With her attention on the former marine, Jess pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around them, staring openly at the man now that his eyes were closed. She glanced briefly at his pack, suspecting by his look and comment earlier that he had a radio. It was tempting, but she resisted, it wasn't worth the risk...and if she gauged him correctly, it was what he expected. Perhaps it was a test, baiting her and then waiting to see if she would take a gamble. 'Not today,' she thought. Two weeks ago it would have been different. She had been desperate then, all her food and water taken from her. But her pack was full at the moment and her stomach filled. A radio she could do without.
Leaning forward, Jess tugged off her jacket, tossing it aside into the pile of her belongings. A light layer of sweat coated her skin where the leather had sat, the area under her arms dark with moisture. Making a sound of disgust, she got to her feet, rummaging through her backpack until she found another t-shirt. With her back facing him, she pulled off the offending garment, using it to dry her skin before slipping into the clean one. Better, but not perfect--that would require a shower. She sat back down, this time at the entrance, dangling her feet out the opening.
She watched the house in the yard for movement. It was a popular hangout for the infected--the dark interior keeping them out of the sun and well hidden. She stayed away from homes, preferring to check stores and other buildings when she needed shelter. In the wilds she slept in trees, tying herself to the trunks so she wouldn't fall out, but she was more at home in the city. She could scavenge easily and most places had a supply of food and water if you looked hard enough. In the great outdoors she was lost. She had never hunted, nor would she know what to do with an animal if she caught it. The edibile plants were also a mystery, other than the common berries. The only true outdoorsman's skill she had was making a fire...and that was only if she had her lighter. It was with this thought that she scoffed, thinking maybe teaming up with this marine might not be such a bad idea.
There were pros and cons, just like every decision she had to make recently, and she didn't plan on agreeing to anything until she weighed them both. His mention of an unnamed place that he was looking for had caught her attention. He had lost fellow travelers, but who hadn't, if the infection didn't catch you, the infected would. More than once she had teamed up with others that had concealed a bite, only to learn of it once they turned. It was a risk, just like everything else these days. Traveling in numbers also had its benefits, namely sleep, but also someone to watch your six. She missed that, too often having to run away from danger when she could have just avoided it if she had eyes in the back of her head. Like mother's always claimed.
Jess paused in her calculations, leaning back to check on the playhouse's other occupant. She still did not know his name, nor he hers. His eyes were still closed, but she was unsure if he was asleep. It really didn't matter, she had no plans to rifle through his things or slit his throat. A soft laugh erupted and she put her hand over her mouth to stifle the noise. She began swinging her feet, her heels tapping a light rhymn against the bark. She traced the light scars around her wrists with her eyes, the flesh still harboring a slight pinkish hue. They would be almost invisible in a few weeks, maybe a month, but the memory was not one she would forget anytime soon.
With an exasperated sigh, Jess climbed down the tree and stood at its base. She was going to have to stay active if she expected to remain awake, her eyelids already feeling heavy. She climbed over the fencing and slipped easily into the connecting playground, making her way over to the swings. The rubber seat was a little small for her, but she sat down, pushing against the loose sand to give herself a little momentum. She had thought about the pros, now she needed to consider the cons. Trust--it was a big one. She had no idea what this man was like..or what he expected of her. So far she had only observed what she considered normal male behavior, chewing with his mouth open and burping. She could live with that...and the sarcasm. His pace was slower than hers, but perhaps his endurance would make up the difference. Still not enough to change her mind. Even if he was an asshole, she was still better off with him by her side. She wondered why she was making such a chore of this, her distress clearly unfounded. With another kick against the sand the swing went higher, Jess closing her eyes for just a second to enjoy the feeling of weightlessnes. She was done arguing with herself, the choice was clear, she had to take the chance.
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