'd ever been around a guy. I was even surprising myself with the way I was talking.

"Yes. I am," He stated. He stopped working, and that indicated me to look at what he was doing. He wasn't moving; just staring intently at my eyes. I didn't expect that answer from him, I simply froze. Aaron started walking towards me, his gaze still locked on mine.

Once we were a feet apart, our faces almost touching, he spoke. "I am jealous."

He leaned in close to my face, but I backed away, knowing what would happen if I let my emotions dictate my life. "You can't... You can't do that."

Shocked, he took a step back while frustratedly running a hand through his hair, "why not?"

"It's just... not a good time..." I whispered, barely audible but loud enough for him to hear. Turning around, I started heading towards Joel.

"When will it ever be a good time?" Aaron called out as I left him and the camp. I shook my head, not responding to him but taking it as a retorical question. Never, was my answer.