Aaron
Aaron Roberts's day had begun with a rather normal start. He was on paid vacation visiting his family in his home town Arlington, Texas. Although he did like visiting his only family and staying with them he felt he had to return to his base in North Carolina. After two days of staying with his uncle and his small family he decided to move to a hotel thinking it would be easier for them as well as himself.
"Aaron how long will you be staying here?" His little cousin sat onto his arm rest on the couch. He turned his head to look at her.
"Till' the end of the week. Why?"
"Cause' I was wondering if you could teach me how to play football" she lowered her eyes to the lollipop she had in her hand.
Aaron chuckled lightly, "Why do you want to know how to play football?"
"Because all the boys at school said girls can't play football and I wanna' show them that a girl can"
He thought for a second before replying, "Why don't you ask you're dad?" "He's always to busy at work and doesn't want to do anything when he gets home"
Aaron looked into his younger cousins baby blue eyes and smiled, "Sure squirt"
Her eyes lit up at once he said yes, she hugged him and slid down the arm rest to stand in front of him.
"Can we start now?"
"Sure"
"Yay! Let's go" she pulled his arm trying to make him stand up and follow her. He smiled down at her as he stood and began to follow the tiny tike. They made it into the kitchen almost walking into the backdoor when Olivia Roberts, Janie's mother could stop them.
"And where do you think you're going young lady?"
"To go play football" she answered innocently.
"Did you forget? You have piano lessons today with Ms. Sharpe"
"Awww but mom" Janie let go of Aarons hand and pouted.
"No buts Janie, now go throw away that lollipop and get ready for your piano lesson"
Janie mumbled lightly to herself as she turned to throw away the lollipop she had in her mouth. She looked at her mother and stuck her tongue.
"Maybe next time squirt." Aaron rubbed Janie's head as she passed by him.
"Bye Aaron" she grumbled as she walked out of the kitchen.
"I'm sorry Aaron but Tuesdays are when she has her piano lessons at four"
Aaron looked away from the disappearing blonde hair in the distance and looked into her mothers piercing blue eyes. He smiled and shook his head.
"It's fine. I've got to go anyway"
"Oh where to?" her voice perked up.
"The hotel. There some things I've got to do"
Olivia Roberts nodded her head smiling at her nephew; Aaron walked up to his aunt and hugged her good-bye. She was a few feet shorter than himself and he was six feet, his uncle always did like tall women. He turned and walked out of the kitchen into the living room and opened the front door. He stepped onto the porch and walked quickly onto the steps pulling out his keys as he went.
He looked up into the sky noticing a few clouds and a skinny line of white smoke coming down. He breathed in the fresh air remembering looking at the sky all the time seeing fighter air jets passing by daily. He opened the drivers' door and slid in, plugging in his keys and turning the ignition. As he was beginning to pull out of the driveway he noticed a red car in the distance, which was probably Janie's piano teacher he thought to himself. He began to wonder why his uncle wanted his five year-old daughter to learn piano but it was none of his business. His uncle was a well paid man never having to really budget. Nothing surprised him now of what his uncle did, throwing money here and there and always sending extra cash to his only nephew. He would usually send the money back but it retuned with sometimes more money than before. Aaron never spent the money thinking it was better to save it and give it back to him in case his uncle ever got into trouble and had no money left. I mean Aaron had his own income that paid well, having already free insurance since he was in the marines. It wouldn't hurt to have the money in a safe place holding it for his uncle when the time came, if the time ever came.
Thoughts of his parents came drifting back as he drove onto the street. He never really spoke about them to anyone not even his uncle; thinking about them was too painful. He was at the end of his training camp when his parents died in a devastating car crash four years ago. He didn't even make it to their funeral due to the unfinished training he had to complete. He graduated with a bittersweet feeling though, his uncle and aunt making it with a newborn baby in their arms. Going off in missions had got his mind off his parent's unexpected deaths but only did so for so long. He wasn't a loner or an outgoing man just in between; but he was still in his twenties and had a long ways to go and had his fair share of dates but none that lasted for very long. He still had the chance to change for the better.
A sound of a honk broke him out of his reverie making him step on the gas passing by quickly from other oncoming cars. He looked out his rearview mirror and saw that most cars near him had their suitcases strapped onto the top as if they were all going on a trip. It was the summer and it wouldn't surprise him that most families were leaving town but it was in mid-July almost time for kids to start preparing to go back to school. He turned a corner and pulled into the hotels parking lot easing slowly into an empty spot. Few people were walking in the parking lot with suitcases in hand and throwing them hurriedly in their cars or strapping them on the top. Aaron turned off his car and stepped out, calling out to a man he recognized that lived across the floor from him.
"Larry!"
"….."
"Hey! Larry!"
Larry Hubert looked up from his suitcases and looked for the voice that was calling his name. Finally he spotted Aaron.
"You need to get out of here Aaron"
Aaron jogged over to the older man and helped him with one of his suitcases, "Why? What's going on? Why's everyone packing their suitcases in their cars?
"Governor recommended everyone evacuate town now" Larry wobbled over to his car and pulled out his keys pressing a button that sended the cars trunk popping open.
"Evacuate town? What for?" Aaron stuffed in the suitcase after Larry threw his in.
"You haven't seen the news?" Larry met Aaron straight in the eye as he slammed the trunk shut. Aaron shook his head, he had been at his uncles for most of the morning helping around the house not paying one bit of attention to the television.
"No I've been at my uncle's for most of the day. What's been going on?"
Larry searched the young mans face finding he had not one clue as to what was going on. He sighed and spoke low almost like he was telling a secret.
"People are sayin' the apocalypse has begun. The gates of hell have been opened letting the dead overrun the earth" he waved his hands up for emphasis, "But me, I think the government has gotten fed up with us and let a bio-hazard thing out killing everyone. I knew the time would come when the government became corrupt"
Aaron watched the older man unsure of what he was talking about, "What makes you so sure?"
"If you look on TV you'll understand what I'm talking about" Larry turned away from Aaron and walked over to the driver's side.
"I suggest you leave now before it comes over here" Larry gave him one last look before slipping into his car and backing up to pull out of the parking lot.
Aaron watched his black Lincoln drive out of the parking lot and pull into the busy street, speeding like crazy. A noise of a crying baby broke his gaze off the street and glanced at the family rushing into their suburban. As everyone sped off into the busy street he was left alone deserted in the spacious parking lot leaving him with an unsettled feeling. He looked around and noticed a small handful of cars still parked including his. The sun was beginning to set as rays of orange and pink danced across the sky, Aaron Roberts stood thinking of what to do now. He sure wasn't going to believe that old coot, the government wouldn't allow that, he was apart of the U.S. Government, he was expected to protect this nation. He decided to do what he had been planning on doing at the hotel before everyone decided to go mad and evacuate town. He walked towards the hotels lobby thinking of what he was going to do once he reached his room; he certainly was going to call his friend who was still stationed at North Carolina and see what was up and turn the TV on to see what was happening on the news. He needed to see with his own eyes what was going on. If he came to the latter and decided to evacuate he was definitely going to pick up his family, it was all he had worth living for. The only thing he had worth living for.
Kristi
Kristi Hines had always been bad at making plans whether it be for school or even her daily commutes. Nothing was predictable when accompanied by Kristi, which wasn't an exception for today.
"Hey Carrie"
Carrie Collins glanced up from her stationed position behind the cash register and found her colleague strutting in the store nonchalantly. The door chimes rang softly as the glass door shut. She looked back down at her magazine.
"You're late"
"I know" Kristi smiled at her friend as she flipped a page.
"Where is everyone?" Kristi asked as she walked past her colleague into the stores backroom.
"Don't know"
Kristi frowned expecting at least one customer browsing through the shop. She walked over to her locker with her helmet in hand and turned the silver and black lock.
"You know if your step-dad didn't own this shop you would be fired by now" Carrie's voice called out as Kristi opened her locker.
She smiled to herself knowing this statement was true, she hung her locker and picked up her small name tag sitting on the lockers top shelf. She quickly slammed the locker shut as she swiftly turned on her heels.
"It's not my step-dad that owns this dinky little shop it's my mom and true but I'd quit before I ever got fired"
Carrie looked at her hard-headed best friend who slid next to her behind the counter. She looked up from fixing her name tag and flashed her trademark smile winning a small smile to her own lips.
"You're a crazy person you know that?"
Kristi nodded her head enthusiastically, "Tell me something I haven't heard"
"I'm dating Dillon"
Kristi's mouth dropped open in surprise, "I didn't mean that literally"
Carrie looked away from her friend and slipped the magazine into the counters open cabinets, "Just thought I'd let you know"
The two women stayed silent for what seemed like an eternity until Kristi broke the silence.
"But…..why?"
"Oh come on Kris you know we've been talking lately"
"Yeah but I didn't think you were serious about him. I mean Dillon really? He's like a hundred four"
Carrie frowned at her best friend, "He's thirty-three"
"Exactly my point"
"Kris don't start"
"What do you mean don't start? I'm just curious as to why you want to date someone half your age"
"He's not half my age besides I'm twenty"
"Not legal enough to drink yet" Kristi pressed
"Shut up. I don't even know why you're making such a big deal about this" Carrie stepped around Kristi free from behind the counter
"I'm not making a big deal about this I'm just saying I don't like it"
"Well it's my life and I get to date whoever I want. Besides when did you start acting like my mother?"
Kristi stared at the back Carries head stunned by her best friend. She shook her head and looked at the windows noticing the sun was setting. They were having another one of their arguments again and it was over the same person. Dillon. Kristi hadn't liked Dillon from day one; he had a look to him like he was a pedophile or something. Which Carrie did not take well to hearing. Kristi couldn't help it; it was in her nature to speak her mind about anything, which had gotten passed down from her mother regretfully.
"I'm clocking out early tonight"
Kristi stayed staring out the windows watching the beautiful colors of orange and pink across the sky. Carrie followed her gaze and sighed hating when they had their arguments about her new boyfriend.
"Remember when we were fourteen talking about our first kiss at Meadows creek watching the sunset"
Kristi smiled at the memory, "Yeah you were gushing about Mark Sanders and how perfect the kiss went"
"And how bad yours went"
Kristi turned her head to look at her best friend and nodded regretting the day John Lutz kissed her. It was a bad memory but Carrie never let her forget about it.
"Can we forget this argument ever happened?"
Kristi stared at Carrie thinking for a moment, "Let me think about it"
Carrie opened her mouth not expecting that reply. Of course Kristi was only joking and walked up to her best friend hugging her tightly.
"I'm just kidding"
"You better have been"
Kristi chuckled lightly at Carries remark, "I can never be mad at you for too long. Not even for thirty-seconds"
This time Carrie chuckled, "Same here"
After a quiet moment of friendship renewal they broke apart. Kristi not surprisingly spoke first.
"So you said you were clocking out early tonight?"
"Yeah Dillon's taking me somewhere special tonight"
Carrie laughed as Kristi's face scrunched up in disgust.
"Can we give him a code name so I won't have to hear the word Dillon?"
"Name. Not hear his name"
"Whatever"
"Um sure. What do you want to name him?"
Kristi stayed quiet for a moment deliberating with herself, "Hmmm how about…grandpa"
"Eww no. I don't want him to be called grandpa calling him that would remind me of my own grandpa"
"Fine. How about…Dee?"
Carrie thought about it for a moment, "I guess but it'll sound as if I'm dating a girl"
"No it won't"
"Yeah! Dee is like what you call your girlfriend by. Like "hey Dee" which would be short for Deanna or Diana or-"
"Okay stop! You're making my head hurt from all the names you're throwing at me"
Carrie chuckled, "It was only two names"
"Still"
Carrie shook her head smiling at her best friend.
"You're so crazy", Carrie glanced down at her wrist watch, "Shit. I've got to go Dilluh-"
Carrie corrected herself as Kristi gave her a look
"I mean Dee said he would be waiting for me"
Carrie walked past Kristi into the backroom; Kristi stood staring at the clothes rack in front of her.
"I can't believe you're leaving me all alone in this quiet shop"
"Oh come on it's not that quiet, I was in here till' nine a.m. I think you can handle it"
"If something happens to me I'm blaming you"
"Yeah sure something's gonna' happen to you while I'm away"
"You never know. Something could. Would you want that on your conscience?"
Carrie stepped out of the backroom looking dismissively at her friend; her name tag disappeared in exchange for a light jacket.
"Nothings gonna' happen you psycho"
"I take offense to that"
"Take offense to whatever you want I'm going on a date"
Kristi made gagging gestures with her index finger going into her mouth
"Shut up"
"I'll miss you" Kristi stared longingly at Carrie as she was a few steps away from the door.
"Awww now you're making me rethink what I'm doing"
"So it's working?"
"Hardly"
Kristi frowned as Carrie waved her solemn good-bye, "Bye now"
"Good-bye my better half. Don't do anything I wouldn't do"
"Don't count on it"
And with that Carrie blew her a playful kiss and stepped out into the open fresh air leaving her 'better half' alone to reminisce alone in the shop. The door chimes belled quietly as the door slowly shut making Kristi feel as if Carrie was walking out of her life. She shook her head dismissing those thoughts and looked around the store growing bored.
"Looks like I'm stuck here for the night" she mumbled to herself.
She sighed wishing she had plans for tonight like Carrie did. Instead she was stuck here at her moms' thrift store waiting for any customer or any living thing to walk through those doors. A thought crossed her mind sending a grin onto her face. It was still early and the sun was still setting so maybe she could make plans for tonight. Carrie wasn't going to be the only one having some fun tonight.
"On second thought I'm clocking out as well"
Kristi walked behind the counter grabbing the pair of keys sitting inside one of the cabinets. She walked into the back room opening her locker and grabbing her helmet out, exchanging it for her name tag. She clicked the lock into place and went to the power switch opening the small door exposing all the stores light switches. She decided to keep on a tiny lamp in the backroom on just in case Carrie or herself needed to return to the store for whatever reason. She switched off the backrooms light, the entire store units lights. Kristi quickly shut the door running out of the room towards the stores front; she opened the front door, making the chimes go off softly. She locked the door with the keys in hand and slipped them into her pocket walking to her left into the stores parking area. She spotted her motorcycle and smiled walking over to it, slipping on her helmet as she slid onto the bike. Kristi had enough money to buy her own car and even her mom had offered her a nice car but decided not to, liking the way she felt when she would ride with her dad holding onto him as he would speed off on the streets, before he died eight years ago.
"It seems dead out here" she mumbled to herself
She brought her hand to the ignition and turned sending the motorcycle roaring to life. Her mother had never approved of her riding a motorcycle thinking it was too dangerous. That's what she said to her father millions of times but not once had he got into a crash, hopefully Kristi got the same luck as her father did. Since the parking lot was empty she swerved turning effortlessly around to meet the exit area of the parking lot and roared off into the street not knowing what was waiting ahead of her later that night.
A/N: Oooo I wonder what's going to happen next.....are you wondering as well? I hope you are. This is my second story so I'm debating upon finishing it just kidding I'm definitely going to finish it! Stay tuned for the next chapter it'll get more detailed and interesting plz review so I can know your feedback, who knows the storys plotlines may change due to your input....
P.S. Thanks for taking your time to read it!