Hi, sorry for the mistakes found in here, this is basically my beta test for this story to see if it's going anywhere so please feel free to tell me what you think.
The story follows FTWD plot very closely, I understand it could be very tedious if you already watched the episodes but im trying to make it as Elyza Lex interactive as posible so it can later make it's own way
o-
"Jesus Mom" the sound of her daughter's snappy voice was nothing new to Madison, reminding Alicia that they needed to leave soon several times and hearing the door slam shut was something she was accustom to and so she made her way into the kitchen, greeted by the sight of messy blonde curls, green military jacket and boots that was her daughter's best friend reclined back on the chair with her legs crossed over the table and a spoon on her mouth.
"Elyza, honey, boots off the table." She chastised the girl.
"Sorry" The fellow blonde gave her an apologetic grin sliding her feet off the table and continued munching the contents of the bowl in her hands.
"Also that was Alicia's" grabbing another bowl to fill it with the same food she could hear Travis cursing under the sink.
"She won't eat that" Responded the younger girl quickly, mouth full of food.
"It's gluten-freaking-free." Madison replied incredulously
Elyza just shrugged at her and turned to watch Travis who cursed once again louder "You know I still got that plumper's number" the teasing tone on the blondes' voice wasn't lost on him.
"You don't say so?" He responded his voice muffled by the little space under the sink
"Worked wonders at my house" the blonde grinned "Just with, you know, fewer curses."
Travis groaned at her then gave a triumph yell before getting from under the sink "Leak is fixed, I think I saved us 300 bucks." He gave a smug look at Elyza before hugging Madison.
"I don't believe it" say Madison playfully.
"You and me both" Elyza watched both of them get closer and getting too PDA in front of her, giving them a disgusted look she shouted out for her friend "Ugh, Alicia come on! the adults are being gross!"
Said adults narrowed their eyes at her while the ringing of the phone started and Alicia appeared in the threshold wrapped in only a towel.
Elyza joined her with a playful look and making a point to give her a glance over and a pointing finger at her "I don't think this new fashion statement is going to set well at school."
Alicia chuckled giving her a half-hearted backhand "Shut up" they giggled until Alicia noticed her mother on the phone with a concerned look on her face, Alicia's smile instantly dropped Elyza turn and watch Madison as well.
Everyone stood silent already guessing what or better yet who the call was about, only waiting to hear how bad the news were this time.
o- o- o- o- o-
The full ride to the hospital was silent, Elyza stealing glances at Alicia once in a while trying to figure out the girl's thoughts, she recognized the girls stoic stance, head held high, jaw clench almost painfully. Once in the hospital they followed Madison as she talked to the doctor about Nick's condition and injuries, already making plans to have him committed to rehab again.
When they finally stopped at Nick's door Elyza gently pushed Alicia's shoulder with her own to gain her attention and spoke quietly "You okay?"
"Fine" Alicia replied but her answers was quick and tight-lipped.
They entered the room, Madison taking care of the police officers followed by Travis while Alicia took perch at the couch next to the entrance and Elyza leaned against the doorway. Once the officers left, Madison continued asking Nick what happened and pushing him to be admitted to rehab again, things escalated quickly as Nick snapped at Travis, Alicia wouldn't hold back on how exactly they could help her brother and Madison scolded both her children.
Among all Elyza raised her voice trying to calm everyone out "Hey! Everyone take a breather, Okay?"
Everyone quited down immediately, Travi's phone rang and he exited the room to answer it.
That's when Nick spoke again this time to Elyza "So happy you were invited to the party too" Alicia voice called his name warningly but he continued "Not enough drama in your own family?"
"Nick!" This time both Alicia and her mother shouted at him, the former getting up and dragging her friend out of the room.
Elyza sighed shaking off Nick's comments. "Rude" she muttered at Alicia but watched the concern in the brunette eyes "Forget about him, he's just being an ass."
"I know" Alicia's face quickly became angry again "Unfortunately I think that's just him now" Elyza just nodded averting her eyes from her towards the room window watching what certainly must be Madison scolding Nick once again.
After a while they watched Travis come back and him and Madison talking on how to handle everything, settling that she needed to go to work and Travis was to arrange everything to have Nick committed to rehab.
"I don't want to leave him like this" said finally Madison.
"I can stay" Elyza cut in the conversation all three pair of eyes tuning to her.
"Nice try but you both have school" replied Madison with an eyebrow raised.
"Actually I only have third period, I can wait for Travis to finish and then head to school" she told them while lazily pointing to the older men.
"You don't have to" Alicia quickly told her, her brows furrowed with worry at leaving her alone with her loose tongue of a brother.
"It's no big deal" Elyza shrugged her shoulders "You can check with my mom if you want she's at home or check at school" Madison was the school counselor and could easily check Elyza schedule but she could see Madison still hesitating "I can talk to him about rehab if I can"
With a defeated nod Madison agreed and when Alicia's opened her mouth to plea her staying as well she was quickly shut down by her mother "None of that, let's go" receiving a huff from the brunette she gave the younger blonde a quick hug "If he gets too much just call me" receiving a thumb up from the girl she rushed Alicia towards the exit, the girls shared one last look and the blonde gave a small wave to the brunette before she was out of sight. Travis gave her a pad on the shoulder before walking towards the hospital main desk.
The blonde entered the room once again, Nick slept on the bed and Elyza sighed in relief while pulling her phone out and getting as comfortable as she could on the single couch in front of the bed.
o- o- o- o- o-
Madison stopped at a red light and heard the music coming from Alicia's earplugs and glanced at her "He's going to be okay" not receiving reaction from the girl beside her she tried again "Would you take those off."
"I can hear you" was the brunette only response and after asking her again she took the earplugs off "He's going to be okay" she repeated the words back to her mother stoically "He's not the one I'm worried about."
"Elyza?" Her mother questioned "She can handle Nick."
"That makes one of us" Her mother gave her a hard look "What?"
"Could you carry some hope into the conversation?"
"He's an adult, you can ship him off to rehab like before." She said staring at her mother "you can only do can Nick said"
"I'm not cutting of your brother" the light turned green and Madison continued driving.
"He's getting worse and one day he's going to take someone down with him" she turned to look out the window "Not like he hasn't tried already" the last part was said in a whisper but still reached her mother's ears.
o- o- o- o- o-
Nick writhed on the bed restless when he suddenly jumped awake a gasp escaping his lips.
"Bad dream?" asked Elyza from the couch in front of him without looking up as she flipped through an old magazine she found in the waiting room.
"No shit" Nick's voice sounded hoarse and a little scared which made the blonde look up curious.
His look was distant but she could see the fear in it. She slowly stood up and stood next to the bed "It was a bad trip wasn't it?" she watched with furrowed brows as Nick mind was somewhere else "You know that what you saw, what you think you saw, was just the drugs messing you up" She watched Nick's face change instantly returning to the present and laid back down on the bed.
"You are an expert now? I'm sorry but your dive into the addicts world didn't last that much." Elyza only rolled her eyes at him and sat next to him with a 'humph'. They stayed in complete silence before he spoke again "That's what you're here right? The success story sharing her secret ways to poor us, failing ones." The sarcasm all over his voice didn't face Elyza who only chuckled.
"I wish, to have a secret way that is. But you're kinda right, I'm supposed to convince you to get admitted again" She watched Nick rolled his eyes and turn his head away from her, but turned serious before speaking again "The only difference is I don't want you to do it for yourself" with that Nick turned back at her "Not that I don't want you to get better but truly I wish it so your mom and Alicia would stop suffering every time they hear the phone ring"
"I think there are more ways to make that happen" he joked grimly to her.
"True but only one wouldn't cause them more pain" she told him back "There must be something's strong enough to be make you quit but only you can choose what"
Nick sighed and looked from one side of the room to the other feeling restless and constricted on the room before speaking again "What you chose?"
She looked down and picked on his robe "Alicia" looking back at him she gave him a small smile "I got Alicia."
"Maybe that's the thing, I never got Alicia"
She shook her head before answering "Of course you did but only one of us noticed"
"Well after everything I'm sure I'll never have Alicia"
Elyza felt a pang of guilt at the hint of sadness on Nick's voice "I know I've told Alicia but I think I've never say it to you Nick" she paused a moment making sure her words get through "It's not your fault what happened, I was messed up and I was the one who chose the drugs, I would have fallen into them no matter who gave them to me"
"But I offered"
"And I accepted" Elyza said as a finishing statement
They remained silent until Nick spoke again seeming to change the subject "Did it ever messed you up?" at Elyza confusion he continued "the drugs?"
"Mostly nightmares" Elyza answered but watched Nick shaking his head.
"No, no I mean… that has never happened to me… it…it looked so real" She watched as he became frantic again grabbing her wrist "I'm losing my shit Elyza."
She grabbed his hand trying to calm him and narrowed her eyes at him realizing something "You were running from something when the car hit you weren't you?" She hear when they said he ran into traffic, like he had done it on purpose "What did you see Nick?"
"I was with this girl Gloria, we were scoring at the run down church in Griffith you know which one?" Elyza barely nodded waiting for him to continue "She was there, beside me but then she wasn't and when I went down looking, everyone was dead" with the last words his voice became a whisper "there was so much blood… in her mouth" his eyes became unfocused "She…she was eating them."
Elyza concern only deepen "Nick, what you saw were the drugs…"
"That's the thing, I don't know if that came from the powder" Nick reached out sitting up his restrains the only thing keeping him from butting heads as he came face to face with Elyza's whispering lower "and if it didn't came from the powder, then it came out of me, from my mind" he lay back on the bed closing his eyes "if that came out of me, then I'm insane."
She put her other hand above his about to say something but Travis voice stopped her "Alright everything is set, let's get you to school" he waved his hands towards the door waiting for her.
Elyza just nodded, squeezed Nick's hand and stood, she gave him one last concerned glance before following Travis.
o- o- o- o- o-
It was the beginning of third period but Elyza wasn't on the classroom even though the blonde had already texted Alicia she was already at school, so she made her way to the cafeteria where she expected to find the blonde cutting on the line like it would usually be the case when skipping class, instead she found the line for the food uninterrupted. Furrowing her brows she made her way to the only other place she could think of.
The back patio was filled with a bunch of teens working on what she assumed was an art project on the wall and looking down the row of benches she found Elyza near the end, legs stretched in front of her and both arms behind her supporting her.
"You know when you told my mom you only had third period I think she assumed you will be attending said class, aren't you supposed to be in Spanish?" Alicia said sitting next to her.
"Aren't you?" it was supposed to be a teasing retort but it came out flat.
Alicia looked in confusion at her friend who was lost in thought "Are you ok? Did Nick do anything?" Alicia was quickly angered thinking already of all the things Nick might have said to Elyza.
That seemed to brought Elyza back "No, no. He was just really, really…scare, I've never seeing him like that"
Hearing Nick didn't do or say anything calmed Alicia but the concern on the blondes face brought a similar look of on hers "Scare of what?"
"Going insane" the blonde chuckle without humor "The drugs really messed him up, what he thinks he saw…" the blonde trailed off implicating just how extreme it was.
Yet the brunette could see the doubt in the other girl's eyes "And you? What you're thinking?"
Elyza bit her lip not really knowing what she thought of it, what he told her sounded directly taken from a horror movie, yet it wouldn't be the first time reality took such a drastic turn, especially with drugs involved "I don't know".
Seeing the blondes getting lost in thought again Alicia quickly reply in a stern voice "Well mom and Travis are taking care of it now" the it's not our problem laced heavily on her words without saying it, still hearing no response from the other girl she was about to warn Elyza against whatever she was thinking but was interrupted.
"Alicia" both girls looked up to watch Alicia's long time pursuer, Matt Sale, towering over them "Aren't you supposed to be in Spanish?"
The boy gave Alicia his cheekiest smile in a complete and obvious flirtation tactic that made Elyza roll her eyes completely unnoticed by the boy who kept his eyes only on Alicia, the blonde leaned into Alicia whispering only for her to hear "He knows your schedule, creepy" she singsong the last word making Alicia have to stifle a chuckle while at the same time elbowing the girl who gasped in mild pain.
"Yeah, just looking for a little runaway" Alicia said turning to Elyza to make her point.
The boy barely knowledge Elyza with a tight 'Lex' receiving an even shorter 'Sale' from the girl.
"Not that you needed it, I think you could teach that class" The boy praised Alicia giving her another smile which Alicia returned "I was thinking if you are free today we could go to the beach, get some ice cream maybe watch the sunset, it could be nice" the obvious implication of the word date not lost to any of the present.
Elyza raised her eyebrow turning slightly to watch Alicia's reaction from her peripheral but watching the girl only gaping not knowing how the respond she intervened "Al we have that thing today."
Alicia turned to her with a confused look at Elyza but after the blonde gave her a nod she seemed to caught on "Oh yeah, we actually have a thing today" the brunette turned to the boy and pointed at her and Elyza.
"Yeah we do have a …thing" The blonde failed to come with an actual reason, both girls rambled between them not really making sense and talking over each other only stopping when the blonde fake cleared her throat.
"That's too bad" The boy finally responded when both girls stopped "Maybe other day"
"Yeah sure" The brunette waved as the boy returned to where he was working on his paint on the wall.
Elyza rolled her eyes one last time before speaking to the brunette "Will you just put the boy out of his misery and tell him you're never going on a date with him?"
"I don't know what you're talking about" Alicia feigned ignorance "I'm weighing my options here"
"Sure" The blonde said sarcastically "You're trouble Clark" Elyza continued while pulling a cigarette pack from inside her jacket tapping the bottom and dragging one out with her lips, putting away the pack she patted around her jacket looking for her lighter.
"Well, you already have the heartbreaker title of the school" Alicia raised her eyebrow finally noticing the cig hanging on the blondes lips before pulling it out and throwing it to the ground a few rows from them "You're going to get detention again" responded the brunette when she heard the over the top gasp and mock offended look from the other girl.
Elyza narrowed her eyes at Alicia but then grinned and raised both brows up and down suggestively "I prefer lady killer if you may" receiving a measured smile from the brunette.
"That you are" Alicia shook her head good naturally at her.
After a while and neither knowing If to try to make it to class the blonde spoke again with the same big grin on her face "So, you wanna go to the beach, get ice cream and watch the sunset today?" she teased fluttering her eyelids to the brunette who only chuckled and lightly swatted at the blondes knees before getting up and making her way back to the building followed closely by a laughing blonde.
o- o- o- o- o-
Elyza waited until Alicia went to her next class and they ended up making plans to go to the beach in the afternoon after all. She was leaning against a row of lockers looking for someone and approached him once she caught him opening his locker not far from her.
"John! Just who I was looking for, how are yah?" The blonde gave a big smile putting her arm on his shoulders. Everyone knew John Murphy was the person to go to if you wanted to score something stronger than weed and the one who knew about everyone's dealings.
"Elyza, long time no see" He closed his locker and started walking to his next class the blonde matching his trot "No that I'm one to judge, but I thought you got clean"
"Oh yeah, I'm still one hundred percent on that" She swatted her hand in the air "Actually, I was looking to ask you something?"
He gave her a frown as they both stopped near his classroom door "What?"
"Do you know someone dealing at the old church at Griffith?"
o- o- o- o- o-
Where r u?
The text arrived at the same time she made it to the old abandoned church. The sun setting and casting shadows on the windows as the light dimmed. She felt bad for lying to Alicia but she would not have let her come otherwise or worse tagging along. Her phone rang once more signaling another text.
You btter don't be doin something stupid.
Elyza nose crinkled after reading the text, because Alicia would most definitely consider this stupid and she's definitely going to have an earful about it later. Putting away her phone on her back pocket without replying she started circling the perimeter of the church looking for a way in. So far almost all the fence was backed up by boards, even trying to pick inside to see was difficult, she rounded up on the last side of the fence and watching one of the boards loose she crunched down to pass inside.
She tried to open the back door with a pull but it didn't budge commanding a sigh from the blonde of course that would've been too easy, she quickly diverted her eyes to the window not far from the door but at a higher level, she shook her legs and brazing herself she jumped grabbing the banister and pulled herself inside with a thud, she thanked all those pullups for not being just for show. She stood up and looked around her swearing under her breath for the low visibility, the sun barely slipping light into the place, she opened her bag and pulled the lantern she bought on her way over and turned it on.
She walked slowly through the hallways avoiding all sorts of garbage and debris on the floor, so far it looked like your normal crack house.
That is until she made it to the end of the hallway that lead to what once was an altar and the church's main entrance, she almost missed it but there in the corner of the wall was the smudged imprint of a hand in what couldn't be anything else but blood. Elyza felt her jaw tense and continue down the aisle, the old church seats broken and thrown around, when she was in the middle she heard ruffle behind her which made her give a sharp turn directing the light from the lantern looking for the source of the noise, she walked backwards while searching and was mid step when she saw a cat running away from the light directed at it, she gave a relieved laugh before slipping as her feet made contact with the wet floor behind her.
She landed hard on her side, cursing as she felt something wet under her and on her hands as she tried to reach for the lantern, once she grab it she pointed it to her hand and felt a chill ran through her spine as the noticed the blood on it, she looked down under her and her eyes were blown wide by the pool of blood drying on it.
"Fuck. Fuck" She repeated over and over sprinting up from the floor raising the light further ahead of her watching the same liquid sprayed all over it and pieces of something she wasn't sure she wanted to know were, she heard a strong noise from the stair to the second floor and just making the hint of a shadow moving instinct took over her as she quickly ran her way back and jumped out of the window and out through the fence.
It wasn't until she ran two blocks down where the highway started that she stopped abruptly taking big breaths trying to calm her heart while looking at the road in front of her where cars passed left and right and she just knew this was exactly where Nick had run into the street and the car. She didn't notice the looks she was receiving by the passerby's too consume in her thoughts.
She had never seen that amount of blood before, and considering her mother was a doctor and worked at the hospital, she was until some point even accustomed to it, yet the scene at the church was something she never thought to see.
She gave one last breath and running her hands through her hair she muttered to herself.
"What did you get yourself into this time Nick?"
o- o- o- o- o-
It was late night when Elyza made it to Alicia's front door, she took a big breath just about to knock when she glanced down and noticed her jacket stained by the blood she fell onto, she began taking the jacket off wondering of the looks she must have gotten and even luckier no one had pulled her to the side and started asking questions.
She took the jacket off folding it into her arm just in time for the door to open revealing a clearly unamused Alicia.
"She lives" Were Alicia's only words before turning around and walking into the house leaving the door open for the blonde to follow who winced a bit before doing so.
Entering and closing the door behind her Elyza gave her a sheepish look before speaking "I'm sorry about the beach…" but she was interrupted rather abruptly by a small pillow making contact with her face and dully falling to the ground.
"You think that's what this is about?" the brunette perched next the now missing one pillow couch crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at the blonde "People saw you talking with Murphy at school and then you go and disappear for the rest of the day" There was an accusatory yet worried tone in Alicia's voice that didn't go unnoticed by both girls.
"Okay, the gossip run mile it's still working I see" Elyza replied rolling her eyes but stopped when she watched Alicia raise her chin and one eyebrow at her and in moments like this it's when she wondered how she was the one who with the 'don't mess with me' reputation when Alicia could pull that look.
"I swear to god Elyza if you start using again…"
There was surely an angry treat behind Alicia's words that she didn't get to finish because the blonde walked closer grabbing her shoulders forcing her to look her straight in the eyes, her voice unwavering "I swear Alicia I'm not" seeing still a little doubt on green eyes she reiterated "I wouldn't".
After Alicia visibly relaxed under her and her face became gentler she let go but watched the girl's face became curious immediately "Where were you then? Why were you with Murphy?"
Elyza bit her lip going through her options on how to approach everything with the least amount of lecture but yet again the brunette beat her to it shaking her head to the blonde.
"This is about Nick isn't it?" seeing no denying from the blonde but instead avoiding her face Alicia rolled her eyes "It's about that stupid church?"
At the mention of the place Elyza did look right into the brunette's eyes "How you know?"
Shaking her head once again she sat on the couch behind her crossed legged and grabbed the pillow left on it pulling it into her lap "Nick ran away from the hospital this afternoon but it seems he was babbling about some church to Travis before he did, my mom has been looking for him and asking me if maybe you knew something about it" She watched the blonde sit on the armchair of the couch in front of her "Please tell me you didn't go there, my mom seems more worry than usual and I don't want you getting yourself involved."
"You didn't see him Alicia, he was truly starting to go out of his mind."
"More reason for you to keep your distance" the brunette told her with more conviction.
Without any response from the blonde Alicia gave a sigh of defeat "What did you see?" She watched the blonde became still immediately and the little war going inside her head visibly in her features.
"Elyza, the truth" the brunette warned.
"It was bad Alicia, like really bad" There weren't many times in life you would catch fear in Elyza's face but it was clear to Alicia now.
"What happened? We...Were there like bodies or something?" Alicia hesitated while asking.
The blonde shook her head "No there weren't" she gave a small pause "but there was blood…something definitely went down there."
"Do you think he's in danger?"
She knew giving the circumstances she shouldn't be glad to hear the small worry on Alicia's voice for her brother, one that she would try to mask any other given moment.
"I don't know" she told her honestly.
The brunette gave a sigh and stood from the couch and stopped in front of the blonde towering a little over her from her place on the armchair "You know I don't have much sympathy left for Nick."
"Alicia it wasn't his fault…" Elyza started the recurrent but old and non-agreeable conversation but Alicia didn't stop, talking over her.
"But please be careful." Alicia's penetrating look over her had her sit still looking up to green eyes and silently nodding.
Alicia then wrapped her arms over the blonde's shoulders who instantly reciprocated.
They remained like that and after few seconds the brunette spoke, her head still over the blondes shoulder "I would never forgive him if something happens to you." There was something finite and borderline dangerous on Alicia's voice that made Elyza's stomach turn.
Elyza tightened her hold on the brunette "Okay."
o-
Really would love to hear what you think and if it's something you would like to read more about.