off to find medicine. What the hell happened between Axl and Hadley?
“We’re setting up a security system,” I tell Hadley. “Like we’ve done before. We don’t have enough empty cans, so we figured the kids could drink some soda.”
Hadley nods and follows me to the fire. Her expression is softer than it was before, but now she looks uncomfortable. I wish I knew what was going on.
Jon is sitting on the bench tying his boots, and just like Hadley, Parvarti is loaded down with weapons. Her arms are crossed and her expression is as emotionless as always. Lately, she acts like nothing bothers her, which is a huge contrast from how she was when we first met. I can still remember how freaked out she was when we raided an abandoned car for supplies. She acted like a child back then. Now, though, she seems more like a robot.
Axl sets his cans down and crosses his arms. “Still think y’all should wait.”
“We’re not waiting,” Hadley snaps. She sets her jaw and glares, but her eyes are focused on the ground. Not him. It’s an expression I haven’t seen on her face since the Monte Carlo.
“What are you so worried about?” I ask Axl, trying to smooth things over. Maybe if I can talk some sense into him, Hadley will stop being so angry. “Jake needs the meds and we can’t all go. This is something that has to be done.”
“Just think we should send more people,” he says, his lips puckering up in a way that reminds me of his brother. I hate when he gets that look on his face.
“We are.” Angus comes out of the tent, and his gray eyes move toward Darla. “The four of us are gonna head out. Should be back by dark if we leave soon.”
Axl’s arms drop to his side. “You’re goin’?”
“Yup. Hollywood asked me to go and I’m runnin’ low on dip. Figured it was a good time to make a run.” Angus shoves his gun in his waistband and spits.
It’s a bold-faced lie. Angus has plenty of dip. He loaded up on it the last time we went out since it was pretty much the only thing the store had left, other than gum and cigarettes. He got some of those, too.
Axl doesn’t call his brother out on his bullshit, though. “Alright. Y’all know where you’re headed? Got a plan?”
Angus nods, but he’s still looking at Darla. “Yup.”
“I’m gonna grab my gear,” Darla says. “Come with you folks. The hot springs are nice, but I’m feeling boxed in. Need some air.”
She jogs toward the tent, and Hadley lifts her head and gives Axl a smug look. I don’t have a clue what’s up with those two, but hopefully some time away will help them both cool down.
Darla’s ready in less than five minutes, and the five of them head for the stairs. Axl pats his brother on the back as he walks by but doesn’t look at Hadley once. I follow the group up the trail, feeling like I need to apologize for Axl or something.
“Hey,” I say, grabbing Hadley’s arm when we’re only halfway up to the truck. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why Axl’s being so difficult, but you know his intentions are good. Right?”
Hadley doesn’t look me in the eye, and she shrugs like she isn’t sure what’s going on. “Whatever. I’m tired of taking orders from a redneck. What qualifies him to tell us what to do?”
My hand falls away from her arm and I step back, staring at her with my mouth open for ten seconds before I manage to find my voice. “That’s a shitty thing to say.”
Hadley shrugs again, then turns away from me. Following the others up the trail. “Sometimes the truth sucks. You of all people should know that.”
I don’t say anything and I don’t follow her, but I do watch her until she disappears around the bend. Right before she turns, she glances back at me, and I swear there are tears in her eyes.
Maybe Hadley’s having a tougher time than I thought she was.
5
WHEN THE NISSAN’S ENGINE ROARS to life, I’m able to relax for the first time all day. I need a break from the group. There’s no
“We’re setting up a security system,” I tell Hadley. “Like we’ve done before. We don’t have enough empty cans, so we figured the kids could drink some soda.”
Hadley nods and follows me to the fire. Her expression is softer than it was before, but now she looks uncomfortable. I wish I knew what was going on.
Jon is sitting on the bench tying his boots, and just like Hadley, Parvarti is loaded down with weapons. Her arms are crossed and her expression is as emotionless as always. Lately, she acts like nothing bothers her, which is a huge contrast from how she was when we first met. I can still remember how freaked out she was when we raided an abandoned car for supplies. She acted like a child back then. Now, though, she seems more like a robot.
Axl sets his cans down and crosses his arms. “Still think y’all should wait.”
“We’re not waiting,” Hadley snaps. She sets her jaw and glares, but her eyes are focused on the ground. Not him. It’s an expression I haven’t seen on her face since the Monte Carlo.
“What are you so worried about?” I ask Axl, trying to smooth things over. Maybe if I can talk some sense into him, Hadley will stop being so angry. “Jake needs the meds and we can’t all go. This is something that has to be done.”
“Just think we should send more people,” he says, his lips puckering up in a way that reminds me of his brother. I hate when he gets that look on his face.
“We are.” Angus comes out of the tent, and his gray eyes move toward Darla. “The four of us are gonna head out. Should be back by dark if we leave soon.”
Axl’s arms drop to his side. “You’re goin’?”
“Yup. Hollywood asked me to go and I’m runnin’ low on dip. Figured it was a good time to make a run.” Angus shoves his gun in his waistband and spits.
It’s a bold-faced lie. Angus has plenty of dip. He loaded up on it the last time we went out since it was pretty much the only thing the store had left, other than gum and cigarettes. He got some of those, too.
Axl doesn’t call his brother out on his bullshit, though. “Alright. Y’all know where you’re headed? Got a plan?”
Angus nods, but he’s still looking at Darla. “Yup.”
“I’m gonna grab my gear,” Darla says. “Come with you folks. The hot springs are nice, but I’m feeling boxed in. Need some air.”
She jogs toward the tent, and Hadley lifts her head and gives Axl a smug look. I don’t have a clue what’s up with those two, but hopefully some time away will help them both cool down.
Darla’s ready in less than five minutes, and the five of them head for the stairs. Axl pats his brother on the back as he walks by but doesn’t look at Hadley once. I follow the group up the trail, feeling like I need to apologize for Axl or something.
“Hey,” I say, grabbing Hadley’s arm when we’re only halfway up to the truck. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why Axl’s being so difficult, but you know his intentions are good. Right?”
Hadley doesn’t look me in the eye, and she shrugs like she isn’t sure what’s going on. “Whatever. I’m tired of taking orders from a redneck. What qualifies him to tell us what to do?”
My hand falls away from her arm and I step back, staring at her with my mouth open for ten seconds before I manage to find my voice. “That’s a shitty thing to say.”
Hadley shrugs again, then turns away from me. Following the others up the trail. “Sometimes the truth sucks. You of all people should know that.”
I don’t say anything and I don’t follow her, but I do watch her until she disappears around the bend. Right before she turns, she glances back at me, and I swear there are tears in her eyes.
Maybe Hadley’s having a tougher time than I thought she was.
5
WHEN THE NISSAN’S ENGINE ROARS to life, I’m able to relax for the first time all day. I need a break from the group. There’s no
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