To survive without them

chapter 16- Chace POV

 I saunter down the street, jogging in the shadows that  have yet become a part of day. I scoot along till I get to my old flat.

Up the old carpeted blue stairs and onto the 5th floor. I kick down the door and run into the familiar lounge room.

Mum's black leather couch sits in the center with my black beanbag sprawled on the floor next to it. A box of video games shoved in a wooden basket sits on-top of the TV. Memories of the warm nights spent here with mum before the virus, huddle in front of the television watching Neighbours or Home and Away.

Cardboard boxes are piled in the corner, still unpacked from when we moved to Australia. We had moved here when my father died of a car accident. Mum wanted a change of pace from the big streets of New York, she always used to believe coming to Australia would solve everything, and ice cream, she used to eat tubs full of it.

I run to my room and huddle on my bed, hugging my stuffed dinosaur from when I was five. It is the only thing I feel comfortable with telling my problems to. I sob and sob and sob for about ten minutes when I am done my eyes are stiff and stinging and my nose runs like crazy. I can't leave now and let the tribe see me like this especially Abagail.

I cross my legs and sit teds up infront of  me.

" What the hell is wrong with me?

she told me she liked me, that's all I have ever wanted to hear

why did I run away, why the hell did I come home, when its on the other side of the stinking city.

I love Abagail so why did I run

I should have kissed her

she probably hates my guts now, probably will never speak to me again."

I blab on and on in my head, going through my life with my stuffed bear. I guess I pretend not to remember it, remember what he said, just keep my mind on Abagail and US not HIM and HER.

Taylor can be so nice when it is needed, fixing her up, volunteering to stay with her while I scrounged for food and tried to keep us and his stupid pack of 'lost boys' alive. Then he turns around and says  that.

---------------------------------flashback----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I sit on the concrete floor next to the couch where Abagail continues to sleep in a heap.

My hand tightly wound around hers when ever I get back from getting food for the others, never actually eating it myself, never leaving her side but to keep JAcob, Patch and Curly alive. I try to let Chris in on the deal as well as he is being really good to Curly and Patch.

Taylor throws himself down beside me, scooting closer and tucking in his long legs.

"She is beautiful isn't she?" he probes, how dare he.

"Yeah" I grunt not taking my eyes off Abagail's face.

"Her lips are soft, did you know that?"

"No, how the hell would you no anyway Taylor?" I turn to face him.

"We dated for like six months" he mumbles a slow grin snaking onto his face. She never told me that.

"You know what that means mate?" he probes again.

I shake my head.

"Stay away from Abagail. She is taken. Why would she even date you, look at yourself. Touch her and I see it I will visit my poison supplier and this time it will be used on the right person."

I gape at him. He is threatening to kill me if I love Abagail. Too late.

"Got it yank" he snarls.

Oh no he didn't. No one discriminates my nationality. I shake my head, anger bottling up inside me.

"I'm going" he stands up and walks to the door a backpack slung over his shoulder " to get her some more medicine and to catch up with a few people, don't your dare touch her" he storms out.

-------------------------------------------end of flash back-----------------------------------------------------------------

How could I be scared of him, he is small and weak and not even worth my time. I will do want I want.

I rush out of the house, scraping together some food at the same time, raiding the pantries and the twins lolly stash.

I run through the street, the sun starting to set over the skyscrapers in the city center.

I snake my way back to the apartment and run up the stairs.

Bursting through the door to see Abagail filling a backpack with weapons and food, along with some little red head kid, who I remember his name as Tweeks. She looks up  and gives me a weak smile before returning to her packing.

I stroll over to her and dump the food into her backpack.

"Thanks" she whispers in a shaky voice.

"Where are you going?" my voice cracking slightly.

"To find Taylor, he should have been back by now" she zips up the backpack and flings it over her shoulder, Tweeks doing the same. Walking towards the door I just came in.

"Why"

"Because he is a friend and he is part of this group"

"Who are you going with"

"Tweeks and I, we need to stay small and quiet, Tweeks is the best kid for the job, he volunteered"

"I could come if you want"

"I wouldn't want you to stay away from Curly and Patch" she shrugs. IN other words, no I don't want you to come.

"Okay, promise to be careful, if your not back in two days I am coming for you"

"Yes......Please" she shrugs her bag and closes the door behind her.

"Wait" I yell after her bounding down the steps; I walk straight up to her.

"Thisisforbefore,Iamsosorry" I pant out, not sure if she heard it probably I leaned in and kissed her lips.

Taylor is right they are soft. HEr face stiffens then relaxes. I pull away.

"goodluck" I pant and run back up the stairs.

Time to hear of Curly's latest Barbie Doll fantasy.