Together We Survive

Parting Ways

When I woke the next day, it was surprising just how well rested I felt after the less than kind treatment of the numerous springs in the mattress and seemingly rock hard pillow beneath my head.

A yawn escaped my lips as I glanced around the dim room, faint light from outside filtering through the thin curtains to reveal the empty bed pushed against the far wall. My thoughts of returning to sleep soon evaporated and I threw the quilt aside to scramble to my feet.

Had I slept through Elyza's departure?

I left my jacket slung over the foot of the bed and stepped out into the quiet corridor, with no sign of anyone else being awake. If she had left me to sleep rather than wake me up, then the undead could get in line because I would kill her myself.

The living room was just as we had left it, pillows strewn over the couch where I was dismayed not to find Bellamy sleeping. If both Elyza and Bellamy were nowhere to be seen then there was a good chance they had indeed left already.

As I stared down silently at the couch, silently cursing Elyza for her disappearing acts, I jumped at an unexpected voice from behind me.

'Well someone's up early today, it must be a special occasion to see you conscious before midday.'

Elyza had stepped out of the kitchen, a can in each hand as she smirked at my expression. Words failed me for a moment after having been so convinced that she had left, forcing a natural smile on my face as I attempted to hide the surge of relief.

'I am not that bad, and just because it's the apocalypse it doesn't mean we have to be up before the sun rises every day.'

'Whatever you need to tell yourself,' Elyza said dismissively, 'So it looks like there's a choice of fruit or beans so I went with my gut instinct and got you the fruit.'

She tossed one of the cans in a controlled arc towards me, but I was far too busy staring at her to coordinate myself to catch it. I reached out half heartedly, not surprised when it dropped with a clunk to the floor.

Elyza shrugged after a moment, proceeding to pop her own can open with ease.

'Remind me never to throw a weapon your way, I would hate for you to accidently impale yourself.'

I scowled at her, my relief ebbing away as she threw her usual mocking comments my way.

'I'll impale you in a minute if you don't stop being so irritating, I know it comes naturally to you,' I countered, crouching to retrieve the can of fruit at my feet.

'Hey, I could replace that with the more filling option of beans if you keep pushing your luck,' Elyza warned, taking a single step forwards as I stood up, an eyebrow quirked in challenge as if she were planning to dart forwards and reclaim the can of fruit.

'Just you try it,' I retorted, taking a step forwards in return. 'It would be amusing to put you on your back for the second time in a week.'

Elyza looked like she was holding back a laugh, and was most likely ready to counter the pointed comment when a door creaked open behind me. I twisted my head, dropping the façade, to see Octavia prowling out of her room.

'If you guys are going to flirt so loudly, then feel free to do it in the privacy of your own room where you won't be waking the rest of us up,' she muttered, brushing past me with a yawn on her way to the kitchen.

My eyes widened and I opened my mouth to protest when Elyza laughed and followed her friend into the kitchen to retrieve cutlery.

'Got to say, I agree with Alicia though,' Octavia added, grabbing herself a water bottle from the counter. 'It would be great fun to see you get put on your ass again.'