Elyza's POV
A joyful whistle echoed through camp as I stepped brightly past the gathered caravans, barely aware of the faint twinge in my ankle as the merry tune blew from my lips. Life was good. In fact, life was great.
A chirpy voice spoke up from somewhere behind me and I turned to locate the source.
"Looks like someone's in a good mood!"
Monty was grinning at me with a smile that I had almost forgotten. His straight, black hair framed a tanned face, sporting a red cap that sadly did not compliment the striped polo shirt that he was wearing.
I looked him up and down and whistled sharply, a short sharp blast that conveyed my opinion of his outfit.
"Looks like someone got changed in the lost and found section!"
"I've missed that cutting sarcasm," he lied, surging forwards to pull me into a tight hug.
I couldn't remember the last time that I had seen Monty, too damn long that was for sure. He had been a good friend of mine back at the old base. His smart thinking was much appreciated within our mismatched group and he had been a valued member of the leadership.
"Where the hell have you been hiding?" I asked, pulling back to stare at him questioningly. It had been almost a week since I had returned and not once had I even glimpsed him in the distance.
"Harper dragged me along with her on childcare duties, we're keeping them on the other side of camp where the defences are more secure," he offered, feigning disappointment but it was clear to see that he enjoyed the new role. He had always been good with the children.
"Good on you," I said sincerely, glad that they were both doing well.
Monty looked down at the bag gripped in my hand and pointed to it. "What have you got there?"
"Ah shit," I cursed, suddenly remembering where I was meant to be and began to resume my journey across camp with an apologetic wave. "We'll have to catch up another time, don't be a stranger!"
Monty merely shook his head at my antics, more than used to my odd behaviour.
"That wouldn't be a little something for your new girl would it?" he called after me with a knowing look in his eye. Damn, news travelled fast in this place.
I spun on my heel and quirked my eyebrows mysteriously, eliciting a chuckle from my old friend.
"That would be telling."
I surged on through camp at a faster pace this time, striding as quickly as my healing ankle would allow. My destination wasn't far and I was almost certain that I wouldn't be late.
To my relief, I navigated through the maze of caravans and emerged into the clearing to see Alicia settled on the bench with the radio resting on the table surface. Her legs were crossed neatly beneath her as she intently adjusted the radio dials, so focused on her task that she didn't notice my approach until I was virtually in front of her.
Her initial surprise transformed into a pleased smile when she recognised me and kicked her legs down as I sat opposite her.
"Hey, I thought you were meeting Bellamy and Raven this morning?" she said, a slight frown appearing at my evident smirk as I hauled the bag onto the seat next to me.
"That, was a carefully constructed lie so that I could surprise you instead," I admitted, although I had met briefly with Raven when she had caught me raiding the food stores. That had been a long and difficult conversation which had resolutely ended with me agreeing to serve meals for the next three nights in return for my unofficial visit. I had no regrets.
"Mission accomplished," she confirmed, gazing suspiciously down at the bag. "What the hell is in that?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
I reached into the bag and began to display my goods on the table, two cans of fruit, two energy bars, jerky strips, and something that I was incredibly excited about. Alicia was observing the collection with cautious interest, her eyes widening when she saw the final package that I placed on the table.
"Are you serious?"
"Oh yeah baby, we're having the meal of champions!"
My excitement was contagious and Alicia looked on in disbelief as I picked up the sealed packet of freeze dried ice cream and wiggled it in front of her face.
"Don't say I don't treat you!"
Astronaut ice cream had been on my apocalypse bucket list since the very beginning and as luck would have it, Raven had been hiding the only packet known to the camp in case of emergency. Of course it was all bullshit and she was clearly just saving it for herself, but she wouldn't have reacted well had I voiced that particular opinion.
"How did you get hold of that?" Alicia breathed, her eyes tracking the packet as I carefully placed it on the table between us.
"With a lot of negotiation and at the small cost of my life," I joked, although it was possible that I would have sold my soul just to try this particular food of the gods. At least it was in the apocalypse.
"Did I ever tell you how amazing you are?"
I grinned. "I hear it all the time."
The initial plan had been to reveal the grand prize at the end of our spontaneous lunch but I couldn't have waited that long. In all reality the taste of the freeze dried snack was far from the memory of real ice cream, nothing could compare to the cold, delicious goodness, but this was the next best thing.
Alicia's eyes closed dramatically as she savoured her final bite, enjoying every flavour that graced her taste buds. It was a hell of a lot better than jerky, put it that way. I couldn't help but smile at how adorable she could be, watching the disappointment creep into her expression as she realised that it was all gone.
"Forget survival, I can die happy now," she joked, propping her chin onto interlocked fingers to gaze back at me. "What would I do without you?"
"You wouldn't be eating ice cream that's for sure, because I would've had the whole thing to myself," I laughed, abandoning the empty packet to gesture dramatically to the remaining food. "Can I tempt you next with the rich flavour of beef jerky? Or the refreshing tang of this exquisite fruit?"
Alicia pretended to think for a moment before a playful smile formed on her lips. "I'll take option three."
Before I could explain to her that there wasn't an option three, she had rested her hands on the table and leant over to plant a lingering kiss on my lips. I could still taste the sweet flavour of ice cream on her mouth.
"Good choice," I murmured, wondering why I hadn't made that option one.
Light conversation flowed between us as we enjoyed the selection of food that I had procured, namely what bargain I had struck with Raven to obtain the ice cream. It was quite amusing to witness the ideas becoming more and more ridiculous with each attempt.
An unexpected lunch date was hardly the most extravagant gesture that I could have made, considering that we were living an apocalyptic life with no cinema or bar to occupy us, but lunch was better than nothing and the final surprise was yet to come.
"How did the radio session go?" I finally asked when a lull in conversation provided the opportunity to discuss more serious topics.
Alicia's eyes fell to the can of fruit in front of her and I almost regretted asking when her happiness faded ever so slightly.
"Same as usual. Absolutely nothing."
I knew that she had been struggling recently and was having no luck getting in contact with her family. She was quickly running our of hope that she would ever find them again. Lunch had been a way of trying to distract her from the distinct possibility but also to have an honest conversation with her about our plans.
"What were you thinking of doing?" I asked carefully, noticing that the girl had been deep in thought recently. Intended or not, Alicia had an idea of her next plan but had yet to discuss it with me.
"About what?"
"About this place, your family, about...everything."
She finally looked up at me with an exasperated sigh, the conflict clear in her eyes as she considered what to say. Maybe she hadn't decided yet. There was nothing wrong with that, but I could see the frustration that it was causing her.
"I...I don't know. I feel like this radio was my last chance, that this was going to be the solution. Except here we are and I feel like we haven't achieved anything."
I nodded slowly, perhaps more aware than her that she had already decided on her next steps. She just wasn't willing to say the words out loud.
"Whatever you decide Alicia, I just want you to know that-,"
The girl was shaking her head as soon as I began speaking.
"No don't, don't say anything yet, not when I-"
"No," I interrupted forcefully, refusing to let the girl silence me. She had to hear this. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, this was the only thing holding her back.
Alicia gazed back at me with a glint of nerves shining in misty eyes, unsure of what she was about to hear.
"Whatever you decide," I continued slowly, reaching out to pull her tense hands into my grip, intertwining my fingers with hers before she could object. "Just know that I'll be there for you. If you want to stay here with these idiots, then we'll suffer through the dumb jokes and ridiculous comments."
Alicia ducked her head as a laugh quivered unstoppably at the comical statement, her eyes rising to mine once more as I continued with a small smile.
"If you want to track your family down and get back on the road then you'd best know that I'll be driving fast and furious style. Hell, if you want to steal a motorhome and ride away into the sunset we'll do it together. Okay?"
The gratitude in Alicia's gaze couldn't be conveyed into words, but she didn't have to say anything at all. I knew what it meant to her.
"Together," she confirmed with a slight nod, squeezing my hands instinctively in response to convey her emotion.
"Together," I agreed, leaning over the table to kiss her passionately.
I wasn't letting her go now, not ever. Not even the apocalypse would break us apart.
It was only when we returned to the centre of camp that I realised how thoughtless I'd been. So distracted by our conversation that I had forgotten to give Alicia her final surprise.
I hooked my arm with hers to gently pull her into the motorhome as we ambled by, eager to reveal my gift to her. She gracefully let me lead her inside, confusion gracing her features at the unannounced changed in direction. We had initially been planning to visit Harper and Monty at the other end of camp but that could wait now. This was far more important.
"What's going on?" Alicia queried, huffing softly when I gently pushed against her shoulder until she was seated on the bed and sidled up beside her as she gazed back at me expectantly.
"I know it's been difficult for you recently, trying to contact your family, so I made a little something for you."
I reached into the bag before she could object and presented a small, leather bound book towards her. She stared at it for a moment before gently claiming it and rotated it in her hands to inspect the worn cover.
"A book?"
"Not just any book," I added with unexpected nerves dancing along my skin. Would she like it?
She pulled aside the elastic band and carefully opened the cover, her eyes widening when she glimpsed the sketches that lay within.
"Wow," she muttered, hovering a finger over the intricate sketches that adorned the first two pages. So far so good.
"I thought that whilst we search for your family, you could use this book to write down any thoughts or feelings, memories, literally anything that you might want to tell them about," I explained, watching her reaction carefully.
She thumbed through the first few pages which were littered with carefully arranged boxes and borders, an inspirational quote here or there which were Elyza approved. It had seemed like a good idea, but seeing the pages laid open before Alicia, I couldn't help but think that it had been a terrible idea.
The indecipherable expression with which the girl stared down at the decorative pages was not helping my anxiety and I felt my defences rising, rushing to save my embarrassment with an offhand explanation.
"I know it's stupid and cheesy, but-"
"I love it," she interrupted, the expression that I had once thought to be indecipherable now clearly infused with wonder and a hint of sadness. "This is amazing. Thank you."
It was a relief to hear the words and I wondered why I had ever doubted myself. It was a heartfelt present with only the best intentions in mind. It had turned at damn fine if I did say so myself.
"When did you have time to do this?" she continued, resuming her scan through the pages to observe the creative designs.
"I may have crept away for a few evenings to perfect the masterpiece," I offered, recalling the stealth mode that had been activated in prying myself free from the sleeping girl to sneak away for a few hours and return without her noticing.
"So when I caught you hidden behind a caravan acting incredibly suspicious, this is what you were doing?"
I laughed and nodded enthusiastically, remembering the narrowed eyes and unbridled suspicion with which the girl had observed me with when I had refused to leave my seat, claiming to be resting my ankle when I had in fact been sitting on top of the book to hide its existence from her prying eyes.
Alicia shook her head in disbelief, probably remembering the countless times she had witnessed my odd behaviour but had been unable to explain its existence. Now she could stop making up fanciful ideas of what I was keeping secrets about.
"You idiot," she laughed, gathering the book in her hands and gently returning the elastic strap to its official position. "You're full of surprises today aren't you?"
"Only the best for you," I teased, flashing a lopsided grin her way as I flicked my hair proudly. She smacked me playfully on the arm and leant forwards to reward my effort when a shout sounded from outside.
Not a mocking or angry shout. A sound of pure terror.
Alicia was only inches away from my face at that point and her eyes widened, as did mine. It was a sound that we hadn't heard for a very long time.
"That doesn't sound like a good surprise," I muttered almost to myself before we both jumped into action and raced from the motorhome. Of course the apocalypse would have to go and ruin my perfect moment. It was not over by any means, I had yet to receive my token of thanks, but first we had to deal with whatever the world was throwing at us this time. Together.
Thanks for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it!
Let me know what you thought in the comments and I'll see you for the next chapter :D