𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 | 𝟏𝟖+

𝟏. 𝐈 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐄

Marlene sighs. "I just worry about you, is all."

Before I can reassure her, the sound of a vehicle pulling up tears my attention away from her. An old, beaten Ford parks in front of us, and I swallow thickly, fidgeting with my fingers as the anxious butterflies take over my stomach. The rumors I'd heard about Joel weren't pleasant ones, and here I was, about to embark on a road trip with him.

I squint, trying to get a good glimpse of him, but quickly look away as he climbs from the cab of the truck and slams the door shut. After a few beats, my blue eyes lift in a second attempt, and my face falters at the sight of him.

He's handsome. He towers over Marlene by a good foot, which means I have to crane my neck just to look up at him. Broad shoulders and chest hide beneath his thick winter coat. His dark hair connects with his full beard, accentuating his jaw and full lips, and his brown eyes sweep over me in disapproval, almost. It's only then that I look away because he's quite intimidating, and I feel considerably small under his glare.

Yeah, glare.

The realization that he's already disgusted by me floods me with disappointment.

"She's not serious."

His deep voice feels like it rumbles right through me as he speaks and gives Marlene a pointed look. It's rough, and he's got a hint of a Southern accent, but I can't quite tell for sure.

"What?" I say gently as I look down at my outfit. It may be unconventional for this weather, but I thought it was cute.

"What are you wearin'?"

I lick my lips. "Um. Clothes?"

"It's fuckin' freezin' out here."

Marlene pulls her lips between her teeth, hiding the smile that teeters at the corners of her mouth. She sends me an encouraging wink, so I stand up a little straighter and flash him a sweet smile. "Well, that's why I'm wearing a vest and some boots, silly."

He doesn't say anything as he stares at me, and I almost shrink from the weight of his scowl, but much to my relief, he turns away to look at my luggage instead. His eyebrows furrow deeper at the sight, which I'll admit probably looks overwhelming, and he crosses his arms over his chest. "Is all of this necessary?"

I wasn't sure how long I was going to be gone, so I may have overpacked a little. But my wardrobe was important to me. It was just a tiny part of the bits and pieces I wasn't willing to give up about myself. It was my attempt at clinging onto humanity for as long as I could.

"Yes."

"You do know the world ended, right?"

"That doesn't mean my sense of style had to die along with it," I laugh nervously, and my heart thrashes against my chest as he sighs.

"Of course not."

He grumbles under his breath as he throws my suitcases in the bed of his truck, and with each thud, I feel myself flinch at the sound. Brushing my hair from my view, I watch as he sends Marlene a long, exasperated look before climbing back into the driver's seat. Getting into that truck was equivalent to entering the lion's den, but I had no other choice. If I have to endure grumpy across the entire country to get to my brother, then so be it.

Marlene approaches me with outstretched arms, and I forget all about Joel's grouchy demeanor as she envelopes me in a warm hug. Her hands rub my back comfortingly, and I relish in the feeling because I know it might be the last time I feel like this for a while.

"Bye, Marlene," I whisper into her braided hair.

"Be safe, Addie."

I turn toward the truck and open the passenger door reluctantly, swallowing as I climb into the worn leather seat. Marlene rounds the cab and waits for Joel to roll his window down as I settle into what is to be my spot for the next week or so, familiarizing myself with the musky scent and brown-colored upholstery. As haggard as it was, it was obvious that he took care of it—the floorboards were spotless, and not even a speck of dust in sight.

"Take care of her, Joel," I hear Marlene mutter to him.

As I peek over at him, I see him nod once before he rolls the window back up. There's hardly time for a wave goodbye before he pulls away, leaving her standing in the cloud of dust from the gravel beneath the tires. The farther away we get, the more uneasy I feel.

This is real. This is happening. No turning back.

"Joel, right?"

My voice trembles, but I'm so desperate to break the ice. I'm not sure I can sit here the entire way, feeling like he hates my guts.

He hums in response.

"I'm Addison," I continue.

His silence echoes in the tiny cab, and it's almost deafening. Pursing my lips, I turn my head to look out of the window instead, watching as we exit the main gate of the camp. I've never left this place before...once I arrived here, I stayed put for five whole years. Never allowed to leave the compound because I was too valuable inside the walls.

My hands fidget with the strap of my bag that sits in my lap, so I lean forward and pop open the glove compartment to occupy myself. I'm surprised to find it empty, aside from a handgun and a couple of knives.

"No music?"

"Close that," he grumbles.

"You have to have music for a road trip."

"I prefer it to be quiet."

Staring at the side of his face, I observe the large slope of his nose and the way I can see the veins in his neck peeking out from the collar of his jacket. My cheeks warm from my ogling, so I dig in my bag before he can look over at me and catch me drooling or something. "Good thing I brought my own."

He sighs heavily, but I still try to lighten the mood.

"Alright, grumpy," I chirp, holding up my assortment of CDs in my hands. "What'll it be?"

My skin pricks with goosebumps when he looks over, staring at the choices I'm holding up for him before he grabs them hastily—rolling the window down and chucking them out of the truck in one swift movement. My lips part in shock as I gape at him, but I recover with a clearing of my throat.

"That was probably the last Backstreet Boys album on the planet, you know."

And again...nothing.

"Why did you sign up for this?" I question softly.

"Because I get paid."

Slumping down in my seat, I huddle into my puffer vest and blink away the tears that prick my dry eyes. "Must not be much."

I don't know why it stings when he doesn't respond again. Maybe it's the natural-born people pleaser in me that's so fearful of anyone not liking me that it's causing me to spiral. I've always wanted acceptance, and it's been a hard thing to come by when I'm a lamb in a world full of wolves. Nevertheless, I push away the dread that fills my stomach and prop my feet up on the dash.

This earns me a look, but at least he acknowledged me.

Trees and dead grass whizz past my window at lightning speed as we drive down a road that I'm unfamiliar with. So many trees. They're all bare and dull, the leaves from autumn long gone and blown away by the chilling air outside. I don't know how long I stare aimlessly out of the window because the last thing I remember is my eyes closing as I doze off into slumber.