Read Online Flesh Ravenous (Book 1) by James M. Gabagat - Free Book Online Page B

him. “Do you think she’ll keep hating me?”
    Lawrence couldn’t be sure. He knew Ally well enough personally but not privately. She and Charlene bickered a lot, argued occasionally, and even had a few terrifying screaming matches. During those times, Lawrence, Kyle, and Tristan would hide in their rooms. But thank God for Sonya, who always mediated between the two emotionally-powered teenagers. No matter how bad the fight, the two always forgave each other. Generally, Ally was a forgiving person, though her situation with Tristan could be different.
    “I don’t know.” Lawrence chose to be honest with Tristan, and not give him an everything-will-be-okay talk. “I’ll try to convince her not to. What you did was really bad, man.”
    “I know.” Tristan closed his eyes and hung his head down. “God damn it, man. If Kyle were alive, he’d hate me for this. This place, the threats all around us, make me think about death all the time. I just wanted to be close to her, but I ended up losing control.”
    “I understand that.”
    “Do you? Since this disaster happened, I never seen you lose it—freak out, yes—but I never seen you—”
    “No,” Lawrence interrupted, “you’re wrong about that. The stuff I said to you that night, implying that you should kill yourself. I didn’t mean any of it, I swear. I was fucking out of line and I’m sorry.”
    Tristan made a stop motion with his palm. “Forget about that. That’s seriously nothing. I was the one out of line and it made sense for you to react that way. You’re here right now, talking to me, and I’m glad. I’m glad you’re still my friend after what I did.”
    “I’m glad, too. Happy Thanksgiving, by the way, and I love you, Tristan.” Lawrence had never told his parents, his older brothers, or any of his past girlfriends that he loved them, but he was saying it now to Tristan, and he meant it.
    Tristan snickered. “You’re so gay. But, seriously, I really love you too, man. I do.”
    Lawrence smiled, and then chuckled at the embarrassment he felt. “Your sensual words give me goosebumps and makes my body feel good.”
    “Maybe I should be groping and forcing myself on you instead.”
    They both laughed.
    After the laughter, seconds of silence passed between them.
    “I want to be out there,” Tristan said, making a head gesture toward the window. “When we head out for more supplies, I volunteer to go. Let me redeem myself.” It sounded as though Tristan was asking permission.
    “If you’re going,” said Lawrence, “I’m going, too.”
     
    Ally
     
    Ally lay fetal-like in her comforter, troubled by the nightmare she had awakened from minutes ago. She dreamt Charlene stabbed her in the chest repeatedly. Though there wasn’t any pain of numerous knife thrusts to her heart, the sudden action, the betrayal was what was most shocking. Ally interpreted Charlene’s presence in the dream as a symbol of closeness and trust, as she was Ally’s closest friend. That was Ally’s latest fear after the Tristan incident, the loss of trust.
    Ally could here Sonya rustling about on the carpet, folding up her blankets and fluffing her pillows. That was what usually woke Ally in the mornings, Sonya’s need to tidy up. Sonya once mentioned, that an organized surrounding meant an organized mind.
    Ally and Charlene’s downstairs bedroom became what was now considered the girls’ room. Ally and Charlene had a bunk bed, Charlene the top, and Ally the bottom. Sonya and Kasey later moved in and occupied the floor. Everyone felt safer at night sleeping in groups.
    “Ally-girl, you up?” Sonya said, once the sounds of her tidying stopped.
    “Yeah, I’m up,” Ally mumbled beneath her covers.
    “Bad dream?”
    Ally pushed away the blankets covering her head. “Bad dream.”
    Bad dreams were common in the house. Nobody really slept easy. It seemed everyone had developed an intuition to sense someone else’s dreadful awakening.
    “Was it about