Chapter 8
Morning shone above when Claire woke up. She sat up and found Kmart is already out of the med van. She looked outside and saw everyone busy doing their daily task. She spotted Carlos and Alice discussing then remembered their conversation last night. She smiled at that. She smiled like a teenager who's feeling a little giddy over someone's love story.
Claire tried to move but her feet are still injured, she couldn't do it. She sighed then slumped back on the bed.
"Why now?" she muttered.
Minutes later, two people entered the med van. She looked up and saw Alice and Carlos. "Hey good morning." Alice greeted.
Claire sat up to meet the newcomers. "Good morning to both of you." The redhead replied.
"How are you feeling?" Carlos asked.
"I can move now. I'm fine."
Alice grinned. "Really?"
Claire shot Alice an eyebrow. "What?"
"You're too stiff. I mean your feet. You can't still move." Alice commented.
Claire sighed. "I don't know when will I recover from this."
"It will heal soon." Carlos said.
"So what are you two up to?" Claire asked.
"Carlos and I decided on something and we discussed it a while ago." Alice said.
"What is it?" Claire asked.
"Since we cleared the store we were yesterday and the convoy needs supplies, Alice and I decided to go on scavenging today." Carlos replied.
"Okay. That's nice. Wait for me, I'll just need to prepare." Claire said and tried to stand up but failed. Good thing Alice caught her.
"You know what? We're not really asking you to come." Alice said. Claire stopped and shot her an eyebrow.
"What is that supposed to mean Abernathy?"
"Remember you're injured. You might as well stay here and take a rest so you can recover soon enough." Alice said.
"I agree with Alice, Claire. You need a rest." Carlos said.
"And I agree with them. I'll pin you down if I have to just to make you stay. I won't let you join them this time." Kmart said coming from Alice and Carlos' back.
The three of them looked at her. "Nice try Kmart." Claire muttered.
Alice grinned at Kmart and patted her on the back. "You've got some guts. But I want you to take care of your big sister."
"Don't worry Alice, I can take care of that. She won't escape." Kmart ginned back and gave Alice a wink.
"You're funny Kmart." Claire rolled her eyes.
"You should listen to us sometimes you know." Kmart said.
"Yeah. This is for your own good, too." Carlos said. "You need to rest."
Alice smirked at Carlos without Claire's notice while Kmart chuckled at Alice's reaction. "What's so funny?" the redhead asked looking at Alice.
"She did something crazy." Alice pointed at Kmart.
"What is it Kmart?" Claire turned to Kmart.
"I am making googly eyes. Like this." And Kmart did as what she said. Alice grinned wider.
"What the hell. Don't do that again." Claire said, containing her laughter.
"Why? Am I not pretty?" Kmart asked. Pretending that she's hurt.
"Well, you look…ridiculous." Claire smirked.
"Ridiculous?" Kmart raised an eyebrow.
"Forget it Kmart. As for you two, go ahead and find supplies we need. Find me also an alcohol, I need that. I never had drink for some months." Claire said.
"Sure." Alice replied. The two were about to leave Claire.
"If you don't find one, I'll kill you."
"You bet. You must recover first before you kill me." Alice said.
"Shut up Abernathy."
"I'll take that as good luck." Alice winked.
"Whatever, just go."
Kmart smiled at Claire as the two of them were left in the med van. "What's that smile for?" Claire asked.
"I'm just glad that you and Alice are getting long well these past few days." Kmart replied.
"Well, trusting other people won't hurt that much, will it?"
"Well yeah."
"I just don't know where it will take me."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Just a random thought."
"You're weird Claire."
"I know. Why don't you help other to do their chores?"
"I wanna stay here. You might need me."
"I'll be fine alone here. Just go with them or play with Angie." Claire said.
"Okay. Whatever you say."
Alice, Carlos, Mikey, and Chase reached the store and searched for the supplies they need. Alice and Carlos went to a certain place where ammo and some explosives are stored.
Alice smirked. "Nice." She muttered.
"You like it here huh." Carlos commented.
"I'm sure, if Claire is here, she will love this too."
Now, it's Carlos' turn to smirk. "I'm glad you two were getting along well."
"Well, it's not that hard to deal with her although at first she appeared to be too tough and hostile." Alice replied.
"I've experienced that too. But she's really caring. Maybe it's just her way of telling others that she cares. Just like you."
"What is that supposed to mean, then?"
"You were like her too. Tough. You like to do things on your own. You never depend on others. But the bright side from that is, you cared about the people around you." Carlos replied.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"But you know what? I'm happy that you're trying to live as a normal person, too. You're building trust, building friends and family. Now, I want you to keep in mind that you don't need to leave us." Carlos smiled at Alice and the latter smiled back at him.
Moments after that, Jill went to the med van to bring Claire her lunch. And then she found out that the redhead is being stubborn because she's trying to stand. Jill immediately put down the tray on the table and went to Claire.
"What do you think you're doing?" Jill demanded and helped Claire to sit.
"I'm trying to walk. I need to recover from this shit." Claire said.
"You should not force yourself. Just try to calm down and relax."
"I couldn't rest knowing that my convoy is in grave danger of starving."
"You know Alice and Carlos are taking care of that. They went to search the store you were last in." Jill said.
"I know but…"
"You're not used to being baby sat and resting, right?" Jill smiled.
"Yeah. I hate these things."
"You know you have to get wounded sometimes even if you're tough so you will know that there are some people that cares for you."
Claire just looked at her. She didn't quite catch that. "I told Alice that too before when she suffered from serious injury." Jill gave Claire her lunch. "Here. You should eat. Kmart asked me to force you to eat because she told me that you have this habit of not eating. We're not supposed to be on a diet these days you know." Jill joked.
Claire smiled at that. "I'm just saving them for those people who need these than I."
"And now you're one of them."
"Yeah. So frustrating. By the way how's your arm?" Claire asked.
"Ah this? It's fine now. I'm in a good shape to fight those undead again." Jill replied.
"Good. I think my leg is healing too." Claire said. "By the way. You told me that Alice suffered from serious injury, too, before?"
"Yeah. That was the time when she saved the four of us, Angie, LJ, Carlos and me from one mutated infected." Jill explained.
Claire frowned. "What do you mean mutated?"
"Well, there were these things that Umbrella was experimenting on. I don't know how they did it but those assholes were using these things against human race."
"I have never encountered one and I think I don't like to."
"Let's just hope that they already stopped doing it."
There was silence.
"Jill, how was she before?" Claire suddenly asked when she finished eating her food.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean Alice. How was she being a friend? You were with her for a long time right?"
"She's superhuman. She's cool." Jill grinned.
"I know that." Claire punched Jill on her arm lightly.
"Well, all I can say is that, she will do whatever takes to help the people she values. Everything. Even her life."
"I see."
"She did it once for you right? In that store?"
"Yeah she saved me."
"Why? You don't trust her?"
"It's not that. Well…"
"I see you're having some trust issues. But I don't blame you. I was like that before."
"It's just. I don't know what to think anymore."
"You'll just have to some trust and faith to the people around you." Jill smiled.
