More Than Just Surviving

Pretty

Elyza's POV
"Is your camp far from here?" I hear Madison say from the back seat.
"I would say about 45 minutes at the most" Raven replies from beside me. Time is just what I needed to figure out how I would lead this conversation with my mom and Kane. Given the high alert they have been on since the previous patrol their reaction could vary in a million different ways. We did have plenty of room back at the hotel and food supply was okay given that groups would go out far in search of it and return with loads packed in trucks and the small garden starting to grow day by day. However, keeping our place on the down low was something I didn't want to accept and my mother didn't give me any other choice. Shaking my head I looked down at the notebook Monty had written down everyone's answers to the questions asked that I would have to hand in upon arrival. Feeling a hand on my arm I looked over to Raven who kept one hand on the wheel and her gaze on the road.
"What the hell is that?"
Following her gaze a figure stood looking towards the ocean. Squinting and telling Raven to keep going forward slowly I sighed in relief and let out a chuckle.
"Who is it?" Madison asked leaning forward between the two front seats.
"Jasper I guess he got bored" Raven replied stopping the car as I shook my head and opened the door stretching my legs out and sighed.
"Hey Jasper you couldn't entertain yourself for one day?" I called causing him to jump and turn around pulling him away from his deep thoughts.
"I couldn't find Monty or any of you so I came on a walk." He shrugged and grinned. He walked over and nudged me to scoot over.
"No way go to the trunk." I pushed back playfully to which he pushed me aside harder and took a seat on half of the seat. I heard Alicia chuckle causing me to peer back at her, she was looking up from her own journal smiling slightly. A contagious smile definitely I returned it and looked over at Madison as well.
"This is Jasper. He's from the camp and he's notorious for sneaking past the guards at the fences." I say as they both nodded.
"You walked pretty far this time Jasp didn't you bump into like two zoos on your way here?" Raven asked keeping her eyes on the road.
"I will tell you how I got past them if you give me that Hershey's bar you hid in your room two days ago. And don't tell me it's gone because I think we both know the answer to that." He replied making me look at him confused as to why he would know that.
"What! That's the last one I got we haven't been on a trip in weeks I don't care that much about how you crossed"
"Fine suit yourself just know you're missing out on a great story" He replied and looked back to the two women in the back seat.
"It is nice to meet you both. I know you two must be great considering Lex over here let you get his far."
"Let us?" I hear Alicia say in an annoyed tone which makes me slap the boys chest  next to me who lets out a groan.
"I'm sorry let me rephrase that. Thought you were good enough people to give you a chance" I sighed and smacked him in the back of the head and turned to both of them.
"I'm sorry don't listen to him he hasn't interacted with new people in months." I said not want them to think they had to solely depend on me for being able to stay at the camp.
"Yea yea don't listen to me" Jasper said "She's definitely your type Lex. Pretty and feisty?"He said under his breath smirking at Raven who shook her head fighting a smile threatening to spread through her lips. Rolling my eyes in response.
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"You took too long"
"I know Lincoln I'm sorry we kinda bumped into some complications on the way here"
Hearing Octavia and Lincoln talking in the distance brought questioning glances at me from the two ladies in the back seat.
"That's Lincoln he's one of the main guards here practically the leader in that realm." I say waiting for them to nod before I hop out of the stopped car chuckling seeing Jasper run towards the jeep Monty was in.
"We're sorry Lincoln did anyone notice?" I ask as he finishes opening the gate allowing both jeeps to drive in.
"Not yet but it's getting dark I have no doubt they will soon." He replies closing the gate after Octavia and I walked through.
"Thank you O owes you one" I smirked as Octavia turned bright red and Lincoln showed his rare huge grin.
"Yea I guess I do. Thanks again Linc" Nodding Lincoln walked towards the new guards switching shifts and noting down who showed up.
"Alright well Jasper took my seat so I'm with you again blondie."
"Fine by me but be nice"
"I'm always nice" stopping in my tracks before we got in the car I grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"You're stiff as ever around them I know they're complete strangers but just loosen up a bit O. And trust me on this I think they are good for the most part" Keeping her features as serious as ever I could tell she was in deep thought and the bottom line was I know my mothers preaches about not letting in new people affected her in a different way much more than any of us.
"I'll try" she mumbled.
"That's all I ask" Giving her a reassuring smile I hoped in the front seat scooting over for Octavia.
"Alright Rae lead us to the queen" Octavia said leaning back and looking out the window particularly in Lincolns direction.
"Why did do you guys keep some infected trapped? What's the point of it?" Madison questioned her tone sounding like she had been itching to ask the question.
"Well like we said before they did it to deflect people away no one wants to jump a fence into that especially if they encounter another fence later on with the same situation. Discouragement at its finest I suppose is what Kane was going for."
"Why do you say that? Do you not agree with how your own people work?" Alicia asked following in suit of her mothers tone I turned to see her face to face as opposed to looking through the mirror.
"I guess I don't. I think we should all work together in solving this not fight against each other but then again I live in an imaginary world most of the time" I chuckled followed by Raven.
"She was going to go to Berkeley back in California. She would have made that place her kingdom I just know it." Raven said smiling proudly.
"I just got accepted. It doesn't mean I was going there"
"I got accepted there too." Alicia smiled looking up at me.
"Well we would have met one way or another it appears" Raven snorted at my response and shook her head.
Stopping abruptly I looked forward to the hotel before us and followed Octavia in suit and jumped out waiting for the others to do so as well.
"I'll introduce you all to-"
"Elyza can you please explain to us where you've been?" Sighing I turned around to meet my mothers gaze and shook my head. Hoping she would be in a good mood was out of the question.
"We went? to the strip to grab some supplies and we bumped into some guests." I reply as composed as I can be.
"I see that."
"Why didn't you radio this in?" Kane spoke up. Walking up from behind my mother to stand next to her.
"Because I didn't feel the need to Kane. I'm well aware of what a good person is or at least who you accept into this place. Consider this a favor for not making you come down there." I smirked handing over the notebook and looking over my shoulder to make sure they were all still behind me. Making eye contact with Alicia and giving her a reassuring smile as well as the others I turned back to face Kane who nodded and motioned us to follow.
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"We look forward to get to help out here. We appreciate this very much" Madison said walking next to my mother as she led her and Strand to the level where most adults and families stayed.
"So Alicia, Ofelia, it's up to you would you like to have a room next to us cool people or would you like to room with your crew?" Raven asked as we distance ourselves from the adults.
"I don't know about her but I need my own room" Ofelia said chuckling as Raven smiled in return nodding.
"Great! I got just the room for you! It's at the end of the hall next to mine" Tugging Ofelia away Raven made her way past us grabbing Octavia to follow them as well. Sighing I turned to Alicia who sighed in return and chuckled.
"Well she didn't let me respond but a room to myself sounds like a dream right now"
"I bet, you can take the room next to mine if you want. It's pretty cozy I made sure to put it on reserve but I can make an exception today."
Raising her eyebrow she looked at me up and down then nodded.
"Wow. I am so honored." Her voice somewhat monotoned with a hint of amusement
"As you should be" Shooting her a wink I motioned her to follow me walking into the direction Raven had disappeared into.