Chapter 7

Alice frowned while she looked at the redhead because of her reaction. It was like; she startled the convoy leader and that she was so afraid of her.

"What' wrong Claire? Don't you recognize me? It's me Alice." Alice moved forward towards Claire but she stopped midway upon realizing that Claire is frightened. That was the very first time she saw the tough leader vulnerable.

"What happened Claire? You're making me worried." Claire saw worried expression I n Alice's eyes.

She tried to calm herself. She took a breath and started talking to Alice. "I'm sorry. I just had a nightmare."

Alice sighed then smiled a little. "I thought something happened to you, like amnesia or whatever."

Claire chuckled lowly. "Amnesia? Do you honestly believe that will happen to me? It's just a mild injury."

Alice smirked upon looking at the redhead's bandaged head. "Yeah right. That's why you were unconscious for long hours. By the way, how are you feeling?"

"Fine. But my head aches a little."

"I'll go get Betty to check on you. And probably Kmart, too. She's so worried about you." Alice said then stood up.

Before Alice left the med van, Claire called out for her. "Alice…"

The blonde turned to look at her. "Yes?"

"Thank you." The redhead softly spoke.


Alice walked towards the group composed of Carlos, Kmart, Betty, Jill, and Angie with a big smile on her face. "Where have you been? And what is that smile on your face?" Carlos asked upon seeing Alice approaching.

"Med Van. Betty, I think you should go and check on Claire." Alice said.

All eyes are on her. Without a second thought, Kmart stood up and hurried towards the med van, knowing what Alice was meaning to say. Followed by Betty, Jill and Angie, Alice and Carlos were left in the campfire.

"What about you? Aren't you going to join them?" Alice sat beside Carlos on the log.

"Naahh. Betty will check on her. I'm not allowed to see something. And I'm sure, Kmart won't let go of her big sister. Maybe I'll just pay a visit to her tomorrow." Carlos replied then looked at Alice.

Alice grinned. "You're amusing me Olivera."

"Why? Did I say something wrong?"

"On the part 'I'm not allowed to see something.' Why Carlos? Were you wanting to see something?" Alice's grin got wider.

"Hey I'm not!" Carlos almost yelled. Some of the members of the convoy looked at their direction.

"I wouldn't yell if I were you. They're looking at us." Alice teased Carlos even more.

"Oh shut up Abernathy. You're making fun of me."

"Come on Carlos. If you're not going to talk to her, when are you planning to confess your feelings for her?"

Carlos narrowed his eyes on Alice. "What the hell are you talking about Alice?" he almost yelled again. Then again, some members of the convoy looked at their direction.

"I told you, if I were you, I wouldn't yell."

"Stop accusing me of some theories that you formed."

"I'm not accusing you. I'm just telling, what I observed. Don't worry, I wouldn't tell her." Alice smiled.

"Whatever Alice. Just cut it. I'm leaving." Carlos stood up but Alice pulled him back to sit on the log.

"I'll stop teasing you. Just don't leave yet." Alice said.


From the med van, Betty just finished replacing the bandage on Claire's head. "Done. You're fine now." Betty said.

"I think I heard someone screaming." Claire said.

"It's Carlos. Maybe Alice is teasing him again." Jill said.

"Oh. Is there something going on between them? I mean you know…" Claire trailed off then looked at Jill.

"Not that I know of. But if there is. I'll let you know." Jill grinned.

"That's not what I meant. Ugh. I give up. I'm too tired to explain anyway." Claire said then looked at Alice outside. Then flashed of her dreams, nightmare rather came into her mind.

"Just kidding. We'll leave you with Kmart now."

"And Kmart, don't forget that she needs rest." Betty reminded Kmart before leaving.

When Betty, Jill and Angie left, Kmart sat beside Claire. The teen noticed the redhead's uneasiness. "Are you sure you're okay Claire?" Kmart asked with a worried look on her face.

"Yeah. Don't worry. I'm fine now. It's just, my head still aches a little." Claire gave Kmart a reassuring smile.

"By the way, how's everyone after what happened?"

"Well, everyone is fine. No one attacked us. Thank God. We wouldn't know what will happen if some undead attacked because since both you and Alice were unconscious." Kmart explained.

"Alice was unconscious?" Claire asked.

"Yeah. Actually, Carlos and LJ brought you two back here from that store. We didn't know what happened to Alice but she was unconscious for quite some time."

"When she woke up. What did she do?"

"Hmmm. She just comforted me because I was crying all the time when I learned what happened to you."

"Sorry I had you worried."

"Just don't do something reckless again, please." Kmart said.

"I promise I will be careful next time. But I can't promise you that nothing will happen to me." Claire answered.

"Claire! I'm not joking."

"I'm not joking either Kmart. It's the truth and you know that fact."

Kmart rolled her eyes. Claire sighed. "Come here." Claire pulled Kmart into a hug. "Promise I will be extra careful next time, is that fine?"

"Much better."


"Now what's bothering you?" Carlos asked from Alice's silence.

"Claire…"

"What about her? You like her?" Carlos grinned. Teasing back Alice.

Alice rolled her eyes and slapped Carlos on the shoulder. "Serious now."

"Fine. So what about her?"

"When she woke up, she was scared of me. No. More frightened than scared."

Carlos frowned. "Why?"

"She told me, she had a nightmare."

"Then what was her nightmare all about?"

"I don't know. But I think it's just not a nightmare. I saw that kind of look before." Alice said.

"From whom?"

"From you, Jill and Angie? That time when you learned about my abilities. You were shocked but more frightened."

"So you're telling me that she's starting to be scared of you because of your abilities?" Carlos asked.

"I don't know. But I know I'm scared."

"Scared of what?"

"Scared that I might lose my friends again. I'm building life again, you know. But now, I don't know…"

"Stop thinking too much. Let's just be glad that there are still real people trying to survive." Carlos replied.

"Yeah maybe I'm just overthinking about things."


Later that night, everybody fell asleep. But Claire couldn't seem to go to sleep. Well except for the fact that she slept all day, but there is something bothering her. Her nightmare. As soon as Kmart dozed off to sleep, Claire went out of the med van though her feet is not yet healed for her to walk properly.

On her way out, she spotted Carlos at the campfire. She walked towards him to join. "Hey." Claire greeted and sat beside Carlos.

"Hey. Why did you go out of the med van? You're supposed to be resting." Carlos said.

"No need to scold me. What are you? My father? Besides, I couldn't go to sleep." Claire replied.

"Whatever, Claire. You're as stubborn as Alice." Carlos commented.

"Whatever Carlos." Claire chuckled. "By the way what happened in the store?"

"Well, we were scavenging. Checking if there were undead. Luckily, there were so many of them. Then the next thing I knew, we were fighting them, you fell on the ground, then Alice came to help us." Carlos told Claire.

"Alice… what happened to her? Kmart told me she was unconscious, too?"

"Oh yeah. She was. Actually, we didn't know what happened. All I know is that, both of you are too heavy. Maybe you should be on a diet." Carlos grinned.

And because of that, he earned a slapped on his shoulder. "Aww. Why can you be so strong when you're still recovering? And why do I need to be hit twice in a row?" he complained.

"That's for teasing me. Were you the one who carried me?" she eyed him.

"No. It was LJ. Disappointed?" he grinned again.

Another slapped from Claire. "Next time, you tease me, I'll punch you on the face. Or do you want me to call Alice so both of us can punch you?"

"Now that's scary."

"Wait. So if LJ was the one who carried me, then it was you who carried Alice, right?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

Claire grinned. "Tell me, what's going on between you two. Is there something you're not telling me?"

Carlos frowned. "Telling you not what?"

"You know relationship thing."

"What?!" he burst out.

This time, Claire couldn't contain her laughter. She laughed out loud, like she would fell off the log she was sitting on. "Don't worry, I wouldn't tell her about this."

That's the time that Alice joined them when she noticed that he two are having fun. "What's the fun all about?"

"Great, you're also here." Carlos muttered at Alice.

"Hmm why?"

Claire is still laughing while Alice is just staring at Carlos. "I don't understand you two. First, Alice is accusing me that I have crush on Claire. Now, Claire is accusing me that I have crush on Alice. What the hell with you both?"

Alice grinned. "Ohhh." Both Alice and Claire exclaimed as they both laughed. "Or maybe it's Jill?"

"You two are impossible. I'm leaving." And he left Alice and Claire laughing.

Once the two calmed down, Alice sat beside Claire. "Aren't you supposed to be resting now? You're legs aren't healed yet, right?"

"Yeah. But I couldn't go to sleep and I got bored so I went out." Claire replied.

"Stubborn…" Alice muttered enough for Claire to hear.

"Ha! That really came from you, huh?" Claire smirked.

"Whatever Claire."

"Whatever Alice." Then both of them stared at the bonfire.

"By the way, thank you for saving me my life again." Claire said.

"Let's just say that you have a habit of putting yourself in danger." Alice smirked.

"Whatever Abernathy."


AN: This is the fastest update I could make… I think. Happy Reading!