< Just change "3" with "e" Patr3on Link : https://patr3on.com/meatbunkun>
The next morning, Eric's eyes fluttered open to the light of dawn that hit his face. On a scale from one to ten, sleeping in a passenger seat sucked, a lot. His neck was stiff, but at the same time, he couldn't really complain as he'd gotten a few hours of rest after Andrea had taken over the watch, and that was better than nothing these days. Besides if he hadn't met the two sisters… he would have slept in worse conditions.
Trying not to think at how it would have been, he turned his head slowly, trying not to make any loud noise that might wake his companions. Andrea and Amy were both still asleep in their seats, Amy curled up in the back while Andrea's head rested against the driver's side window. There was something peaceful about the scene that made Eric feel somewhat happy for what he had done. Yesterday, he'd acted on instinct when he heard their screams in the pharmacy, but seeing them now, safe and sleeping, made him truly grateful he'd been there to help.
Moving as quietly as possible, Eric eased his door open and slipped outside. The morning air was crisp, and dew had settled on the grass around the logging site. He dug into his pocket and pulled out one of his cereal bars – not exactly a feast, but it would have to do. As he unwrapped it, Eric decided to walk some distance from the car and get a better view of their surroundings.
Thankfully they were in a pretty isolated place, and nothing came to disturb them overnight which was such a godsent as it was clear all three of them needed the sleep. Especially with how while she said that she would take the watch, Andrea didn't last long after her turn started, but Eric couldn't blame the woman. She almost lost her sister and their lives yesterday, and God knows what else might have happen in between that just built up the stress for them.
The rest of the dawn, Eric spent it watching the sunrise, eating his cereal bar and thinking about what the hell he would do once they reach the city. Yes finding Sarah and Shane were still his priorities, but he was no fool. That would not happen the second he reaches the camp, besides with how many people must have headed for the city, it would mean a few thousands of people being in that camp. Regardless, he would start looking for them and hope for the best.
"Enjoying the sunrise?"
Eric turned around, a bit startled by the sudden voice, but quickly realized that Amy woke up and decided to check where he was.
"I didn't want to wake you two while I ate a cereal bar. Speaking of bars, do you want one?" Eric asked her grabbing a chocolate one.
"Sure, I could really use something to eat. It's milk and cereal, but its good enough." Amy let out a chuckle before taking the bar from Eric and quickly unwrapping it.
Amy took another bite of the cereal bar before suddenly going still. She then turned to Eric. "You know... I never properly thanked you for yesterday."
"That's okay, really," Eric said quickly, trying to wave it off. "Anyone would have-"
"No, Eric." Amy cut him off firmly, shaking her head. "Not anyone would have. Most people would have just kept walking, especially now with..." she gestured vaguely in the air. "Everything."
Not wanting to cut her off, Eric just nodded and watched as she wrapped the remaining half of her cereal bar back in its wrapper, suddenly seeming lost in thought.
"You know, I've always been the family troublemaker," she said with a slight smile, though there was a hint of sadness in her voice. "While Andrea was busy being perfect – law school, career plans, everything figured out – I was the one who couldn't decide on a major for two years." She let out a small laugh. "That's partly why I came to Atlanta, actually. Besides college, I mean. I thought maybe being in a bigger city would help me... I don't know, grow up a bit?"
She paused, pulling her knees up to her chest. "God, it sounds so stupid now. Worrying about 'finding myself' when the world was about to..." her voice cracked slightly. "I just... I keep thinking about Dad and Mom. We left them back in Sherwood because I insisted on taking this trip. Andrea tried to talk me out of it, said we could postpone, but I wouldn't listen."
Tears were forming in her eyes now, but she seemed determined to get the words out. "They are probably worried sick, if they even..." She couldn't finish the sentence. "And the worst part is, I'll probably never know. Never get to tell them I'm sorry for being such a brat about this stupid trip. Never get to tell my dad he was right about me needing to be more careful, more like Andrea."
Once she was done, Amy wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, looking embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to dump all of that on you. It's just... seeing you risk your life for us yesterday, it made me realize how sheltered I've been. How unprepared I am for this world now."
Amy wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, looking embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to dump all of that on you. It's just... seeing you risk your life for us yesterday, it made me realize how sheltered I've been. How unprepared I am for this world now."
Eric was quiet for a moment, watching the sunrise paint the sky in brighter colors. "You know," he finally said., "I don't think anyone was prepared for this. Not really." He turned to look at her. "And being sheltered... that's not always a bad thing. It means you had people who cared enough to protect you."
"As we told you on the road, Andrea's always been like that," Amy said with a weak smile. "Protecting me, I mean. Even when we were kids. There was this time in middle school when some girls were picking on me, and she..." She trailed off, glancing back at the car where her sister still slept. "Sometimes I wonder if I've just been a burden to her. Especially now."
"Hey," Eric said, more firmly this time. "I saw how you two work together yesterday. When those guys had you cornered, you both kept your heads. That's not being a burden – that's being family. And your dad... I think he'd be proud of how you're handling all this. Both of you."
Amy looked at him like he grew a second head. "You sound like you know what you're talking about."
Eric nodded slowly, thinking about Sarah, Shane and his mom. "I guess I do. Sometimes... sometimes the people we think we're disappointing are actually just worried about us because they care." He absently picked at the wrapper of his own cereal bar and threw it. "And they'd probably give anything to know we're safe, even if we're not perfect."
"You have family out there too, don't you?" Amy asked softly.
Eric hesitated, then nodded. "In a way. I mean my mother died in the line of duty, while my father… not sure about him, never really met him or talked to him. But yeah, I have some people I care about. That's... that's partly why I'm heading to Atlanta." He didn't elaborate further, but Amy seemed to understand even thought it was quite clear she felt bad for bringing up such sad memories for Eric.
"You know what's funny?" Amy said after a while. "Andrea's probably going to wake up soon and freak out when she realizes both of us are gone. God that would be so funny to see."
Eric couldn't help but laugh. "Should we head back before she comes out guns blazing?"
"Probably," Amy agreed, standing up and brushing off her jeans. She paused, looking at Eric with genuine gratitude. "Thanks. Not just for yesterday, but... for listening to my rambling."
"Anytime," Eric replied, and he meant it. Amy seemed like a cool girl, and quite frankly, both of them probably need a friend to be there for each other.
Amy and Eric had only taken a few steps when the car door flew open with such force it made them both jump, and from it, Andrea burst out, rifle clutched tightly in her hands, looking like she was one second away from having a panic attack. However, the moment she spotted them, her expression shifted from fear to fury.
"What the actual fuck?" she snapped, lowering the rifle but maintaining her death grip on it. "I wake up and you're both just gone? After everything that happened yesterday?" Her gaze fixed particularly on Amy. "I thought we were fucking past this disappearing act bullshit, Amy!"
Amy winced, raising her hands in surrender. "Andrea, we were literally just-"
"Just what? Taking a lovely morning stroll without telling me where you went? Without taking a weapon?" Andrea's voice cracked slightly, as she kept raising her voice at them. "For all I knew, those assholes from yesterday had come back and-"
"I was watching the road the whole time," Eric decided to speak up, trying to diffuse the situation, before Andrea says or worse do something she would regret. "We were just up on that small rise, having breakfast-"
"Oh, that makes it so much better," Andrea shot back at him. "Because clearly you're fucking bulletproof, right? Both of you could have been taken out before either of you even heard anything coming."
"Sis, I'm sorry. You're right, we should have woken you up or left a note or something. I wasn't thinking."
"No, you weren't," Andrea agreed, but some of the tension seemed to leave her shoulders. And after a few seconds, she let out a long breath. "Just... don't do that again. Either of you. I can't-" She swallowed hard. "I can't lose you baby sister, okay?"
Hearing her sister's words, Amy felt the hot sting of tears threatening to spill over. Without hesitation, she crossed the distance to her sister and buried her face against Andrea's chest, nodding repeatedly as she wrapped her arms around her. Andrea's free arm immediately went for a hug, pulling her close as the last remnants of her anger melted away.
Eric stood awkwardly to the side, not wanting to intrude on the sisters' moment. But when he caught Andrea's eye over Amy's head, he was surprised by what he saw. The fury from moments ago had been replaced by something softer, almost protective – the same look she'd given Amy, just tempered differently. It was strange, seeing that kind of concern directed at him from someone he'd known for barely a day.
Then again, he thought, he did risk his life for them, so maybe it wasn't so strange… just not something he had expect from a stranger. Still, the almost sisterly way she was looking at him now made him feel both uncomfortable and oddly warm inside – like he'd somehow been adopted into their little family without realizing it.
Andrea gave Amy one final squeeze before gently pulling back, wiping a stray tear from her sister's cheek. "Come on," she said in a much gentler tone. "We should get moving before it gets too hot. And next time you two decide to have breakfast with a view, wake me up first. I make a pretty good company or so I've been told."
(A/N : Tried something a little bit more different with this chapter which I really hoped helped making it seems like Eric and the sisters start to warm up to each other in a more natural way)