It's Us Against The World

4. Well, Isn't That Optimistic?

"That's a lot of guns."

"I've had time to collect."

"A whole dresser full?"

"Yep."

"Good lord," I breathed. 

Amethyst laughed, and it forced my lips to smile. Her laugh always started with her shoulders shaking and her covering her mouth. Then, she'd snort, and her laughter would erupt. It was a comforting and sweet sort of laugh that you wouldn't expect from someone who looks like her. But that's what makes it perfect for Amethyst. There's always something unexpected happening when you're with her. 

She looked at me with dangerously dark blue eyes, and I felt my face heat up. "So," she said in her velvety voice. "Pick your poison."

"D-do what now?" I had zoned out studying her eyes and hadn't realized she was talking.

"Pick a gun or weapon, and we'll head out. I've gotta relocate since I see one too many zombies close to here," Amethyst opened up a duffel bag and waited for me to choose. 

I'd never really used a gun before, but I chose a bat with nails sticking out of the end precariously and another handgun. As Amethyst packed the other weapons, she smiled. "That's a Sig Sauger P nine thirty-eight."

"How do you know so much about firearms?" I shrugged my backpack off to pack the bat. 

"My uncle taught me everything I needed to know. He helped me purchase some of these guns. I paid for a couple of them, and others are gifts from him."

"You were close to your uncle. I take it?" I tightened the straps of my backpack. 

Amethyst nodded, smiling at the thought of him. "He was my other best friend. My brother, Roman, was the other. I always hung out with him at the police station," she rubbed her fingers over a tattoo on her wrist. "I'd draw pictures, make him coffee, and help however a little kid could." 

"Is that tattoo in honor of him?" I gestured to the mark she was caressing, and she nodded. I held out my hand to look at it, and she put her arm in my hand. My lips curved into a smile to see a simple, black crown with one word underneath it. "Balter?" I met Amethyst's gaze. 

"It means to dance artlessly without particular grace or skill but usually with enjoyment. My uncle and I, his name was David; we used to dance together whenever we had time. He'd crank up the radio, and we'd just dance for hours and hours," she smiled, her eyes glued to the tattoo. 

"Do you have other tattoos with specific meanings?" I tried to lighten the subject. 

Amethyst looked up at me, and her eyes twinkled."I got my first tattoo on my eighteenth birthday." She turned around and slipped off her jean jacket to reveal a set of angel wings across her shoulder blades. When she turned back around, her face was bright. "I got it with my brother by my side. I was finally out of the house, and my life could begin without anyone stopping me. My wings are no longer clipped." 

"Wow..."

"Yeah." she brushed her hair from her face. "Do you have anything with any meaning?"

I smiled. "I do." I rolled up my sleeve to show a bracelet. "It's from my younger sister. She passed a while ago."

"Oh Kieth, I'm sorry about that," Amethyst soothed.

"It's okay," I sniffled. "It wasn't your fault." My fists balled, and I gripped the sleeves of my sweater.

"Hey, are you okay?" Amethyst tried to look at me. I bit my lip before letting out a long breath.

"Yeah," I said quietly. "I'm okay."  

Amethyst put a hand on my shoulder, which forced my body to look at her. Her eyes were full of so much. They were a sea of emotion and memories, and I was drowning in them. Amethyst's eyes looked as though they held an entire galaxy of stories and life. 

My eyes flitted to her pink lips. They're beautiful with a heavier bottom lip and a soft cupid's bow. Her smile was the most heart-warming thing I'd ever seen. 

"Kieth?" 

I looked up with wide eyes and a red face. "Yes?"

"Are you ready to go?" 

"Yeah," I stood up quickly and cleared my throat. "Let's go."

Walking across the now muddy and wet sidewalk, it was rather quiet. The previous night's rain left the city drenched. I watched Amethyst balance on the edge of the path as we continued down the street. She seemed at ease for the world being taken over by zombies. Then again, she's probably used to chaos. 

We planned to stop at my apartment before finding a new HQ. Amethyst thought it'd be smart to stay in numbers, and I couldn't argue with that. Light clouds left a breeze in the air and the hairs on the back of my neck standing straight. Every sound sent me looking to make sure we weren't under attack.

"You know," Amethyst's voice startled me. "You don't have to hold that thing in a death grip." She gestured to the gun I was holding with raised eyebrows. 

Clearing my throat, I nodded and loosened my grip. We continued down the asphalt. The day was cold and slightly cloudy, but neither of us minded. But, there was a part of me that wondered why Amethyst is scared of thunderstorms. I knew I shouldn't ask, but my mouth opened before I could stop it. "Why are you so scared of thunder?"

Amethyst froze in place, looking at me with an unreadable expression. She clenched her jaw and blinked slowly. "Childhood trauma," she sniffed before following the road. 

I ran after her, my stomach rolling with regret. "Amethyst! Wait!" She stopped. I could feel her anger radiating off of her, and I swallowed. "I didn't mean to say that. The thought came to mind, and I said it before thinking. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you mad, I promise," the words fell from my mouth. 

Her eyes met mine, and she sighed. Her body seemed to deflate as she slumped onto the curb. Without looking at me, Amethyst patted the spot next to her. I sat and chewed my bottom lip. 

"I know you didn't mean to offend me," her eyes were glued to her Doc Martens. "I just got a lot of memories flood back when you asked that. I don't miss my dad, and he was horrible to Roman and me. Every day was a warzone when we came home." Her usually confident voice wavered. "I still feel responsible for my brother's death."

"It's not your fault, Amethyst," I rested a hand on her shoulder. She looked at me, her eyes full of guilt. I wearily opened my arms for a hug, and she wrapped her arms around me. "I'm sorry I made you relive that," I soothed. 

She nodded as we broke apart. With a small smile, she stood and offered her hand to me. I took it, and she pulled me to my feet. I was going to speak before I heard the loudest growl in my existence. Our heads turned down the street in unison. A pack of at least 100 zombies was crawling its way toward us. 

Amethyst sighed. "This is going to end in disaster."

I looked at her with a flat expression. "Well, isn't that optimistic?"

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