Chapter 13

Claire found Kmart inside the Hummer reading the textbook she's been reading since earlier. After the meeting, Angie decided to stay with Jill leaving her alone in the Hummer.

Claire helped herself get inside the Hummer once she reached it. "Hey." The redhead softly greeted Kmart. She got inside the Hummer and watched the teen reading.

Kmart peered up her head from the book and turned her gaze at Claire. "Hey." She greeted back with a small smile then turned her focus on the book again.

"What are you reading?" Claire asked dumbly. It's obvious that Kmart is reading an American History book.

"American History. It's quite interesting, you know?"

Claire smiled at that. But that's not the reason why she came looking for Kmart. Silence filled the two. Kmart wasn't really reading at all since Claire joined her in the Hummer. She was just pretending and waiting but later on, grew tired when Claire didn't speak again.

"Is it true, Claire?"

Claire frowned at the question. "True what?"

"That Arcadia place and that we're really going there?"

"Oh. That. Well, as you have seen earlier, the people voted to go there. And from what I've said, we're not really sure if such place exists. You know, no infection, isolated and everything." Claire explained.

"Actually, Angie and I were talking about if there's still a place where no infection. And we were a little shocked when you called up a meeting and discussed this Arcadia thing." Kmart gave her a small smile. Claire smiled back at her.

"Guess your wish can come true then." They fell silent again. "Listen, this is not the reason why I came looking for you."

Kmart nodded. "I know."

"Look. I'm sorry if I yelled at you. I'm sorry if…" Claire tailed off.

"Just for the record Claire. I'm not really mad at you. I'm just kinda disappointed and sad. That's all."

"Huh? But why?"

"Maybe I just don't like the way you see yourself. Of what you thought of yourself. You see, this wasn't your fault. What happened to LJ and Otto wasn't your fault. It just happened. We should just be glad that there weren't any who got infected by them." Kmart replied.

Kmart was right. She couldn't do anything about it. They should have just let it go and move on. She has no control over everything. She's just…human. "I'm sorry." She retorted.

"Just don't do it again." Kmart smiled widely and gave Claire a warm hug.

Alice, Jill and Betty are watching Claire and Kmart from afar. The three of them smiled as they witnessed the exchanged gestures of the two.

"Looks like everything is in place now." Alice commented.

"Yeah Red and Kmart seems fine already." Jill said.

"Girls they're just like normal people. They fight but make up after some later. That's just how they really are." Betty said. "And Kmart is the only one who gets to see the other side of Red. You know, the softer side." she grinned.

"She seems like you Valentine." Alice looked at Jill then smirked.

"Huh? I'm not soft." Jill rolled her eyes.

"Whoa. I smell a story here. Come on Valentine, spill it." Betty said.

Jill punched Alice who only chuckled from her antics. "It's nothing."

Betty turned to look at Alice asking for answer. Alice crossed her arms across her chest and turned her focus on Betty. "She's as stone as Claire. But when it comes to kids, she melts."

Jill huffed and crossed her arms against her chest. "I don't."

"Oh yes you do." Alice smirked.

"Like a kryptonite huh? So if Red has Kmart, then Valentine has Angie. Is that right?" Betty asked.

"You bet Betty." Alice answered.

"What about you Alice? What or who is your kryptonite?" Betty turned to blonde. It's now Jill's turn to smirk.

"Oh. I don't have that thing." Alice shrugged.

"Oh. I know the answer." Jill's grin got wider.

"Shut up Jill." Alice shot back.

"Spill it Jill." - Betty.

"Her weakness are her friends. She's scared to blow things off of her friend's faces that might scare them away." Jill said.

Alice rolled her eyes then slapped Jill's shoulder lightly. "Oh shut up Jill."

"I see." Betty also grinned. Something just got her attention. "So Alice, are you already afraid to lose us?" she grinned.

Then again, Alice rolled her eyes. "Excuse me, I have some things to attend to." and the blonde walked off.

Jill and Betty watched as Alice walked off. Both has grin plastered on their faces. "She totally cares."

"She found few people to care for added to her list." Betty agreed.

"I totally agree."

"Looks like they were teasing Alice again." Kmart said as she watched Alice walked off from her two companions.

Claire looked at the direction where Kmart was looking and found Alice. "They just had fun I guess."

This time Kmart looked at Claire and smiled. "I'm glad you're already warming up at her."

"Hmm?"

"Oh come on. You're not that aloof with Alice anymore. You treated her as one of your comrades or friends despite of her super power thing that scared you before." Kmart said.

Claire shrugged. "Seem like time for a change."

Kmart grinned. "Or because she saved your fucking ass twice?"

"Kmart! Language!" Claire reprimanded.

Kmart threw her hands up in the air in defeat. "Okay. Sorry Mom."

"Nice try smart-ass."

"Claire! Language! You're not setting a good example to me." Kmart smirked. Claire narrowed her eyes at the teen's reply.

"You-" she was cut off by Kmart when the teen hugged her again.

"I'm just happy you're doing fine now Claire. Please don't ever think again that you're stupid. Without you, we wouldn't come this far." Kmart buried her face on Claire's chest with a slight smile on her lips.

Claire was caught off guard. She was actually touched by Kmart's bluntness so she combed the teen's hair with her free hand and smiled. "I promise."

They were locked in each other's arm for quite a while until Claire pulled away. "So, let's stop this hugging thing. It's taking my stoicism all away." the redhead smirked.

Kmart huffed as she rolled her eyes. "You know, you're too scary when you're being cold-hearted and bossy. You should laugh or smile some time."

"Tell that also to your crush." Claire shot back.

"Crush? I don't have a crush." Kmart frowned.

"What about Alice?" Claire grinned. Kmart narrowed her eyes at the redhead and she almost gasp for air when an oxygen lacked her lungs.

"She isn't... I don't... Claire! My God! She's like a big sister to me. She's just like you to me. How could you? I just found her amazing and cool and stuff." Kmart spat.

"Oooh I thought I'm your big sister?" Claire faked a painful facial expression.

"Fine. Then she's my biggest sister! Older than you." Kmart retorted. Claire had to laugh hard at that. Later on, Kmart joined her in laughter. "You know what? Sometimes you're weird and unpredictable." Kmart said through the fit of her laughter.

Later that night, Alice, Jill, Betty, Angie, Kmart, and Carlos were gathered around the campfire, having a light talk before they go to sleep, trying to get rid of the uneventful day away from their heads. They are actually talking about the heroic stunt that Alice did way back in Raccoon City when she rescued Jill Valentine and the others inside the church.

"Wow. You actually did it?" Kmart asked in amazement.

"I bet Jill was annoyed when Alice killed those creatures you were talking about." Betty smirked, looking at Jill.

Jill rolled her eyes. "Actually I told this woman..." Jill turned to Alice "... 'Who the fuck are you?'"

Everyone laughed, while Alice just grinned at Jill. "Well, you were in danger."

"This motherfucker broke the stained glass. The stained glass of the oldest church in Raccoon City." Jill snapped.

"I never thought you cared too much of the church. Were you a religious type of a woman?" Carlos asked.

"Not really. It was just a good sight when I passed by it when the world wasn't yet gone to shit." Jill shrugged.

"What can you expect Jill? She was riding a motorbike. You can't expect her to break down the door, now, would you? That'll be risky." Angie countered.

"Well, you have a point there sweetie. If she did that. Lots of those creatures will come inside."

Kmart is still amazed by the story Jill just told them. "I wish I could see that. Can you do it again Alice?"

Alice raised an eyebrow. "Well, you need to find a church and a bike for me then."

"And Claire would kill you if she witnessed you breaking a bike." Betty said. Alice looked an her with a raised eyebrow, silently asking for question in which the other woman seemed to notice. "Well, she loves bikes."

"Yeah, she really does. She said, she owned a bike way back then. She had it when she was twelve and became really fond of those things. She actually managed to own a mechanic shop when she was twenty." Kmart said.

"Wow. That's pretty amazing." Angie commented.

"So, you little British girl, what's your story meeting Alice?" Betty asked.

"Well, my dad called her team together with Jill to rescue me from the school I was at. Jill was actually the one who found me, but Alice helped us when an infected dogs cornered us." Angie replied.

"Oh yeah I remember that scene." Jill shot Alice a dark look. "She made the kitchen explode then covered Angie with the fire repellent cloth and let me stumble on the floor. it hurt."

Alice chuckled. "That cloth wouldn't be able to hold us three."

"Whatever Alice." Jill put her arms around Alice's shoulder and ruffled the dirty blonde's hair with her free hand. "But still, she managed to get us out of the city before it's even nuked and I'm grateful to this Superwoman."

Everyone smiled at their antics. "Stop it Jill. You're ruining my image." Alice smirked. "Please get off your hand on my head."

Carlos stretched his arms. "Well ladies, I think I'm off to bed. Nice talk we had. Goodnight everyone." the former soldier stood up and started towards his truck.

"Hey Angie do you want to stay with me and Betty in the med van?" Kmart asked.

"Sure. No problem with me." Angie smiled.

"Oh you're not staying with Claire Bear tonight? You still didn't talk?" Betty asked and everyone looked at Kmart.

"Oh we did. We're fine now." Kmart smiled as a reassurance for everyone. "I just want to hang out with Angie."

"Well then, I think I'll be staying with Carlos." Jill cut in and stood up.

"Well Alice, take care of Claire, okay?" Kmart said.

Alice hesitated for a moment. "Can I just stay outside? I mean she's not pissed or mad, isn't she?"

"She's totally fine." Kmart smirked.

"Superwoman is scared of Red." Jill remarked and grinned.

"Hell no. It's just; she's too difficult to handle when she's mad."

"Agreed." Both Kmart and Betty said in unison then nodded.

"Well then, if she's fine like what Kmart said, I think I'm good." Alice said and stood up.

After saying their goodnights to each one of them, they started towards their designated vehicles.

Claire is not in the front of the Hummer when Alice approached the vehicle. She examined the inside of the Hummer and found the redhead lying on the floor of the vehicle, smoking. She carefully opened the front door and slid herself inside. Once inside, the blonde closed the door. The redhead didn't budge but she absolutely acknowledge the presence of her new companion.

"I thought you're already asleep." Alice remarked at the obvious.

"Can't sleep. Where's Kmart?"

"She said, she's staying with Betty and Angie in the med van tonight. Do you want me to get her?"

"No. It's okay."

"Uhmm. You two okay now?"

"Yes we're fine."

There was a moment of silence between the two. Alice sighed softly before she spoke. "You didn't join us in the campfire earlier."

"Remember I'm injured?" Claire stirred a little and now she's lying on her side, facing the right seat of the front of the Hummer where Alice is sitting. "And actually I was thinking."

"Did you eat already?" the blonde inquired.

"Yeah. Kmart handed me some before going to the campfire."

"So what were you thinking about?" Alice is now facing the redhead.

Claire sighed. "Alice? Do you think it's true? I mean. Do you think that Arcadia thing is safe?"

Silence.

"I don't know Claire. I am actually hoping that such place exists." Silence. "I don't think I can still keep running."

"You're tired?"

"Yeah. I guess I am."

"So do I." she sat up. "Let's just hope that everything is worth risking for." she half smiled. Alice returned the smile though she sensed the hesitation and uneasiness of the redhead towards this Arcadia issue. She felt the same way too. She just doesn't like Claire to sense her, too, because she is really looking forward and hoping that such place exists.

"Look. I know you're scared and shit about this Arcadia. Well, I just want you to know that sometimes it's okay to have something to look forward to keep us surviving." Alice said. Claire just nodded.

Silence.

Claire clapped her hands and tried to shift her mood in a lighter one. "So, what were you discussing in the campfire, earlier? Did I miss something, stories or what?"

Alice looked away from the redhead with a reddened face for their topic earlier was her heroic stunt before. "It's nothing... really."

Claire rolled her eyes. "Come on. I maybe injured but I'm not deaf. I heard squealing and screaming." Claire said.

"Nah. It was just all about how I rescued Jill and Angie before. Kmart was so eager at asking, you know." Alice said then looked at Claire again.

Claire chuckled. "I see. Why so shy about it?"

"Well, I think it's not that too important to talk about. I wasn't just really proud of it, you know." Alice said.

"Whatever you say. Lucky you, I wasn't there."

"I think I had enough of them, though. Good thing you weren't there." Alice smirked.

"Hey!" Claire snapped.

"What? You're the one who said it." Alice shot back. Claire mumbled something she didn't quite catch. "What was it?"

"Nothing. By the way..." Claire turned serious again. "I want us to get moving tomorrow by noon. I don't wanna stay here for too long. It might be too dangerous for the convoy."

"I'll tell the others tomorrow morning." Alice offered and Claire nodded.

"Drive the Hummer Alice."

"Huh?" then she became humorous again. "You're trusting me enough now to drive your Hummer?" she grinned.

Claire rolled her eyes. "I can't drive coz I'm injured remember?"

"Oh yeah. I totally forgot about that."

Claire slapped Alice on the shoulder then lay back down on the Hummer floor again,ready to sleep. "I hope you'll be comfortable in the front seat tonight."

"Nothing I can't handle my dear."

"Goodnight."

"Night Red."

"Guess, that name will stuck with me for a while."

"You bet. Jill gave you that nickname."

"Yeah."

AN: I'm actually trying to write a story with less fight scene. Well I just want these characters to have a little normalcy in their decaying world and I hope that's totally fine ^_^