rae

<---------------⟡⋆⟡--------------->

“Well, I just tell myself

‘Girl just let it breathe’

It’s a calmness I’m always searching for,”

Second Skin, The Gits

<—————————->

Late Summer Afternoon, North Carolina 2005

The dining room was crowded with most of the cabin's occupants gathered inside. The only exception being Sarah, who remained upstairs after Carlos ordered her to her room. Everyone stood around the table, all with anticipating eyes on Odette. She felt suffocated, the room’s walls felt like they were closing in on her.

Odette swallowed, throat dry as every pair of eyes seemed to pin her in place. The low murmur moments ago had died out when she stepped into the room. The only noise now was from the crackle of the fire in the next room over which cooked a pot of soup for supper.

The hot sweltering days of summer were promptly coming to an end. Days were getting shorter, sun sweeping back underneath the moon's shadow even if it felt like it had just come up for morning. The cold started to slip in, hidden by the night’s blanket of black. The leaves hadn’t begun to change to all sorts of warm toned colors just yet, but Odette knew they would inevitably sooner or later. She was also fearful and didn’t want to be out and about by herself fending for survival when the seasons did start to change.

Last winter proved to be a tremendous struggle even when she did have a group of people. Though her people were just a bunch of college kids with no survival skills, it was better to be in a group then with all of them scavenging together and covering more ground. By herself, in short terms, she’d be fucked.

“Well?” Rebecca placed two hands on her hip watching Odette snap out of her thoughts. Carlos shifted eagerly next to her, “Do you have anything to back up what you insisted upon? The car crash?” He asked, back straight as he interrogated.

“Is this necessary? I told ya that we seen the wreck with our own eyes.” Pete pitched in, finding the whole situation unnecessary. What was the point of sending him and the boys if they’d disregard their seeing? But the rest of the group was being cautious, too cautious for Pete’s liking. If Carver had sent someone, he was sure they’d already be on the group’s doorstep. But they weren’t. All there was was Odette and she didn’t fit the criteria of being Carver’s henchmen.

“You may not find this whole ordeal necessary because you’re not the one carrying a damn baby!” Rebecca bursted out, pointing a condensing finger towards Pete.

He shook his head, eyes falling towards Odette. He would rather not get into an argument with Rebecca because God knows she’d continue on and on about it. Odette would have to prove her truth, but the photo felt too heavy like a weight she couldn’t lift. She froze, debating whether to do what they say or leave and keep her past hidden. She did not want to show these strangers something so precious to her. The photo and all its people were hers.

Luke noticed her stillness, her hesitation and leaned in close. “Your CD. Where is it?” He whispered, Odette’s mind basically went ‘aha!’ She slid the backpack off her shoulders and placed it on top of her feet. She unzipped the front pouch, dug into it finding the Hole CD and held it out in front of her showcasing all of its glory. A trophy, a truth, and a distraction to the photo she desperately avoided to share. Everybody stared at her dumbfounded.

“What is that?” Alvin asked, stepping forward and adjusting his glasses. “It’s my CD. I left in the car when I crashed.” Odette explained, sliding it over on the table in front of Carlos and Rebecca.

Luke placed two hands on the table leaning his weight onto them, “I saw her take it out of the player. She ain’t lyin’.” He defended. The room shifted subtly, shoulders dropping as they took in the weight of her words. She was proved to not be lying and the ever looming question of ‘Is carver after us?’ had been dismissed to paranoia.

Now the question was, ‘Should she be able to stay?’ Odette never planned to stay, but if she really wanted to leave she’d be gone by now. Her actions proved more than words, she had stayed instead of ditching once she received her medical attention. She had stayed the night too instead of finding some tree to prop against and slump. After all, a little company couldn’t hurt. She didn’t trust the majority of them, maybe only Luke and Pete but even then she was cautious. Her heart ached, she could learn to trust them. And if she did, she wouldn’t be all alone after all.

“We should talk about how we’re gonna go forward with this.” Pete pitched in, batting an eye towards Luke. “She should stay. God knows we need another hand around here.”

Luke’s eyes glanced towards Odette then spared Pete a knowing look. “Pete’s right.” He said, after a beat, voice low and steady. “We’re stretched thin in between supplies and preparin’ for Rebecca’s baby.”

Carlos sat with his knuckle to his chin appearing in thoughtful daze. He cleared his throat, “If she stays, it’s under a few conditions.”

“She learns how to deliver Rebecca’s baby as well as other medical teachings and she contributes to the group whether that be watches or hunting. She will not be dead weight.” The words didn’t hang like there was wiggle room for negotiation. Odette wouldn’t negotiate it anyway. It was fair.

“She’s staying then.” Luke stated a fact now. Rebecca looked uneasy but did not speak up. Whether it be because she was still weary of Odette or that she knew if something were to happen she’d need Odette’s help if Carlos wasn’t present. Silence was not objection, the decision was final and nobody argued against it.

“Odette?” They all looked towards her waiting for an answer. All eyes sat on her. “Okay,” She murmured, eyes flickering around.

“Okay? Okay as in what?” Rebecca pressed, patience obviously not a word in her vocabulary. “Okay, as in I understand.” Odette reassured, locking her eyesight directly at Rebecca as she talked. “I’ll teach you soon, before then Luke can get you used to hunting and patrolling shifts.”

←—------------------------------------------->

Late Summer Night, North Carolina. 2005

When Odette laid in the bed that night knowing the roof above her was now her new ‘home’, she finally let herself take in the comfortableness of being safe and having a bed to sleep on. The dusty smell of the linens wrapped around her providing a snug pleasant feeling which warmed her up. She felt.. relieved. As relieved as one could feel in a new environment filled with new people.

She had a good feeling about all this but took it with a grain of salt knowing that when she did follow what her heart was saying she was usually wrong and she didn’t want to be let down once again. She’d have to pull her weight, which she was fine doing so. Also, learning what Carlos knew in medical practice would benefit her extremely. She was glad she was here.

Her mind drifted as she shut her eyes, pictures of Andie haunting her mind. If Andie had really left her she wondered where she'd go. Maybe she stayed close nearby and Odette might stumble upon her. She didn’t know how to hotwire cars like Odette so she shouldn’t have gotten far unless she was dead set on walking long distances.

Wherever she was, Odette hoped she regretted leaving her. It was a spiteful thought, but Odette didn’t care. Andie had left her for dead and didn’t give it a second thought. Maxine would be ashamed of her… Maxine would’ve never done this to her.

“Maxine.” Odette said quietly under her breath. The word felt foreign to her because it had been so long she had uttered it, despite its origins of it being a name Odette once loved, she was almost scared of it. As if speaking it would make her relive the tradegy all again.

She snuggled her face into the cotton pillow and slowly drifted to sleep feeling her body finally give out floating away into nothing but sleepy abyss.

<————————————->

Late Fall Afternoon, North Carolina 2005

The trees of North Carolina had started to shed their colorful leaves which scattered upon the ground into brown crunchy litter. Summer had come and gone with a blink of an eye. Fall had rolled in quickly, leaving behind a trail of fallen leaves and shorter days.

It had been two months since Odette joined the group. Two months of eating better than she ever has, even if half the time it was soup, fish, and small animals who unfortunately faced her wrath paired with a rifle. She had gained a few pounds, not very showable but welcome. She hadn’t had her monthly in well.. months from all those weeks of surviving on scarce cans and protein bars. But maybe there was a chance she’d get it soon with the steady income of food.

Today she was out fishing, she held a pole boringly watching the water ripple waiting for a tug. The breezy fall air nipped Odette’s ears and nose turning them a pale pink. She had switched out her pale blue top Andie had given her all those months ago for a dark brown long sleeve with 3 buttons on the chest. Even though she had just found it two weeks ago, it was already stained with dirt and old blood from roamers. There was no reason to try and scrub the stains out because she knew they would just reappear the next day.

What she really needed was a jacket to keep her warm with Fall’s days coming to an end. The men at the cabin did a good job of keeping the house warm with the constant chopping of wood and reloading the fireplace but the moment she steps outside she automatically starts to shiver. Maybe she could convince Luke or Pete to find one on their next scavenger run.

She flicked her wrist to give the line a bobble then reeled slowly. Out of nowhere, while Odette was caught in a daze, the tip of her pole bowed forward and the line gave a squeal. Odette squared her hips, briskly reeling in the fish on the line.

“Got one on the line!" She called out, Luke rushed forward as the fish reached the sandy bank. He leaned forward, scooping the fish up into the hand held net. Odette hovered over, the two inspected the brookie. “Oh man, the hooks caught in there good.” Luke murmured, digging into his back pocket for a pair of pliers.

“Great. At least this one didn’t swallow it.” Odette pointed out as Luke carefully dropped the net to the leaf covered ground. “Alrigh’, you’re gonna have to hold it while I get the hook loose.” He instructed, watching Odette’s face grimace.

“I’ve got to hold it?” She asked, obvious dismay painting her features. Luke’s lips upturned into a sideway smirk. “Just keep it still, it’ll be over before you know it.” Odette bit her lip, hands reaching out to grab the squirming fish in the net. She slid her hands down its spine clasping the fins and felt herself shiver at its slimy body. She hated fishing, always has and always would. She remembered days back in Michigan when she was just a girl and her father would take her out on their boat. She hated the boring waiting part and hated the hooking which required squeezing the little bugger and that led to most of the time scratching herself on its sharp fins.

She held the fish up with a tight grip as Luke locked the pliers onto the hook. He gave it a wiggle first, then a tug to loosen its place– “Can you hurry it up, please?” Odette whined trying her hardest not to drop the fish right there and then to immediately run to wipe her hands off. “Hey! I'm tryin’ here.” Luke responded as he yanked the hook out.

Seeing as the hook was finally free Odette eagerly set the fish back in the net and ran back over to the sandy back. She fell into a squat and dipped her hands into the ice cold water sending a shiver up her arms. She glided her hands back and forth through the little waves she started creating. “So blood don’t phase you but fish do?”

Luke stood next to her with his hands on his hips and a grin on his face. Odette rolled her eyes, “Blood isn’t slimy. Fish are disgustingly slimy and like gooey.” She explained as she took her hands out of the water and stood up. She turned towards Luke and flicked droplets of water at him.

“Hey, Hey!” He took a step back brushing off his crew neck. She laughed wiping her wet hands on her jeans, “Do you think we have enough for tonight? Maybe Pete can whip up a fish stew?” Luke picked up the fish from the net and hooked it onto a metal line with the other three. He was on gutting duty tonight, a job Odette was glad enough to not be qualified for cause she’d hate that too. He titled his head towards Odette.

“Pete? Ya know you’re on cookin’ duty tonight, right?” Odette shrugged with a huff, “Fuck I forgot,” She admitted as she packed up the two fishing poles securing their hooks on the eyelets. “Fish stew it is then..”

She’d rather have a fish filet but then there wouldn’t be enough to feed everyone so fish stew was more practical. She liked to cook, even if her skills were lacking. In college, she took a home economics class and she liked cooking in those. Some of the things she learned carried into today’s kind of living. Except how to cook sufficiently feeding everyone when there’s not enough to feed everyone in the first place.

She grabbed Luke’s fishing pole and held it out to him. He took the fishing pole and held out a fishing bag filled with supplies to her. She strung it around her shoulder so it laid on her waist. “Thanks, but this time don’t over cook the fish.” She rolled her eyes, “That was one time, you can’t blame me I haven’t cooked in god knows how long.”

“Plus, you burn shit all the time..” She muttered walking ahead of him, his ears perked up as he sped up to her pace. “What’d ya say?” She shook her head with a smile, “Nothing.” The two walked side by side ducking into the woods to return onto the path which led to the cabin. Odette knew the woods like the back of her hand now. She had been on fishing duty plenty of times now and was always good at memorizing everything, including the paths now. There were a few paths they always took including the river and the side of mountains where occasionally they’d go hunting or set up traps for small animals such as rabbits, squirrels, and sometimes raccoons.

“No you said somethin’ like, ‘You burn shit all the time’.” He repeated with his head tilted sideways. “If you knew what’d I say then why’d you ask?” He nudged her gently with his elbow in a teasing manner, “ ‘Cause I wanted to see if you’d admit to slandering my cookin’ skills. And ya did, so shame on you.” She softly smiled, “Somebody has to put you in your place.”

He chuckled and the two walked side by side a little closer than before. Ever so often, Luke would steal a glance of the side of her face when she turned to gaze into the treeline. Lately, since Odette started to settle in and her standoffish behaviour started to wear off and Luke started to stare. He would catch himself doing it while eating at the table or from the window when she was put on patrol. Especially when they were out fishing, the breeze would catch her hair and he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. She had these beautiful blue eyes and long eyelashes that Luke found himself drawn to. So drawn to them he was up late last night sketching them out in an old sketchbook with a half worn down pencil.

He hadn’t been able to draw a lot in the past few months so he jumped at the chance when he had that sudden feeling of motivation. He had been too busy carrying the load of the group but now that Odette was here, he was able to portion duties to be less weighing. He liked to draw, it was a hobby he picked up before the apocalypse in college and one he partook in to pass time.

He drew those eyes a few times over the page trying to copy every detail. It was hard when his reference wasn’t right in front of him and also when Nick tries to peek over his shoulder every few minutes. He would never show these to anyone. Especially not Nick and his loud mouth. He watched closely as Odette averted her gaze to the ground. Her freckles that were once so prominent in the sun had started to fade to soft speckles. Her hair too had started to darken a little, not by much, but enough for Luke to pick up on it.

She lifted up, seeing Luke staring out of the corner of her eye she turned to ask what but he immediately looked away. She was confused, but that faded when she saw the cabin coming in the near distance. She looked around the treeline once more, there were no roamers in sight, or what Lurkers such as what Luke referred to them even if Odette thought that name was kind of stupid.

When they arrived at the cabin, Pete was outside lounging around the deck on patrol duty, a rifle in his lap. Odette and Luke shuffled up the steps, “Didja see anythin’ today?” Luke asked as he placed the fish on a board outside in preparation to gut them.

Pete shook his head, “Nope, only gonna get harder now that winter is coming. Could get by ice fishing and hunting rabbits but don’t know ‘til we get to that point.” Luke slid the rifle off of his shoulders and stood it tall against the outside wall of the cabin.

“Alrigh’. Pete, mind helping me with these?” Odette took that as her cue to leave, not that gutting made her squamish or anything but she wanted to wash her hands thoroughly before dinner anyway.

<————————————>

“Could you braid my hair into two, pretty please?” Sarah begged while holding a brush and two hair bands. She bounced with a smile in front of Odette. Odette’s lips turned up, “Of course.”

She shuffled towards the side to unclip her gun holster and placed it on the counter still in her point of view. Sarah ran in front of the couch and sat on her knees squiggling in excitement. She held out the brush and hair bands for Odette to take, which she did as she sat down behind her.

“Do you think my hair is too short?” Sarah asked as Odette pushed her black hair towards the back. “No, it’s a perfect length.” She brushed the back of her hair sectioning it and carefully loosened the little knots. Once it all was straightened out, she divided the left side into three separate pieces.

“I love the look of braided hair! I just wish I knew how to do it, it’s so hard for some reason! Like, how did you get so good at it?” Sarah felt Odette's hands start to twist her strands. She started at the top of her head, “It’s easy once you get it,” Odette continued, “I had a lot of practice. I used to braid my hair in two all the time in high school.”

Odette reminisced, picturing the braids she had everyday in her teenage years. She used to pick out her front layers and lay the braids on her shoulders. She was always told it suited her, sometimes in college she’d braid her hair in one knowing she had outgrown those two braided years.

Sarah’s eyes drifted to the gun holster on the table in front of her, she shifted nervously. “Odette, I have a question.. wait, no.. Nevermind.” She quickly shut herself up, placing her hands in her lap.

Odette ceased braiding for a moment, “Sarah, you can ask me anything.” She reassured, slowly continuing her braiding. Sarah intook a breath, “Can you- can you teach me how to shoot a gun?”

Odette tied the first braid, eyes fluttering to the gun. “I can. I can teach you,” She paused for a moment before speaking up again, “You have to promise me something though.”

She tied the second braid and laid them on Sarah’s shoulders. Sarah shot up, turning to meet Odette. “Okay! Okay, what is it?” “You have to be smart with a gun. It’s not a toy. Do you understand that?” She placed both her hands on the girl's shoulder, Sarah stilled, feeling the seriousness of the situation. She nodded, “I understand, Odette. I won’t let you down!” She adjusted her glasses, Odette smiled softly.

The door of the kitchen swung open, Rebecca stood there with a rag on her shoulder. Her face etched into annoyance, like usual that was how she looked at Odette. “Are you going to help me with supper or make me do all the work?”

Odette swallowed, smiling once more towards Sarah before standing up. She clipped the holster back on her belt knowing better than to leave a child alone with a gun in the room. “I’ll help you right now. I was just braiding Sarah’s-“ Rebecca cut her off as she turned back into the kitchen. “I don’t really care what you were doing.”

<————————————->

The sound of slicing on the cutting board filled the empty silence of the room. Even though it had been a few months since Odette had joined the group, Rebecca showed no indifference to her after their first meeting. The only times they really spoke was when Rebecca was nagging her about something. Little things cleaning up her mess, not cooking the way Rebecca wanted her to, and not ‘studying hard enough’ on the medical knowledge Carlos was bestowing onto her. Even if that was all Odette was really doing lately, studying.

Anything Rebecca picked up that could argue about she did. Though the only difference between them was that Odette never gave the cruel energy back. She never raised her voice with Rebecca, or even snarky comments. If anything, Odette felt empathetic towards her.

Maybe it was the fact that Rebecca reminded Odette of her own mother. Despite the completely different circumstances, she saw first hand how much of a toll motherhood could put on a woman. After the death of Odette’s father, her mother was a widow with no family to lean on. She watched her mother give up everything for her and her brother. Watched her slave away on late nights to be able to afford the life she wanted to give her children. Not the one that was forced onto them. She refused to just be the ‘Widowed Woman’.

So every time Rebecca lashed out, Odette held her tongue despite the urge to say what she really felt. Odette could only imagine the fear Rebecca feels, the fear of having a child in a world like this. One filled with death and suffering. She pushed that thought away and focused on the cooking in front of her.

She slid the vegetables into a boiling pot of water on the fire stove. Then she turned to the can of broth and cracked it open pouring that in as well. She stirred, watching the once clear water leak into a yellow.

Rebecca was in charge of the fish, but as Odette turned to help her, she was half in the sink regurgitating her stomach up. She hastily picked up a glass of water sitting on the counter, “Rebecca, here.”

Rebecca straighted, clearing her throat as she picked the water from Odette's hands. She gulped it down as Odette watched worriedly. “The smell of fish or any meat really makes me sick to my stomach.” She admitted, rubbing her swollen belly with her free hand.

“You can rest, I’ll take over.” Odette slid to take Rebecca’s spot while preparing the fish. Rebecca stood back, using the island behind her for support. “Has Carlos been teaching you?”

Odette started to dice up the fish, “Yeah. Here and there.” She slid the first slices of the fish into the pot, Rebecca crossed her arms. “Here and there? My baby is on the way! I need capability!" She raised her voice, pressing her hand into fists.

Odette involuntarily jumped, the knife falling from her hands onto the floor. She sighed, dropping to the floor to retrieve the knife. Rebecca’s defensive face faltered, as Odette rose again she took the knife from her hands. She pulled the rag from her shoulder and dipped water onto it then rubbed the shiny surface.

“I’m sorry for yelling but,” Her voice went quiet, to a meekish beg almost. “I need to know I’m in good hands. I need people who know what they’re doing.” Odette’s eyebrows furrowed, she bit her lip. She could sense the desperation in the woman’s voice. The fear was all too present.

“I’m trying but it’s hard for Carlos to recall the measures and procedures by heart. He has nothing to go off of, just his memory.” She explained, Rebecca clenched her eyes shut releasing a shaky breath. “Shit. God.” She mumbled.

Odette could feel her heart break for Rebecca. She wanted to help, she really did and had been trying but her medical knowledge only went so far. She never graduated, never had the chance to pass her final exam, and she was never taught everything. The extent of her knowledge was only up to the beginning of her third year. But it wasn’t enough. Not for Rebecca and not for her. She wanted to help, she didn’t want to be a bystander.

Rebecca placed the knife back onto the counter but before she could retract her hand she felt Odette’s cover hers. Odette rubbed her hand, it had been a long time since she had comforted another she wasn’t even sure if this was comforting. But it was worth a shot, if she could provide any bit of comfort she would try.

“I’ll ask Luke if there’s a library around. Maybe.. maybe we could check it out and search for a book on delivering.” She offered, she watched as Rebecca’s eyes glinted with hope.

“That.. would be nice.” Odette watched as she swallowed, “Thank you, Odette.” She said, the words coming out small but it meant a lot because it meant progress for Odette. Progress for Rebecca to stop thinking of her like she’s planning an attack.

“I’ll bring it up soon but for now go sit down. We’re almost done anyway. I can take it from here.” Rebecca hesitantly backed away, she put a hand on her stomach and caressed herself. “This baby won’t stop kicking. All the time.” Rebbeca’s features softened as she looked down at her stomach. “That’s a good sign, a really good sign.”

“Yeah.” She mumbled as she bidded Odette one last glance and for the first time it wasn’t one that struck Odette like a bullet. It was different, delicate and light. The kitchen door swung close behind Rebbeca and Odette lingered in the absence of her. She stood for a moment, until the sudden smell of burnt flooded her senses.

She blinked her eyes, slid towards the burner in a frenzy and took the pot off. “Shit.” She said to herself as she placed a ladle in the pot and stirred trying to ward off the burning.

←—-------------------------------------------------->

Odette ended up eating her dinner while she sat outside by herself on patrol duty. It was night, so she didn’t have to get up and walk around the grass line surrounding the house but she did have to keep her eyes peeled in the dark. She had finished her dinner a while ago, an empty bowl sat by itself a few inches away from her.

She leaned back, feeling the tiredness in her eyes as her eyelashes fluttered. She couldn't drift off to sleep and the only source of entertainment was a book she had been reading, but she had finished that a day ago leaving her with idle hands tonight. Something near her creaked, she whipped her head forward and tightened her grip on the rifle sitting on her lap.

“Hey, Just me.” Luke whispered, cautious of talking too loud in the open outside. His boots grated against the old wooden porch. Odette relaxed, letting her grip loosen around the cold metal. “You looked like you were gonn’ shoot me.”

He didn’t stand right next to Odette instead he hung forward over the banister with his two arms propped against it. “I just might’ve if you didn’t say anything.” She joked, “Maybe it being you makes me wanna shoot you more.”

Luke looked back at her with widened eyes, Odette didn’t realize the crudeness of the joke and how it rolled off in a too serious tone of voice. “Sorry! Sorry,” She cleared her throat, “I didn’t realize how.. Um.” She trailed off, her hand reached for the silver necklace laying on her chest. Her fingers rubbed the cross pendant, “Sorry…” It had been hard getting used to new people. Odette knew in the beginning that she would’ve had a hard time trusting them. What she didn’t expect was how hard it would be to talk and joke around with others.

Luke’s widened expression formed into a smirk, “I get it. Just remind me you’re not the person I should ever try and scare.” He said, “I think you just got a pretty good idea.” He turned away, eyes wandering towards the star filled sky, his head half tilted up.

Before Odette could second guess herself. She lifted the rifle off her lap and stood it against the wall. She swung off the chair and stepped over the bowl finding her place next to Luke, of course, very aware of the space she left in between the both of them.

She gazed up at the sky too. Thousands of white glowing stars danced around the full moon. It was beautiful, the most beautiful sight she had seen in a long time. Luke was amazed too on how full the sky was tonight, but he wasn’t amazed enough obviously, because if he was that amazed he’d be staring at the night sky and not her.

The truth is he couldn’t take his eyes off of her, not when the night sky’s dim light made her skin glow and eyes glint. His eyes were still on her even when she met him, “Do you know any constellations?” She asked, her voice tender with curiosity.

“Some, I took an astrology elective in college.” She tilted her head, “Really? I didn’t see you as a college boy.” She admitted, Luke questioned that comment. “Oh so you’re sayin’ I look too dumb for college?” He teased, he knew there was no ill intent in that but he couldn’t help but pick on her for it.

“Stop it, you know that’s not what I meant.” She jabbed her elbow into his. “I thought, maybe you were a rancher or something. A cowboy.” He scratched his eyebrow, “You’re not wrong, I grew up on a farm. As a boy, I’d do a lot of outside work and on occasion ride horses. None of that theatrical stunts though, sorry to disappoint.”

“You don’t disappoint, I wish I knew how to ride horses.” She muttered, brushing a stray piece of blonde beyond her hair. A few beats past before Odette spoke up again, “What’d you go to college for?”

Luke scratched the back of his neck, “Art history,” Odette raised an eyebrow. A chuckle arose in Luke’s throat watching her expression. “A minor in agriculture to make the ole man happy.”

Odette hummed, “Intresting.” Luke returned the eyebrow lift, “Why’s that intresting?” He asked as he subconsciously scooted a little closer. “I don’t know. Just didn’t take you as an art history kind of guy.” An idea popped inside of Odette’s head, she bit her lip. She hesitatingly gave it a second thought with a small shake of her head but decided to let loose. It had been a while since she let loose of her anxiety and endless existential thoughts of overthinking.

“Are you hiding a soft side from me?” She said as she hooked her pointer finger into her ponytail and unraveled the hair tie from her wavy blonde hair. It fell onto her shoulders and drooped in a wave on both sides. She watched out of the corner of her eyes as Luke’s face flushed into red. She keenly pursed her lips to hide a smile. If she looked closely enough, she swore she could see the corners of his mouth twitch.

“Depends,” He took a leap of faith, his voice quieter but gruff “You gonna be gentle with it?” Odette couldn't help the blood which tickled her cheeks into a soft pink. She was just teasing and he was flirting. He was actually flirting with her.

She knew she was pretty, at least before the apocalypse started she was pretty. She wasn’t new to guys flirting with her or asking her out. She just didn’t know if she could be seen as that anymore. Especially with the nasty scar on her eyebrow and of course the blood stains littered on her clothes she wasn’t sure how anyone could find her attractive now. But here she was, with a man just a few years older than her taking his shot with sweet talking.

“Hm, didn’t know guys like you liked that.” She admitted, a smirk tugged on her lip. “Guys like me?” He tilted his head towards her, eyes meeting hers.

“Are you goin’ to.. elaborate on that?” He asks, trailing off into a sudden silence. Just as Odette let the words pull her in, her heart picking up a pulse, he raised his voice again in an effortless deep smooth voice. “Are you gonna show me?”

Her heart jumped, butterflies swarmed her emotions. Now Odette wasn’t oblivious or naive for that matter, she noticed that Luke was handsome and that he had a way with words. She was sure he was popular with the girls in college. If he was handsome in these circumstances then she could only imagine what he was like in those circumstances. They got along pretty well in the past few months with joking and teasing, she marked it off as playful banter. Tonight was the first night he didn’t just stare, he actually acted upon what he’s been planning to.

Her lips upturned, she exhaled a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She kept quiet, she wanted to say something smart, something that would entice him. But the words never really surfaced, she couldn’t think of anything smart when the fuzziness of her feelings clouded her thinking.

Luke noticed it, felt some sort of sick pride,”I’m sure we could.. you know.” He scratched the back of his neck as Odette looked at him with half lit eyes. “Sneak off somewhere..” Odette stilled, her breath caught in her throat. The offer was hard to deny, really.. She couldn’t remember the last time she fooled around with a guy. It has been over two years now. She felt the answer bubble in her throat, but then an array of different thoughts made her doubt herself.

There was nothing wrong with a little hookup, maybe he liked her? Well in his case, there weren’t many options around. Actually, thinking about it now, she was his only option. Alright, that kind of just depressed her. She felt the excitement die off as soon as the adrenaline of the thrill rushed her.

She breathily laughed and she turned her body to fully catch Luke in her gaze. The right flip of her long sleeve was turned showcasing her freckled collarbone, she watched his eyes trace it, he didn’t try to hide it. He smirked, running his hair back as he stepped an inch closer.

She bit her lip, eyes fluttering as he was completely trained on her. She reached out, hand falling on his right arm as she gently squeezed his bicep. “Mm.” She hummed, “I actually have an early morning.” Luke’s face dropped, the smirk once that tugged so confidently on his lips faded. She dropped her hand.

“Thanks for taking my patrol tonight, Luke.” She cockily smiled as she casually strolled towards the front door like nothing was wrong. She glanced back, laughed and disappeared leaving Luke completely dumbfounded and stunned.