YAY! This update came sooner than I thought! & that's BEFORE updating Somebody To You. Wow. I feel special. Haha.

Maybe I might get more reviews for this chapter bc I didn't get many reviews for the last chapter. Like I don't get it. You all hate it when I do short chapters & then don't read/review when I do long chapters. Wow guys, wow.

Disclaimer: I do not own R5 or The Vamps. All rights go to who own them. AKA Hollywood Records & Mercury Records.

Chapter 13
The Headband

After Ross stormed off, they left him alone.

It wasn't like he had gone far anyway, he walked a couple metres and sat down at a tree. He was in their sight so they could all keep an eye on him incase he decided to wonder off or a zombie came out of nowhere and attacked him. Though, if a zombie attacked Ross then it looked like they would be living in an apocalyptic world forever, unless they figured out what Ross and Rocky were actually going to do in Utah. They still didn't know. Eventually they would find out, they knew that.

When it started to get even darker than it already was, Rydel, Riker and Ellington decided to try start a fire for some light as well as warmth. Rydel and Riker went for some wood and to find whatever else they could to start a fire, as Ellington was going to be the one to try light up the fire. They didn't know how he was going to, after all he had apparently been living in the back of Rydel's truck for the past 2 weeks.

Once enough wood was collected and they had other things to start the fire, Rydel and Riker sat back and watched as he attempted to start it. They both had little faith in him that he would do it without burning himself. He burnt himself on his hand twice before the fire actually started. "Would you like some water to apply to that burn?" Rydel asked, who was sat on the floor watching Ellington stand up and shake his hand.

Ellington held his hand, looking down at Rydel, being unsure as to whether or not she was mocking him or being serious "Well, if you're mocking me, no. If you're being serious, yes."

"Sorry, can't help you. I don't have a water bottle."

Ellington sighed, sitting down on the floor and holding onto his hand where it hurt. He had managed a year on his own in this zombie apocalypse, setting up fires, fetching food for himself. How the hell has he only managed to burn himself now starting a fire?

Riker watched Ellington for a couple seconds before getting up from the floor "Here," Riker said, holding a water bottle in his hand "I'm sure Ross has something or knows somewhere, where I can fill it back up." Riker knelt down next to Ellington and held out his hand for him to put his into so he could sort his burn out and stop Ellington whining like a baby.

Ellington gave Riker a funny look before holding out his arm. Riker grabbed him by the wrist and poured the water over his hand where the burn was, and of course Ellington hissed in pain and pulled his hand away. "Dude, it's going to hurt, but do you want it to hurt even more?" Riker asked, Ellington shook his head "pass me your hand back then."

Ellington held out his arm again. Riker grabbed his wrist again but held it tighter so he didn't pull away. He kept pouring until all the water was gone, then he ripped some of the cloth off his plaid shirt that was wrapped around his waist before tying it round his hand. "Dude, you're gonna cut off my blood circulation if you tie it any tighter." Ellington said, starting to lose feeling in his hand.

"What a shame." Riker said, pulling tighter and tying it in a knot before getting up and sitting back where he was originally sat.

Rydel glanced over to where Ross was, seeing he was still sat there with his legs brought up to his chest looking depressed and upset. She looked at the other two "Do you think we should go over there and see if he's okay?" Rydel asked quietly.

Riker turned his head and quickly glanced at him "Ah, I'm sure if he heard Ellington burn himself and get attacked by that squirrel he'd have laughed and cheered up a bit."

Rydel laughed softly, remembering. They decided that they needed something to eat before they all wasted away and there was nothing but a squirrel running around so Ellington decided to go and try catch it. It didn't end good. The squirrel got scared and jumped on Ellington, it was like something off a TV show. Rydel and Riker were no help to him because they were too busy on the floor dying with laughter, ignoring Ellington's pleas for help.

Hence why Ellington has a lot of scratches on his face now.

Ellington rolled his eyes at them both, deciding to take a quick look at Ross "Well, go on Rydel, off you go."

Rydel shot her head to him "Excuse me?"

"Your the girl. You're going to be more caring and gentle than we would."

Rydel laughed "Are you kidding? I'll end up making him cry more!"

Riker shook his head "You're so bitter, Rydel."

"Hey, things happen that turn people bitter like me."

"Care to share what turn you bitter?" Ellington asked.

Rydel jumped up from the floor, clapping her hands together to get the bits of dirt off her hands "On second thoughts, I'm going to go see if he's okay," She said, deciding to avoid that question and make her way over to Ross "might give you two a chance to talk." She called, as she was a little bit away from them.

Riker pulled one of the blankets they had gotten out of Ross's bag and pulled it over him "Yeah, I might try and sleep. Not that I'll get much." He laid down on the floor, with his back facing the fire and began to attempt to get to sleep.

Ellington shook his head and rolled his eyes, staying put and watching as Rydel went over to Ross.

Ross sat where he was on the floor, against a tree, with his legs brought up to his chest and hand resting against the side of his head through his hair. Looking just about done with everything and what was left of everyone in the world. He felt like he was going to break down crying at any moment, he already had tears hanging on at the edge of his eyes.

Everyone that he loved in the world was gone.

First Brad.

Then Will.

And now his own brother.

Everyone seemed to be leaving him lately. If he got too attached to someone they'd leave him or die now, it was just the way the world was working for him. And it hurt. A lot. He'd rather die now then go to Utah on his own. Though, if he does die then the world will stay apocalyptic and he can't abandon that especially when he's told Rydel and Ratliff he'd do it so they could go back living the life they were doing before.

As he was lost in those thoughts, he heard footsteps coming over from where Rydel, Riker and Ellington were. He knew it wouldn't be Ellington after hearing him getting attacked by a squirrel and burning himself on the fire. Ross admits, he cracked a smile when he heard that happening because he found it funny. But that meant it was either Riker or... Rydel.

"Ross?"

Rydel.

"What?" He asked, bitterly.

Rydel sighed, sitting down next to him on the floor against the tree "I know you're mad, hurt and upset. But, I couldn't do anything. Turns out, I'm not as strong as I thought I was. Because trust me, I was trying my damn hardest to pull him up from falling down the verge for you, not just for myself and his sake, but for you. Why? Because I know how much he means to you and that he is all you have in this stupid apocalyptic world. And I don't have anybody. Maia died, she didn't even last a month. James and Taylor... God knows what happened to them two, but I know they won't be alive, no matter how much I hope they are. I wish they were here right now because I'd have somebody. You? You had this Brad and Will guy and your brother. Do you honestly think I would let Rocky fall down the verge on purpose knowing he meant a lot to you and knowing I hate being alone? I don't like seeing people alone. Especially in a time like this."

Ross nodded, understanding Rydel. But something confused him. He turned his head to Rydel "Who's James and Taylor?" he asked.

"Oh, erm, I'll explain that later," she said, forgetting she hadn't told him that. She cracked a small smile "C'mon, I know you've just lost your brother and you probably feel like giving up, but you can't. You've got a world to save remember?" she asked "you can't let everyone down. Not now. And if you can't go on to do it for yourself then do it for Rocky, cos I sure as hell know he won't want you sitting here and grieving over him. He'd want you up on your feet, making your way to Utah as fast as you can."

Ross cracked a small weak smile "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Rydel smiled "Of course I am. I'm always right."

Ross laughed softly at Rydel and rolled his eyes playfully at her and looked back at her again. Silence took over them both and all they could hear was the fire burning in the background along with the wind blowing the trees. Maybe Ross and Rydel stared at each other smiling for a little bit too long because Rydel could have sworn she saw Ross leaning in.

"DUDE WHAT THE HELL!"

Ross and Rydel jumped and quickly turned their heads where they saw Riker stood up, brushing himself down. Quickly, Rydel jumped up and ran over. Ross cursed himself under his breath before he followed Rydel over to the fire. "What's wrong?!" Rydel asked.

"This fucking jackass threw my water bottle at me!" Riker said, raising his voice, as he was trying to get rid of the dampness he could feel from the water going all over his legs "it still had water in it!"

"Excuse me! I thought you poured all the water out of it!" Ellington said, trying to defend himself "plus, it was in my way, so I thought I'd give you it back."

Ross sighed, shaking his head "You two are such cry-a-babies."

Riker scoffed "It was unexpected! I was going to tell him 'no don't throw it, it's got water in' but before I could get a word in he chucked it!"

Ellington shrugged "Well, you should have moved." He said, not being bothered by what he had just done. He wasn't. It was only a little bit of water. Surely he'll dry off, especially if he sleeps close to the fire.

"I tried!" Riker said, basically roaring.

"Oh my god, what are they arguing about now?" a voice asked from behind them as they walked over.

Rydel turned her head, seeing Rocky coming towards them, and looked back at Riker and Ellington "Oh, Ellington threw Riker's water bottle at Riker and water went all over him." Rydel said.

Suddenly, Ellington, Riker, Rydel and Ross froze where they were and all stared at each other before they actually realised. And when they did realise, they either screamed or jumped back, or done both. Ross jumped back as far as he possibly could, Rydel screamed, and Ellington crawled away backwards. "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!" Ellington shouted at Rocky, who was now sat on the floor in front of the fire.

"Well, I'm not." Rocky said.

Rydel felt like she was in some sort of crazy maze and she got lost in it "But you fell down the verge! You let go of my hands and fell! There's no way you survived that, Rocky!"

Rocky shrugged "I did," Rocky said, seeing the disbelieving looks he was getting from everyone "alright. When I fell I kinda rolled down the side of the verge rather than actually fell, I held out my hands to slow myself down and eventually I stopped before I got to the bottom. From there, I began to pull myself up back to the top. It took a while, but I eventually did it, and well, here I am." Rocky said, leaning backwards with his hands supporting him "glad to see everyone is so upset at the fact I could have been dead."

Ellington had his hands placed on his chest where his heart was, taking deep breaths "Oh, good lord. I think if my heart starts beating any faster it'll explode." He said before flopping himself backwards so he was lying on the ground.

Rydel rolled her eyes "I hate you, Rocky. I was genuinely upset you were dead because I could have saved you. Next time die so I have a reason to be sad!" She said, sitting down on the floor.

"Oh, jee.. thanks," Rocky said, sarcastically. Rocky turned his head where Ross was stood, looking like he didn't know what to think or do right now "Oh, c'mon Ross. Calm down. You can't get rid of me that easily. Same goes for you, no matter how hard you try."

"Unfortunately. God, I thought I'd lost you forever there, man." Ross said, sounding so relieved. He took what he thought earlier back.

He hasn't lost everyone he loved. Rocky's still alive.

Rocky motioned towards the fire "C'mon, go to sleep we all need it."

Ross nodded, seeing Ellington had even laid down properly next to the fire to go to sleep, Rydel was laying down and Riker was getting ready too. Rocky laid down as Ross went to walk over.

But something caught his eye on the floor.

He stopped and looked down on the floor where he saw a bit of cloth on the floor by his foot underneath the dirt. Ross bent down and picked it up, wiping the dirt off it to reveal the plaid like pattern on it. That was when he realised it wasn't a piece of cloth. It was a headband. A boys headband.

Ross looked over to Riker, Ellington and Rocky. But remembered none of them were wearing headbands.

He took a closer look at the headband, seeing that it was definitely an old one. But the way the dirt came off the headband, it looked like the headband had only been dropped recently. He wouldn't say longer than a week. But who the hell would drop a headband like this? Who's even was it?

Then it hit him.

Ross unzipped his bag, now being in the Utah base after the long bus drive. He was seeing what he had packed along with what his Mom had put in there for him. He dug around it. Puzzlement came across his face when he saw a piece of unfamiliar cloth at the bottom of it. It looked like a handkerchief.

He put his hand down in the bag and pulled it out, revealing a headband. Ross shook his head. Now his Mom either put in their for him because she thinks his hairs too long, or because she thought it would be funny.

The door opened to his room, he ignored it because he knew it would be Brad. "What have you got there?" Brad asked, walking over to his bed. He and Ross shared a room in the base, Rocky was in the one across the hall with some other guy called Luke. Luke being the guy who was at the front of the bus with his girlfriend.

Ross shrugged "My Mom put this in my bag. Either because she thinks I have too long of hair... or for the crack." He held it up, letting Brad see it.

Brad laughed "Oh, God," He went over and took it from Ross and put it on his head "do I look stylish?" Brad asked, putting on a queer voice.

Ross smirked "Very," he said, trying not to laugh "oh.. you make me laugh sometimes. Keep it if you want."

Brad looked at Ross like he was crazy, taking it from his head "Seriously? I don't want it."

"Dude, keep it. It's the only thing I'm going to give to you that's mine. You don't have to wear it."

"No, no," Brad said, with a smirk as he put it on his head "I'll wear it. But for you. Only for you. And when people ask me why I'm wearing it, I'll say my gay roommate gave me it."

Ross threw the nearest thing he could find, which was a notepad, at Brad "Screw off."

And Brad wasn't lying. He did wear it for Ross. Day after day, after day.

Ross shot his head up from looking down at the headband in his hands, his eyes were wide and he twisted and turned his head, looking around subtly so the others didn't notice him, but in desperation.

No way.

"Ross!" Rocky called, who was now laying on the floor "stop standing there and go to sleep."

"Okay..." Ross said, still looking around the woodland area.

He put the headband in his pocket and made his way over to an empty spot by the fire and laid down.

Do you all love me? Yes? No? Okay.

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