Us Against the Apocalypse

8 - Arlo's Confession

Arlo was spiteful and indifferent, but Leo had said time and time again that it was only a defence mechanism. So, as he stood there with red-tinted cheeks and round eyes, Bluebell couldn't help but feel a tad sympathetic. Harley hummed cheerily from the side, scribbling in his diary as he sat on a rock.

The three of them were out on patrol, making sure that the area was clear of zombies. Leo had asked them seemingly on a whim, but Harley had theorised since that the leader secretly wanted to improve their relationship. Nick had been told to go along too but hadn't shown up, which Bluebell personally was quite pleased about. While Arlo and Harley weren't exactly on speaking terms, neither of them were willing to start any conflict, so kept to themselves.

Bluebell, being the open-minded girl she was, spoke to them collectively, hoping to eventually trigger some kind of conversation.

As of right now, they'd seen no zombies, which had been the most likely outcome from the beginning. The government took them all away at dawn, scarcely leaving any behind.

'You encountering that zombie ages ago was just bad luck,' Arlo maintained, brushing it off whenever Bluebell asked. 'I've only ever seen like two around here.'

'Me even fewer!' Harley added buoyantly.

'I know, but it's still freaky,' Bluebell confessed, scanning the area around them for the umpteenth time. 'They're bound to be out there somewhere, right? And the government won't have got every single one...'

'The forest is huge though,' Harley assured her airily, resting the diary on his knee. Whenever Bluebell saw him writing in his new one, she felt more than slightly guilty, as if she was responsible for it. The diary which she currently had ahold of was back in her cubicle, as she'd decided previously not to take it on patrols.

'Don't let it worry you so much,' Arlo advised skittishly, rinsing his hands in a nearby stream. They'd stopped for a rest after Bluebell suggested it, and now the whole trio were on edge.

Stopping meant that they were even more vulnerable than before, and Harley was the only one who seemed at ease.

Arlo had been pushing back his fear both to make a good impression and possibly comfort Bluebell. His icy demeanour seemed to vanish completely whenever he was afraid, and it wasn't the first time that Bluebell had noticed this.

'Do you guys patrol often?'

Harley was still very much a newcomer, so Bluebell didn't expect much of an answer from him. She didn't get one; the model was far too busy writing and wouldn't know what to say anyway.

'Sometimes.' Arlo's response was vague. 'I don't go much.'

'Why not?'

The breeze whistled its way past them, rustling the trees and snaking through the grass. It came and went, and Arlo had still said nothing.

Bluebell was used to this kind of misfortune, so just accepted it and decided to move on. They'd have to get going soon anyway regardless, so there was no real point in crying over spilled milk.

'Shall we head off?' It was as if Harley could read her mind and he, after finishing the sentence he was writing, got to his feet.

Arlo, who'd been on edge but reluctant to admit it, also stood up with the intention of leaving for the next area. After patrolling for an hour, it was safe to say that the three of them could head home if they wanted to. That was a decision they'd have to make together, but Bluebell had a feeling that doing so wouldn't be easy.

'Do you guys wanna head back?'

'Sure!' Harley answered enthusiastically.

One down, one to go.