The End of All Things

There's No Place Like Home

Harper's POV

"Hey!" I run after Ry before he leaves with Emma, "Take care of her." I say looking him in the eye.

"I will." he nods, "H you have to let me go." he says looking down at my hand firmly grasped around his wrist.

"Yeah," I chuckle, "right." I say still holding on to him.

"Harper." he sighs looking at me.

I nod, my eyes filling with unshed tears.

"Come here." he says pulling me into a hug. I accept his hug and hold on to him as if he's going to slip away from me. "We're going to be fine, kiddo." he whispers into my hair.

"You're all I have left." I finally cry out, my voice braking. "I can't loose you."

"I'm not going anywhere you hear me. I'll never leave you." I hear his voice cracking as well.

"Promise?" I ask pulling away and holding out my pinkie finger.

"Promise." he says locking his pinkie finger with mine.

"Stay safe." I hug him one last time.

"Love you." he says kissing the top of my head before running off to Emma's truck.

I dry my eyes for a moment and head onto the bus.

"You okay?" B asks me giving me a strange look.

"Yeah I'm fine." I say with a blank face staring off into space, "Why?"

"Ryan just texted me." he shrugs.

"What did it say?"

He hands me his phone and I read the text.

Take care of H. She needs someone and I can't be there for her right now so that responsibility falls to you. Keep her safe, make sure she's ok, and both of you stay alive. -R

Tears fill my eyes once again at the thought of something bad ever happening to Ryan and him not being here for me. He's my family he's all I care about. I can't loose him I just can't.

"Hey hey hey." B tries soothing me and taking me in his arms.

"I'm alright." I try to say in between sobs.

"I know." he whispers running his hand through my hair.

"I am." I sob harder.

"Yes you are." he whispers. I look up into his eyes, my own still filled with tears, and smile. "There's that smile." he smiles back at me.

"Thank you." I whisper drying my eyes.

"Uh yeah sure n-no problem." he says awkwardly pulling away from me and rubbing the back of his neck.

I sit down on the couch pulling my legs up to my chest and try to relax. A little while passes before the bus pulls to a stop.

"Right. Supplies." I say standing up and grabbing a gun and heading for the door.

"Wait Harper," Brendon stops me, "I'm coming with."

"I'm coming too." Trick chimes in.

"What? No. Neither of you know how to fight."

"Do you?" B questions.

I load my gun and look him square in the eye, "I know how to shoot."

"And I know how to fight from training with music videos." Patrick says.

"I made a promise to Ry and I intend to follow it through." B says walking up to me, "I'm not letting you out there alone."

"Ugh fine. But I'm not babysitting either one of you losers." I playfully glare and B and Trick.