“Sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt, but I thought you would want to know Olivia is awake,” Grant says, looking a little embarrassed at what he just walked in on.
“She’s awake?!” I run passed him and up the stairs.
Chapter 12 - Liv
I jump up and scream, “TONY BEHIND YOU!” I feel arms squeeze around me and I instantly think it is an eater. I pound my fist into it.
“LIv! Liv baby open your eyes! Your safe baby. Open your eyes,” I hear Tony softly say into my ear.
I stop flailing around and hesitantly crack my eyes open. A headache hits me like a ton of bricks and I sway backwards some.
“Easy baby. Here lay back down,” he says as he gently places me back on the bed.
“What happened?” I ask as I look up at his teary eyed face.
“You passed out in my arms and I brought you back here,” he says as he pushes my hair out of my face.
“But how did we get away from all of those flesh eaters? They were everywhere!”
“I got us out baby. That’s all that matters. I am so glad you are awake.” Before I can stop him, as if I even would, he leans down placing a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth.
Wil comes running in and right over to my bed. She practically pushes Tony out of the way.
“Oh my gosh Liv! How do you feel? Are you okay? I was so scared!” She says it all fast and franticly
“I have a huge headache, but besides that I think I am okay,” I say as I bring my attention to Wil’s face instead of Tony’s.
Cade walks in as I finish my sentence. “I think I have some Tylenol in my bathroom cabinet, let me go get you some,” he says as he turns and walks out of the room. I notice Wil’s face turn a light shade of red just by hearing Cade’s voice. I lift an eyebrow at her wondering what’s going on between them two. She notices my look and turns even redder and looks down at the floor.
Cade steps back in with a glass of water and two pills. He hands me the pills and I go to sit up. Tony comes around to the other side of the bed before I can raise up on my own, his hands gently snake around my waist and help lift me up. I take the glass of water from Cade and swallow down the two pills. Tony eases me back onto the bed,
“Thanks,” I say and give him a weak smile.
Emily comes running in the room with several pieces of paper in her hands. She jumps on the bed beside me. “Liv! Liv! You’re awake!” She proclaims as she wraps her little arms around my neck and hugs me.
“Oh,” I wince as she jumps on the bed and attacks me with her sweet hugs.
“I made you something while you were asleep.” She says as she pulls her arms back away from my neck and hold out the papers in her hand.
I take them and look down at them.
“This one is a picture of Scooby Doo I colored you,” she says pointing at the first page.
“Oh that’s a good picture. How did you know that I love Scooby?” I ask smiling at her. She blushes.
“Everyone loves Scooby silly,” she says and giggles.
I smile and lay it beside me on the bed to look at her next picture.
“This one is a picture I drew,” she points at the page. “This is you, and that is Willow and I am right here.” She points to the little doodle that is between the one of me and Wil.
“Well who is this?” I say and point to the one at the top of the paper.
She looks a little sad at first then she says, “That’s my mommy watching over us from heaven.” Her little voice breaks. “I know why my mommy tried to bite me now,” she says softly.
“You do?” I ask trying to hold back my tears.
“Yes. She wasn’t really my mommy. Just like Willow’s boyfriend wasn’t really him. She had already died and went to live with Jesus and that’s when the mean woman who looked like my mommy tried to bite me.” She starts crying now and hugs me again, “I thought you were going to die too and that made me really sad. Promise me you will never die Olivia,” she begs as her little tears fall on my shoulder.
“Oh baby girl I promise. I will always be alive to protect you.” I hug her tight and cry along with her.
I hear sniffling coming from around the room and open my eyes to see where it is coming from. There isn’t a dry eye in the room even big bad Cade is tearing up. I notice Grant and Melody standing off by the door and she is crying hysterically.
I hug Emily tight one last time then pull her back and wipe her tear stained cheeks. “Now then baby girl, why don’t you go see if Alejandra and Jose’s kids want to play.”
She smiles her biggest smile. “They are fun to play with. But they talk funny.” She shrugs her shoulders and we all burst out laughing. She scurries out of the room.
Grant and Melody come walking over to me. “Thank you for saving Melody Liv. I know you didn’t have to,” he says quietly.
Melody bawls, “I’m so sorry.”
“You got hurt trying to save me. I shouldn’t have ran away in the first place. Now it’s all my fault that Becky is dead and you are hurt.” Grant pulls her into his arms. He mouths he is sorry to me and leads Melody out of the room.
I look over to Cade. “Cade I’m so sorry about your sister,” I say then look down. I know I didn’t like the two bit whore but I can’t act like that to her brother who is graciously letting us stay in his home.
“Thank you Liv, but it isn’t your fault.” He cuts his eyes at Tony.
“I..” I start then shut up. I don’t think it would be a good idea to tell a grieving brother that his only sister basically got herself killed trying to get my boyfriend to choose her.
Wait did I just refer to Tony as my boyfriend again?
Wil looks at me giving me a questioning look.
“Hey guys do you mind if I have a minute with Wil?" I ask.
“I am not leaving your side,” Tony says as he grabs my hand and sits down on the bed beside me.
I gently pull my hand away. “It will only take a second,” I say begging him with my eyes to please give me some privacy with my best friend.
He sighs, “Okay.” He stands and kisses the top of my head. “I will be right back with something for you to eat.” He turns and exits the room.
“What about you Cade, do you need a kiss to leave too?” I jokingly ask as I look over to Willow. She blushes and gives me a go to hell look.
He chuckles, “Only if it’s from you sugar.” He winks at me then quickly kisses Willow on the cheek and leaves, closing the door behind him.
“What the hell is up with you and Mr. Tough Guy?” I ask raising up out of bed and patting the empty spot beside me for her to sit.
“Uhm, is it bad that I want to move on Liv? Is it too soon? I want that man.” She says and sighs.
“Anyone in viewing range can tell you want that man and he wants you. I say go for it! Devin wouldn’t want you to be alone especially in a world like this,” I reassure her.
“Yeah…. Anyway what is going on with you?”
“Tony chose me over Becky.” I try and hide the smile but there is no use.
“That much is obvious Liv,” she says with a questioning look.
“I mean when I was in trouble and she seen him running to me she purposely put herself in danger. I watched as she emptied out her bullets and walked right into that eater’s arms,” I say in a hushed tone not wanting Cade to over hear from wherever he went. For all I know he could be standing right outside the door.
“So she went down thinking he would actually choose her over you? How stupid could she have been?”
“Apparently real stupid. We watched as she was torn apart. Even being the bitch that she is, I still tried to go to her but Tony held me back. No one deserved to die like that.” I shake my head to try and clear her screams from my mind.
“She did that to herself Liv, even if you think she didn’t deserve it in a twisted way she kinda did. You didn’t make her do what she did. She did that on her own. She was stupid. Sorry to sound so cold, but really she could have saved herself.” She shrugs her shoulders and looks to the floor.
“You’re right. I don’t want to tell Cade, but I don’t want him to blame Tony either. What should I do? He is pissed at Tony. I could tell that by the look in his eyes when he looked at Tony.”
“I understand that but think about it, even if you did tell him he probably wouldn't believe you. So what is the point in making the issue bigger? The heat will die down. Not all of us hold a grudge like you do Liv,” she says and giggles.
I gasp and hold my hand over my chest like I am offended, “I do not hold grudges! But I am still mad at you for breaking my doll house in second grade, you doll house breaking bitch,” I laugh.
“I didn’t mean to! It slipped!” she says and laughs harder.
“Sure it did.” I eye her and collapse back on the bed in a fit of laughter.
A knock on the door stops our laughing fits and I try and gain my composure before saying, “Come in.”
Tony nudges the door open with a tray in his hands. “I brought you some soup,” he says offering up the tray for me to take.
I take the tray and lift it to my nose taking in the smell of hot soup. Funny how things that seemed so normal before, are so rare now, like hot soup. Wil smiles from the bed and walks out the door.
“Thank you.” I smile up at Tony.
Tony sits down on the bed beside me and leans his head back against the pillows and soon I can hear him snoring. I look to him and smile falling more in love with him. I didn’t know if I would be able to move past him cheating and then being stuck with her during the end of the world. It felt like he made a mistake and I was the one paying for it each day that I had to look at her. But now that I have seen him choose me over her I can’t help but think all debts have been paid.
***
It’s been four days since my accident and Tony still insists on treating me like I am some fragile little girl.
“Would you please stop fussing over me? I can put my shoes on myself!” I snatch my shoe from his hands and pull them on my sock covered feet aggravated.
“I am just trying to help you baby,” he says as he pushes my hair out of my face.
“I know you are but it has been four days I am totally fine now. The headaches stopped a few days ago. So you can stop trying to help me with everything.” I look up at him after I tug my last shoe on. “I am happy you care and want to help, I really am, but come on now I am not three I can put my own shoes on.” I smile and kiss him on the nose. “Come on Cade wanted us all to meet in the kitchen he has something to tell us.” I rub my hands together like it’s going to be a juicy secret.
“Maybe Wil is pregnant with their love child.” Tony laughs and follows me down the stairs.
Cade looks around the full table. Grant and Melody, Jose and his family, Emily, Wil, Tony and I.
“Thank you all for coming. I just wanted you all to know that I am leaving. I can’t stay here with memories of my dead family surrounding me.”
“You’re not fucking leaving me!” Wil says jumping up from her seat causing all of us to look at her.
He smiles at her. “As much as I would love to stay with you forever I can’t stay here babe.”
“I am going with you! Liv please say we are going too! I can’t go through this pain again!” she begs turning her eyes towards me.
“Uh…” I look over to Tony and then over to Emily. ”Wil I don’t think it’s safe out there for Em. Where would we even go?” I ask looking to Cade.
“I am not asking any of you to go with me. But I am heading up to the mountains. I have a vacation house up on Smoky Mountain, that’s where I am headed,” he says.
“Liv I have loved you like a sister for a long time, but look beside you, would you let him leave and not go too? I am going. You’re welcome to stay.” And with that Wil walks out of the kitchen.
“Wow,” Tony whispers to no one in particular.
“Are y’all even together?” I ask looking at Cade a little annoyed.
“I know that I don’t want to be away from her. I know that with each day she is here she is my breath of fresh air in all the bull-shit this world has handed us and I haven’t had that in a long time,” he replies.
“She has never and I mean EVER chose a guy over me. Even when Dev begged her to move with him two hours away she wouldn’t do it. She wouldn’t leave me. And now here you are and she is ready to just throw me aside and go off with you?” I huff. “You must be a really good fuck.” I roll my eyes.
“Think about it Olivia, when he asked her to move away there was always the option that she could jump in her car and go to him. There was never flesh eaters in the way, it was a simple two hour drive. Now that simple two hour drive could take weeks and cost you your life. She has already lost one person. What do you want me to do? Tell her I don’t want her to go?”
“No that would crush her, then I would have to kick your ass,” I sigh. “Just stay Cade. We are safe. Emily is safe. We can make it here. So stay with her. Don’t take her away from her family,” I plead.
“Have you looked on the walls in the living room Olivia? The walls down the hallway? Or how about the bedroom my parents and sister slept in? Maybe the room that my brother or my niece stayed in? Everyone I have ever known or loved is dead and all of that started with this house. I am not asking any of you to go with me. I will tell her to stay. It is safer here for all of you with the fence. But I have no family here. Maybe that isn’t something any of you can understand but for me it is clear. I am sorry.”
“You’re being very difficult Mr. Tough Guy,” I sigh “Fine we will go, but I swear if you make me regret this I will end you.”