One
"Abby!"
I awoke with a gasp, my heart pounding in my chest, the sound of it beating filled my ears. The book I had fallen asleep reading slid off of my stomach as I quickly sat up.
"Woah easy! You okay abs?" Manny stood above me, his hands in the air as if he were surrendering. I took a deep breath, my heart slowed a bit but I still felt on edge.
"Yeah, just...what's up?" I said groggily, wiping what felt like tears from my eyes.
"I've been searching everywhere for you. We're being called up. Isaac wants us at the front."
Shit already? "What? Are you serious?"
"Afraid so. C'mon, we should hustle."
"We're leaving now?"
"Yes. Vamanos." He gestured to the open door and I stood slowly.
"Fuck. My neck." I cursed and massaged the sore muscle. Sleeping on that cot was a bad idea and I should have known better but...
"Thanks for giving me the room last night."
I chuckled and shook my head. The shit I do for you. "Who was it this time? That cook chick?" I pictured the brunette Manny had brung over that one time. Both of them were drunk but still, I reluctantly gave up on the room for them to do...it.
"Nah, the weather chick. She's down from the mountains and figured she'd pay me a visit."
"Oh the scientist, nice."
"Ehh, she's a little too excited about her job. She talked my ear off about some storm and...I don't know."
"Worth it though?"
"Oh absolutely." Better have been. He's been trying to get her for months now.
Me and him fell silent as we walked past the gym. Soldiers were in there trying to build muscle and I couldn't help but flex my hard-built arms and smile. God, I loved a good workout. I remember when we first came here, right after I lost my dad. I spent most of my time in the gym.
"Hey," Manny said, turning around to face me, walking backwards but only for a second before almost tripping and turning back around making me chuckle. "What about you and what's-her-name?"
I felt my face turn red, already knowing who he was hinting at. "Y/n," I said quietly as if saying her name would make her appear.
"Yeah. I know you've been acting all...how do I say it? Dulce con ella."
"Come again?"
"You love her, no?"
My cheeks felt like they were on fire. "Listen, Manny-"
"Hey if you ever need the room just let me know yeah? After all, I do owe you one."
"Yeah...okay," is all I could say. We walked in silence as I tried not to think about Y/n. I've had a crush on her for what a year now? I guess I just...didn't think she liked me back or was even interested.
After Manny kept pressing me I finally told him. He teased me at first but...now he keeps encouraging me to talk to her. 'Simplemente no quiero que estés solo', he says. I don't even know what that means.
We walked past the kindergarten. The kids laughed with each other as they walked into the room. "Hello, Ms. Potts," Manny said, giving the teacher a small wave.
"Hello, Manny," she said back, giving him a cheeky wink before closing the door behind her.
"Her too?" I said, shaking my head. "Jesus."
"A gentleman never tells."
We walked into the cafeteria. I could already smell the food and felt my stomach grumble. "I have to talk to my dad, get us some food?" Manny said.
"On it."
"Get me something...caliente y picante."
I scoffed. "You get what you get," but he just laughed and walked off.
I walked through the crowded tables, people talked and feasted. I was almost at the food line when someone said my name.
"Nice to see you too, Abby."
"Oh, shit Jordan," I said. "Didn't see you there." He just smirked and pulled out his earphones.
"You coming with us to the Serevena?"
"Nah, Manny and I just got called up to the FOB. What are you doing at the Serevena?"
"Hotel and school are getting evacuated. We're grabbing supplies and taking everyone back to the base."
"Seriously?" I remember being with one of the first groups that cleared out the hotel. That shit was hard, the basement was full of shambler's not to mention the number of stalkers and clickers.
"Yeah, can you fuckin believe it? After everything we're just falling back."
"Yeah...."
He smiled. "At Least Leah might be home from the tv station sooner." He was right. I hadn't seen her forever.
"See you have that to look forward to too. Listen, I've gotta run but I'll catch you later?"
"Of course, may your survival be long-"
"-and may your death be swift."
I had left Jordan and kept going through the crowded tables to the increasing line of people waiting for food when I spotted a certain someone sitting by themselves. She was on one of those 3DS's, her head was down looking at the small screen. I gulped and cleared my throat, getting ready to go over and speak to her knowing full-well I'd probably make a fool out of myself. I exhaled shakily and commanded my feet to move. One step in front of the other, until I was standing in front of her on the other side of the table.
"Hey Y/n," I said and caught her attention. I fidgeted with my fingers as she looked up at me. Her soft eyes met mine and a smile spread across her face.
"Hey," she said. I held my breath as I heard her speak. "How are you? I saw you were checked for patrols today."
She knows. How does she know? She must've been wondering...about...me. "Yeah..." I said or tried to. I couldn't help but cringe slightly as my voice broke. "I'm-I'm going out with Manny. What uh what are you doing later today?" Oh fuck. It was out before I could stop it. Was this really the time to ask her?
"Oh, I'm assigned to help out with dog training then I figured I'd spend the rest of the night playing video games....why do you ask?"
I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. My palms felt sweaty and I could barely focus on one thought. I closed my eyes for a brief moment and then opened them so I could meet her gaze. This is it. Go big or go home. "I just figured maybe you'd like to watch a movie with me...I can ask Robert for a bag of chips and I have a couple of beers...."
I smiled at her hoping that would seal the deal and to my relief it did.
"Yes. Sure, of course," she said quickly, the game she was holding said 'GAME OVER' but she didn't even seem to care as we held eye contact and smiled at each other.
"I'll see you later then, 8 pm, my place?" I said quietly and then she said something that made my heart skip a beat.
"It's a date."
I was filled to the brim with joy as I made my way over to the food line, which had gone down a considerable amount while I was talking to Y/n. I tried to stay calm as I waited and ended up asking the person in front of me what was on the menu.
"What are they serving today?"
"Burritos. Again."
"Abby. What are you doing?" I turned my head to see Manny waltzing up to the counter. "Oye, tenemos prisa. Dame tres burritos."
Jesus, here we go again. "Manny..." I said but was drowned out by the other people complaining. He always does this, using his connections to cut in the food line.
"Manny, what the fuck?" someone shouted and I couldn't help but apologize to the people around me who were sporting dirty looks, clearly not happy.
"So embarrassing..." I mumbled under my breath and moved to meet him as he held out a burrito for me. "Why do you have three? Put one back," I said taking it from him.
"Now don't freak out. Mel's coming with us." What the fuck. "MANNY," I nearly shouted. He knows how it is between me and her. Ever since Jackson, she's been giving me the silent treatment. He keeps saying 'You forget, she's a medic and we're just grunts. She isn't used to such violence.' That may be true but she wanted Joel dead as much as the rest of us, I guess I just don't understand her. "Why are you doing this?" I grumbled and took a bite out of my burrito.
"Because I care about you both and I'm tired of all of the bullshit."
We headed out the cafeteria doors and down the hallway. "Does she know I'm on this drive?"
"She does."
"-And she's okay with it?"
"Yeah..." He mumbled.
"Why does your yeah sound like a no?"
"It's just my accent c'mon....stop being paranoid."
"Whatever," I said having had enough of this and quickly changed the subject. "Listen. I wanna take you up on that room offer."
"Oh?" he said and I could already see that smile on his face. "I saw you speaking to Y/n. so knowing you, you're probably going to wine and dine her."
I couldn't help but scoff. "A movie night. I still have some of those beers you gave me and Robert owes me one so..."
"His food is increíble. Whatever you get you'll save me some yeah?"
"We'll see..." I mumbled.
Manny left me alone to gather my stuff while he went to get Mel. To be honest I was less than excited. 'This is gonna be awkward.' I said to myself. I walked past the sink full of dirty dishes and kicked a bra that definitely wasn't mine, clearly that weather girl left it behind.
As I sat on my bed and took a moment to rifle through the multiple CD cases I had. 'A Quiet Place', 'Final Destination 5', 'Ready Or Not', basically a lot of horror movies. I figured Y/n could choose since I had already seen all of these, multiple times. I put my canteen in my pack Manny and Mel walked in. "Knock Knock," he said. "Ready to roll?" I looked up and tried to look Mel in the eyes but she just avoided my gaze.
"Yeah, just about....hey." I stood and shouldered my backpack, adjusting the straps. Mel glanced at me briefly before giving me an empty 'hey'. She cradled her swollen stomach and cleared her throat. An awkward silence filled the room until I brazenly broke it. "They actually cleared you for active duty?"
She glanced down at her belly. "Barely."
"You can probably get a stay if you ask."
"I'd rather not sit around if I don't have to."
"And Owen's okay with this?" Yeah. Wrong move. Manny gave me a look that said 'You went too far' and Mel snapped back quickly.
"Why would it be up to Owen?" I opened my mouth to apologize but she cut me off. "We need to get Alice on our way out." Mel headed towards the door while I stood there still, Manny by my side.
"Do better," he said and followed off after her and soon I did the same.
I faintly heard them speaking as we made our way to the checkout point. Still feeling a bit weird about the previous conversation, I let them talk and focused on our surroundings. People were washing and drying clothes, others sorted food and tended to livestock. I daydreamed about Y/n and the night we had agreed to. 'Let's see' I thought and checked the watch around my wrist. 'We'll get back around 7, that gives me an hour to set up' setting up mainly consisted of going down to the kitchens and asking Robert about some snacks, then I had to make sure Manny was set and wouldn't interrupt us. I should also double-check and make sure the DVD player is working correctly.
"Abby?" Mel said my name and motioned to the gate. "Can you grab Alice?"
"Yeah sure." I hadn't even noticed we were here, anyways, as soon as I opened the gate Alice came running to me. "Hey, girl...Hey, you crazy dog." She licked my hand and face, wagging her tail rapidly.
"There's my favorite girl," Manny said leaning down to scratch behind her ear.
"She's the only girl who'll tolerate your shit," I mumbled, laughing when he punched me playfully on the shoulder. "C'mon," I said and attached the leash to her collar leading her out of the playpen. "Let's go."