Ch. 15
'Stand together Part one'
[Monroe settlement, noon]It was a cool day for the month of May, but Summer wasn't complaining she had an easy job today, feed and water the livestock.
Genevieve was going to help but according to Melissa had forgotten to come back to the infirmary earlier in the week.
Summer walked into the barn and saw a certain tall man in the pen with the only bull in the settlement.
"Dontcha wish your cowfriend was hot like me!" Ian sang, obnoxiously. Dontcha wish ya cowfriend was a freak like me!" Ian continued on, not noticing Summer.
"G'morning Ian." Summer greeted, ignoring his goofy nature.
"Morning." Ian replied, dropping his volume to normal.
"How far have you gotten along?" Summer asked, shrugging into an oversized denim jacket to cover her clothes.
"Half, but Jo asked us to muck the stalls too." Ian briefed, as stroked the bull's nose.
Summer sighed pinching the bridge of her nose. "Alright... let's get to it." Summer said picking up a pitchfork.
[Outside the infirmary]
Genevieve sat on the porch leading into the general store turned infirmary drawing stick figures in the dirt depicting them as sword fighting.
Melissa walked out rubbing her hands together as if drying them, Melissa then sat next to Genevieve who continued drawing.
"Whatcha drawing?" Melissa asked, injecting enthusiasm into her voice.
"Not sure..." Genevieve said, finishing her work by drawing a square around her drawing.
Melissa looked over the picture of what looked to be two figures dueling. "I remember a fun scene where two men dueled..." Melissa said, vaguely.
Genevieve looked up to Melissa, her expression asking the question.
Melissa understood the wordless question. "It was a duel between Inigo Montoya and the dead pirate Robert." Melissa answered in a reminiscing voice.
"Who are they?" Genevieve asked, tossing her stick into a bush.
"Just an old movie." Melissa said with a chuckle. "Can't remember the name.." Melissa admitted.
The teenage boys from the other day ran by purposefully erasing Genevieve's picture.
"What the hell's wrong with you guys!?" Melissa shouted standing, up as they continued to run.
Genevieve felt Melissa sit back down but the little girl just stared at her now ruined picture not understanding how she deserved to be treated like this.
Melissa could feel Genevieve's internal struggle and hoped she might be able to lighten the mood.
"So... are you excited about the party tonight?" Melissa asked, trying to sound nonchalant as she readjusted her ponytail.
"Yes..." Genevieve answered the distant tone of voice standing out.
"Ok... What's got you the most excited about it?" Melissa asked not giving up on the conversation.
"I don't know..." Genevieve said distantly.
"Well... You know there will be music right?" Melissa pointed out, shifting uneasily on her seat.
"Isn't that dangerous?" Genevieve asked looking up to the older blonde with a grimace on her face.
"Well... It isn't going to be outside and there aren't any speakers... So it should be fine." Melissa reassured, standing up to leave. "But you're free to go. I'll see you tonight." Melissa said as she walked away.
Genevieve stood up after Melissa was out of sight and made her way to the center of town where she lost her book, Genevieve was still upset that someone took her book.
No one else was hanging around the large tree which was odd to Genevieve, but she didn't think much of it.
Genevieve pulled a boot knife from her waistband, a weapon she smuggled out of the house since Summer grounded her from it for hitting Jacob, and brushed the debris off of it, while it was a rusty blade and fairly small but it would work well enough to protect herself.
A couple of girls maybe a year or so younger than her were now playing near the large tree with dolls, Genevieve gulped nervously and stood up cautiously putting the knife away Genevieve approached slowly holding her fingers absently.
The girls were laughing as they played, but quieted and stopped playing when they noticed Genevieve's approach, the two started to gather their dolls quickly but froze when she spoke.
"H- hi..." Genevieve said in a small voice hoping not to chase the girls away with her presence.
"Hi..." The girl with blonde hair and blue eyes said hesitantly, not even feigning a smile.
"C- can I play with you?" Genevieve stammered, knowing the answer already.
"With us?" The ginger-haired girl with green eyes asked, trying to figure a way out of this conversation.
"Mhm... I- I haven't played with a doll... In a lo- a long time." Genevieve admitted, hoping the girls would be generous.
"Uh. Sorry to hear that." The blonde girl replied scooping her dolls up and turning away towards her home.
The ginger-haired girl stood up slowly her dolls in hand but stepped towards Genevieve.
"Cassie c'mon. If mom sees you with her..." The blonde warned her sister.
Cassie went to lay a doll in Genevieve's hands but was stopped as her mother walked in between the little girls.
"Lunch is ready." The mother said flatly, hands-on-hips.
The little girls left as the mother gave Genevieve a dirty look over her shoulder.
Genevieve watched sadly as another chance at normalcy walked away from her all because she was"different".
[Dusk, settlement courthouse]
Amanda sat in the corner near the fireplace tuning the guitar one of the scavenger crews found, she hoped she could play it tonight.
"Oof nope lil bit lower..." Amanda breathed a chuckle, as she heard the note far too high immediately tuning it down.
Summer leaned in the corner sipping moonshine, grimacing at the taste.
"This shit is good!" Ian exclaimed, joyously drinking the moonshine.
Genevieve sat on a well-worn couch near Summer and Ian.
"Can I try some?" Genevieve asked, curious as to what the fuss was.
"Hell ya!" Ian shouted, excitedly.
"Well... I dunno..." Summer said, hesitantly.
"C'mon man. Let the kid live a little!" Ian said in a loud voice.
Genevieve sat in silence waiting for the decision to be made.
After a few moments of contemplating Summer relented.
"Alright, go ahead I guess." Summer said getting a fist pump from Ian and an excited genuine smile from Genevieve, something Summer had seen less and less of in recent months.
Summer's own lips turned up in a small smile as she watched Genevieve hop off the couch and eagerly awaiting Ian to hand her a cup.
Ian handed her a fresh one with only a mouthful in the cup.
"Past the lips! Between the gums! Look out stomach!" Ian yelled, as Genevieve took the cup and looked at the liquid before she raised it to her mouth. "Here it coooooooooomes!" Ian yelled in a high pitched voice as The drink entered Genevieve's mouth.
As soon as it hit Genevieve's tongue she could tell she hated the taste of alcohol or the drink anyway, the little girl's eyes opened wide before scrunching up tears filling her eyes, Genevieve spit the moonshine out all over Summer's shirt.
"Daaamnnnn!" Ian yelled trying to contain his laughter. "Yooowwww!" Ian exclaimed through the now rampant laughter.
"This is what I get for letting you drink." Summer said, unflinching.
Genevieve coughed trying to clear out the terrible drink. "I- I'm sorry..." Genevieve muttered through her it of coughing.
"It's ok kiddo." Summer sod with a smile as she put an arm around the girl and pulled her into a half embrace.
"Tha- that tasted awful!" Genevieve sputtered, in disbelief that people willingly drink it.
"It kinda does." Summer agreed, nonchalantly shrugging her shoulders.
"It tastes like the piss of a god!" Ian shouted, in an exaggerated manner pointing a finger skyward.
"It tastes like soapy water..." Genevieve said, with an annoyed tone.
"Psh last time I take your side." Ian exclaimed, jokingly messing up Genevieve's hair.
Genevieve shot a death glare at the large man as she fixed her hair before cracking a smile that she hid from Ian.
"Hey, ya'll! I got this thing ready to go." Amanda called out, to everyone in attendance, holding up the guitar.
"Ooh. What are ya gonna play first?" Melissa asked from her spot near the front door.
"Something cheesy as fuck." Amanda replied, with a smile as she set the instrument in her lap. "Any requests for after I'm done?" Amanda asked looking to the audience.
"Well, what do ya know?" A person in the back asked.
"Hmm." Amanda hummed as she thought. "Basically anything from Nickelback or maybe Three Days Grace." Amanda answered, resting her arms on the guitar.
A few audience members look at each other while murmuring something.
"Ok... Well on to your cheesy song." The man says waving a hand for her to go.
Amanda straightened up and readied her hands before plucking the beginning chords.
Everyone quieted down to listen to what the eighteen-year-old had to sing.
"One more Depending on a prayer, and we all look away." Amanda started slowly.
Genevieve sat and intently listened to the southern girl sing.
"People pretending everywhere, it's just another day." Amanda sang, letting the weight of the world sound out in her voice.
Summer set her drink down knowing that she had to get up in the morning.
"There's bullets flyin' through the air, and they still carry on..." Amanda continued.
Jacob glanced over from his spot to see Genevieve, he gulped as his grip on the object in his hand tightened nervously.
"We watch it happen everywhere, then just move along." Amanda paraphrased the lyrics and continued.
The night passed by with the townspeople talking and laughing and having a good time until well after the sun had disappeared behind the hills.
Genevieve and Summer were walking back to their home.
"Warm night." Summer said, breaking the silence as they walked.
"Ya, It is." Genevieve replied looking at the stars as she went.
"Do anything fun today?" Summer asked looking at the nine-year-old.
"No... still don't have my book so... I can't read... really boring." Genevieve sulked at the thought.
"Man... I'm sorry kiddo. Tell ya what I'll find you one or two tomorrow while I'm out there." Summer said with a smile hoping that would lift the girl's spirit.
"I would like that. I would love that actually." Genevieve said with a small smile gracing her features.
Summer offered an arm out and Genevieve accepted it by stepping under it letting it rest on her shoulder.
The moment was quickly broken up when Jacob called Genevieve's name as he ran to catch up.
The duo turned around and watched him close in before stopping in front of the two.
"What is it?" Genevieve asked, in a small voice still sorry for her actions towards him.
"I uh... You- well..." Jacob stumbled trying to find words.
Summer stood watching the boy before the thought hit her. "He likes her." She thought to herself, that would never work out Summer figured.
"I have your book." Jacob quickly blurted out, revealing the book. "You forgot it the other day so... I made sure no one stole it." Jacob explained.
Genevieve received the book and she looked up at Jacob with a smile.
"It was nothin' the least I could do given how I treated you." Jacob said trying to apologize.
Genevieve's smile faltered as she heard his words, pulling her eyes from the book. "I'm sorry I hit you." Genevieve said genuinely. "Thank you for keeping my book safe. Even though I hit you." Genevieve added, honestly.
Jacob stood there stammering, not noticing how close Genevieve was, Jacob stopped talking when Genevieve kissed him on the cheek, stunned Jacob placed his hand over where she had kissed him.
"Ah... Wow. Thank you... I gotta go. Mom calling." Jacob said hoping the dark of night hid his blushing.
As the boy left Genevieve turned to walk towards home Summer following still reeling from what just happened.
"Uh... Genevieve?" Summer said, in disbelief.
"Yes?" Genevieve replied, with a smile.
"Did you just... Kiss him?" Summer asked, not believing what she witnessed.
"Yes." Genevieve answered, with a slightly dreamy tone.
"Ok. I really hope you're not gonna start writing his name with hearts around it." Summer said sounding a little disgusted by the idea.
"I won't." Genevieve said, going back under Summer's arm.
The two made it home and after an hour of schooling, Genevieve and Summer retired to their respective rooms.
Summer never was a morning person but she assumed she would be awake tomorrow just due to the nature of her job.
Scavenger crew.
Sorry for the wait had a bit of a slump for this chapter. should pick up going forward.
