Authors Note: Sorry for the long over-due update!
Chapter Seven
"You're holding it wrong."
An irritated sigh followed.
"No. No, no, no! Robert, I said no."
The young man put the gun down and stared at Chloe expressionlessly, "Well what am I supposed to do?"
"Do this," she positioned her gun as an example.
"That's what I was doing!"
"No you were doing this," she loosened her grip so that she was slouched. "And don't you get snippy with me Kitner."
Toni laughed from the side. Her sky colored eyes sparkled amusedly at Robert and Chloe's bickering. She could clearly tell that both of them had a crush on one another, whether they realized it or not was a different story. She always saw the way Robert's eyes followed Chloe's movements. Or the way Chloe would frown every time Julie would scoot closer to Robert.
"See, Toni's doing it right," Chloe turned her nose upwards. A typical thing she would do when trying to prove a point. "Because she listens to me."
"Actually Jed taught her that."
Chloe huffed, "Well Jed taught me this!"
"Will you two stop," Greg rolled his eyes. "It's like you're an old married couple."
"Am not," she whined.
Robert ignored Greg as well as Chloe and held up the gun once more. He shot at the empty can of beans and missed terribly.
"Told you."
"You do it then!"
Holding up her gun she shot at the can and hit it effortlessly. She twisted her body towards him and flashed her pearly whites. Robert did not even have to glance at her to know the shit eating grin she was giving him; he'd seen it many times before. Like in biology when he would answer something incorrectly and she'd argue with him that her answer was correct. And Chloe was always right. That never stopped him from wanting to prove himself to her.
"See," she winked. "Now if you would listen to me I can help you."
He sighed, "Fine."
Reaching out her hand she grabbed a hold of his right thigh. He raised his eyebrows as she tugged on his leg, "Your feet should be shoulder width apart with your left foot slightly past the right, since it is opposite your dominant hand."
"Lean forward-"Chloe found her hand resting on his lower-back pushing him gently. "- your dominant elbow should be completely straight. Also, slightly bend your knees. You don't want to be stiff, but you want to be balanced."
"Like this?" he positioned himself as told, or as he thought was what she ordered.
"No. Your arms are too loose and your knees are bent too much."
He repositioned himself, "Now?"
"Better," she pursed her lips. "Use your dominant eye to look at the target and keep the other closed. Slowly pull the trigger and fire!"
Robert quickly let a round go and it hit closer to one of the cans than before.
"I forgot to mention you should pull the trigger while you are mid exhale," Chloe added as an afterthought.
Chloe's teaching was interrupted by her peeved eldest brother. He marched up to the duo and let his eyes scan Robert prudently. There was just something about the way he acted around his sister that bothered him to no end. Never had Jed really experienced a feeling like this. He was always protective when Chloe was involved, but this was just… new. It had not involved boys before; he hadn't been around for much of that as he was at the Marines most of her teenaged years. He felt sorry for Matt.
"Having trouble?" the question was clearly mocking Robert.
"He's learning," Chloe eyed her brother warily. She could already tell that she was on thin ice. She wasn't sure what she did to him, but Jed's shoulders always tensed when he was annoyed.
Jed smirked, "Have another shot then."
The younger teen glanced at Chloe and then the much larger male beside her. Growing somewhat anxious he focused back on the target. He closed his left eye and exhaled before easing his finger on the trigger. However, his hands were too shaky and he completely missed the target again.
"Learning, huh?"
The petite brunette glowered, "I'm trying to teach him! Leave him alone."
"Maybe I should teach him then?" Jed raised his eyebrows daring her to object.
"Come on," Toni interjected. "How about we go wash some clothes? I'm getting sick of hitting these targets right now. It's been hours."
"At least you are hitting targets," snipped Jed shooting the lankier boy a smirk.
"Jed you're being mean," Chloe stated. Robert adjusted the hat on his head awkwardly. The unwanted attention was really starting to bother him. He was already uncomfortable shooting a gun and now Jed was rubbing it in that he sucked at it.
Toni shot Jed a pointed look as she looped her arm through Chloe's. The girl did not get a choice as she was tugged off in the direction of the cave. She gave Jed and Robert one last fleeting glance and already could tell nothing good was coming from leaving them together.
"Just let him be your older brother right now. It's the one thing he has to hold onto," concluded Toni. She gave Chloe a half smile that let her know she sympathized with her.
"That still doesn't mean he has to be rude. It's not like Robert has much going for him right now either. The kid can't even shoot a gun and that's all he can do in this situation."
Toni bumped her hips into hers playfully, "Don't worry. He's trying to impress you, he will learn."
Chloe stuck her tongue out, "He's not trying to impress me."
"Yeah, sure."
Staring over at Toni she found the taller girl shoving dirty clothes into a mesh bag. She could feel Chloe's sea colored eyes watching her, so she turned her head and through her a knowing grin.
"We can play this game if you want Toni…" snickered Chloe. She skipped up behind Toni and started to help her gather the dirty clothing. "How you always go goo-goo-ga-ga when Jed is around."
Her cheeks burned, "What? No, he just knows a lot and I want to be prepared."
"You always followed him around like a lost puppy when we were kids too," she reminded with a grin.
"So did you."
"Yeah, but I'm his little sister. There's a difference. Trust me," Chloe giggled as Toni's face continued to make her look like a cheery.
"Well-"
Chloe laughed, "You don't have to explain yourself Toni. I know how cute my brother is. I hear it all the time… and if I had to choose any girl for my brother to date it would definitely be you."
She received a shy smile.
They both lugged the huge bag over towards the stream. Their fingers lost color from the bitterness as they started to wash the clothing. Once they were finished cleansing an item it was hung on a makeshift clothing line to dry.
"Where did Matt and Danny go?" Chloe questioned. She had noticed the two were not present while Jed forced everyone else to train, but she thought they were still in the cave.
"To scope out and try to gain any knowledge of what's going on down there."
She paused her movements, "What?"
"Jed sent them earlier this morning," Toni looked at Chloe's irritated expression.
"And he didn't say bye? What if something happened to him?"
"Hey," Toni could see the waterworks beginning to form. "He will be back. Matt's strong."
Chloe wiped roughly at her puffy eyes. Even the mere idea of losing Matt made her turn into a blubbering mess. No matter how much the both of them fought she knew deep down she would die if anything happened to Matt. He was all she had besides her dad. Not that she did not care about losing Jed, but he had been gone for so long she had grown used to him lacking in her life.
Those lonely nights so long ago, ten-year-old Chloe would crawl under Matt's Transformers quilt and snuggle into his side. He would tell her that everything was okay because "Mommy is in heaven now." And he still comforted her even through all the stupid stunts she pulled when growing up.
"He's also irrational and stupid."
Toni grinned, "Yeah he is, but he has Danny with him."
"Danny is irrational and stupid too," she said.
This time Toni laughed. Matt and Danny were two pears in a pod. If there was trouble they were involved. In the middle of class when the squeaky sound of the speakers turning on would interrupt for announcements a majority of the time it was to call Matt and Danny down to the dean's office.
"They always have each other's backs. Don't worry so much."
How could she not worry? Chloe did not have her father to just hold her and tell her everything would be okay. Or Maggie to tell about how Robert's hand brushed against her own. And she lost her mother so many years ago when she needed her the most. All she had was time to worry.
"Look! They are back!"
Chloe dropped the item of clothing she had in her hand. Stomping her feet she marched up towards Matt. He had a proud smile on his face as Danny and he informed Jed and the others of their findings. Matt's smile was whipped clean off his scruffy face as Chloe pounded her small fist into his chest.
He grabbed both her wrists with one large hand, "Woah, woah, woah!"
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Chloe, what the hell is wrong with you?" Matt shared a look with Jed, but the elder sibling shrugged his shoulders unsurely.
"You left without saying goodbye…" she shook her head causing her russet hair to hide her face. Becoming overwhelmed, she turned on her heel and ran off. She heard heavy feet padding on the ground behind her, but she continued to run.
Chloe ran until the burning in her legs left her with no choice other than to fall into the mucky ground. Her jeans were covered with the earth beneath her. All she could focus on was the cold wetness sticking to her cheeks. The wind had slapped against them leaving it chilled. Her breathing was labored as she sucked in shaky breaths.
Whoever was following behind her slowed down as they approached the weeping girl. The tips of their shoes came into sight; black boots. Her eyes traveled up the dirty jeans until they reached the hem of a plaid jacket. She cowered away, covering her face in her hands.
"What-what are you doing here?"
"You just ran off…"
She sniffled, "Yeah. Because I want to be alone."
"It doesn't look like you should."
Robert sat on the floor alongside her silently. He kept his eyes to the ground. Chloe glimpsed at him long enough to take in his wind smacked cheeks and red nose. His brows were furrowed as he picked a stick off the ground and started making shapes in the dirt. Little did either of them know that Jed stood off in ear shot watching the young teens.
Jed was confused what made Chloe snap the way she did. When they were training earlier she had appeared okay. He figured it had something to do with her raging hormones. He was equally surprised when Robert was the first person to start rushing after the girl. Matt and him stood dumbfounded as he dropped his gun to the ground and booked after their baby sister. They had been so put off that they did not have time to process what was unfolding.
"You don't have to wait with me."
"I want to," Robert said.
Chloe gripped at her wavy locks as she started to sob. The seventeen-year-old scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She leant into his embrace and attempted to stop her crying. Although, that seemed to make it worse and she croaked even more. When she was finally able to calm herself down she was beyond embarrassed. All she wanted to do was curl up into a ball and hide.
"Sorry…"
"It's okay," Robert rubbed circles on her back soothingly. Chloe would never admit how much better the small action made her feel. "Can I ask what made you so upset to begin with?"
She started to pick at her split ends, "it's stupid."
"Obviously it's not if it made you feel that bad."
"I just hate the idea that I might lose Matt or Jed," she admitted. "I think I would kill myself if either of them died."
"Don't say that."
"There's nothing else for me besides them. Everyone else is dead."
Robert's touch slowed, "Well, what if other people need you besides them?"
"Like who?"
Chloe looked up at Robert through her watery eyes. He refused to make eye contact as he stared out at the snowy trees around them. The rubbing motion he had been making on Chloe's back ceased, but he kept his palm placed lightly on her lower back.
"Me," with his free hand he tugged at the string attached to his trapper hat. "-and Daryl, Toni, Danny, Julie and Greg."
Jed watched as his innocent (innocent in his mind) baby sister reached out and grabbed onto Robert's hand. A small smile quirked on her pale lips causing the dimple on her cheek to show, which had to be the first real smile she had given since this war began. To think that this boy could make her even slightly happy at a time like this made Jed realize that Chloe needed him. She needed to have someone other than Matt and him to hold onto. Something to live for… but to think that she would even kiss a boy made him flinch.
He recalled a time when she was five years old, Christmas day. Their mother gathered them in front of the glowing pine tree placed in the corner of the living room. Tom Eckert brought out hot chocolate with marshmallows for everyone; specifically rainbow colored marshmallows for Chloe. She was dressed in The Lion King footie pajamas squeezing her lilac baby blanket in one hand and the hot liquid in the other. She stood before the tree eying all the presents hungrily.
"Come sit down sweetie," their mother patted the empty seat beside her on the couch.
A look of distaste crossed the girl's small features, "No way Mommy."
"Why not?" asked Tom. He moved past Chloe to take a seat near the tree, he was always the Christmas present hander outer. It went along with his job title as police officer, father, and husband; present hander outer.
"I want my presents now. There's no time to sit."
Matt rolled his eyes, "Chloe just sit down. You're being a brat!"
"Well you're a pooh head!"
"Stop it," their mother said. Her emerald stare pierced through her small children. Matt and Chloe were always bickering, it got old fast. Jed would know. His room was strategically placed right between Chloe and Matt's. They were always arguing over toys or who played what part in some made up game. "You will get your presents faster if you come have a seat next to Mommy."
The small girl zipped onto the couch, "Me first Daddy because I'm the princess!"
"You're not acting like a Princess," Jed inputted with a frown. "Princess's don't act so greedy."
"Yes they do," she crossed her arms over her thin frame.
"Not the good Princess's like Snow White and the Little Mermaid."
She put a finger under her chin, "Well, that's why Snow White died 'cause she's too nice."
"Chloe!" her mother scolded. "Snow White did not die. Prince Charming woke her up with true loves first kiss because she was so sweet."
"I think all you deserve is a lump of coal, Coal," Jed joked as Chloe rolled their identical aquatic orbs.
His happy memories were interrupted from the brotherly instinct that ruled over his former logic. Robert had moved closer to his sister –if possible- and he was pushing her russet locks behind her ear. Jed had dated enough women to know would soon follow after if not disturbed. He took this as the right moment to step through the trees; his large boot crunching the rusted leaves below.
Chloe snapped her head in his direction, eyes wide.
"Jed," she breathed.
Robert broke away from the girl carefully. He knew the animalistic look Jed was giving him meant he crossed numerous boundaries.
"We should head back. It's getting dark. It's not safe at night," was all he managed to speak. He wasn't sure if he would ever be ready to confront Chloe's fears of losing Matt or him. Probably because he had the same worries too.
She sniffled, "Okay."
Jed took the lead with Chloe and Robert tailing behind. He snuck a few glances back at them to see if they might have worked up the courage to make some sort of advancement while his back was to them. But Chloe continued to tag behind staring down at her feet as they stomped through the mud. Robert kept his distance and gazed up at the trees wordlessly.
He wondered what was going through the young teens mind. He clearly had some sort of a clue that Jed was not all that thrilled with his obvious crush on his baby sister. But it was becoming apparent that he did not care all too much.
When they returned to the cave, everyone from earlier retreated inside. As the approached the rocky structure giggling and conversation could be heard from the inside. Jed was about to enter when he realized Chloe and Robert stopped a few feet from the entrance.
Chloe looked at Jed and then motioned to Robert beside her. She was obviously attempting to inform Jed something with her eyes.
He raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"Can we please have a minute? Alone."
Jed almost said no at the crude notion that she would be alone with anyone other than Matt or him. However, she gave him a stern glare and he grunted. Turning on his heel he left the young teens in the nippy wilderness.
A smile perched Chloe's cheeks as she made contact with Robert, "Thanks for everything. You didn't have to follow me, but you did anyway."
"I wanted to make sure you were okay," he shrugged.
"Thanks even more for that."
"Chloe, you're my friend you don't have to thank me for that."
She reached out her hand and gripped his fingertips, "You should always let someone know when you're thankful for them. They might not be around forever to hear it."
Robert looked at his feet.
"Hey," he lifted his eyes to meet her electric stare. She inched up on her toes to give him a chaste kiss on his cheek. "You're the best Robert."
Her fingers slipped out of his grasp as she entered the cave. A small grin spread across Robert's chapped lips as her slender figure faded away.
