December 2nd 2027
My head slips slowly off the palm of my hand, nodding against the cool glass. The truck is warm and quiet – save for the constant hum of the radio recording – and my eyelids feel like ten pound weights. I can't remember the last time I had more than a few hours rest, and the idea of sleep is more than enticing.
But when my head droops forward and presses fully into the icy window, I jerk upright.
I shouldn't be sleeping.
Jasper isn't back yet.
I blink several times, and rub my hands over my face, struggling to stay awake. Jasper insisted on taking this run instead of me, claiming I should stay here and relax, as if it were possible in this situation. After my close call yesterday with the walkers, he was cautious.
"You're not going, Bella," he says matter-of-factly, "and that's that."
I roll my eyes, and stare out the window. Snow falls in a thin sheet, dulling the outlines of houses and buildings in the distance to nothing more than dark blurs beneath an expanse of white.
"Please look at me," he whispers, reaching for my hand, "Bella."
I want to be stubborn, but it's impossible.
He saved my life.
I clutch onto his hand instead, and tilt my head. He shifts closer to me, diminishing the space between us in the truck with one simple movement. His other hand cups my face, warm and callous, and his thumb lightly traces the shape of my jaw.
"For once," he murmurs, "take a break."
His lips curve up, offering me a sweet smile, and though I want to give him something back, I can't. Letting them go instead of me – Jasper, Emmett...any of them – there's always the risk they won't come back. And out there, they may still have people, friends and family, loved ones who are looking for them...searching.
But me...I have no one.
Nobody will come searching for me.
Jasper sees my hesitation, and in an action we only explored just yesterday, he gently kisses me. His lips are soft, and not quite familiar, but the contact is comforting. He makes me feel safe. I pull away too soon, like I did with our first kiss, and dig my teeth into my bottom lip.
I'm still not sure how I feel about him.
"Okay," I concede, "I'll stay."
I grip the handle of the gun at my side, and crawl across the seat. I look out the driver's side window, across the parking lot of the grocery store and toward the vacant building. Jasper, Emmett, and Jacob left a half hour ago to gather food and supplies, and I realize they know what they're doing, but it worries me they're not back after being gone for so long.
I cautiously open the door to the truck and hop down, crunching my boots into the fresh snow. My steps are quick as I walk back to talk to the others, but before I can get there, I see movement out of the corner of my eye.
I look toward the doors of the store.
Jasper, Emmett, and Jacob.
Alive.