Paranoia

Chapter 2: James

I heard the gravel shifting underneath my feet and the chain from my front to back pocket hitting my leg. I was walking up to Jessi from behind with stew in my hand for her. I handed her the bowl made out of flimsy metal, filled to the top with a brown liquid and chunks of rabbit meat, "This is all we have, dont complain about it and finish it. I cooked it for you." I said to her. "Thank," She started before I cut her off, "Dont mention it."

I started to walk over to a lake, it looked black from the night sky reflecting off of it. I looked at Jessi from the corner of my eye, she seems so much like me in a way. Only I don't know much about her, she barely talks to anyone. I caught her one time trying to kill herself, she didn't want to put up with humanity or the fucking demons anymore. She lifted her rifle and pushed it past her pale lips into her mouth slightly with a blank expression. I took the gun from her of course. Who wouldn't have.

I saw her lifting the bowl I brought her to her face, then she sipped from it slightly. The first time I've seen her eat anything in almost two weeks. I wonder what made her want to eat tonight.

I felt my black combat boots slide above the gravel below me as I shifted my weight to my left hand propping me up on the ground. I kept watching Jessi not knowing why I've had curiosity in her. "Should I go over there.. She looks cold.. I could keep her warm some how?" I shook my head from embarrassment, why would I ever think of that. It's just Jessi. She's no one special, just another one of the camp helping us as we go along. "Oh but she is.. she may be the only one that could.. No. she wouldn't be interested in me. I'm just that dick that made it harder for her to live."

I saw her glance over her shoulder at me, this time with an expression of slight worry and curiosity. Is she interested in me? Fuck, no.. why? I looked her back in the eyes from far away, then looked down and toward the water. Don't show emotion. Don't show any fucking thing but justice, ferocity, and defense.

"James.." I heard a soft whisper from behind me. I didn't look back, I didn't reply. It was Jessi. "James..." "What?" I snapped back finally. But she just stood there and looked at me. "What..?" I said a little softer. She looked down at her feet and kept her arms crossed tightly across her chest. I looked back at the lake then down to my hands.