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“Yeah well, I didn’t think you would be too happy about the local hoodlum spying on you so I stayed back out of sight.”

Alex studied him for a minute and asked “So what’s that all about anyways, the whole bad boy reputation?”

Cooper didn’t respond for a while and Alex didn’t think he was going to answer her until he finally said quietly, “It’s a joke, a scam.” Alex stayed quiet and waited. He turned to her and asked “Do you really want to know?”

When she nodded, he turned away and looked out over the lawn. “My Dad’s an ass, a lowlife loser. He drinks too much, likes to be a bully and can’t keep a real job. My Mom finally got fed up and left five years ago. I never had a lot of friends when I was younger and it got worse after my Mom left. So I’ve been a loner for a while. I mean, who wants to bring friends over to a dirty, dumpy house with a bully Dad around. So no one really knows much about me. Then a few years ago, I get a call from the bar to come get my Dad because he’s drunk and stupid. I go over to the bar and the cops are loading him up into the back to take him home. They’re feeling bad for me and offer a ride. So I’m climbing into the back of the cop car and some kids from school see me. That started the first rumours. Then I get suspended for fighting and that added to it. The truth was, I tried to stop this jerk jock from tormenting a freshman and he took a swing at me, so I put him down. After that the rumours were flying and I just kept my mouth shut and went with it.

Do you know I’ve had kids ask me if I could sell them drugs, or get them an IPod for cheap? It’s such a joke. I’ve never broken the law in my life. My Dad has some creepy friends and the cops come by now and then asking questions. They all know me and know I’m not like my Dad, so when they see me walking they always stop and ask how I’m doing or if I want a ride somewhere. Every time some kid sees that, it just fuels the rumours more. So it’s all a scam. I’ve just been waiting for graduation to get out of here. I get really good grades and I think I can get a scholarship next year. At least I did, until all this happened.”

Alex stood beside Cooper and they looked out at the lawn together, both lost in thought. After a while, Alex sighed in frustration “I don’t get it. I’m a teenager and I don’t understand teenagers, me included. Things can be so hard and confusing and we make it even worse for each other. Why are we so quick to sell each other out? Did you know Dara used to be one of my best friends growing up? She started to change when we hit junior high and I just let her go. All I saw was her crazy make-up and funky hair. I never tried to find out what was underneath it all, and now that we’re back together, I can’t imagine how we could ever not be friends. I never talked to you. I heard what was said about you and took it for fact and never gave you a chance. Why, why do we do that? We’re all struggling with things and we’re all scared sometimes so why do we make it even harder on each other?” she turned to Cooper and took his hand. “I’m sorry I never talked to you and I’m sorry I didn’t make the effort to see who you are under the reputation. I’m so glad you came with us. I’m so glad I can say you are my friend.” And she leaned in and kissed him softly on his cheek.

Cooper was humbled by this girl’s kindness. He had watched her over the years and admired her but now he felt something even more for her. The question was, could he have a chance with her?”

Before he could say anything more, Josh came out onto the porch. He took in their closeness and raised an eyebrow. “Cooper, you want to help me get Quinn up to bed?”

“Sure man, of course.” and he let go of Alex’s hand and followed him in.

Alex stayed on the porch thinking for a while about Cooper and how easy it was to misjudge people.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

They had been at the Vet’s clinic for six days and everyone was getting anxious to leave. They were all thinking about home and how close they were. When Quinn snapped at Alex for the third time over changing his bandages she had had enough. She called everyone out to the porch and helped Quinn down the stairs to the lawn. He was doing well getting around but stairs were still a problem. Once they were all gathered around she began.

“Ok we’re all getting pissy about not being on the road so this is what I think. Tomorrow will have been a week since Quinn was shot and he’s healing really fast, faster than I thought he would. So Quinn, if you can walk from here to the clinic without falling down or stopping, we leave in the morning. If you can’t do it, we stay for a few more days. There’s no point in leaving too soon only to have you re-injure your leg. A few more days of healing might make all the difference in a fight on the road, so give it your best shot. But seriously Quinn, if it’s too much, stop. Don’t push yourself too hard or we’ll be here even longer.”

Quinn looked around at all his friends who were giving him encouraging smiles and nodded. He kept his crutch with him as he walked towards the clinic but tried not to use it. He was almost there when he knew he wouldn’t make it. He took another step but had to stop and lean on his crutch. He hung his head in misery as he heard his friends walk up behind him.

Alex came around in front of him and she had the biggest grin on her face, which confused him. She slipped under his arm to give him support and squeezed him tight.

“Holy crap! That was amazing! I can’t believe how far you got. Great job Quinn!” she beamed happily.

“What are you talking about? You said I had to make it the whole way.” he said to her in confusion as she helped lower him into a deck chair in front of the clinic.

“Well yeah, but I didn’t even really think you’d make it half way. You’ve been such a jerk today, I mean, we all have, that I was trying to make a point.

Dude, you were shot, twice! It hasn’t even been a week. We need to stop being so cranky and deal with it. But after seeing how far you came, well in my professional Doctor’s opinion, I say…we leave in two days!”

Everyone cheered and Quinn started to laugh. He looked at Alex and said while laughing, “You are so mean.”

The next two days were filled with busy activities. They stripped the house of all useful supplies and more importantly the clinic of its precious medical supplies. They pulled everything out of all the vehicles and repacked it all, leaving out some extra things they didn’t feel were priorities. Josh and Cooper were determined to fit the ATV they had got working in the back of the van. They had all been practicing everyday with the assault rifles after finding out there were no other properties around that would hear them and they were all getting better at controlling the weapon. The semiautomatic setting was the best option as it let off three round bursts and didn’t speed through the ammunition clips so fast.

They boiled pot after pot of water and took baths and washed their clothes. Quinn kept exercising and stretching his leg in small bursts to avoid overtiring it. Alex and Dara baked cookies and buns and filled Tupperware with the baked goods. They still had two more cases of yeast packages and plenty of powdered eggs and milk. They didn’t know what would happen at the border but they wanted to be prepared for bribes or a fight. It was amazing what a bag of buns would do to a person’s attitude after weeks of a steady diet of canned food.

After topping up their water tanks and bottles, they were ready to go and Alex couldn’t sleep. They were leaving in the morning and they had had another huge meal with cherry pie for dessert, made from a can of pie filling she had found when cleaning out the pantries. She was anxious to get over the border. There really wasn’t all that much different about the two countries but something about being in her own country soothed her. After tossing and turning for an hour, she gave up and went downstairs. She wandered around the main floor for a while and finally went out onto the front porch.

Quinn was sitting in a chair with his rifle propped up beside him. “Hey Alex, what are you doing up?” he asked when she sat in the chair beside him.

“Can’t sleep, too keyed up about leaving, I guess. What about you, isn’t Josh supposed to be on watch tonight?”

“Yeah, but I convinced him to let me do it. I’ve had so much sleep the past week that I’d just lay there staring at the ceiling.” He reached over and took her hand. “I’m glad you’re up. There’s been something I wanted to say to you. What you did for me, taking the bullets out of my leg was amazing. I just wanted to say thank you. You mean so much to me. I don’t know if I could have made it this far without you.” he said staring at her intensely.

“Hey, of course you would. Someone would have manned up and carved your leg up for you.” she joked.

“No, that’s not what I mean, getting this far from California, and making our way home. You kept me going. I love Josh like a brother and Dara and Cooper are good friends but all I’ve focused on is keeping you safe and getting you home. When those bikers had us, what they said they were going to do to you, it almost drove me mad. The thought of you being hurt like that killed me.” When Alex didn’t say anything, he asked her “You must know how I feel about you after all these years, Alex.”

Alex’s mind was a spiralling mess of confusion and panic. First Cooper and now Quinn, she had to stay off this porch, it was a dangerous place to be. She closed her eyes and breathed deep. She could feel Quinn looking at her, waiting for a response. She opened her eyes and looked into his.

“When I saw you covered in blood in the back of that truck, my heart stopped and I saw flashbacks of us together over the years. I love you Quinn. I have loved you for years and if I lost you, a piece of me would die. But I don’t know if I’m ready to make us more. Everything is so crazy and messed up. All the things we’ve gone through and we still aren’t even home. I’m just not ready for more right now.”

“Is it Cooper? Do you like him? I’ve seen the way he looks at you and I understand because I look at you the same way.” he said.

“I…I don’t know!” she laughed in frustration. “The world as we know it is over and I’m supposed to pick which boy to go to prom with?! I can’t Quinn! Yes, Cooper has feelings for me and I might have some for him but I Do Not Know! This isn’t something I can do right now. Please be my friend and love me like I love you but just leave it for now. We can work it out when we get home, okay?” she pleaded.

He sat back and smiled reassuringly at her. He gave her hand a squeeze and said “It’s ok Alex, I just wanted to tell you how I felt and you’re right. This isn’t the time for it and I love you too. You should try and get some sleep. We’re out of here first thing in the morning.”

She stood up and leaned down to kiss him on the cheek but he turned his head and their lips met softly. Her whole body lit up and she pulled back in surprise with her eyes wide. He gave her a smug little grin “I just thought you should know. Good night Alex.”

She stumbled back towards the front door and mumbled a “Good night” to him. All she could think was “Now I’m never going to fall asleep.”

Chapter 19

They left at dawn, excited to finally be on the road again. They made their way back and forth across the Montana countryside avoiding the few towns they came close to but always headed north. It was late in the afternoon when they finally circled around Great Falls and headed towards the interstate. Just as they thought, the interstate was wide open with mainly transport trucks left abandoned on the road. Almost all had their trailer doors open and goods were strewn all over the ground around them.

They had discussed when the best time to approach the border would be and they decided that morning would be best. They knew there were many small back roads that they could use to cross over the border but they were all familiar with the Coutts/Sweetgrass crossing. They also hoped that they would be able to get information on the state of their country if the border crossing was still being controlled by guards.

They stopped about an hour’s drive from the border and set up camp well off the road. They hadn’t seen any other working cars on the way or any people walking but they were still cautious. Alex tried to stay with Dara while they set up and made supper. She didn’t want to be caught alone by Quinn or Cooper. She wasn’t ready to talk to either one of them until she figured out things in her head.

Dara turned and almost bumped into Alex for the second time and finally clued in. With a laugh she asked her “What are you doing Alex? If you get any closer to me we can both wear these pants.”

“Sorry, sorry.” She did a quick look around and saw the boys were busy with something in the back of the van so she told Dara “I’m avoiding Quinn and Cooper. If I’m not alone, they won’t go all gaga on me so I’m being your shadow.”

Dara threw her head back and laughed causing Josh to look her way with a smile. “Oh, that’s good. We’re in the middle of the apocalypse and you’re stuck in some bad CW network love triangle? Oh that’s hilarious!” and she laughed even more.

Alex mock glared at her friend. It was kind of funny though and she finally couldn’t hold a straight face anymore and started laughing too. When they finally got control of themselves, Dara wiped her eyes and looked at her friend “Seriously? Both of them?”

Alex nodded with a roll of her eyes. “Ridiculous, right? I’m mean, I haven’t had a date in months and NOW I have two guys chasing me?”

Dara shook her head, “Wow, I thought I had it bad but you win hands down.”

“What? What’s going on with you...Oh, Josh, right?”

“Yeah, I know he likes me but do you think the guy will say anything or even better, make a move? No, not one thing and it’s driving me crazy! I will never understand men.”

“Well, with Josh I think you’re going to have to make the first move. For all his joking and pranks, I know he’s shy with girls. I don’t think he’s even been on a date before. Sorry Dara, this one’s going to be all on you.”

“I kind of figured that out. So what are you going to do? Cooper or Quinn, what a choice!”

“Don’t remind me! I don’t plan on doing anything but avoiding the whole sticky mess until we get home. I like them both but it’s not something I can figure out as we’re traveling like this and that’s what I told Quinn last night. The only good thing about it is there doesn't seem to be any hard feelings between the two of them and I really want to keep it that way, especially while we’re on the road. So, you are now my shadow buddy and I plan to stick to you like glue!” She gave Dara a sickly sweet smile and batted her eyes at her.