New family, New Love

Chapter Six

- Two Days Later -
Nick's POV
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The whole two days we've been in this safe room, Ellie never really left Ellis' side. She was worried about him and always wanted to help in anyway she could and I was proud of her for being such an big help with Ellis. It was time to go, we gathered our things and left the safe house. I noticed Ellis has been remaining as close as he can to me as well. He'll lay on me when we sleep, He asks me to go with him when we would leave the safe house for the bathrooms. Last night I was up thinking, All my teenager and young adult years I had this feeling that I was slightly gay, maybe even Bisexual. But meeting my ex wife, that feeling went away. But after she left Ellie and I, that feeling came back. Meeting Ellis, gave me this feeling that I felt when I first met my ex wife. I then realized that I have fallen for the southern boy. It terrifies me to fall for another person, but I know he wouldn't hurt a fly. I just don't know if he is gay and even if that, I don't know if he would feel the same.

We looked at the mall, which was empty and quiet. "There's nobody here" I said, angry and upset. We got into the elevator and went to the first floor, Ellis staring out to where Jimmy Gibbs Jr's stock car was. "What's on your mind Ellis?" Rochelle asked, all of our attention went to him. "Y'all remember those ads we saw on the way in? I think I have an idea on how to get us some wheels" he said. I smiled as he thought of a plan that the rest of us probably wouldn't even think of. But then the smile faded as we all realized that we would need to gas up the car, infected would come after us and I don't know how we could protect Ellie and have her keep up as we run. "Guys what are we gonna do with Ellie? She can't run as fast as we do because we're getting gas cans that are all over this part of the mall" I said, concerned about my daughter's safety. "We can put her in the car, make sure she hides so no infected will see her. They'll smell her but they will be confused as to why they can't find the human they smell, we can cover her with something and lay her on the backseat or even the floor" Rochelle said. I nodded and as soon as we got off the elevator, I brought Ellie to the car and put her in, covering her with my suit jacket, There was a blanket in the backseat, I didn't bother to even wonder why it would be in this stock car. I covered Ellie as best as I could and she laid on the floor, she didn't want to be seen by the infected and she didn't want to look at them. "BabyGirl you stay here, no matter what Do Not get out of this car until I say so or until we all come in the car" I said, hoping she'd understand that she was to not leave this car until I said so or until we leave. She nodded, fear in her eyes but she tried to remain calm. "I'll come back I promise honey. I love you" I said, and kissed her forehead. She laid down and I closed the door and ran away, looking for gas cans.

I found four gas cans sitting next to each other, I grabbed one by one and threw them down next to the car and continued my search for gas cans. I found some pain pills and adrenaline shots along the way as well. I stuffed them in my bag and continued the search for gas cans. Once we had all the gas cans we all ran down back to the car, Ellis was filling the car up with gas. Just before the second to last can was even picked up, a loud roar was heard throughout the mall. We looked and saw this big, muscular infected with its body bigger then it's head. "Holy shit what is that thing?!" Ellis asked in a panic toned, I start shooting at it and it came running at me, I backed up but the big infected swung at me, throwing me across the mall. I heard the group scream for me, I laid there in pain, soon feeling dizzy and then I slipped into unconsciousness.

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*Ellis' POV*
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We watched as Nick got thrown by this big ass zombie, we had no names for these special infected. There's a few that are different from the normal zombies. I screamed for Nick as he was thrown far, across the mall. We start shooting at the Big, strong infected. He came running at us but soon died, falling forwards with one last loud roar and flopped to the ground. I ran to Nick right away, grunting as it still hurt a little but I didn't care, I just needed to make sure Nick was okay and to get us out of here.
"Coach start the car!" I said, he nodded running to the drivers side and getting in, Rochelle moved the seat so I could put Nick in the back, Ellie was sitting behind Coach, I put Nick in first and then got in. Rochelle got in quickly after putting her seat back up and we drove out of the mall. I felt my heart pounding. From running but also from fear about Nick being injured. I checked his pulse, it's still there. I checked his breathing, It was slow but it was there. He had bruises on his stomach and back from being thrown and hitting a wall. I couldn't do anything else until he woke up. I don't think I can give him pain pills while he's unconscious because he'll choke. I think. So I just have to wait until he wakes up and then I can help him.

I silently cried as I felt if he had died, i would lose half my heart. I held him as if my life depended on it.
Rochelle had Ellie upfront with her. Yes she shouldn't have her up in front like that because it's dangerous, but she was distracting Ellie from the heartbreak because her dad is injured. She told Ellie that her dad was sleeping. It's wrong to lie to the girl but she worried so much already and she cried enough because of her fears of losing either of us. Including her dad. I couldn't help but wonder why I felt so sad that Nick was injured. I tried putting all the pieces together to figure why I been so attached to the man lately. I go wherever he goes, I stick by his side almost every minute of everyday that we're together. I help him out with Ellie a lot. Then I realized. I like him. Like, I fell in love. I just never realized it until now. I sighed and mentally face palmed, I don't even know if he's gay! And even if that, he wouldn't go for someone like me. I brushed through his hair that was growing, and I smiled sadly looking at him. I love this man, but I don't think he will ever love me the way I love him. I sighed as I sat there, looking out of the car window as we passed by an ocean of water, the sun setting and the birds flying around the ocean, flying with each other. I smiled as it gave me a peaceful feeling. But that feeling ended when I felt the person in my lap shift, and sit up. Groaning as he sat up. "What happened" he asked, I looked over and he was holding his head. I gave him some pain pills and a bottled water. He quickly took the pain pills and drank the water. "You were thrown by this big infected. You went unconscious. We're fine now, Ellie is sitting up front with Rochelle because Ro didn't want Ellie more sad or panicked then she already was." I explained everything to him, he nodded. "Did you bring me to the car?" He asked, I nodded and he hugged me, it was unexpected but I hugged back. "Thank you" he said, I smiled and nodded.

"Where are we heading?" Nick asked, speaking to Coach and Rochelle as well hoping someone would answer.

"New Orleans" Coach replied. "Hopefully we can get out of here safely" Rochelle said. We all agreed.