This Is The End (ON HOLD)

Chapter 6: Rejection

We headed down the road, the gravel crushing under my boots. It was hot, and everyone--including me--were dripping with sweat. I looked in my backpack to take out my phone to check the time, but it was gone. Probably got lost during the car crash, I thought to myself. After 30 more minutes of walking and sweating, Mike finally said, "Okay everyone. I think it's time for a break. Now, Elizabeth--"

"It's just Ellie." I interrupted him. He had a pained look on his face.

"Okay, Ellie. You said you had food and water?" He said.

I nodded. "Plenty of it. Maybe enough to share for 75% of the group."

He smiled and said, "Great! Okay, everybody line up in front of Ellie!"

Suddenly, people rushed in front of me. The first person in line was, of course, Jake. I smiled and unzipped my backpack.

"Hey." Jake said. He looked exhausted.

I handed him the water bottle and bag of food. "Hi." I said with a smile.

He stared at me for a second. I furrowed my brows. "What?"

Jake worriedly said, "Are you okay? You have a few cuts and wounds." He gently ran his finger on a big cut on my forehead. I winced.

He quickly pulled his finger away. "Yeah, I'm fine. I have a bandaid in my--"

"Hurry up!" Someone said. Jake and I laughed in unison.

"Well, bye." He said. I waved and continued to hand out food and water.

* * *

"Shhh..." Mike whispered.

Everyone stopped moving as we saw a few "things" pass by.

"We call'em walkers." A voice from behind me said. I turned my head around. The man had a thick country accent.

"Walkers?" I asked as we started to walk again. He nodded.

"Mmmhmmm." He said. "The name's Carl." He took his hand out to shake. I shook his hand like I usually did, but he violently shook it. I pulled my hand away.

Slowly, I walked away from him. I sighed and continued walking. There were more signs and arrows saying "Terminus is this way".

I smiled at the thought of a safe place to rest again. Then I thought of how Marco, my butler, was doing. Eventually, my thoughts led me to my mother. I could have saved her. My dad could have saved her! But he was a coward, and I'll never forgive him for that...

No Ellie, I thought. Don't think of the past. Think of the future. I slowly shook my head and furrowed my brows.

How could I not think of the past? It's all I've ever had. I don't even know if I'll make it out alive...

I sighed and continued walking along until it was almost dark. Then, everyone stopped for a break because they were obviously exhausted. "I think we should set up camp now." Mike said, less enthusiastically than earlier.

Everyone nodded and moved into the forest. I had never gone camping, so I had no idea what was going on. I mean, people were actually collecting cans! What would you use a can for?

At least the tents made sense. I helped put blankets in the tents and when we finished setting up camp, it was nighttime. I looked into the tent I was assigned and smiled. Jake was already sitting in it.

He looked up from a book he was reading and said, "Hi."

I paused for a moment and said, "Does this mean we have to share?"

He nodded. I smiled and stepped inside. "How many people are allowed in each tent?" I asked.

"Well, there are 10 people in this group now. And if there are 5 tents, then that means 2 people in each tent." He said and then he realized it was just gonna be me and him.

A smile widened across his face. Great, I thought.

I mean, don't get me wrong, Jake is a great guy. He's handsome, athletic, and a gentlemen. But, I made a vow that I was too young to date, and that I would never do it again. (At least at this age.)

And, to be honest, I don't really think I'm good at keeping relationships...

The whole time in the tent he was smirking and talking, expecting me to join him. Finally, I decided to say, "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted. Guess I'll just go to sleep now."

He nodded and said, "Wait, Elizabeth."

I furrowed my brows. "It's just Ellie. Won't anyone get that right?"

He sighed and said, "Ellie, one second. You have something on your shirt."

I looked down, and he put his head where I was looking, and kissed me. I gasped and almost had a panic attack.

He tried to kiss me by using the, "You've got something on your shirt" trick.

I placed my finger on my lips, where he kissed me. I looked at him. His face was sad, like he was rejected.

"I-I'm sorry, but I don't like you in that way. I mean, we just met. But, are we still friends?" I said.

He nodded and fell asleep. I sighed in relief and fell asleep too.

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Hey guys! Sorry that there wasn't any action in this chapter, it was like a filler to give you some backstory and stuff like that. But I know sometimes when there is too much action, it gets kind of boring. Also, not enough action gets boring too. For example, too much creamer in coffee doesn't taste good. But then again, too much coffee than creamer doesn't taste good either. Don't worry, there will be some action in the next chapter! ;) Again, sorry for the slow updates and such, but I have been really busy these past weeks, and I have gotten short breaks in between to pick up my iPad mini and start writing. Also, I am sorry for the short chapter. Anyways, love you guys and show me some love by voting, commenting, and sharing this chapter!

-Sara