Note: (Same note from chapter one.) I have rewritten the first three chapters. I didn't make any significant changes and there is no need to reread, unless you would like to. Also I would appreciate if you could give me any feedback, negative or positive, I am trying to improve my writing and it would mean a lot to me. Thank you!
Go fish
"Go fish" Murphy said.
Doc reached into the center of the table and picked up a card, but he had no luck. "Your turn." He looked across the table, to Murphy.
"Do you have any sixes?" He asked.
Doc shook his head "Go, fish."-He watched as Murphy collected his card and rearranged his hand. "Can I ask you a question?" He set his cards face down on the table.
"Only if you're asking about my cards." Murphy said without looking up.
"Do you think we could be friends? I mean me and 10k have no interest in taking you to California." Doc continued.
Murphy let out a sigh and dropped his cards onto the table "Is this necessary?"
"Come on Murphy, we could all start over." Doc urged him but, it did nothing. Murphy stood up, dropped his cards on the table and made his way up the steps.
10K watch from his place on the couch and waited till he heard the door up stairs shut, before heading in the kitchen.
"He's pretty mad." Doc collected the cards on the table into one pile.
"Yeah..." 10k sat down across from the old men and leaned back in his chair. "I hope he changes his mind." He said sincerely.
"Me too." Doc shuffled the card in his hands, and stared off into the Conner. Than a smile graced his face. "What do you think about his new friend?"
"What about it?" 10k turned his attention to a nearby window, avoiding all eye contact.
"Maybe she would like to join us." Doc taped his cards on the tables hoping to catch the young mans eyes, but 10k was stubborn. "Fine, do you want to play a game of cards?" The man shrugged in defeat.
"One game ." 10k moved his chair a little closer and Doc dealt out the cards.
It had to be at least 7 a.m and clouds had rolled in over the valley. Rain began to fall onto the old farm house and Hazel laid in bed, wrapped an old blue and pink quilt, listening to the coming storm.
"Shhhhh..." She hushed, as thunder roared in the distance. "Some of us are trying to sleep away a bad day." Her words were followed by silents, then by a loud boom.
She let out a sigh, rolled out of bed, and slowly made her way down the hall. Upon reached the bottom of the steps, she could she the kitchen was lit by candle. The old man sat at the table, his eyes shut, and head laid to one side. She tiptoed into the kitchen, being careful not to wake him. She took a glass from the cupboard and moved over to the sink.
"Oh look! It's the falling angle." -Murphy stood in the kitchen door way.- "Did you use the stairs this time?" He wandered in and dropped down onto one of the chairs. The old man stirred in his sleep, but didn't wake.
"Yeah...sure." She said, as she filled up her glass. A moment of silence past between them, and she was perfectly ok with that.
Hazel didn't find him threatening anymore, but he did annoy her.
"So... where to next?" He broke the silence.
"What?" Hazel asked.
"You said you were leaving, where you off too?" His demeanor had changed. Normally he said everything with a confident, cocky attitude, but at the moment he was tapped his foot, and studying the floor.
"You're not following me." She spoke a little louder than she meant to and Doc sat up in his chair wiping sleep from his eyes.
"What?" Doc muttered, but no one acknowledged him.
"I didn't plan on it!" Murphy shouted, he sounded like a child being disciplined.
"Good!" She shouted, then turned back to the sink and filled up her cup again.
"What did I miss?" Doc asked, but instead of answering Hazel took a drink, and watched the rain outside the window. Murphy on the over hand, stood up abruptly and went out the back door, into the rain.
"Ok." Doc was clearly uncomfortable, he took in a deep breath. "I think I'm go'n fix some food, do you want anything?" He attempted to break the tension.
"Yeah..." She was still watching the rain from the kitchen window, when Murphy appeared in the field behind the house. Slowly he made his way to the barn out back, disappearing through the door. 'Why would he go there?' she wondered.
Doc stood next to her, and began to dig into the cupboard. "Do you want name brand chicken noodle soup or off brand?" He set both cans onto the counter and then reached back into the cupboard. He pulled out a box crackers. " I wander if these are stale?" He examined the box.
"On second though, I might eat later." She sat her cup in the sink and headed to the front room.
"Ok..." The old man watch, as she head out of the kitchen, through the front room and out the door. "I guess I'll make extra and when everyone stops acting so weird, they can come eat." He whispered to himself.
Outside the rain had lighted up and at the moment, it was only misting. She reached out to catch a few rain drops in her hand, she could heard the creak of the screen door as it open and she turned to see 10k on his way out, gun on his back.
"Hey." He laid back against the porch railing. "Hows your leg?" He asked smoothly.
"Oh, it's good." The truth was that, she had forgotten all about it. It was a little sore, but nothing like yesterday. She stepped down onto the gravel path. "How did you sleep?" She asked, in an attempt to make small talk.
"Good."- They locked eyes, just long enough to became uncomfortable and both looked away. "Are you leaving?" He questioned, it was his turn to make small talk.
"No, not today. I think I'll leave tomorrow." She looked in his direction, but was careful not to lock eyes again.
A smile crossed his face. "Good to hear. So what are you up to, today?" He joined her on the gravel path, in the light rain.
"I thought I would go for a walk." She said, taking a step towards the woods.
"Can I tag along? I need something to do." He was only a few steps behind her.
"Sure." She said, and they made their way in the woods, walking together in silence. She wanted to continue the conversation, but just didn't know how. What do you talk about now days? When she was with lee, they would talk about where they were going, where they would stop for the night, and when their next meal would be but, she couldn't talk about that with 10k.
"So where are you from?" 10k broke the silence, but he wasn't confidence, and it was clear he had spent the last few minutes choosing his words.
"Actually, I grew up not too far from here, just outside of St Louis." She said.
"Are you going home?" 10k pushed a branch out of her way and let her move past him.
The true was, she hadn't been home since the evacuated of all major city's, three years ago. She had no interest in going back, because she knew seeing all those empty houses, walking down sidewalks that she play on as a child and maybe even sit on her own bed, would be to sad. She had no interest in reliving the past, she only wanted to move forward and preserve her memory of home.
"No just passing through. Where are you from?" She asked, turning the focus to him.
"I'm from Tennessee." 10z said, and than it became quit again. This time it wasn't an awkward silence, it was welcomed. They listen to the birds, and the rain drops rolling off the tree leaves, onto the brush beneath.
It was a rare peaceful moment, in a chaotic world and it came to an end when 10k stopped in his tracks."I hear water." He begin to walk at a faster pace and Hazel jogged to catch up. they pushed through the heavy shrubs, till finally they emerged in a clearing.
It was a river, with crystal clear water and a small waterfall. Her mind instantly went to jumping in. It had been a long time since she had been near a large body of water this clean and full.
"Want to go for a swim?" 10k asked, he had already seat his gun down and began removing his shirt. He was just as existed as she was, never taking his eyes off the water.
"Yes." She said without hesitation, she dropped down and again to take her shoes off. 10K wasn't too far behind, kicking off his boots.
She walked up just to the water's edge and stuck one foot in, letting cool water flow over.
"Is it cold?"10k asked as he climbed a near by rock.
"Yes, but I don't mind." She let out a nervous laugh.
"Me either." He looked over the edge, assessing the depth the river. "You think its deep enough for me to jump."
She moved further into the water, till it came up to her waist. This must have been enough to reassure him, because he leaped from the rock. A wave washed over her, as he hit the water and a moment later he re-emerged, safe and sound.
"It's only a little cold." 10k ran his hand over his hair, to push it back.
Once again they fell into a comfortable silence. She laid back and watched the storm clouds take over the sky and enjoyed the feeling of being weightless.
"Maybe it'll be sunny tomorrow, I think I'll come back." 10k swam past her.
"We should definitely come back tomorrow. I think I'll stay another day."She spoke without thinking but, she meant it and if she would have been watching 10k, she would have seen the huge smile he wore.
"Good, maybe we could catch some fish here." 10k had swam the short stretch to the other side and then began to swim back.
"You know how to fish?" Hazel sat up, the water was now to her neck and she met him halfway.
"Yeah, do you like the fish?"10k stopped just a few feet in front of her.
"I've only been fishing once or twice, when I was younger. Do you think you could teach me?" Hazel asked.
He ran his hand over his hair again. "Sure, I don't know how good of a teacher I am, but I can definitely try." He smiled.
"Thanks" She smiled back and for a moment they were comfortable but, of course it didn't last. The Thunder boomed in the distance, officially ending their adventurer.
10k looked up and examined the storm clouds. "We should probably head back soon," He moved to his shoes. " That looks like a bad storm."
Hazel followed behind him and together the made their way back to the house.