Survival: Book One

Chapter Twenty Three: Alicia

  "It's been a day and a half, I'm eating," Blake sighed and tried to roll over on the bloodied couch, "I'm getting up." Elyza smacked his hand and shook her head, making him rest, she was watching him like a hawk. Alicia had tried and tried  to get her to sleep last night, but Elyza refused. She told herself not to feel jealous of the hurt boy on the couch, getting all of the attention from Elyza.
  There hasn't been any movement outside, there hadn't been any indication that the threat was still present. Madison and Strand had been keeping guard and letting the kids tend to Blake. There was enough food and water for a week, after that, they would have to venture out for fresh supplies. Their plans of gardening had been stopped by the roamers. That was another problem all on it's own.
  "I know they're still out there, they're just playing it smart. Like we would," Elyza said, her tone was panicked and frustrated, "They are trying to starve us out! We cannot chance it."
  "If we don't chance it, eventually we will starve, and they'll get exactly what they want," Alicia was finally alone with her for the first time today.  Blake was asleep again and they hopefully could have a few minutes with each other. "Look at me," Alicia was still shy around her, but Elyza's need for support was making her take the lead. Elyza looked at her with tears streaming down her cheeks, "How much have you slept?" Alicia asked, wiping the tears away from her delicate face, "Lyza, stop crying. Come here," she was sobbing now, "Honey, stop, you'll wake him."
  "I haven't slept," Elyza buried her face in Alicia's flannel shirt, "I was too scared I would wake up to him turning or dead... I can't lose him or.. or anyone else," she looked up, her face reddened and sleepy, "I've lost too much. The things I've done..."
  "It's okay, it's okay. It's going to be okay."
  "I should have never.... have ever, ever gotten you into this. My old ghosts.." Elyza wiped tears and sat up, pretending not to cry. She shook her head slowly.
  "You're not making any sense, you need to sleep. I can watch over B while you take the time to catch up on rest," Alicia sighed, she wouldn't look at her, "Lyza, turn around. I will take all of your ghosts. All of your issues, I can carry them too. You told me I didn't have to be alone anymore. That same idea goes for you, don't you see that?" Alicia pulled Elyza's face over to look at her, "Don't you see that I care for you? All of you."
  Elyza's eyelids closed and she kissed Alicia gently. Her hand was on Alicia's waist, and they sat together for a moment, breathing each other in. The sunshine peaked through blanket covered windows, making Elyza's hair glow in the shadows. Alicia felt her stomach grow nervous as they grew closer. She pulled back, scared to let herself go any further, not yet. "I think I can sleep now," Elyza tried to stand up and stumbled over, "Woah, I think I'll sleep right here actually," she fell over into Alicia's lap and closed her eyes, "Please wake me if..." 
  She was out, almost snoring immediately from the exhaustion. Alicia felt her lips, the feeling of kissing Elyza always seemed to linger for moments. Some sort of electric connection their bodies had, it felt like their souls could have transcended through time and space just to be with one another. She took advantage of each moment they had together, every kind gesture and comment.
  Alicia still hadn't entirely figured her out, there were things that Elyza had kept guarded from her. She wanted to give her time, they had known each other just weeks, though it felt like an eternity. Alicia was tired of waiting. Elyza's tough personality was there for a reason. She wondered what happened to her, she wanted desperately to help her somehow. Alicia ran her fingers through blonde hair and smiled, I'm falling for this girl.
 

  Blake was up and walking around later that day, he wasn't going to listen to Alicia. She had tried to stop him but Elyza was asleep, and they both agreed together that she needed to stay that way.
  "Where's Troy and your brother?" Blake asked, trying to make small talk with her. His face had gotten it's color back and you could see a light in his eyes again. Alicia couldn't help but remember how much Marie resembled her big brother.
  "Been locked up in that room all god damn afternoon," Alicia looked over at Madison and lowered her voice, "No idea honestly."
  "Elyza is still asleep," Blake looked down, "What am I supposed to say to her? She saved my life again, hell, she has saved my life more times than I care to even admit."
  "I don't think you need to worry, just a simple thank you would be suffice. Even if you didn't thank her she would know, any of us would do the same for each other. We are all here together, Blake," Alicia smiled, she was trying to make friends. She wasn't sure if this was the time, with a possible group still outside. What else were we to do? Can't go outside or to the second cabin.
  "Mom, come eat."
  "Please, save it for your brother or someone else. I'm fine right now." Madi smiled at her, trying to force a good mood, Alicia could see the worry written all over her.
  "Okay... but you have to keep your strength up, just like the rest of us," Alicia said, trying to whisper. She wondered if her mom would be finding out about Elyza. Madison wouldn't approve and it scared Alicia. She was just going to have to deal with it, if her daughter was happy, she should be happy. Madison was about appearances before, but things are different now.
  "We need to go out there Alicia," Madison said, "We have to get more supplies and see what we're dealing with. The roamers aren't going to leave unless we move them ourselves. Troy should help with that-" Madison stopped, realizing she was just about to make a rude, degrading joke against what had happened at the ranch.
  "Why would you even talk about that now mom? Do you still have a problem with him? After every fucking thing he's done for this group, for our family?" Alicia slammed the plate she was holding, unable to hold her tongue. "I kissed Elyza," she blurted out, unafraid of her mother's opinions.
  "You what? Why-" Madison was dumbfounded by the random statement, "Are you with  her?"
  Blake spat out his coffee, "Alicia, maybe you should wait," he touched her arm, "Elyza's asleep-"
  "No," Alicia raised her voice and flinched away from him, "No, this is not waiting."
  "Licia what's wrong? Why are you yelling?" Nick and Troy had came out from the bedroom, looking sleepy and nervous. Troy pulled his shirt over his head, observing what was happening in the living room silently.
  "Nothing is wrong, everything is right. I think it makes mom feel the need to stir the shit pot-"
  "Calm down, you don't have to cuss at me Alicia," Madison stood up, "I'm not trying to make things worse, I have no idea what you mean-"
  "You have a problem with Troy?" Alicia's face was red and furious, "You have a problem with me being happy?"
  "No, Alicia, that's not what I said," Madison tried to go on but Alicia held up her hand.
  "You didn't have to say anything,"
  Elyza had been stirred awake by the commotion. She sat on the floor, waiting for a response from Alicia's mother. When she said nothing, Elyza stood up, "Look, ma'am, I'm sorry..."
  Madison glared at her, "There isn't any need to apologize, this clearly is not my business. I just feel a little left out, that's all."
  "Well," Alicia laughed, "Now you know how I've felt my whole god damn life!" She threw her hands in the air, suddenly embarrassed by her own behavior. This could have waited, but why? Why should this family keep secrets from one another? In this situation, trapped, they never knew when their last day would be. Alicia wanted to tell the entire world her news, because it was good news in her eyes. "You know," she looked over at Nick and he shook his head, mouthing for her to wait. "You know that Nick likes Troy, right? I mean have you been paying attention to your children?"
  Nick sighed, "Here we fucking go,"
  "I think maybe we should all just calm down," Strand eyed the boys, assuring them he could handle this, "There are seven of us in a two bedroom cabin, unable to leave. It's been three days and things are getting tense, I know. Alicia, I see what you're trying to do here but it needs to wait. You're upsetting Madi-"
  "I'm upsetting her?  She just threw Troy under the bus for something he did months ago! I told her I kissed someone and she had a negative, annoyed response! What do you expect? I'm still a fucking kid  in some ways, you know?!" Alicia lowered her voice, it cracked as she spoke, "I need my fucking mom, I need her to listen to me without placing judgments. You can all think I am over reacting, cool."
  "You're stressed, we're all on edge," Strand said, "Nobody thinks you're over reacting." No one else was talking. Alicia's speech had silenced the entire room. Troy was hiding in a bedroom with Blake, they had felt awkward and stepped out during the argument.
  "Alicia is right, though," Nick carefully spoke, "You do need to hear her out more, mom, you can't just lead. You have to be there-"
  "I am there." Madison was offended, she probably felt as if they were attacking her, "I'm right here. But I have to keep you all safe. This is not the time for love and-"
  "Oh my god, so that's it then?" Alicia put her hands on her hips, Elyza had come to her side, trying to calm her down, "So we just survive and let go of everything else that makes us human?"
  "I don't want either of you getting hurt, Alicia, please hear my side of this." Madison said, trying to hold herself together.
  Alicia felt no pity for her, she only saw her mother's cold heart written all over her face, she was lying. "I don't believe you. You've never accepted the fact that Nick is bisexual, now that shit hits the fan and he finds someone- When you care about people now, hurt is part of the package. Remember? Don't you miss Travis? You don't want that for us?"
  "Alicia stop, this isn't about me." Nick said, looking embarrassed, "Please stop, you're making her cry.."
  "I'm sorry, I know." Alicia turned around, "I need to get out of this cabin, Elyza." Madison stormed off into the bedroom and Strand followed her. "Nick, I'm sorry... It just, it just came out." Nick nodded and hugged her, squeezing his sister and holding her for a moment.
  "You were standing up for Troy, the rest of it needed to be told anyway. Thank you for having my back, sis. Feels like we're back in Los Angeles, fighting over who gets to watch their show on the television," he smiled, hugging her one last time, "Plus, you just did the hard part for me. I am officially out of the closet."
  She laughed and blushed, well, apparently we both just came out.