All That We Are...

Chapter 19

Rolling off this tiny ass cot I stand to get ready. As uncomfortable as that bed is I actually got a decent nights sleep. It might be from the small talk Henley and I had late yesterday. She seemed very understanding when I told her I needed to take the question asking slow and we both agreed with being just friends. I'm pretty sure we can be friends I just need to not think about her inappropriately anymore.

"Oh good your awake. Ready to get this done with?" Max says walking into the barn as I finish getting everything ready.

"Ya man I'm good." Getting ready to push my bike out he stops me.

"Dad thinks it will be better to take the jeep. Keep us all together."

"Yeah that sounds alright with me." Walking past him. I'm just ready to get this over with. I don't think anything is going to come out of this trip but Roger has never gone so someone needs to watch over him. When I get outside I see Henley hugging her dad her head barley reaching the bottom of his chin. Going straight to the jeep stuffing my things in the back.

"Weren't going to say goodbye." Turning around to face her I sit on the back of the jeep almost making me eye level with her. Her eyes are bloodshot with red around them like she's been wiping her tears away. Rubbing the pad of my thumb under her eye she smiles a little and I pull my hand away.

"I don't like to say bye. Goodbye seems so permanent. We all will be back sooner then you think. Its going to be okay." I'm trying to ease her sadness. Two of the main people in her life are leaving together with uncertainty of what we all are getting ourselves into.

"Just keep an eye on them." She glances over at her brother and father. Standing up off the tailgate I shut the jeeps back hatch. Then turn to take a step  to stand in front of her placing my hands on her shoulders.

"Nothings going to happen to any of us. So take that sad look off your face. Everything's going to be fine." Its not exactly the truth. I don't know how this going to go, none of us do. Wrapping her arms around my waist placing her head on my chest. I tense a little and then begin rubbing my hands on her shoulders.

"Just be careful, I mean that for you as well." Her voice vibrates through me. Causing my heart to speed up knowing she's worried about not just her family but about me. I pull her away before she can hear my heart slamming on my chest.

"Come on guys we got to get going." I holler and watch Max walk to the jeep while Roger emerges from the house. Looking back down at Henley I give her a reassuring smile and turn for the jeep.

"See you later Carter?" I know she means to just say it but it sounds more like a question.

"Yes Henley I'll see you later." Getting in the back of the vehicle I take a deep breathe. I won't admit it but I have a feeling it's not going to be a quick in and out trip like we have had in the past.

When we get on the main road we go towards the same way I've traveled so many times in the past month. Everything looks the same. The houses along the streets look abandoned, grass is over grown and dry. A few empty cars are here and there pretty much all out of gas mainly from us. It's really insane how much the world has changed. Just a month ago people where coming home to cooked meals, clean laundry and even a family that missed them. Then pretty much in the blink of an eye you think you've got some cold or stomach bug and then you end up wanting to eat your family instead of cook for them. It's all fucked up really, the whole unknown and not knowing what's going to happen next.

Keeping my eyes out the window I watch as houses turn to trees for miles it feels like all we see is nothing. Pulling off On a dirt road I lean forward.

"Woohoo I thought we were going to a radio station not on some creepy ass dirt road." I say to Roger.

"No we are going to a radio tower. It's an old ranger tower actually. Eric was hoping we could communicate with at least someone but I'm thinking maybe we can reach my..wife or someone from her department with this." He pulls out a radio phone looking thing. That must if been what Henley was talking about.