Apocalypse

Something Normal

"What are you..." Her voice was barely a whisper as she leaned in too. It was the first time she'd ever felt something like this.

"Shh..." He closed his eyes and kissed her. Her eyes opened wide in shock. She had never been kissed before, but she relaxed and felt butterflies in her stomach. His hand slowly went up to her neck and gently held her head. Nathan was sure about how he felt about her. He knew it when he chalked their encounter up to a dream. She pulled back slowly and met his eyes.

"Nathan..."

"Yeah...?" Did he do something wrong?

"You..do you..?" She didn't know how to ask how he felt. It'd been two days but he'd proved he was better than Justin tenfold. They had just connected, but she was worried she was wrong. She thought back to when she walked in on him and Penny. He had been shirtless and Penny had been flirting. He didn't stop her. Then Penny telling Becca she would check up on Nathan, because Becca couldn't do anything to help. How she collapsed into his arms after her father's speech against her. Just him...

His head was reeling. He knew he wanted Becca. But what was up with Penny? She had been especially tender with him. And when his shirt was off she touched him a lot more...and she left so suddenly.

Becca slipped out of his arms and nearly fell over in exhaustion and emotion.

"I'm sorry..." He said.

"W-why?"

"We only just met... and you're dealing with a lot of loss... and there's somebody else who apparently has already laid claim..."

"No please, you're the most normal thing I've had for the last 2 years. Maybe farther back. I'm not their property, not my father's to give. Please don't be sorry for making me feel like an equal and appreciated for once."

"You're sure?" He looked down and shuffled his feet. She lifted his face up to look at her. She gave a weak smile.

"I am." He smiled and leaned in to kiss her again, but he wasn't going to make her. She blushed and put her arms around his neck, meeting his lips. He smiled behind her lips, arms around her waist.

"Wait... don't you need clothes? And I'm shirtless too... hope nobody comes in." He laughed softly, but kept kissing her.

"I well um..." She hadn't really paid attention to it and quite frankly she didn't care. For once she felt happy. That was all that mattered to her at the moment. Becca pulled back again and ran a hand down Nathan's chest. He winced as she brushed past his bruise and she noticed.

"What is that..." She stepped back slightly, though still in his arms, and stared at the dark bruise.

"It was Justin... He said he was going to teach me a lesson for 'stealing his girl'. We fought and William stepped in. William forced me to come back to camp, while he had Justin go after you..."

"What..." Her face contorted in anger. "I'm gonna teach him a lesson of my own." She walked past him, but stumbled with a sudden headache. Thinking about her anger towards Justin made it hurt too much. He came up behind her and caught her.

"You've done plenty of moving today. Rest. You need it."

"But he-"

"I'll take care of it. C'mon you need to lie down." Nathan moved Becca to the cot and she lay down on her side looking up into his eyes. He kissed her head and brought the sheet over her before sitting down on the stool beside the cot. One hand stroked her hair while the other he offered for her to take. With a sleepy smile, she took it.