Read Online Writing on the Wall by Tracey Ward - Free Book Online

fill the empty space. I don’t regret showing him the movie and the music. But most importantly, I don’t regret telling him to go.
    “Promise not to get mad again?”
    I laugh and shake my head. “No.”
    “Okay. I’ll say it anyway. Come with me.”
    I take a deep breath, knowing where this is going. It’s going where it always goes when people find me, the lost little lamb out in the wild all alone, and they want to save me. And years ago, I would go with them. I would let them help me and I would watch them die and I would be alone all over again.
    “I am coming with you. You’re showing me your home.” I say, dodging the request.
    “You know what I mean. Come with me permanently. Stay with the gang. You’ll be safer.”
    I snort a laugh. “Yeah right. You just said I’m at risk with all the men out here. Now you want me to move in with a mob of them. No thank you.”
    “I can keep you safe there.”
    “How? By claiming me? Making me yours and keeping me in your bed so I don’t wind up pushed into someone else’s? Or worse, passed around like a toy?”
    He doesn’t answer right away and I feel my blood boil.
    “It wouldn’t be like that. That’s not what I’m suggesting.” he finally says calmly. “I would never—I’d never be a threat to you. I’d make sure no one else was either.”
    “No thanks.” I tell him curtly.
    “I—“ He takes a deep breath and lets it out harshly. “This all came out wrong.”
    “Hopefully, yeah. Look, I get it. You want to help me and I believe you. If you were willing to do something heinous, you’d have done it last night. It would have been easy. But how is it a good idea to bring me somewhere that you have to protect me all the time? And what happens if you’re gone? What if you die? Can I just walk out the door or do I belong to the gang then?”
    He doesn’t answer and I’m done because I’m right.
    “I’m better off as I am.”
    “Yeah. Yeah, I guess you are.” he says quietly. I can tell this really bothers him. He’s sorry he can’t help me and I hate that. I don’t need help. I’ve got this. I’ve had it under control all on my own for years now and I don’t need some knight in shining armor to come running up and save me.
    As we walk in silence I see the park peek through between the buildings. The tall trees that have overrun the area standing proud and waving in the light breeze. Crenshaw is in there. Crenshaw who has never offered me help beyond what I ask for. Who makes his trades with me, offers his advice when asked and then pisses off. Crenshaw who never calls me by my name.
    “Thank you.” I blurt out, surprising us both.
    His brows pinch in confusion. “I thought you were mad at me. What are you thanking me for?”
    “I am. I’m kinda mad at you. But you’re being nice.”
    “You’re mad at me for being nice?”
    “No, I’m thanking you for being nice.”
    “I am so confused.”
    I grin at him. “Me too.”
    “Joss, I want you to understand that—“
    “Shhhh! Shut up!” I whisper harshly, grabbing his arm and pulling him down into a crouch with me. “Look.”
    A deer. It’s strolling slowly, almost casual, as though it doesn’t have a care in the world. Not for zombies and certainly not for us.
    “What do you want to do?” he whispers, leaning his head close. “Do you want to go for it?”
    I nod excitedly. “I haven’t had anything but rabbit in forever.”
    “Not stealthy enough to take down a deer?” he asks, smirking at me.
    I glare at him. “Not alone, no, and neither are you. But if we work together…”
    “I thought you don’t play well with others.”
    I chuckle softly. “Ryan, for a chance at deer meat, I can be very agreeable.”
    “I’ll believe it when I see it. It’s heading for the park. Let’s cut over a block so we can run without spooking it.”
    We rise slowly out of our crouch, trying not to land in the deer’s peripheral. Once we’re clear of its sightline we take off