infection | D. Dixon

chapter fifteen

constellations

I had just finished packing everything from an abandoned pharmacy into the back of the Jeep when a large hand collapsed on my shoulder. I spun around quickly, switching my blade out and against the persons throat.

The person raised their hands, and that is when I realized it was Merle. I dropped the knife and sighed. "Sorry, long day," I said passively.

Merle chuckled. "Ain't no problem, city girl. Was just checking on you. How you holding up?"

I raised my eyebrows at him. "I'm okay, how are you?" I retorted.

Merle rolled his eyes at my question. I could tell he had something on his mind, something he was too nervous to ask me. I patted him on the shoulder and smiled. He nodded towards me and leant back against the RV. "Your kid sister..."

Immediately I knew where this was going. "You and Tessa?" I asked, smiling.

Merle peeked  up from under his eyelashes. "Just thinking is all," he smiled back at me. "What do you think?"

"I think you should go for it. If she likes you she'll tell you, don't stress yourself out. Just talk to her. If it's my blessing you're looking for you have it. Just protect her." I smiled at Merle. I've never seen him so nervous and out of his element.

He grinned and gave me a one-armed hug.

I chuckled and slammed the back of the Jeep. Merle followed me back towards the old mall where we left Tessa to gather some clothes.

Tessa was in the dollar store when we entered the mall. She was throwing dollar store first aid kits into a suitcase from the luggage isle of another store. When she saw Merle and I she stood up and smiled. "I figured we would need some of this stuff," she said sheepishly, nudging the basket full of sanitary products, bandages, and junk food.

I smiled. "We do. I'm going to check the makeup isle for tweezers and combs. Do you need anything?" I asked.

She nodded and handed me a small paper. "I made it when we were on the road. There's a line, everything on top is important, everything on bottom is just if we can fit it."

I glanced at the bottom of the list where a small list of things were penciled in. On the top of the list was condoms.

I giggled. "I'll check it out."

I grabbed a basket from the front and wandered into the makeup isle. I found hair-ties and brushes, tweezers and small scissors, nail clippers, cotton pads, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and dental floss.

At the end of the isle there was a display of different condoms. I swiped what I could fit and some other small items like shampoo and a sewing kit.

Merle rounded the corner with a basket of his own. His basket was nearly full. "This store hasn't been touched," I commented.

Merle chuckled and showed me his basket. "This good?" He asked.

He had towels, deodorant, socks, lighters, matches, lanterns, batteries, and flashlights. He watched me pick through his basket. "Looks good. Where'd you get all this stuff?"