Does It Matter

Lungs burning, as he sucked in breath after breath. Wasting precious air. His chest raising and falling too fast. Legs moving on their own accord, as if they knew that if they stopped, they’d stop once and for all. The groans behind him seemed constant now, as if his ears were filled with just that one sound of the groaning undead. Why they groaned? He didn’t know. He just knew they did and that he’d like to make them stop forever. Yet, he couldn’t. All he could do was run. And run he did. Sadly. For Chuck was never one to break a swea- was that sweat?! That was it. He was done. He’d been running for what felt like forever and still the undead following him hadn’t even made a sign of slowing down. He couldn’t out run them, he couldn’t lose them so his only option was.. hide from them.

Ducking into the first building he saw, an old café. He made his way to the storage room. It seemed free of walkers. So he quickly closed the door behind him and let himself slide down against it. Coughing as he tried to catch his breath. He might as well be dying, even though in reality he hadn’t ran that far. Chuck was just.. not used to it.

The thing about having two awkward, quiet people sharing a table was that there would forever be an air of awkwardness around them, though she did manage a little chuckle at his attempt at a joke. It was funny. “I guess I’m more on edge than everyone else because I was pretty on edge before all of this.” She didn’t seem to mind, or even really notice, his stutters, her smile genuine and relieved when he agreed to join her. Watching as he sat, she lowered her eyes back to the page before realising that he was just sitting there, and instead she just closed her book around her book marks and turned her attention back to him.

What was she supposed to say? Charlie had never really been what one would call a conversationalist, but if they were going to share the space, she might as well. Besides, they were housemates, they should at least be acquainted. “Would you like a cookie? I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and I live to bake.” Reaching down into her bag, she pulled out a small tin from which she removed to the lid, setting it between them. “They’re what I call my comfort cookies. I worked out a recipe with an essence of amortentia, so that they taste like whatever your favourite flavour is.”

Lost in his own thoughts he was brought back to reality when he heard her book close. Was she leaving? Was he bothering her already? It must have been his breathing.. Without thinking about it he held his breath. At the word cookie his head snapped up. Slightly embarrassed by his own eagerness, he nodded. Watching carefully as she pulled out the tin. He took one out while he listened to her talking. Without even swallowing he exclaimed suddenly. “These are amazing!” Standing up he took a second bite and a third. Devouring the cookie like there was no tomorrow. “Holy s-sh-shit.” He stared at a second cookie he had taken out of the tin. Amazed as if it was the Sorcerers stone it self. “You could m-m-make a fort-tune with these.” Chuck turned to face her, suddenly realizing how silly he must look. Getting this excited over food.

For a long moment there wasn’t really any response, Charlie just starting to scold herself for her silliness and paranoia, when finally another student came into view. She recognised him right away, for the tiny girl knew the faces of every person in her house, even if she wasn’t acquainted with all of them. Looking over at him as he lifted a hand and gave her a rather odd smile that came for more than a little unpractised, Charlie gave him a smile and returned his small wave. “Chuck, right? I’m Charlie.”

Setting her book marks into her books, she made sure they also marked her place so she wouldn’t have to struggle to find it when she returned to what she was doing. “I thought for sure that I was losing my mind there for a second, guess I’m just a little on edge.” Shrugging, a bit as she chewed on her cheek, her eyes dropped back down to the book in front of her, it was only for a moment before she looking back at him, pale cheeks flushing with light colour, a little ashamed of the request she was going to make. “Would you.. maybe.. wanna sit with me? It might be nice to not be in here alone.”

And there it was. The talking. The socializing. The energy and air wasted. He gave her nod and a look that said ‘I know who you are’. Even though he hadn’t known her name a second ago. The boy stood, a little uneasy. Never quite knowing how to act around others. He gave her a small chuckle, or something like it, because that was what she thought she wanted from him. And then it accrued to him that he should probably sympathize. He wasn’t placed in Hufflepuff for just his sweet tooth after all. “Ev-v-veryone is o-on edge, but th-th-there’s only one l-l-losing their m-m-m-m-mind.” Trying not to act bothered by his own speech, he rubbed his elbow and tried that smile of his again.

At her words he looked at her. Brown eyes starting back at him, a soft pinkish colour on her cheeks. Chuck swallowed. Then nodded, frowning as he pulled out a chair across from her. Well.. this was as good a place as any. He laid his head on the table after he’d crossed his arms in front of him. Was he supposed to ask something? Like what she thought of the whole situation now? Or did he have to be quiet because she was reading? What was he supposed to do?!

As much as Will hated going outside, he had to force himself into the habit. There was no other way to get over it and sometimes he was reminded why he should go outside more often. Like this damn kid falling asleep in a patch of grass as three of those groaning shitheads were coming closer. “Fuck,” he sighed pulling out his machete. A few quick swings later, most of them sans heads now, he approached the teen. Still asleep in the grass and didn’t even notice the fight happening less than a hundred yards away. Unbelievable. Kid must have narcolepsy or some shit to sleep through that.

“Hey, kid.” he said tapping his boot against the boy’s shoulder. “Not the best place ever to fall asleep.”

It had seemed the undead had even invaded his dreams. Their groans so audible they seemed real. At a nudge on his shoulder he shot awake. Sitting up he looked around, seeing the creatures sans head not too far away from him. It was then that he noticed the pair of feet beside him. Slowly he followed them up to look at the man, whom appeared to have saved him. Chuck ran a hand over his face, before running it through his hair. Getting to his feet, he nodded at the male. Nudging his head toward the undead on the ground. “Th-T-Thanks.” For saving me. But he tried to keep his words to a minimum, as always.

“I don’t think anyone has the guts to try and takeover so soon after the New Wave killed our last dictators,” She said thoughtfully. “Well, at least I hope they don’t. I sort of think Cheyenne needs some time to free-fall.”

“I’m not sure about you, but I thought I’d come to make sure no fights broke out over the fall of the token system. Though, it doesn’t seem like anyone has the energy for that just yet.”

“Hm.. yes.. I agree.” Chuck mumbled.

“Uh, excuse me, what?” It wasn’t the awkward stammer that concerned her, it was the nervousness she felt in having a stranger approach her with everything going on. And then to mention her son. Gwen’s paranoia on the matter had her feeling jumpy and suspicious. Particularly when it came to her family.

“Oh…yeah, well, they can certainly be that way.” She smoothed Dougie’s hair protectively, holding him tighter. “How old is yours?”

“I’ve got t-two actually. They’re.. supposed to b-be here s-s-somewhere..” Chuck looked around, when he didn’t spot them he shrugged. He knew they’d be with their mother. “They’re eight.” He finally answered.

She doesn’t know why she asked. Just that she did. “I don’t know… It’s kind of…  บ้า… out there.”

“Oh..that.”  Chuck almost sounded relieved, quickly putting the comic books in his backpack. “Yeah.. it‘s. How d-do you feel about it?”

“I’m sure,” Opal reassured her co-worker, “They’re gone, Chuck. We don’t need to be scared anymore.”

She looked back at him, giving him a small smile as their customer passed him to get to the tokens. “There are a lot of things I’m uncertain about now, but this isn’t one of them.”

“Really? Aren’t we just all w-waiting for someone t-t-to take over?” Chuck wondered aloud. “Not that I m-m-mind this. What are we even d-doing here? They’ll help themselves.”

Gwen turned quickly at the voice. She’d seen the man around town, but did not have much familiarity with him further than that. Squeezing Dougie tightly to her chest, she looked him over. “Hello.” Shifting Dougie’s weight on her hip to better support him, she continued. “I’m sorry, I’m Gwen. Can I help you with something?”

“Oh.. I was just.. adm-m-miring your kid.” Chuck admitted with a smile. “I remember mine at th-that age.. grown up to b-be real pain in the-.. well you know.” He joked, snorting a little at his own humor.