The Apocalypse: The First Year

Naked Truths

"Who's bright idea was it to go camping?" My mom asks as me and Glen set up our tents.

"Spencers!" Glen turns and says. I punch him in the arm. "Ow." He shrieks. Turning to me with a smile.

"Way to throw me under the bus."

"Well it waaaaas your idea." He shrugs and walks around to hammer the other side of the tent into the ground.

"I don't remember anyone protesting when I suggested it last week."

"Well in theory, it sounded like a great idea." My mom says, slapping at another mosquito that landed on her leg.

"Try this honey." My dad says tossing her the bug repellant.

"We should have gone to the batting cages." Glen says, standing and shaking his head.

"You love the outdoors, shut up." I playfully slap at him.

"Nope. I love you." He says in his big brother voice and smiles, then touches my nose with his index finger and quickly pulls back.

"I'm not a baby, Glen, stop doing that!" I whine and he ruffles my hair.

"You're my baby sister so..." He trails off and shrugs and leaves to help out mother set up her tent.

"Having fun yet?" My dad ask coming and taking a seat next to me in front of my tent.

"Mhm." I nod and smile.

"Good." He leans over and kisses my forehead. "How about some fishing son." My dad calls out to Glen who perks up.

"Yeah!" He says excitedly.

"Can I come?" I ask my dad as he stands.

"Not this time Spence." He says looking down at me.

"Why noooot?" I stand and pout.

He bends down to eye level with me and says, "I promise next time." And kisses my cheek.

"Okay." My fourteen year old form nods.

–

"Now you just wanna do it like this, and then throw it gently into the water." Ashley says into my ear.

"Like this?" I ask, trying to do everything she's told me so far. She chuckles a bit then answers.

"If had a real rod I could teach you better." Ashley says as she stands behind me and helps me throw the make-shift fishing line into the creek again."

"Can I ask you something?" I turn my head slightly and ask. Her lips are a mere breath from my cheek and I have to compose myself when I feel her breathing pick up.

"Sure." She says and swallow thickly.

"Who are you? Like really?" I ask. She sighs and back up from me, taking the rod out of my hand and walking over to a rock near the creek and sitting down as she cast the line back into the water.

"You wouldn't like the answer." She says after a moment.

"We all have our pasts, I wouldn't judge you for yours." I tell her as I take a seat next to her on the rock. She keeps her eyes focused on the rope in the water. I don't push her to give me an answer. We just sit and listen to the water.

"My parent's weren't in the military." She says finally, breaking the silence. My head shoots in her direction.

"Who were they?" I ask softly.