Page 33 of Uprising

That voice inside my head sounds too much like Rue. But it’s the reminder that if he can go that long without speaking one personal word to me, he’s not worth it. I need to remember I’m more than what I’ve been through.

“Actually, never mind.” I roll my eyes, hoping it bothers him. Moving around Reed, I start walking towards the small clearing. I feel Reed behind me, but I refuse to look. If he’s not, then that’s on him. I can make it out there on my own.

“Fucking asshole,” I mumble under my breath. I’m mostly trying to drill it in my head that he is one. Even if he hasn’t done one asshole thing towards me. He’s still one.

“Noah,” Reed calls after me.

But I don’t care. Fuck him and fuck this place. I hate the zombies; I hate Reed. He might as well be a zombie; they’re both so alike. Cold, heartless monsters.

So, I don’t listen; I don’t care. Reed can find whatever berry juice he seems to be drinking and shove right up his a?—

“For fuck's sake, Noah!” Reed grabs my shoulder, yanking me back and twisting me until my back hits his chest. I struggle against his hold as his hand comes around and closes over my mouth.

“Shut up.” He whispers into my ear. I’m about to tell him he can shove it where the sun doesn't shine, but the moment I look across the clearing, I stop. I walked up to the cliff that overlooks a sighting of one… two…oh fuck.Fifteen zombies are moving around the parking lot.

The fight slips from my body, allowing me to relax back into Reed. I ignore that part of myself that wants to enjoy being this close to him again.

“You done?” Reed asks. His mouth is way too close to my ear. Close enough that if I turned my head he’d touch me. However, I don’t. I can’t. Thankfully, for the past week we’ve come across six at most. But this is all different territory.

“Do we have to go through there?” I ask, my voice muffled from his hand. Rolling my eyes, I stick my tongue out, doing the oldest trick in the book. Reed squeezes my mouth, stopping my tongue from moving. Peering up, I hold his gaze, feeling my broken heart stitching back together. It’s these moments right here that I question that he cares. I see the man behind the mask, one that cares and wants me. It’s why I haven’t shut myself off to him completely.

Reed slowly drops his hand from my mouth. “No, we can go around; we’ll just have to be quiet and careful.” He glances off towards the walking dead. I follow his gaze, uneasiness slipping into my bones.

“I mean, you can do that, right? Be quiet and follow my direction?”

My head snaps back to Reed. Did he just make a joke?

“I, I, I can be quiet.”

“You’re talking; that means you’re not being quiet.”

I roll my eyes, at least a little glad he’s speaking to me. I’ll take him being snappy, mean, and whatever else he wants to be. It’s better than him ignoring me.

“Yeah, okay. Uh, well, how do you plan to get us around them?”

Reed walks closer to the edge of the cliff, peering over. He seems to think about it for a few minutes before backing up and looking over at me.

“We can climb down and then keep to the edge of the cliff. Put the mallet in your bag until you get down there. If I tell you to run, you do exactly that,” he orders, handing me the mallet.

I nod, grabbing the mallet and placing it in the small pocket on the side of my bag. Rolling my shoulders, it suddenly dawns on me what he actually said. I have to climb down towards the zombies.We’re safe up here, so we should stay here.

“You’re not safe anywhere, and I’m right behind you.” Reed tells me. I cringe, realizing I’ve spoken out loud.

Looking over my shoulder, I give him a tiny smile.

“Stop flirting; let's go.”

Swallowing my fear for a moment, I inch towards the edge.

“Turn around and ease yourself down,” Reed instructs me.

Doing as he says, I lower myself down. I grit my teeth when my hand lands on top of some mud. I take a glimpse up at Reed, rolling my eyes when he seems to be enjoying my pain. I don’t do nature. Which, sure, I’m stuck out here until the CDC gets a cure. And I even know that’s a long run. So I’m stuck out here for probably forever.

The moment my feet hit the ground, I’m spinning around, making sure no zombies have noticed their happy meal. Yanking my mallet out, I keep my side plastered to the grass wall. Reed, much more stealthy than me, eases himself down until he’s standing in front of me.

He gave me a once-over, pride swelling in my chest that he was checking to make sure I was okay. I shouldn’t be glad, but it’s these moments that remind me I’m worthy. That maybe he saw that I was worthy of more.

Reed, satisfied that I’m okay, turns around and searches over the zombies. I’m not entirely sure what he’s doing, but since he’s gotten us this far, I suppose giving him another inch of trust couldn’t hurt.

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