Trigon by Red Hope

Chapter 7

K-Mart woke up in the late morning, but she recalled that Claire had left about thirty minutes ago. K-Mart had stirred briefly then dozed off once Claire left. Now that K-Mart was awake, she discovered it was just after ten o'clock. A slight flush came over her because she'd slept so late. But it'd been from her long night with Claire.

Despite the late morning, K-Mart didn't rush out of bed and enjoyed the comfort for awhile. She considered her night with Claire and how it would impact their relationship. Right now, it was far too early to tell until K-Mart saw Claire first thing. But it wasn't like K-Mart expected to have a nice conversation with Claire about how they could progress their relationship. Maybe once upon a time in another world where there was no apocalypse then they would have that luxury. But in this world, all that Claire saw in her vision was the convoy and there could be no distractions.

A heavy sigh filtered from K-Mart. She rolled onto her side and stared out the window to the autumn leaves that offered an odd peace. Yet last night's memories returned to K-Mart until she considered exactly how late they'd been up. They were also waking up late today, and it was that thought that made K-Mart furrow her eyebrows.

Claire had only woken up late a few rare times in the past two years and that was from having the flu. Despite those mornings Claire should have rested, she still climbed out of the Hummer and led the convoy. However, today Claire didn't get up at dawn like normal, similar to the morning from four days ago. That same morning Claire had overslept in the loft with K-Mart.

Abruptly, K-Mart was shaken by the strange argument between Alice and Claire in the Hummer from that same morning Claire woke up late. Now the meaning behind Alice's words and Claire's reaction made complete sense to K-Mart. She sharply rolled onto her back and stared wide eye at the ceiling.

K-Mart covered her mouth for a second then lowered her left hand to her chest. "The stars just screamed at me," she echoed Alice's prior joke with complete disbelief. She groaned as her eyes tightly shut. The full meaning behind Alice's joke made complete sense now, and K-Mart wasn't laughing.

There was absolutely no way in Hell K-Mart planned to bring up her new knowledge with anybody, let alone Claire. She instead began understanding what it meant to her, and especially Claire. K-Mart had certainly been right that Claire was attracted to Alice, and K-Mart second Claire's choice. But it was painfully obvious that Claire was desperate if she gave in to her needs with a seeming stranger rather than a convoy member. K-Mart drew out a long breath and decided the next couple of days would give her a chance to absorb what she was certain was true.

Slowly opening her eyes, K-Mart put aside her thoughts then decided it was time to start her day. She imagined that Claire was checking on the troops, as K-Mart called it at times. After a good stretch under the warm sheets, K-Mart wiggled out of bed and prepared for a day that would surely be a mixture of things. She wasn't sure what to expect from Claire after last night. Plus there was the possibility that somebody heard them too. But most likely Claire would snub out any surfacing rumors in a heartbeat.

Breakfast was a lonely adventure at first until K-Mart was surprised to find the focus of her thoughts plopping into the chair next to her. She paused from eating more oatmeal and curiously peered over at Claire Redfield casually seated in the aged wood chair next to her.

"What flavor did you get, K?" Claire was testing her oatmeal.

K-Mart crinkled her nose at her friend's normal attitude. "Cinnamon and spice." She sharply flushed after Claire smirked at her.

Claire couldn't help a low chuckle at her friend's distraught reaction. She leaned back in the chair and held back from teasing K-Mart further despite it was so tempting to do it. "Maple brown sugar for me."

K-Mart just nodded and decided it was safer to eat her food than dig a hole.

Claire stirred her hot oatmeal then asked, "How'd you sleep?"

K-Mart nervously glanced at her friend but nodded. "Good."

Claire canted her head and considered why her friend was so damn on edge. She understood what last night meant but like K-Mart, she didn't want it to change their friendship. She slightly frowned and looked at the campfire. A slight shift crossed over her shoulders and caused her to sit up better.

K-Mart smelled change in the air and wasn't sure how to stomach it. She peered across at her friend. "Did you sleep alright?" Why the Hell was she so damn out of sorts despite she'd pushed Claire into last night? It sure wasn't Claire asking for K-Mart to touch her last night, but K-Mart had lost her bravado this morning.

Claire nodded then softly replied, "Better." She offered K-Mart a thin smile, but it was dampened by her sinking mood. "Are you going to do any studying today?" She hoped K-Mart would take it easy, but then she also understood K-Mart's keen interest in learning.

"I think so." K-Mart considered diving into her math work because it'd give her an escape from her distorted emotions. She toyed with her oatmeal but asked, "Are you going to relax some?" She knew the answer before Claire said it.

Claire grinned at the teen. "There's no rest for the leader." She slid out of the chair and stood up. "I'll catch ya later, K." She wasn't done her breakfast, and she wasn't interested in it anymore.

K-Mart watched her friend leave the campfire grounds. She tapped her spoon in the bowl then sighed at herself. There was nobody like Claire Redfield, and K-Mart just fucked her last night. She felt a gigantic knot twist in her stomach after that weight loaded on her shoulders. K-Mart blew out a breath and debated what to do in the coming days.

"Hey, K-Mart."

K-Mart nearly jumped out of her seat until she recognized Mikey's distinct voice. She'd been too deep in her thoughts, but she looked up at him.

Mikey had a small plate of breakfast and decided to take the empty chair beside his friend.

"Morning," K-Mart weakly offered back. She stirred her warm oatmeal, which was becoming less appetizing each minute.

Mikey gave his friend a small smile in hopes to ease her. "You must have slept well."

K-Mart hastily peered up from her food, and she struggled to hide the guilt on her face. Had the rumors already surfaced about her and Claire?

Mikey pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "You had a room in the old farmhouse."

K-Mart swallowed and nodded. She stirred her oatmeal yet again. "It was nice," she managed after a second.

Mikey quickly tapped his knee against his friend's thigh. "Sorry about last night."

K-Mart's eyes fluttered, but she finally met his gaze. "It's alright."

Mikey shook his head. "I didn't realize it was a one-way street."

K-Mart became saddened and tempted, "Mikey-"

"It's okay, mate." Mikey gave a reassuring smile. "I understand."

K-Mart relaxed, visibly and showed a smile for the first time. "Thanks."

Mikey gave a sure nod and offered, "Let's get back to normal." He grinned at her.

K-Mart's smile grew. "You got it."

"Besides," Mikey mentioned, "I don't want to be shot by Claire Redfield." He pretended to tremble in his seat. He and K-Mart chuckled.

However, K-Mart didn't totally put it past Claire, especially after last night. She focused on her oatmeal, and her appetite was renewed thanks to Mikey's apology. She ate a spoonful then another while Mikey enjoyed his breakfast.

Mikey carried on with their friendship and had regular conversation. He often asked K-Mart how her studies were, and he was always amazed by her constant vigilance to study like a college student. He felt everything shift back into place despite last night. He was relieved too.

K-Mart chuckled at Mikey's joke. But she shook her head at him a few times and leaned into the chair. She crossed her legs at the knees and rested her empty bowl in her lap. She listened to Mikey's next story, but her eyes travelled over to the other side of the campfire. She noted several survivors had come and gone around the campfire. Yet what grabbed at her attention was the arrival of Claire Redfield on the opposite side.

Claire stood in front of Carlos Oliveira, and she was having a serious conversation with him. Her hands occasionally moved about in the air. But K-Mart couldn't make out what Carlos and Claire were talking about. She slightly narrowed her eyes after Carlos touched Claire's hip. Claire subconsciously took a step back, which broke the contact. And Claire kept talking like nothing happened out of place because she was so use to it.

Mikey continued telling his tale from home in Australia from his childhood. He barely noticed that K-Mart's eyes were no longer on him. He reached over and touched K-Mart's knee.

K-Mart's eyes snapped back to Mikey, and she smiled at his next sentence. Yet soon enough her eyes wandered over to Claire Redfield and Carlos.

Carlos mock saluted Claire then he pulled on his bulletproof vest in usual habit. He turned on his boot heels and marched off to carry out his orders.

Claire briefly watched him then she turned her head to the left. She studied Mikey seated next to K-Mart, and she naturally narrowed her eyes in suspicion. But then Claire met K-Mart's open stare and held it.

K-Mart's next breath held as she deciphered Claire's expression. A jolt shot through her right leg after Mikey's burning touch caught her.

"K-Mart?" Mikey distantly called. He stiffened from the jerk of K-Mart's head.

"I'm sorry." K-Mart flushed brightly.

Mikey was briefly confused until he spotted Claire Redfield across the campfire. He frowned slightly and pulled his hand off K-Mart.

Claire faintly dipped her head then tugged on her hat's brim before she walked off. She wasn't concerned anymore about Mikey and his interactions with her friend.

Mikey let out a breath then looked at K-Mart. "What's up with you and Claire, seriously?"

K-Mart scratched her nose first then shook her head. "What you mean?"

Mikey's eyes went wide. "Mate, are you blind?"

K-Mart crinkled her nose then joked, "Maybe just blond."

Mikey laughed and grinned at his friend. He decided to leave it alone and instead asked, "Can I take your bowl?" He held out his hand.

K-Mart handed it over and thanked him. She sighed after Mikey left her alone by the bonfire. She toyed with her hair since she left her cap in the room. She considered what Claire was doing today. She didn't have any idea and wasn't about to pry either. Instead it was time to start her day.

Back in the farmhouse, K-Mart retrieved her book that she'd been working on steadily for the past two weeks. She didn't have many chances to enjoy it because she spent most of her time studying. But today was a perfect day to relax and read her book. She also opted to take her journal and finally catch up on her entries.

At first K-Mart almost took a spot by the campfire. But today was meant to be different so K-Mart traveled through the camp and went to the rundown watermill. The entrance was blocked by a half rotted door, yet it still turned on its creaky, iron hinges. K-Mart fished out her small LED flashlight that she always kept handy for such situations. She clicked it on then carefully made her way through the building.

There was nothing scary about the watermill other than the occasional floorboard's groan. The mill's central room still retained its wood gears that turned a millstone and would grind grain. Most likely the watermill had been maintained before the apocalypse, but now it was dying like the humans that invented it.

K-Mart briefly brushed her hand over the horizontal millstone. Her fingers were coated with a mixture of dust and grain particles, but she wiped it off onto her jeans and was left with a light mark on her side. She turned to the worn wood steps that went up into the watermill. She easily stole away upstairs and used the aged handrail incase the steps broke under her weight.

At the highest floor, there was nothing left of what use to be a storage space for milled grain sacks. However, it was well lit by small windows on each four walls. Each window was enclosed by latched shutters. A soft rumble omitted from the window on the right and caught K-Mart's attention the most. K-Mart quickly went over to it and had to duck under a large beam.

After flipping the latch up, K-Mart pulled the shutters apart and pushed them aside. Beyond the window, the creek's babbling water delightfully greeted K-Mart. Directly below, the building's watermill stood motionlessly but proudly after so long.

"Wow," K-Mart murmured at the beautiful view. She inhaled deeply and enjoyed the fresh air drifting over her. There couldn't be a more perfect spot to enjoy the day. All too happy now, K-Mart snuggled up to the window's edge, which was the floor. She suspected that at one time the sacks could be pushed out any of the windows with ease.

K-Mart set her book and journal off to her left and carefully studied her surroundings outside the window. She saw an easy way to scale down the building, get onto beams that supported the mill, and hop onto the ground or into the water. K-Mart nearly grabbed her journal until she thought better of it. She rolled onto her knees, popped up, and went to the three other windows. She checked each latch, opened each one, and scanned her surroundings and options outside.

Finally satisfied that she knew her exits, she returned to the window by the watermill. She became comfortable again, took her journal, and retrieved her pen from her last entry. The pen tapped a few times at the unfinished entry's last paragraph then K-Mart recalled her remaining thoughts for that day.

At least twenty minutes passed before a few voices broke K-Mart's concentration. She peered out the window and spotted Carlos on the other side of the creek with a handful of survivors. K-Mart tilted her head and wondered what was happening until she saw their shotguns and binoculars. It was a hunting party gathering together but still waiting for something or somebody. Much to K-Mart's surprise, it was Claire they were waiting for to join them. Rarely did Claire ever join the hunting party.

Claire had crossed the creek at a shallow spot. She carried a carbine across her back and had on a filled shotgun shell harness across her chest. She lowered the shotgun to her side after getting across the creek and joined the party.

K-Mart strained to hear what Claire was saying to the survivors, but they were too far. She suspected it was orders so she shrugged it off and went back to her journal entries. From the corner of her eye, she saw them disappear into the nearby woods. But she didn't notice that Claire had been studying her in the watermill's window.

Quickly the journal's pages filled up with recent events from the past days. Several pages accounted for Alice's arrival and departure, which included Alice's heroic save of Claire Redfield. K-Mart paused and tapped the pen against the floorboard after she reread her last sentence. There hadn't been any time in the past that somebody had saved Claire Redfield, at least that K-Mart knew of. It was always the convoy leader saving somebody else, who was being outnumbered by undead. K-Mart tapped the pen again then lowered her head against the window frame.

K-Mart found that she missed Alice's company. The first day or two was easy after Alice left, but later K-Mart realized that it'd been refreshing to have a new person in the Hummer. Alice was definitely a bit odd, but K-Mart was beyond intrigued by Alice. There was a lot that she and Claire didn't know about Alice. If only Alice had been around longer then they would have dug up more.

Gradually thoughts about Alice led K-Mart back to epiphany this morning. Another flush colored her cheeks once she imagined Alice and Claire together. K-Mart quieted her active imagination and instead considered what that meant to her. She sorted through her feelings easily. What K-Mart found odd was that she barely felt jealousy, if any. Somehow over the years K-Mart had become so self-assured when it came to her place in Claire's life. Nobody could replace K-Mart in Claire's eyes, and K-Mart knew it for a fact.

However, somebody like Alice was quite fascinating to K-Mart because there wasn't anybody else who had broken through Claire's control, except for K-Mart herself. What exactly had Alice done to convince Claire to let go? That truly fascinated K-Mart. She knew Alice had found a different way to Claire than what K-Mart had done last night.

K-Mart put away her contemplation once she realized the answer would elude her for awhile. She refocused on her journal then later the half read book. Hours passed quickly and only her stomach's soft growl made K-Mart put down her book. She'd already updated her journal and had been lost in her book for awhile now. She shifted after her butt was nearly asleep from being in the same spot. But soft steps from below caught K-Mart's ear. She set her book down then carefully listened to the footfall that wasn't scraping like an undead. The person was alive.

Claire Redfield's head appeared from the opening for the steps. She hastily scanned about in the storage room and settled curious eyes on her friend.

K-Mart relaxed despite earlier she'd suspected it was Claire coming into the watermill. "Hey," she called to her friend.

Claire no longer had her carbine or shotgun. She had two handguns stashed in the back of her jeans' waistband. She crossed the short distance and was forced to stoop under the wood beam. "Hey yourself." She knelt down beside K-Mart and stole a glance out the open window. Before she left with the hunting party, she'd spotted K-Mart up in the watermill. It'd bothered her so she radioed to L.J. whether he knew if K-Mart was there or not. She was glad she'd done so because L.J. wasn't aware of it.

"Did you mention to anybody you were up here?" Claire was still looking outside but waited for an answer.

K-Mart inwardly sighed and softly replied, "No." She waited for a lecture.

Claire nodded once. They both knew K-Mart's mistake so she decided not to voice it. She instead mentioned, "Pretty view."

K-Mart's eyebrows hiked up in surprise. She found dark green eyes on her now, and she squirmed slightly. She instead looked outside and found it calmed her. "It is," she murmured.

Claire rested her right hand on her thigh and casually inquired, "How many exits?"

"Five," K-Mart instantly replied. She patted the window frame above her head. "This is the best one."

Claire silently accepted that K-Mart at least did her exit check. She finally relented her silent concern and switched topics. "How's the book?"

K-Mart was relieved that she'd half passed Claire's test. She opened the book to her spot. "I'm about two-thirds." She looked at Claire. "The musical was really good and the book is even better."

Claire studied the book's cover of a white witch whispering into a black witch's ear. "I never saw the play."

K-Mart grinned at her friend and teased, "You don't strike me as the kind of girl to go to a Broadway play."

Claire raised an eyebrow. "I'm more of a WWF fangirl, right?"

K-Mart laughed and shoved her friend's shoulder. "No." She shook her head and studied the book in her lap.

"I loved the Lion King musical," Claire softly mentioned.

K-Mart widened her eyes at the leader. "You saw it? I wanted to see it so badly."

Claire grinned but stood up and decided to check the exits too. She trusted K-Mart's check, but she wanted to know them for safety. As she did so, she continued talking to K-Mart. "So did you and Mikey makeup?"

K-Mart dog eared the page in the book and set it on top of her journal. She couldn't tell if Claire was genuinely concerned or simply making conversation. "Yeah, we're alright now."

Claire was staring out the last window and watching the convoy from her perfect view of them. She closed the shutters, relatched them, and stayed there for a second. "Does he think something is up?"

K-Mart pursed her lips and carefully read between Claire's words. She first stretched out her legs, which bought her time. But it was too long because Claire called to her.

"K-Mart?" Claire hadn't stood up. She did turn her head to the teen after the long silence.

"He's just... confused, I think." K-Mart wasn't completely sure what was on his mind. She watched Claire cross back over. She was comforted by Claire's distinct footfall as the steel toed boots moved across the floorboards. She soon found green eyes level with her.

"Confused?" Claire softly echoed. She had squatted down beside K-Mart and only left a foot between them. She heard K-Mart's breathing and could see the beauty mark that wrinkled below K-Mart's bottom lip.

K-Mart become rather warm despite the cool air from being in the window.

"It is a confusing situation," Claire quietly agreed after a moment. She laced her hands together and let them hang in the space between her knees.

K-Mart parted her lips slightly, but she couldn't put her thoughts together. She tucked a loose lock behind her right ear and studied the small space between her and Claire.

"And we both know my rule," Claire added.

K-Mart briefly shut her eyes after she recalled the rule about Claire sleeping with convoy members. She nervously gazed up at her friend and gently debated, "But it's not fair." She caught the displeasure in Claire's eyes. "Not fair to you," she emphasized.

"And me not being focused as a leader is not fair to those people... to you," Claire argued. She sighed after K-Mart looked away from her.

K-Mart stared out the window and fought not be upset or angry, but it was quite hard. "Maybe you're losing focus because you won't be with anyone." She folded her arms against her chest.

Claire bowed her head and kept her temper in check. She lowered her right knee down and patiently explained, "I didn't come up here to argue about it, K-Mart." She lifted her head and found worried amber eyes locked on her. "I'm just telling you that last night can't repeat again."

K-Mart shook her head a few times then stared, bitterly out the window. She refused to let Claire see how upset she was about the decision that she had no say in.

Claire nearly apologize, but she swallowed it down in time. She couldn't apologize for it when she knew what was at stake, especially K-Mart's life. She instead removed a handgun and set it down near K-Mart in silent reminder for safety. She stood up and quietly made her way to the steps.

K-Mart listened to Claire's receding movements, but her mind was moving faster than anything. Maybe after all this time she'd been wrong about Claire Redfield. Perhaps underneath all that steel reinforced skin there wasn't any heart left in Claire. K-Mart was broken once it hit her exactly who Claire reminded her of, now.

K-Mart weakly shook her head then hoarsely called, "You're no different than them."

Claire paused after going down the first step. She tasted the sadness in her friend's voice. She looked at K-Mart, who's profile was clearly upset. She could make out a glisten to K-Mart's eyes. She waited for K-Mart to explain what she meant.

"No different," K-Mart murmured. She flexed her jaw because it kept her from wanting to cry. "Except that you didn't have to get infected by the T-virus to be like them."

Claire was instantly stung by being compared to the undead, who still walked the Earth without a beating heart. She couldn't remember the last time somebody's words actually pierced her. But her face didn't give her away, and she instead continued down the steps like she didn't hear it. She took a deep breath at the bottom of the steps, and she briefly placed her hand over her left chest. She felt a delicate strike against her palm. Claire's hand fell to her side when she took her next step towards the exit.

K-Mart kept her head down and continued listening to Claire's distant footfall. She sunk down against the window's frame until her head could lean against it. She bit her bottom lip in hopes the mild pain would distract her, but it was useless. Instead her legs were drawn up against her chest. Claire had failed to argue her or at least do a headshake, and a raw ache entered K-Mart's chest at this fact.

Her words were cold and harsh, but K-Mart couldn't tell if Claire had even heard her. She knew Claire had physically, but she wasn't sure it had any impact on Claire. Perhaps there was some foolish part of her that had hoped Claire would prove her wrong. But instead she, and even Alice, could only touch Claire physically and nothing further. K-Mart dug her nails into her jean covered legs for a distraction, but the tears didn't heed her demand. Instead they softly trailed down her flushed cheeks and fell onto her kneecaps that were under her chin. Her tears were for Claire, and for her and Alice's attempts to reach Claire but finishing empty handed.

Worn out from her emotions, K-Mart dozed off a short period and woke up only after the waterwheel below whined from a brief surge in the creek's power. She rubbed her eyes a few times until the sleepiness was gone. Her stomach gave off a reminder that it was still hungry so K-Mart gathered her things, including Claire's Beretta Cougar, which had a night sight on it.

Rarely did she carry a gun unless she happened to be separated from Claire and especially other armed survivors. Claire had taught her how to fire a handgun, rifle, and shotgun but K-Mart was kept away from using the weapons. It was Claire's odd attempt to protect K-Mart from the violence and bloodshed despite it was always around them. K-Mart had tried getting at least a handgun from Claire, but it turned into a fight each time. K-Mart would give up and instead had to keep in constant check with somebody. The only slight compromise Claire offered was stowing a Glock and knife in the Hummer's glovebox for K-Mart. However, it had to remain untouched unless a fight with the undead was ensuing. Lately it was becoming rather frustrating and getting old in K-Mart's opinion.

Upon returning to the camp, she discovered it was just after four o'clock and dinner wasn't far off. Most likely dinner would consist of whatever meat the hunting party brought back. K-Mart looked forward to it and decided to have a small snack to hold her over until dinner. Otto was more than happy to accommodate K-Mart and gave her a bright smile because he could tell K-Mart's normally upbeat mood was gone. He promised he was making a special dinner for K-Mart and that earned him a smile back.

K-Mart sat down with a group of survivors at a fire side. She sat between L.J. and Chase. She decided the two of them were complete opposites. L.J. was talkative, comical, and still used his slang from the city whenever possible. But Chase was the quiet cowboy that occasionally grinned and piped up at good moments. Otherwise he sat back casually with his favored rifle across his lap and hat slightly tilted back or forward depending on his mood.

By the time dinner was ready, K-Mart had become lost in one of L.J.'s rare stories about Raccoon City. He was one of the few survivors that made it out of the city before it was nuked. K-Mart hung onto every one of his words that he told and pictured his horrifying escape from the city.

"Now hold up," Chase cut in. He bent forward. "You're tellin' me this gal could jump clear up to fifteen feet?"

L.J. sighed and looked over at the cowboy. He held out his hand at him. "I told you that she worked for Umbrella." He leaned back. "She probably got experiment on or some shit." He looked over at Carlos, who was next to Betty. "You don't know her? You use to work for Umbrella too."

Carlos was leaning his elbows against his knees. He felt everybody's eyes on him. "What was her name again?"

"Valentine," L.J. supplied, "Jill Valentine." He frowned at Carlos's headshake. "She was some kind of security guard or soldier... something."

K-Mart studied Carlos's overly blank features then she furrowed her eyebrows at this news. It made her think of Alice, who said she was a security guard before the apocalypse. But it was probably a coincidence.

"Anyway," L.J. continued. He returned to his story.

However, K-Mart was still thinking about Jill Valentine, Alice, and the nuking of Raccoon City. A strong hand on her shoulder startled her, and she looked up at Claire Redfield behind her chair.

"Otto sent this," Claire commented. She held the filled plate in front of her friend. She didn't notice the blush on K-Mart's cheeks due to the fire's red hue.

K-Mart accepted the dinner.

Claire held out the linen napkin that had the fork and knife wrapped in it. "Trade," she ordered.

K-Mart quickly understood so she fished out the handgun and received the wrapped utensils for it.

Claire shoved the gun away but unhooked a metal bottle from her side that was filled with water. She set it down on the ground near K-Mart then straightened up only to hear a smart comment.

"Are you waitressing tonight, Claire?" Carlos called.

L.J. liked the sounds of it and smirked at the leader. "I'd like a Captain with diet."

Claire softly glowered at L.J. "With or without lemon?"

"With lemon," L.J. decided.

Chase flicked his cowboy hat up and glanced at Claire with a grin. "Ya want me to take 'em out back and shoot 'em for ya, Claire?"

Claire grinned over at Chase. "Do you mind?

L.J. clicked his tongue once then shook his head. "I can't tell you the last time I had a drink." He slapped his hands on his knees and stated, "This damn apocalypse is the best rehab ever."

K-Mart chuckled at him, but she was busy enjoying her meal that Claire brought her.

"I rather join AA," Carlos argued.

Claire shook her head at them then decided to depart without a word. She had to agree she couldn't recall her last drink. But it was definitely before she became a leader. Now she refused to dull her senses with anything, especially alcohol.

And K-Mart had yet to try a drink. She didn't drink before the apocalypse because she didn't find any appeal to it. She planned to hold off until her twenty-first birthday but had no importance in her life now. Yet she didn't mind hearing a few drunk stories from her fellow survivors that were willing to share them. It reminded her why she didn't do it.

After dinner, K-Mart was rather worn out and retired to the farmhouse. She had to light the candles since Claire hadn't shown up yet. There was some hesitation about staying in the same bed with Claire after last night and this afternoon. Yet there were few options so K-Mart got prepared for bed and attempted to read more of her book. She fell asleep before Claire ever arrived in the room.

Claire studied her sleeping friend under the low candlelight. She'd just shut the door and tried being quiet as she got ready for bed. She snuffed out most of the candles including the two on the nightstand beside K-Mart. That's when she noticed the dangling book in K-Mart's fingertips. Claire took it and dog-eared the spot before closing it up.

K-Mart stirred and groggily looked up at the leader's features. She didn't say anything, shut her eyes, and snuggled under the covers more.

Claire sadly exhaled but put the book on the nightstand. She briefly stared at it and realized she needed to find a new book for K-Mart soon. That was K-Mart's last book other than the textbooks. Claire made a mental note to get one on the upcoming raid.

Once in bed, Claire felt her spine realign after a busy day. But peacefulness still evaded Claire tonight. There was no sexual frustration this time and only the dull ache of knowing she'd rebuilt a wall between her and K-Mart. Claire stayed on her back and stared at the golden light flickering across the grayed ceiling.

K-Mart had slowly woken up after Claire took her book. She kept her back to Claire and struggled to go back to sleep. She shifted her legs without really meaning to do it, and she cringed that she gave herself away to her friend.

Claire swallowed then licked her dry lips. She looked at K-Mart and today's earlier comment repeated in her head. That same needle's sharp pain went between her thick skin and struck her again. Claire had thought all afternoon about K-Mart's harsh words in the watermill. The last part of human in her didn't want K-Mart to see her that way. For the first time in two years, Claire doubted her position as leader simply because K-Mart, her only friend, shined light on the truth.

Several long minutes passed, and K-Mart was sure that Claire had dozed off. Now she just needed to do the same and forget about today. She was close to falling asleep until Claire's movements jarred her. Much to her surprise and possible imagination, Claire's warmth was at her back then K-Mart felt her own back mold into Claire's front.

Claire slid her arm across K-Mart's waist and rested her hand over a lean stomach. She placed her head on K-Mart's pillow and waited for her thin layer of apprehension to die away. She shut her eyes and silenced the chastising voice in her head.

K-Mart didn't think it was real until she twisted her head around and saw Claire's body for herself. There was no reason to expect this from Claire, and it blew K-Mart away. She carefully turned onto her back and was able to touched Claire's cheek.

Claire wasn't great at talking out emotional things. She wasn't going to even try. She did what she knew and leaned down for a cautious kiss. She tasted K-Mart's returned apprehension about what was happening between them. She wasn't sure how to explain it, but she knew one thing that was most important to her.

"Don't give up on me, K."

K-Mart was stunned by the confessed whisper from Claire. She wasn't sure she heard it at first. But it was real, and K-Mart pieced together what'd shifted Claire's opinion about her number one rule. K-Mart hadn't expected her words to ever be heard by Claire. She didn't question how or why and merely accepted the gift. She also softly voiced her promise to Claire that she would not give up.

Claire shut her eyes in relief. She would have cried if she'd been her old self before she met K-Mart and before the convoy. But she was too guarded for that now. When Claire opened her eyes, she had K-Mart above her and was forced to go onto her back. Claire received a slow kiss that made her remember how to feel something.

K-Mart enjoyed the long kiss and tasted a new emotion in it. She didn't have time to analyze it right now. Instead she and Claire were quickly removing Claire's clothes from her heated skin. Tonight K-Mart drew on more courage and wanted to try something she hadn't done.

Claire wasn't sure at first until K-Mart had her sitting up against the wrought iron bars. She could barely take K-Mart's burning kisses against her stomach. Each second caused Claire to moan louder. She tangled her left arm in the bars and gripped the highest horizontal bar with her hand. Claire couldn't restrain herself anymore and ran her right hand into K-Mart's hair. She then silently ordered K-Mart to go lower by pushing down.

K-Mart's grin spread over Claire's skin after she received the subtle yet distinct push. She couldn't deny her lover's request and trailed down lower. She was nervous but didn't plan to stop either.

Claire moaned her lover's name when a soft tongue brushed her aching clit. She could only take so much teasing from K-Mart before she gently lifted her hips.

K-Mart took the swollen bud between her lips and started sucking lightly. Claire's heavy gasps helped her learn quickly. But she withdrew slightly after a few minutes and used her tongue's tip to play with her lover's sensitive clit.

Claire loved it and encouraged K-Mart by reaching between then spreading her folds open so it was easier. She was rewarded by K-Mart repeatedly and slowly licking her clit. She gave a deep growl and pressed her head back against an iron bar. Claire started rolling her hips with each time K-Mart's tongue brushed over her clit. What surprised her was K-Mart latching onto her ass cheeks and slightly lifted her.

K-Mart continued pleasing Claire but knew it wasn't enough yet. She sucked a few more times on the swollen bud before she pulled back. She withdrew her nails from Claire's ass cheek then brought her hand around. She took Claire's right hand into hers and together they started rubbing the soft clit.

Claire opened her eyes and watched their fingers work her clit together. Carefully she was lowered back to the bed then K-Mart stood on her knees. Claire received a heated kiss that distracted her from noticing K-Mart's fingers suddenly going into her wet center. She hissed in surprise and stopped rubbing her clit.

"Keep going," K-Mart instructed. She grabbed Claire's wrist and returned her hand to her damp folds.

Claire briefly grinned at her lover's boldness, but she did continue rubbing her own clit.

K-Mart straddled either side of Claire's hips and leaned against Claire's body. She increased the thrusts after she grabbed the top iron bar with her free hand. She could feel Claire's muscles tightening against her fingers, but the frenzy was just starting.

Claire concentrated on rubbing her clit. She moaned every time K-Mart pushed into her. But she wanted more and couldn't focus on pleasing her clit too. She brought her hand up and grabbed the upper bar, now with both hands.

K-Mart understood her lover's needs. She forced the thrusts harder and increased the speed. She panted as Claire's hips feverishly drove down on K-Mart's hand.

Claire grounded her teeth and held down her screams. She pulled harshly against the bar, which whined in complaint and slightly bent forward. The fast drives continued making her breasts brush up and down against K-Mart. Then a deeper thrust made her groan loudly, and her muscles went taut. Her mouth opened after the next thrusts finally pushed her over and made her eyes roll back. She whimpered from the flood of sensations and started collapsing down until K-Mart grabbed her by the waist.

K-Mart kept Claire still against the headboard until she could withdrew her fingers. She wrapped her other arm around Claire and together they caught their breathes. After a few minutes, K-Mart trailed her fingertips down her lover's lower back. Claire's old scar traveled under K-Mart's fingers and reminded her of the first day she met Claire. K-Mart fought off the bad memory of the huge shelving unit in the discount store falling down on Claire's back all because Claire protected K-Mart from the very first minute.

Claire let out a deep breath then shifted after a few soft kisses were placed along her collarbone. She freed her hands from the headboard and held K-Mart closer. She gently nipped at K-Mart's neck and grinned at K-Mart's nip back to her shoulder. She brushed K-Mart's damp locks away and admired the blond shade. But her thoughts were stilled by K-Mart's renewed interest in her right breast. She could tell this would be another long night.

Continued.