Necropolis

Day 1. 5:45 p.m. Elaina.

I watched Jo stalk off, wondering what if I had anything to do with her foul mood, or if it was circumstance alone, simultaneously envying her ability to quickly close off her expression and move on with authority. She knew these people, and they listened to her. I was just taking up air.

Realizing that everyone had moved off into groups only intensified my feeling of utter uselessness. I frowned. What could I do to help? I could ask Joanna, but it seemed every time I talked to her that her irritation only increased. What if... no, that was no help either. Where was Bernard? He didn't seem to have a problem with me. Maybe I could help him...

I shook my head. I didn't know much about the things I'd heard the others discussing, in terms of weapons to fight off the zombies, but maybe it would help to have a stronghold within the stronghold? Someplace we could all hole up in case the store was invaded? But who could help?

I swallowed my pride and caught up to Joanna. "Have you seen Bernard?" I asked. "I have an idea, but I need some help." And I wasn't about to ask her. If Bernie thought it was a stupid idea then fine, I'd drop it, but I needed to have some way to occupy my hands and mind for the time being.

Day 1. 5:45pm. Joanna.

"Have you seen Bernard? I have an idea, but I need some help."

Jo stopped in her tracks. All false confidence was gone, and she clenched her fists, trying not to cry. She turned around. "No, I don't know where Bernard is," she said softly, her voice having lost the bitter tone it previously held. "If you had an idea, you should have brought it to me. Or Kevin, even." She ran her fingers through her hair and made eye contact with Elaina. "Wait. I think Bernard might still be over with Adara. Um... I can't, I have to talk to Kevin first, but... I'll come find you guys, and we'll talk, okay?' She looked at Elaina, pleading with her to just let it be, and then she turned and walked to Kevin's bed.

He was lying back on the bed, his arms behind his head, eyes closed. And I thought I could get over him, Jo thought, eyes running over his body, skipping his injured leg. She walked cautiously to the side of the bed, staying only inches away from the side. She took a deep breath. "...Hey. You wanted to see me?"

Kevin jumped, then regained his composure and grinned up at her.

Oh God, that grin, Jo thought. I'll never make it through this conversation.

Day 1. Katalyn. 5:45pm.

Left alone with Elains, Keri, Dave and Mev everything suddenly made sense. Well, not everything but something that had been bothering me. Jo was in love with Kevin and she saw Elaina as a threat. The way she her confidence seemed to fail when he was mentioned, how she's falter with Elaina around. Great. Just great. There I was, stuck in a huge store with a bunch of people who all seemed to have relationships with each other. Keri and Dave were sneaking off to have sex, Elaina and Jo were fighting over Kevin and the rest of them... well they were sure to feature somewhere in the problem.

"Let's get some food stocked up," Mev decided, already heading towards the right aisle. I shrugged and followed him, still carrying the two hammers that were growing heavier and heavier with every step. For a fleeting moment I considered putting the larger one down. Afterall, not only was Jo out of sight but after seeing how she'd deflated I'd begun to realise that she was just like the rest of us, no more confident and no more sure of what to do. But then, the others would see. And whether or not they commented, it would be a mark against me. There was a tension in the air and everyone seemed to be watching everyone else; scrutinising them, weighing their strengths against their weaknesses, deciding who was the most useful and who could be fed to the sharks.

"Should I go find some rucksacks?" I volunteered. "That way we could fill them with useful items and be ready to move if the zombies get in."

"Yeah. You do that," Mev agreed. "But you need to take someone with you..." I thought about that a moment. Elaina had already parted from us when she spotted Bernard, still sitting with Adara so that left me with three. Keri and Dave were clearly together and how uncomfortable would it be now that I knew what they'd done so that left Mev.

"Why don't you come with me?"

Day 1. 5:47pm. Kevin.

"Hey, JoJoBean." I sighed inwardly. Since I hurt my leg, hers was the only face I'd wanted to see. And there she was.

"Hey yourself," she said, planting her hand on her hip, her leg stiffening as she shifted her weight.

I hesitated a second. The normal bullshit wouldn't work here. I was in no position to demand anything of her, not after she'd gotten them all safely. I opened my mouth to speak, hesitated again, then cursed myself inwardly for showing even that weakness.

"Listen, kiddo--I know shit is hectic right now. We're all tired as fuck. But we have to lock this shit down. Now. There's no time to fuck around. We have to prepare for the worse, because we could lose everything any minute, you know?" I said, doing my best to keep the cocky, arrogant edge that had become my voice from creeping into my words.

Apparently I failed.

"We've already closed the doors. If we didn't have to search for everyone every ten minutes, there would still be people guarding those posts. Including me," she said.

"I know...I know. What I'm saying is you got them this far. Now push them to finish. I can't do shit from here, Joanna. You have to make sure these guys get this done. I, for one, don't want to be zombie chow during the night."

"Right... I can't keep them together, though, they all keep running off..." she mumbled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

I hesitated again. Fuck. Deferring power sucked ass. I could only push so much before she would crack. That would be bad.

"Jo...Come here. Take a seat."

She froze, her entire body stiffening. Of course she wanted nothing to do with me. I'd been one cold mother-fucker--deserved it.

Couldn't worry about that now.

"We don't have time to fuck around, Joanna--just come here a second."

She took a step forward hesitantly and sat down on the edge of the bed. Funny, how even in the dire situation we were in that I could notice how her thighs flexed against the mattress as she settled.

She met my eyes and I put on my best "This is serious" face.

"Look. If you don't pull this shit together, we're going to die. Be it by zombies, food poisoning, or dehydration, we won't fucking make it. I know you can do this. You got them here, didn't you?"

She shook her head and looked away.

"Mev got them here. I gave them instructions, but look where we are now. Dave and Keri were off fucking, and I don't even remember how many people we're supposed to have. Look, I'll do my best, but... They don't listen to me like they listen to you," she said, sighing quietly.

I reached out and grabbed her shoulder roughly.

"Look at me," I growled. I was losing my patience, but I was still in control. She had to understand.

She instantly tried to pull away, her head whipping around and her eyes glaring fiercely. So. Fucking. Hot.

But I wasn't in the mood for it. I held her there, firmly but not violently.

"Listen to me. If you want to survive this, you will get your shit together. If you run from this you are damning all of us."

"I'm not running," she spat back at me. "I'm telling you I need help."

"And if you'd fucking listen to me, you'd hear that I'm offering it." I kept my voice low, not wanting to draw unwanted attention from the others. This was between her and me.

She fell silent, but the glare did not leave. Now I had her attention. I held her gaze for nearly a minute. My eyes stung from holding them open. When I finally blinked, I spoke softly and quietly.

"Bring them to me, Joanna. Let me help you." I let go of her shoulder, but let my hand linger a moment.

We sat for a couple minutes, then she nodded slowly. "Yeah. Yeah, okay. I'll go get them." She got up and flashed me a small smile, and I knew I'd gotten through.

"Thank you, Kevin."

"Don't mention it," I said. She laughed a little, but I frowned and knew I'd made a serious mistake. "To anyone." I said. It almost sounded like a plea, even to me. She regarded me for a second.

"Yeah, same to you," she said as she walked away.

5:43pm Dave

He felt like punching Jo once she left. There was only so far he could be pushed he had enough of this in prison and one person who understood this best was fucking dead. The dumb son of bitch shouldn't of gone and died. Dave wasn't sure if he'd even live long so why should it fucking matter what he'd done with Keri. It was fucking obvious Kev and Jo were hot for each other. Damn this all to hell.

Growling in anger he kicked the stands creating a loud caphony of noise. Finally he turned to Keri, "I've had it, I was treated like this in prison and won't get treated like it now. I'm leaving."

She grabbed his shoulder, "Dave, please--don't worry about that bitch. Please calm down..."

Chuckling sarcastically he replied, "Calm down!? No Keri it's beyond that we didn't if we were going to fucking live and we're being subjected to uneeded cruelty."

Keri kept hold of his arm trying vainly to calm him, ""You're not in prison anymore, Dave...please, PLEASE calm down--this isn't helping anything!" He stared at her but she continued, ""Just because one jealous bitch thinks she can boss us around doesn't mean...anything."

He'd made up his mind and wasn't going to change, "No one can last long in such fucking hatred, I can't do anything right. I concentrated on our relationship but no not good enough. I can't do anything fucking goddamn right!!!"

Blushing a deep pink she laughed, "--Obviously you can."

Sighing he smiled briefly, "I meant I'd tried to help, got someone killed. Tried to just manage my own life... Still constant hate thrown at me."

Pulling him back she tried, "Don't worry about that, Dave--you tried to help, that's what matters! Everyone makes mistakes...please..."

He added, "Constant hate thrown at us."

Keri look near tears, he continued, "Keri I'm sorry I've decided, I love you and if bastards allow me back in I'll come back, not find me getting killed by those things."

He turned and walked off. Keri called back, "Come back to me Dave." He turned and she lobbed her gun he caught it and smiled walking away from her.

Day 1. 5:52pm. Bernard.

“Bernard?”

“Wuh--”

“Bernard!”

The voice that had begun tentatively grew louder. It was a woman, and the voice’s hands clutched Bernard’s shoulders and shook them. His eyes jolted open. If she’d poured cold water on him, the reaction would have been no better.

“Oh damn!”

He leapt to his feet from the uncomfortable rail of clothes he’d been sleeping under. He shouldn’t have slept. That was stupid of him. But, the temptation of a little rest had been too much to resist.

“Were you just asleep then?” The woman that Bernard knew to be Joanna peered at him curiously.

“Erm, no-- well, you see-- I didn’t mean--” he tried to explain the compulsion to rest but the words had deserted him. His normally clear and precise voice had disappeared, and he was left with a tired and stuttering one.

Bewildered, he rubbed his eyes and tried to wake up properly. Joanna rolled her eyes but smiled reluctantly.

“It’s ok. I won’t tell everyone.” Her voice had lost the sharp edge that it once held, and Bernard was pleasantly surprised to hear her speak without the bitter tone.

“Thanks,” he said, relieved that his mistake could be kept a secret.

“Maybe just Kevin though. He ought to know.”

Bernard looked at her, horrified. Was she serious? Maybe he’d been wrong about her. She did still have her sharp edge! He opened his mouth to form a plea but she spoke again.

“Or you could agree to make sure it never happens again. We need to pull together now. People are breaking off and organisation’s completely gone. I need you to help. Do we have a deal?”

“Yeah, sure Jo. Sorry about--”

“Just help me out here, yeah? Apologies aren’t much use now. We need action.”

“Right. I’ll go and see Kevin. And I could check up on Adara too.”

“Not right now, we need to get everyone together,” she said decisively. Although she may not have completely realised it yet, she had the voice of a leader. “See if you can gather a few more people together and meet me by Kev in 15 minutes.”

Restraining the urge to salute, Bernard nodded and watched as Jo breezed off, her head held high. He shook his head to dislodge the shape his hair had moulded itself into whilst he was asleep and was about to go looking for the others when Jo turned around and shouted over to him.

“Oh yeah. Elaina was looking for you.”

“Elaina?”

“You know, that chick with--”

“I know who you mean, but why’s she looking for me?”

“Beats me. See ya round, Bernard.”

He wondered for a moment but then shook his head. Elaina was nice, but she would be looking for him for some reason. She would want an opinion or something, not necessarily company…

“What is it with you today?” Bernard muttered to himself aloud and walked off in the opposite direction as Joanna had taken. Together, they would round up everyone. He glanced at his watch. Damn. Fifteen minutes was never as long as it seemed.

Keri watched him leave, she should have stopped him but doing that would have been a bad idead.

"Hey, Kevin wants to talk to you." Mev said walking over. Keri looked and him puzzled.

"Why would he want to talk to me?" She demanded,

"Something about the guns, see ya around." He took off and she walked over to where they had Kevin all streched out. It must've hurt him alot to have to lay around all day.

"You wanted to see me?" She asked,

"Yeah, hey--Mev said you brought some guns with you--what do you have? I'm damn near out of ammo."

"Ruger Mark 3, sig saur p226, smith and wesson model 60, mossberg 500, remington 770, and a mossberg 702. And there is a little ammo for all of them." She said listing off the names as she remembered them.

"How much forty smith do you have?" He asked with interest.

"Not but four magazines sense I lost my other bag." She said shifting her weight,

He nodded and seemd to ponder it awhile. "Okay, cool. I don't suppose you'd like to lend me two of those. I'm out."

"I'm not using them so it should be fine. They should still be in the duffle bag." She replied rocking back on the balls of her feet.

He laughed, "Well...I can't exactly get up to get it." Keri nodded and hurried back to where they had left the duffle bag and grabbed the two magazines not letting her eyes shift to the doors. She took the magazines back to Kevin and tossed them on the bed next to him.

"Thanks...Hey--where'd you get all that hardware?" He asked looking back up from the magazines.

"I like guns, so I went and got a bunch when you up and disappeared and the little kid got killed. " She replied, "Its always been a hobby, legal or not."

He laughed again and noded approvingly "Good shit. Never pegged you as a gun nut"

"Not many people can peg me as anything." She replied.

He laughed, " I bet"

"Your not easy to peg yourself." She said frowning.

"What you see is what you get, dollface." He replied, Keri frowned at the name, she decided to let it slid, he was hurt.

"Your lucky your hurt, but I dont suggest calling me dollface again." She said letting a slight smile tug at her lips.

"I'm quiverin in my boots. Really i am." He laughed rolling his eyes. Keri frowned, then shook her head.

"What medicine did that doc give you?"

"Whatever...i really dont know or care." He laughed,

"That works, too." She nearly laughed, "You be careful with that gun now that you have more ammo. I'm not sure you should have it right now."

"Even drugged up i can shoot better than you kiddo." He winked,

"We'll have to test that theory one of these days." She replied laughing, he was drugged up for sure.

"We'll have to go across the street for ammo." He said thoughtfully,

"We'll have to get past zombies to do that. But I'm up for the challenge any day." She replied,

" Good...cuz i cant make it right now" He said bitterly, "If i gave you a shopping list you think you could manage?"

"Yup, I'd have to have someone else with me, I wouldnt' go in there with out someone else."

"Mev would be the best choice. after we get settled you guys can go." He said, Keri nodded,

"We can find another duffle bag and carry more stuff that way." She said, He noded and began unloading the magazines she had tossed him

Day 1. 5:55pm. Kevin.

I unloaded the cartridges one by one, dropping them onto the sheets in covering my legs, then set the empty magazines aside.

"Be a doll and hand me my gunbelt?" I asked, pointing vaguely in the direction of my weapons.

Keri sneered and glared, but strode over to the guns and tossed the belt at me--not to me, but at my head. I caught it without a second thought and set it down, withdrawing the pistol and one of the spare magazines.

I spun the pistol around my finger and caught it expertly, ejecting the magazine and catching it with my other hand before setting the pistol down to load the clip. She watched me curiously, and I could tell that she saw herself in my actions. She was a gun nut too, and she hid it well. Interesting.

By the time I got the first of the magazines reloaded, a few of the others had gathered. Looks as though Joanna did her part after all.

"Thanks for coming, guys," I said with a nod as more people showed up. By the time I'd finished the second magazine, Everyone had shown up, except for Dave. Jo was the last to arrive, Elaina in tow.

Dave 5:55 pm

Exiting the building he checked gun Keri had thrown to him, it had roughly eleven in the magazine in the barrel was one. So twelve altogether. Best way to save ammo would be to only shoot if he had no other choice. Looking around he began to walk, listening for any movement. He passed various corpses, not sure whether they were alive or dead.

The car park was like a scene out a horror movie, discarded trolleys, cars abandoned with a pool of blood collecting by them. Bodies hanging out wind screens as if they'd been pulled through, bodies shredded with shards of glass before being eaten.

On the ground were skid marks and discarded shells. Dave heard a low moan and saw as he stood and looked around a group of zombies have come. Turning forwards he ran not even bother to check if they pursued him. This was totally wrong thing to do.

Spinning round he saw they were closer. He aimed for the leade, his hand shaking, he'd only fired a gun with Keri and that man. He'd needed to die. He closed his eyes and fired so afraid. He opened one eye to see he hit one and chose to keep them open. Still backing away he fired until he heard a dreadful sound once he fell five, a click. The barrel was empty.

...Oh shit...

He slid the gun back in his pocket and ran, he needed more ammo, he couldn't redeem himself if he was dead.

Day 1. 5:57pm. Joanna.

Jo tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear -- it had been annoyingly tough, but they finally got everyone. Well, mostly everyone.

"I think this is the best we're gonna do, Kev," she said, smiling despite her words. "Dave ran off, apparently, but I think we have everyone else."

He didn't return her smile, but glanced at Keri instead. "Don't need that douchebag anyway."

Keri looked away. There was an uncomfortable silence for a second or two, then Jo cut in. "So, you wanted to talk to us?"

"Yeah. While all you fucktards were off doing each others' nails, I think you forgot that there are fuckin' ZOMBIES outside those doors." He let that sink in before continuing. "What if the power went out while you morons were fuckin' around? What if the plumbing went? This may be a fuckin' warehouse, but it's no eden--we need to gather supplies, lock shit down. Prepare for HELL, bitches and choir boys."

"We had a few things to deal with, Kevin," Jo said, narrowing her eyes. "Not all of us were fucking around." She glanced briefly at Keri, then back at Kevin.

"Adara was attacked, but she's recovering..." Bernard added softly.

Kevin ignored this and shot Jo a dark glare. "Look, kiddies. I know this probably hasn't sunk in yet, but everything you know is probably gone. You saw how many of those things are on the streets. If you didn't recognize at least a dozen faces on the way here..you're lyin' to yourself. Those are our friends, our families out there. And they're dead, guys. They're fucking dead. And unless you want to join them, you need to get your shit together."

They all knew he was telling the truth. This wasn't just Kevin and his tough shit act, this was real. They only stayed calm because they hadn't allowed themselves to think about it. Now, a few of them looked away, a few closed their eyes. Keri coughed, and Mev scuffed one foot against the floor.

Jo looked down, the faces of her parents in her mind, then looked up again, fiercely. "So what do you need us to do?"

"We need to set up shelters, places to sleep -- unless you ladies are willing to strip down in front of the guys." He laughed and winked at Mev, who smiled half-heartedly.

"I'll get the girls' shelter started when we're done here," Jo answered, glaring at Kevin.

"And I'll help," Keri added. Jo smirked.

Kevin smirked back, nodding. "Good idea. Set up some for the guys while you're at it. There are some of those cabin tents in the camping section." He continued before Jo could protest. "Mev, 'Laina, draw some water. Inflate a dozen or so of those kiddy pools and fill 'em with water. Even with all this bottled water around, we want to have alternatives."

"Sure, Kev," Elaina smiled. Jo stiffened.

He continued. "Bernie, take Kat and start getting together stuff to go in the shelters--some cots, blankets, couple portable heaters, fans, stuff like that."

"While I'm busy decorating the boys' tents, I suppose I'll grab some of those ten-million-candle-power spotlights and start charging them up," Jo offered grudgingly. "Anything else, Your Highness?"

Kevin laughed and winked at her. "Angela," he said, terribly exaggerating the Spanish pronunciation, "Tarzan, check out the back offices. Be damned careful, too." He looked around. "We need some food. Once everyone's done with that shit, we'll do a once over on the store, locking everything down, and then cook some food. Should do for now."

They all started wandering off, Elaina flashing Kevin a smile. Bernard stopped by Jo's side. "He might be a little... off," he said softly so only she could hear. "I gave him some fairly powerful pain medications for that leg." At Jo's nod, he left, joining up with Kat for their task.

Soon, only Jo was left, arms crossed, still glaring at Kevin. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Day 1. 6:05pm. Kevin.

I stared into her eyes, meeting her gaze evenly. "You wanted shit to get done, Jo." I looked away and leaned back onto the bed, massaging my knee a little. Fuckin' thing hurt. "Now it's getting done."

"You barely finished telling them how they needed to quit fucking around before you started cracking jokes," she said angrily.

I smiled at her, for once not that ignorant, toothy grin but a real smile, and said. "Sometimes humor is all we have to stop the tears, Jo." She looked away, and I knew I'd won. A few seconds later, though, she surprised me.

She looked at my knee and said softly, "You okay?"

I smirked and nodded a little. "Yeah, I'm good. Hate being stuck in this fucking bed, though."

She blushed and looked away for a second, then asked how long I'd be confined to the bed.

"Bernie didn't say. But I've seen guys play football after worse than this after a few weeks. I'll be up and around before you know it, kiddo."

She smiled--a damn good smile, too, and it was at me--and looked over her shoulder. "Good...listen, I should probably, uh, go get those shelters started."

I nodded and leaned my head against the pillow, closing my eyes. I heard her turn and take a step away, and I said: "Don't be a stranger, Jo."

She turned back around and said, laughing, "What, would you miss me?"

I opened one eye to regard her. "Maybe." Part of me wondered if she caught the gesture as a wink.

She took a step toward me, her hand on her hip, and I opened both my eyes, thoroughly surprised. ""You would, wouldn't you? You'd be stuck here all alone, thinking about me as I'm putting up the boys' tents..." I damn near blushed, but caught myself and mentally scolded myself.

"Yeah, that's true--but while you're sleeping on a cramped, hard little cot, I'll be here, comfy as hell." I decided to play along. "...And just as fucking bored."

She smiled--fuck, it's a bangin' smile--and reached the edge of the bed, letting her fingers sink into the soft mattress. "Mm, it's too bad you hurt your knee, then," she said, her finger tracing a light figure eight on the sheets.

"Well, you could always come kiss it and make it better," I said, that cocky, aloof grin making its way onto my face.

She sat down on the bed, easing her weight onto the mattress. "And what would I get in return?"

"Maybe I'd let you share this big, comfy mattress with me instead of sleeping on one of those crappy-ass cots," I said with a wry smile.

She bit her--full, shiny--lower lip gently, then said, "A tempting offer, to be sure, but I still think you'd be getting more out of it."

I hesitated a second. She wanted me, that was for sure. But did she want me?

...Fuck it.

"Oh, I don't know...I tend to give back every bit as much as I get."

She smiled and leaned over me, pressing her lips against my knee in a soft kiss. That instant lasted a while. "And that's all you get from me," she whispered, standing up and smiling coyly. "For now." She winked and started to walk away.

"Well, you know where to find me, Kiddo," I said, far more meekly than I had intended.

She got about five steps before she looked over her shoulder to regard me. "You know...I like this side of you, Kevin. You should show it more often."

Red light.

"Bye-bye, JoJoBean." I closed my eyes and rested my head against the pillow. I didn't open my eyes again until I heard her footsteps fade.

Day 1. 6:00pm. Katalyn.

I dumped the two hammers I was carrying near Kevin's bed before following Bernard through the store.

"We can get the blankets first," he decided.

"Good idea. The best ones will be on the show beds," I agreed, not looking at him, not wanting to show my face to him. At least part of Kevin's speech had sunk into me - something to do with painting our nails instead of preparing - and even though it was blatantly obvious I wanted to draw attention away from my painted features.

"Good point." We walked a little deeper into the store and began to strip the huge double beds, taking the pillows and sheets as well as the heavy quilts.

"We need a drop off point. Near where Jo will be setting up the shelters," I realised. Bernard nodded as if he had already considered this and we set off at a faster than comfortable place back in the other direction.

"Kevin..." I hesitated as he turned his head. "Did Jo say where she's setting up the shelters?"

Day 1. 6:06pm. Bernard.

How come Kevin didn't put me with Elaina?!

Bernard blinked and tried to clear away his thoughts. They weren't helping, he needed to be strong. He had a duty to these people, and he would do it. He heard running footsteps behind him and Kat was beside him.

"Did you find out where Jo wants them?"

"Yep, follow me," Kat said, a little out of breath. She took the lead and Bernard paused for a moment to gather the bundle of blankets together in his arms. With his load bunched up once more he set off after Kat.

They walked side by side for a while, both feeling awkward in the dreadful reality of the situation. Bernard waited for Kat to give him a lead into conversation, but she didn't.

He was about to start talking when she turned off down an aisle and there was the camping section. An arrangement of tent bags had been opened and, interspersed by people, their contents were strewn wildly over the floor. Jo had clearly just arrived and had started to lay into Keri.

"You don't just open everything and get it all out! This isn't like Christmas; open all the presents and see what you've got--"

"Is everything alright?" Bernard said, his voice dropped unconsciously into the 'dealing with a hard patient' tone that was usually reserved for one with mental problems. Jo span round to glare and smile simultaneously at him.

"Yeah. Yeah, just dump those over there with the-- no, not there. That's a one man tent!" Her last sentence was accompanied with flashing eyes directed at Keri. She, however, seemed unfazed by Jo's anger.

"Will here do?"

Kat dropped her armful of sheets on a patch of clear floor without waiting for a reply. Bernard glanced at Jo who nodded and gestured towards Kat's pile.

"That'll have to do."

Bernard smiled at Jo and nodded before hurrying after Kat to begin the search for some cots. He didn't wait for a 'thank you'. He didn't expect one.

Day 1. 6:15pm. Katalyn.

Bernard caught up with me and again the awkward silence fell between us. At first I felt uncomfortable and my unease grew as we turned down aisle after aisle, searching methodically for a few cots. I glanced at my watch. Then a smile fleeted across my face and a small, airy laugh escaped my lips.

"What's so funny?" Bernard frowned as if he were trying to solve a particularly complex problem. Almost as if he were trying to diagnose a patient. I felt the heat building up in my cheeks and looked away. Straight ahead.

"It's just that, instead of sitting in my dressing room, practising my vocals I'm in a store amongst complete strangers, dressed in yesterday's outfit and..." I laughed again and shook my head. "And there are the cots, come on." I raced ahead and faltered as I reached them, tears prickling in my ears. Louis. How could I forget...

"You're a singer then?" Bernard asked sceptically. I nodded.

"Yeah. Moved here from England. Louis," I gulped back tears and forged on, half laughing, half crying between my words. "Louis said he'd make me a star over here. Do I look like a star to you?" I turned, smiling weakly and shaking my head gently.

Day 1. 6:15 pm. Adara.


I opened my eyes having been in a semi-sleeping state for a while. I looked around me surprised. For once there wasn't anyone around me. No one to tell me that I wasn't yet ready to get up. I swear I was told to wait one more hour about six times.

I smiled slyly to myself. Well, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to move myself a little. Like on the other side of the store where all the action was going on. I hadn't been able to get full sentences out of all the conversation but I had been able to hear it as background noise. It never seemed to stop.

Without a second thought I pried myself up on my elbows, sweat lining my brow with the effort, and then flipped myself onto my stomach. Carefully I shrugged the many blankets off of me and plopped onto the cold concrete floor. For a moment I just lied there motionless, either because I was exhausted or because I had a miny stroke I couldn't tell. At least I was off of that bed now, and I was moving.

I pushed and pulled and slid with all the strength I had across the floor, stopping for a break every ten seconds. I couldn't really feel anything in my legs, maybe a little ache but that was it. I wasn't worried about that now. As long as it wasn't burning pain I was fine to continue.

I then came to a wall and gripped it when I saw the starting of a mattress. I pulled myself around the corner grunting, but still trying to keep it down. I wouldn't want someone to put me back on that bed. I shuddered at the thought of it. Just being alone right now freaked me out.

As soon as I came into view, Kev's eyes snapped open. I tried to avoid them, I wasn't quite sure why. Possibly too proud- and definately too tired- to be judged at my current state. He looked terrible himself though which made me feel a little better.

"Adara, what the hell__?" I glared at him angrily. I didn't come this far to get into trouble.

"Shut up!" I hissed as quietly as possible and scooting myself all the way to the wall his bed was set against. I sat two feet away from him and closed my eyes, not hearing what else he said to me as I rubbed my temples.

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Sorry! I shall post a lot more often!