Chapter 2
Alicia woke up to the sound of music coming from the other room. Someone was singing and playing some sort of instrument. For a minute she was confused as to where she was, but quickly remembered exactly what had happened and shot out of bed.
She went into the bathroom and attempted to make herself look somewhat presentable, not that she cared what Elyza thought or anything. She needed to get back to her family now, and wanted to not look terrible when she got home.
She exited her room, going towards the sound. What she found shocked her.
Elyza was sitting on the edge of her bed, blonde hair casting a shadow over her face. In her arms held an ukulele, its blue paint fading and design almost unrecognizable after many years of use. It was clear that Elyza had owned this Ukulele for a long time.
“Can I ask what the hell you're doing,” Alicia said, startling the blonde, “I mean, we're kinda in the middle of the apocalypse, yet here you are.”
“I'm playing music, what does it look like I’m doing,” she replied, placing the instrument on the bed.
“Here I was thinking you were some badass, when you're actually just a music nerd,” Alicia joked.
“Hey, Ukuleles are totally badass!” Elyza shouted, glaring at the brunette.
Elyza then cradled it her arm and whispered to the small instrument, “she didn't mean it baby.” while stroking the side.
“Did you just call the ukulele baby?” Alicia asked, incredulously, “ I knew it, you're insane. You probably just saved me to kill me yourself later.”
“Shut up,” The blonde replied, still glaring. “And no, I'm not insane, and I’m not going to murder you or whatever. Believe it or not I’m a nice person.”
“Yeah, sure,” Alicia replied, rolling her eyes. "We should get going soon, I really need to get back to my family.”
“Before breakfast?” Elyza exclaimed. “No way, I can’t allow it. Come on, let's go raid the kitchen.”
Elyza grabbed her wrist and practically dragged her into the kitchen, ignoring her protests. She only let go once they reached their destination, and immediately began digging through the cabinets.
Alicia dodged the various pots and pans Elyza threw out of her way on her reckless search. Alicia, trying a calmer approach, stacked things on the counter instead of tossing them aside.
“we're never going to find anything in here!” Alicia exclaimed after about ten minutes of searching, before sliding down the side of the cabinet and landing on the floor with a thud, pouting. She just wanted to leave.
“Stop whining, I’m hungry.” Elyza scolded, continuing her search.
“Hi hungry, I’m Alicia,” She replied smugly.
“Shut up.”
Just then, Alicia noticed something shiny sticking out of one of the cabinets she hadn't checked yet. Opening the small door to further investigate, she saw that it was in fact a chocolate bar.
“A Twix bar! My favorite!” She yelled, immediately tearing at the packaging.
“Hey,” Elyza yelled, “Share that! I don’t think there's anything else here!”
“No way,” Alicia replied, finally getting it open, “finders keepers losers weepers.”
“What are we, five? Come on, share it with me. It’s a double bar!” Elyza cried out, grabbing at the candy.
“Hmmm,” Alicia hummed, pretending to consider it, “no.”
“Fine, have it your way,” Said the glaring blonde, a mischievous look in her eye.
“Elyza what are you-” Alicia started, only to be tackled to the floor. They landed with a thump, the twix bar skidding across the room.
“Elyza! Get off me!” Alicia yelled, shoving at the girl on top of her.
“Not until you share the chocolate!” she yelled back, dodging the wild punch Alicia threw in her direction.
Alicia kicked her leg up, successfully knocking the blonde aside, and dove for the chocolate bar. She grabbed it before Elyza could pounce at her again.
“Enough! Enough! I’ll give you some if you shut the fuck up!” Alicia yelled.
Elyza watched victoriously as the other girl dejectedly broke off half of the candy bar.
“Thank you,” she replied sweetly, grinning while snatching her prize from the angry brunette.
“Next time, I get the chocolate bar,” Alicia stated, “Not that there will be a next time, you’re annoying. I'm losing you as soon as I get back to my family.”
“Sure you are, sweetcheeks,” Elyza replied, biting into the candy. Alicia just rolled her eyes and started eating her half.
Soon the candy was gone, and Alicia was left staring at the empty wrapper, wishing she had gotten to eat the other half. Stupid Elyza.
“Can we go now?” Alicia asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Yeah, I guess,” Elyza replied, grabbing the wrapper and throwing it away.
“Really?” Alicia asked, gesturing towards the trashcan “It's not like anyone lives here anymore.”
“Hey, it may be the middle of the apocalypse but that's no excuse to be a litter bug,” Elyza retorted, sticking out her tongue.
“I hate you,” Alicia muttered, turning away to hide her smile. The blonde may be annoying, but it was kind of cute. Sometimes. Not really.
They left the building, looking around for walkers before taking off down the street. Elyza was carrying her shotgun, Alicia a knife she stole from the kitchen. They would not be taking any chances with walkers today.
“Sooo…” Elyza starts awkwardly. They had been walking in silence for almost ten minutes.
“So what,” Alicia asked, still sounding annoyed. Maybe that was her normal voice, Elyza thought to herself.
“Got anyone special at home? A pretty girl like you can’t be single,” She asked, trying to make conversation.
“My boyfriend Matt got bit. He died,” Alicia stated, bluntly.
“Oh,” Elyza said feeling bad for bringing it up, “Sorry, I had no idea.”
“It’s alright,” Alicia replied, a sad smile on her face. She still missed him sometimes.
“I lost someone special to me too,” Elyza told her.
“Yeah?”
“Her name was Costia. She died at the very beginning. We all thought she just had a fever at first, nobody knew what was going on. We tried to take her to the hospital, but it was already shut down. She turned, and I had to kill her myself.”
“Oh, wow” Alicia said, not knowing how to respond. At least she hadn’t been there when Matt turned, let alone been the one to kill him.
“Yeah…” Elyza replied, both of them sinking into silence.
They passed the shop where Alicia had been attacked, stopping to grab her bag and some supplies before continuing on. Soon they stood outside the large house that had become Alicia’s home for the time being.
“You can come inside if you want, I’m sure they wouldn't mind,” Alicia told the blonde.
“I thought you were going to lose me the second you got home because I was so, what was it, annoying,” She replied, smirking.
“Shut up and get in the house,” Alicia muttered, rolling her eyes. Elyza just laughed and followed.
“Mom! Nick! I’m back,” She called out.
“Alicia!” Nick yelled, coming down the hall, “Where the hell were you!”
He was clearly angry.
“I went out to get food and I was attacked-” Alicia started.
“Yeah, and I saved her sorry ass,” Elyza cut in.
“Who the hell are you,” Nick asked, flustered. He had no idea what was going on.
“I'm Elyza Lex, nice to meet you,” She said sticking out her hand. Nick just stared at it until she dropped it back to her side. Seriously, what was it with this family and shaking hands?
“Anyways…” Alicia started, trying to get the two to stop glaring at each other, “Where's Mom?”
“She went out looking for you, along with Daniel and Travis,” Nick told her. Strand had left on his boat a little over a week ago, leaving them all behind in the house.
“When will they be back?” Alicia asked impatiently.
“Well, I would say when they find you, yet here you are, So who knows. Just get inside and we’ll wait.”
The two girls were halfway down the hall when Nick called after them “Whoa whoa whoa. Who said blondie could stay?”
“My name is Elyza,” Elyza said glaring, “And she did.”
“Really Alicia?”
“Yep, I’m afraid we're stuck with her.”
“Just great,” Nick groaned, already taking a disliking to the girl.
“Hey,” Elyza yelled, “I’m standing right here. That's no way to treat a guest.”
Nick just rolled his eyes. Elyza stuck her tongue out at him in turn.
“This is sure going to be tons of fun,” Alicia said sarcastically, walking into the living room where Chris and Ofelia sat. Elyza and Nick followed behind her.
Elyza introduced herself to Ofelia and Chris, who were much nicer than Nick in welcoming he into the house. Chris couldn’t care less that she was staying, while Ofelia was a bit more timid about the idea. She didn’t say anything of course, wanting Elyza to feel welcome.
“Don’t you have to get back to your own family,” Nick asked, hoping to get rid of her.
“Well, they're all dead, so i’d say no.”
That finally shut him up.
“So, what now?” Elyza asked, leaning back on the couch and putting her feet on the coffee table.
“We could play a game,” Ofelia said, “I found a couple in my room the other day. I’ll go get them.”
Ofelia got up, and soon returned with the game Sorry. They spread it out on the table, Nick taking yellow, Elyza green, Alicia red, And Ofelia blue. Chris opted to sit out an watch since there were only four colors.
When the game started Alicia was quick to take the lead. For a while it looked as if she were going to win, Until Elyza pulled a sorry card, sending her back to start.
“Ha!” She yelled, “Take that!”
Alicia pouted at the blonde. Ofelia gave her a sympathetic smile. Nick reached across the table and high fived Elyza.
“I thought you two hated each other,” Alicia said, glaring at them.
“Temporary truce,” Elyza stated. Nick nodded in agreement.
Alicia just glared at them and stated loudly, “I hate you both.”
“It's just a game guys,” Ofelia said, trying to break the tension, and receiving three glares in response. Chris just laughed, getting up and saying he was going to his room.
In the end Elyza won when she drew a 7 card, the exact number she needed for her final pawn to get home.
“Ha! Take that suckers! I win!!!!!”
“Shut up,” Alicia muttered, pouting. Nick simply flipped her off, and Ofelia congratulated her quietly, before heading off to her own room.
“What's wrong Nick? Sore loser?” Elyza taunted.
“Shut up. Nobody gives shit if you're good at board games,” Nick muttered, getting up to leave.
“Sounds like something a only a loser would say!” Elyza called after him. She was satisfied by the annoyed huff she got in response. Temporary truce, over.
“So…” Elyza started once he was gone, “Am I staying in a room somewhere or are you guys kicking me out now that I’ve proved I'm better than all of you at Sorry?”
“Shut up,” Alicia said playfully glaring at the blonde, “And no we won’t kick you out this time. You can stay in the room two doors down from mine, it’s been empty since Strand left.”
“Alright, well I’m going to go settle in,” Elyza stated.
“Me too” Alicia said, standing up.
Once they reached Alicia’s door Elyza turned and said “Goodnight sweetcheeks,” teasingly, using the same stupid nickname from earlier.
“Stop calling me that!” Alicia yelled, instantly annoyed.
“Sure thing…..Sweetcheeks,” She finished, disappearing through the doorway.
Alicia just slammed her door and flopped down on her bed, defeated. Stupid Elyza.