Survival: Book One

Chapter Twenty: Alicia

  "Clean blankets and mattresses," Alicia grinned as she brushed her hair, "I can't believe all of this is still here. Why is it still here?"
  "We are very lucky." Elyza was sorting through her guns and cleaning them. They had set up in the same cabin as her mom, she wanted to save Nick the stress of living in the same home as her. "Is his leg okay?"
  "Yeah, it looks fine. I'm sure it hurts though."
  "I've been talking with your mom," Elyza pushed her guns to the side and took off her boots, "She's really nice to me."
  "She's great, most of the time. I love her," Alicia looked down, "Long story."
  "Well look at all of the time we have," Elyza stood up, "I have a shift in the morning, but I was going to stay up either way. I also want to re-do my pink if you want to help." She was rummaging through her pack, finally she pulled out a tube of hair dye. "I can put a braid in your hair to keep it out of your face," Elyza brushed Alicia's hair out of her eyes, making her shudder and look away.
  "That'd be great," Alicia felt flustered, she wanted to know more about Elyza, "So what even is your last name?"
  "My last name is Lex, Miss Clark," She smiled as she changed into a tank top, right in front of Alicia. She didn't even turn around. "Elyza Lex."
  "You always had pink in your hair?"
  "Twenty questions? My turn next," Elyza sat down and opened the dye, "No, actually I haven't always worn my hair like this. After the turn, I cut it short. It used to be long like yours. I didn't want to risk rotters getting it when I was alone. I found the pink hair dye in a dollar store after my mom died. Her favorite color was pink." She smiled at Alicia as she turned around, "So here we are. You know how to do this?"
  "Yep, I'll do it."
  "So," Elyza sighed, "My turn. Who else have you lost? You told me about Jake."
  "What?" Alicia put more dye in her hair. Why was she asking me this?  "My mom's boyfriend- he was pretty much like a step father to me. He died.. after."
  "What was his name?"
  "Travis," Alicia looked away and wiped her hands, "All done."
  "I'm sorry. I can just see how the weight of what's happened to you hangs on your shoulders. You don't have to carry it alone." Elyza smirked, "Thank you for doing my hair."
  "No problem, I can help you with it anytime. Looks like we are stuck together, yeah?"
  "Yeah," she laughed, "My turn to do yours." Elyza had gotten small rubber bands and brushes from the store, she was excited. She may have carried a little more than they needed to but, they made it. Alicia admired her happy, child-like soul. She needed someone like that.
  Elyza is doing my hair and I can not think straight. Looks like I, myself, am not straight.
  "So, can I ask another question?"
  "Sure," Alicia was almost falling asleep while Elyza braided her hair back.
  "What was up with the kiss? I mean, you told me we could hold hands bu-"
  "What was it to you?" Alicia didn't turn around, she just sat there, scared for her response to a question that had been swimming in her mind for what felt like forever.
  "It was.. very nice. To say the least. I just don't want to push you into anything."
  "I kissed you Elyza, did you forget? You aren't forcing  me into anything." Alicia felt her hair, "Oh wow, it doesn't even pull, it feels nice to have it out of my face." She tilted her head up, "Thank you."
  "I have perfume too," Elyza grinned again, "I might have raided that store."
  Alicia wanted to kiss her again, but she just wasn't sure. Of course she likes you. She kissed you back and admitted to enjoying it, what's the problem?  She thought to herself. "Lyza, where did you learn to do braids like this?"
  "An old girlfriend, from a long time ago," Elyza lit a few candles on the bookshelf, "I love your tattoo, like I said before. Are you gonna talk to me about it?"
   "Eventually." Alicia rubbed at the heart on her arm. She wasn't ready to talk about that. She wanted to talk about Matt, but why? He's gone.
  "I like this question and answer thing," She stepped towards Alicia, making her nervous, "I like getting to know other things about you. I want to know all of the things."
  Alicia's heart skipped a beat as she leaned in to kiss her, for the second time. This time was softer, more subtle, and Alicia backed away quickly. She felt groggy, staring at the beautiful woman in front of her.
  "How will I ever share a room with you?" Elyza smiled, "I can't keep you off of me. Not that I'm complaining." She felt one of Alicia's braids and sighed, "So you're okay with all of this?"
  "Of course," she smiled, "It's a little different than what I'm used to but.. different is good. It's late. We need to sleep. You said you have a shift tomorrow, and I'm supposed to help my mom with gardening plans. There is a whole box full of seeds."
  "Can I sit with you?"
  "I don't see why not," Alicia looked at their beds on the floor, pushed apart. One day, maybe they'd be shoved together. Maybe I wouldn't have to be alone. Maybe none of us will have to be. Alicia layed down on her mattress and Elyza sat on the floor next to her, "Aren't you going to sleep?"
  "Yeah, I'm going to try, eventually." She smiled and played with Alicia's hair, "Go to sleep gorgeous."

  Alicia woke up to Elyza gone, on shift, and the sound of breakfast being made in the other room. She got up and dressed herself, admiring her new hair. She looked at her face in a mirror and prepared herself to face her mother.
  "Alicia, breakfast," Madison was smiling, she seemed to glow, cooking and rummaging through kitchen supplies. It reminded Alicia of simpler times when her father was alive, it reminded her of home.
  "Want some coffee?" Strand laughed, "We also have special  coffee."
  "Little early to be drinking Victor," Madison made a plate for her daughter, "But make mine a double shot."
  Don't get comfortable mom, danger is still lurking everywhere. Alicia ate her food in silence, already thinking about Elyza. She was not one for conversation in the morning, "Where's Nick?"
  "Having breakfast in his room with Troy, what's up with those two?" Madi looked up from her cup of coffee, "It's like they're together or something weird."
  Strand choked on his coffee and Alicia glared at him, "Don't poke fun at them when they're not here to defend themselves. It's not our business."
  "I was only kidding Alicia," her mom said.
  "Well, it wouldn't be something weird ," she mocked her mom's tone and Madison's face grew red. "It would be them, together. Haven't we had this conversation about Nick before?"
  "Sorry that I brought it up." Madison turned away, "When you're ready to start planting come find me. Minus the attitude."

  Alicia showered and her hair was still perfect. She peaked out the window at Blake and Troy gathering fire wood and checking the perimeter. She was so happy to see everyone making friends with each other. They really were like a big dysfunctional family, like Strand had said. She wouldn't let anything or anyone change that. She watched Troy kill a rotter and stomp on it's head, some things don't change.
  "Hey you," Alicia jumped at Victor's voice behind her, "I wasn't making fun of Nick earlier. I was just laughing because I know.."
  "What do you know?"
  "I know that your brother is trying to hide the fact that he's bisexual. I know that he's falling in love with Troy. I assume you can tell too?" Strand tilted his head to the side and waited for Alicia's response.
  "I.. I thought that back at the ranch they seemed to have a connection. My mom doesn't like the thought of.. I don't know. She always says that she would love us no matter what, but our father was the one that was always more acceptable of Nick."
  "I see, well I talked to him about it a little yesterday," Strand smiled, "Listen, I'm not your father, or Nick's. I just want you both to know how special you are. And that you both deserve to be happy, despite your mother's wants. Love is love. Thomas was.. Thomas was the most incredible man, he was that special eye-opening relationship that made me realize. I think that maybe everyone needs those people. They teach us things. I don't want either of you to worry, look at this place."
  "Danger is all around us, even behind walls-"
  "Yes Alicia, you're right. That gives you all the more reason to enjoy your life." Strand hugged her, "To love, to live. Isn't that what we deserve?"
  He walked away before Alicia could respond, but she knew he was right. She knew that Elyza was what she wanted. She was going to find her, and she was going to tell her everything. It was time to be herself, for the first time in a long time. Alicia smiled as she walked past her mom, ignoring her, I won't live my life for you, not anymore.