Colton’s out uncharacteristically early at this moment. The rain from the night before leaves the air smelling dewey, and the dirt beneath his shoes squelch under the pressure. He stands at the Southside fence where the chain-links peak out from behind slabs of thick planks erected to keep any wandering zulu out. He could clear the fence easy if he wanted to, but Colton only rests his hands against the chilled metal bar, pressing his weight delicately against it’s support.
He exhales into the morning air, and takes note that on the East the sun was beginning to peak over the trees. He’s tired without being able to find the ability to sleep the night before, yet it did not cause discomfort to him. He’s been wired for days, too paranoid to settle his mind. Henry said what he said, and there hasn’t been threat of Colton actually being thrown off the farm, but it’s a terrifying thought. Reentering the solitary lifestyle is his ultimate goal, but he will surely die if he tries to steal anything or just heads for the hills without replenished supplies.
Colton sighs and looks to the ground at his feet, studies the scuffed toes of his shoes and tries to think of something else. He could have been close to a change in pace if he hadn’t fucked it up. The offer to accompany Henry and Co. on the next outing was there, but who could really blame Colton for his lack of faith in anyone else? He doesn’t feel as if his life would be one hundred percent protected out there with anyone other than Henry or Jay. Not that it matters because he’s clearly not going to be going anyway.
Does that mean Colton will go apologize?
He made his extremely half-assed attempt with Jessica, not exactly taking back his cocky attitude one hundred percent, but it didn’t sit well with him. So, of course, her skepticism was met with a snarky and arrogant remark that completely obliterated the forced attempt. He’d have to actually be concerned about their opinion of him to do it, and well, Colton doesn’t do care very well. It keeps them away, keeps them more than at an arm’s length distance. Emotionally, Colton won’t allow himself to attach. Staying aloof is his best bet.
Once the house starts bustling with the life of the other twelve he’ll go and pester James or Maya to help with something in the kitchen. His stubborn streak needs to end at some point before his display on actual uselessness gets him booted off the boat. Soon enough. For now, he lingers and takes to walking along the inner perimeter of the fence- thinking, wishing, willing the paranoia out of his body.
The medical supplies the scouting group returned with were enough, for now. Not enough for long term, but that was to be suspected. Unless they stumbled upon a warehouse, things were going to be limited from here on out. She would figure out how to make do, somehow. It was a constant reminder to Layne of how much things were changing. Her skills were useful, but more so in a hospital emergency ward than in the middle of nowhere. She would have to entirely reinterpret her skillset for this kind of situation to work.
Which it wasn’t. It really wasn’t working at all. Layne could tell herself that she was useful, needed even, but she didn’t feel that way. In any other situation, it likely wouldn’t have bothered her. She was used to being a bit of an outcast. She certainly wasn’t a social butterfly with friends all over the place, and she had accepted that. But now that the population had been cut by more than half, she actually had less of an option of staying on her own.
Because whether they needed her or not, Layne needed them. She could maybe keep herself alive for a few weeks if she holed up somewhere, hoarded food and supplies. But that was hardly any way to live, and she knew it would be a short time before she bit the dust. So if she was going to make any kind of live for herself, she was going to have to rely on them. And that meant making some changes.
Some difficult, stressful, unpleasant changes.
When Layne crawled out of her cot of a bed, she was only half awake. Sleeping had become less of a habit and more of a chore. She fixed herself a cup of coffee, grateful that was one thing they seemed to have plenty of. After staring blankly out the window for too long, Layne turned towards the door and stepped out onto the porch. The sun was just beginning to rise up over the tree line, and a tiny hint of a smile crossed Layne’s face at the beautiful sight. She hadn’t had the time or frame of mind to appreciate a sunrise in a while. At least there was that.
She was still standing in silence, taking in the morning, when a rustle by the fence caught her attention. Her first reaction was nearly panic, afraid that a zed had managed to somehow get across the border. But then she sees Colton hovering along the line, and her heartbeat slows. She considers going back inside and leaving him to his peace, but that wouldn’t be very social of her. And she’s trying to change. She’s trying.
So instead she goes back in just long enough to fix him a cup of coffee, then meets him at the fence. She stretches the cup out towards him, the liquid steaming in the cool morning air. Then she forces some semblance of a smile. “Coffee?”
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