Author's Notes: Sorry again. Not much happened in the last chapter. Hopefully this chapter it will be better (hopefully… =[].
After a few minutes of silence between the two women, Zoey soon grew tired of waiting for the older survivor to snap out of her depression and hysteria.
"I don't think Francis heard you, so don't worry."
"Huh?" Rochelle slowly lifted her head to look at Zoey. Looking at her eyes, Zoey could tell she was fighting back tears.
Crossing her arms and with a small smile on her face, Zoey continued what she started.
"I'm pretty sure that Francis didn't hear you." She looked at Rochelle to see if she was with her." To be honest, I think he is one of the heaviest sleepers I have ever known." Zoey started to form a small smile remembering her travels back in her home state. "During our time at Pennsylvania, my group would fight off hordes just like how you guys are right now. And our time together for the past few weeks, we have come to know each other. He would just complain and go to sleep once we get to the safe room though we were still fighting a horde."
Relief started to take over the older survivor as she smiled hearing Zoey's story.
"Really? He's… still sleep?"
"Yup!" she replied with a laugh. "The place was filled with the sound of gunfire and he would still be asleep. Nothing would wake him up until either we move out or when he hears an insult from Bi-" catching herself saying his name. She looked away as her face dramatically changed from happy and warm to deep depression.
Her change in facial expression didn't escape Rochelle's observation. Her woman's intuition emerged, as she wished to know what's wrong and see if she could help in anyway.
"You okay Zoey? Is… something the matter? Because if it's anything I can do, I'm here to help you."
Waved her hands in front of her; "Oh. No, no. I'm just fine. I was just… thinking" Zoey replied.
Wishing to change the subject, Zoey tried to make a small smile on her face, almost by force." But anyway… What do you see in Francis? I mean, he's cool I guess, but really?"
Rochelle looked away and rubbed the back of her neck. "I'm not too sure to be honest. It's something about his personality I guess that got me."
"His personality?" showing a bit shocked in her voice from her answer. "Rochelle, ugh, to be honest, Francis is an asshole. He usually complains, saying he hates this and hates that, and always tries to pick a fight with one of us during our travels. I can't you how much he pissed me off when I shot a pilot you turned just to protect all of ourselves."
Though she mumbled something with a quiet voice, Rochelle could make out that Zoey was mumbling something like "Francis. That asshole" under her breath.
"I think I know how you feel" Rochelle replied and laughed. "I've been traveling with Nick for the past few days."
"Nick? Oh you're talking about Colonel Sanders," Zoey said with a smirk on her face.
"I see you can hold a grudge" she asked with a nervous laugh.
"I guess you can say that" Zoey replied proudly with her arms crossed. She was quite proud of her insult to the white suited survivor after he insulted her when they first met.
"Well, anyway. After working with Nick for the past few days, I think I can deal with assholes. When he first met back at a hotel in Savannah, all he could think about was leaving us behind once we get rescued from the area."
"Phf, figures. He seems like the type that would say stuff like that," showing some disgust in her voice.
"But…" It caught her attention. "He stayed with us and even helped us in some rough situations. I am so grateful for that." Rochelle had a sincere smile on her face which Zoey took notice to.
"I see-" she said slyly.
"T-t-though he still expresses his distaste for working with us. He is always teasing Coach and Ellis, and in some occasions, me."
"Oh. So, what do you think about him? Do you have any feelings for him? I mean, you guys have known each other since the whole zombie apocalypse shit have happened."
"WhatdoIthinkaboutNick?" Rochelle said too quickly as she started to blush. "W-w-w-why would you think I have some kind of feelings for him?" Her blush continues to take over.
"Well… One." Zoey pointing at Rochelle. "Your response. You were stuttering and you're blushing. A lot," she followed with a small laugh. "And two: I saw you smiled a little bit and almost even relieved that he hasn't left your group."
Rochelle hit her forehead with the palm of her hand after hearing she caught her smile earlier. I can't hide anything from this girl. She's too observant. She looked at Zoey who had a questioning look to her earlier action, and sighed.
It took a while for Rochelle to answer that question. "I think of him more as a family member," she replied as she rubbed the back of her neck. "Like our group is a small family in a zombie apocalypse."
Zoey got up immediately and glared at Rochelle. "There is a huge difference between loving someone as in a relationship and as a family member. And I can tell it is not as a family member. You are lying to yourself. You do have feelings for him!"
Zoey's outburst was so sudden and it enraged Rochelle. How can she tell me how I feel about him? She knows almost nothing about us. She was about to get up in quick movement and give her a piece of her own mind, she saw something on Zoey's face.
Tears. It glistened as it rolled down her cheek as she continued her glare at the older survivor. So, instead, she took a moment to think and slowly stand up.
"Okay sweetie. I have kept quiet because I thought you were going to talk to me but you haven't. I know there is something wrong that you aren't sharing. You need to tell me. Don't bottle it up inside. It's not healthy and it doesn't help you one bit." She grabbed Zoey's shoulders and gently shook her. "Please Zoey... Tell me what's wrong. I want to help you."
Zoey could tell she was serious in her words and can feel the intense stare telling her to spill her inner turmoil right now and it will make everything better.
She looked away and shut her eyes tightly; wishing that this wasn't happening. That everything she has been through for the past week was nothing more than just a horrible nightmare.
After some time, she soon acknowledges that telling Rochelle what's been on her mind will release some of the pressure she had on herself. She wiped the tears off her face and slowly sat back down with Rochelle doing the same.
As soon as she breathed in, Zoey breathed out and look at Rochelle in the eyes. "Okay. I'm going to tell you what's been on my mind since we first met. But I'm gonna have to tell you a bit of our group and a little bit of myself." Rochelle just nodded; showing she was ready to listen. "You already know Francis and you are going to meet Louis soon. But one person… you probably not going to meet. Well…alive anyway" Zoey choked out the last few words.
"What do you mean?" Rochelle asked with a questioned look.
Looking down at the floor with a grim look, she answered her question. "Just like your group… We had four people. We worked hard you know; fighting and working together. Probably like you, we never known each before the apocalypse happen. That we were more like forced to work together though our backgrounds are completely different. But then you grow used to each other's company and understand each other."
Rochelle nodded to show that she knew what she was talking about.
"But one person, who we considered as our leader… He really affected me and probably the first person who brought me out of my shell since this whole thing happen."
"Who was this person?" showing interest of where this whole thing was going.
"His name is… William "Bill" Overbeck."
A/N: Hi! Happy New Year to everyone! I apologize that this came out really late. I've been busy going out (apparently now I have a social life :P), playing video games (I finally got around to buying L4D1 and 2 and man, do I suck at it. I'm a noob. Hi, how are you doing? I'm getting better though. I just started playing back on Sunday) and stressing because next week I start college again. I'm really not looking forward to it because… yeah. Too many to list.
I hope to finish this story before my break ends cuz I don't want people to wait for a long period of time for a new chapter. So hopefully I will take the time to sit down and write parts next chapter later tonight (its nighttime where I stay).
So yeah. Thanks for all the favorites and alerts and the two people who reviewed my story! I really appreciate it! So much!