" I...I don't know, I'll go now" he said as he clumsily backtracked to the door tripping over my shoes in the process.
" Wait, want to hang out a while with me?" I asked as I glanced down out of nervousness.
" Uh, Sure"
We sat there on the bed, me finding the wall opposite me interesting and him looking at his feet. Two minutes passed before I decided to man up and end the silence.
" Uh, where are we going for the food run tomorrow?" I asked genuinely curious.
" Oh, to the New haven settlement."
" Can you tell me a bit more about the run?"
He leaned back onto the bed with his hands behind his head, a serious look on his face.
" Look-food runs...arent easy. You can die in as quick as a wink."
" Out there-In the open, the aliens aren't the worse things. The surviving humans are savage, brutal, and cold.
After the invasion, many people felt like it was the end of the world and let their inner beasts out. They kill, pillaged, and robbed for their own benefits.
Going out there we have to be extra careful and try no to get spotted by the Nimmeans or any other humans. We don't know who is friend or foe out here." He turned to me, a solemn and serious look on his face.
" Oh"
" Yeah"
Silence ensued one more.
" Tell me about your mom, what was she like before she was taken?" I asked trying to make small talk. He didn't respond like his thoughts were far away. Just when I was deciding to ask something else he spoke.
" My mom was always caring towards me and my sister. Whenever my dad and I had a fight it was always her I'd turn to. She was my Best friend as well. She understood what I went through in school.
I'm going to tell you something very private so don't laugh ok?
He looked at me a stern but begging look on his face.
I nodded in reply. He sighed, hesitation marked all over his face.
" I-I used to be bullied back in high school for being a nerd" he looked away.
I looked at him, his ears red and smiled. I wanted to tell him I was too but I remembered my lie about my memory loss.
He looked back over and seeing that I wasn't laughing nor did I have a ridiculing manner he resumed the story.
" In school, every day I was bullied. if it wasn't my hair, it was my bag or shoes, if it wasn't that it was because I exceeded everyone in the class. one time it was so bad I even wanted to kill myself. But my mom helped me understand that I should value myself more and in ten years I would most likely be superiors to those jerks in work." he smilingly laughed.
" It hurts, even now. When my mom and sister were taken away, I wanted to go after them, I wanted to fight. I almost joined a revealing group that formed after the Nimmeans came to earth. My dad stopped me though and it was a good thing too, because 2 months after, that entire group was annihilated by the Nimmeans."
" Woah" I whispered stunned.
" Yeah, so now it's just the two of us and well you so three" I glanced over and smiled.
It was nice to know he included me. it was like I was family.
We made small talk till we both started yawning like crazy.
" Well, I guess ill leave you to sleep. we've both got a big day ahead of us. Sleep tight" Caleb got up and headed to the door.
I whispered a soft goodnight to which he smiled at but I couldn't see because his back faced me. With a click the door closed and it was just me. I was very sleepy but I couldn't seem to turn my brain off.
Everything was still confusing and my head hurts when I think of my situation but it was good to know I was with people who cared about me. Caleb flashed through my mind. Finally sleepy, I pulled my pillow over my head and gave in to the comforting darkness.