"We're sure about this?" Perry asked, though she already knew the answer. The beach. Yeah, maybe it was stupid. But she'd always mention it. It was her favourite place. Just to exist, as she'd say. Perry drove, Ruby's body already in the back, cleaned up. Nicole stared out the window, a tear falling down his cheeks, and he'd only notice when it reached the corner of his lips.
"I know it hurts, Nic. But I know she wouldn't want us to mourn over her." Christian said. Pacing a hand on his shoulder. Nicole inhaled slowly. Nodding his head.
"Yeah.. I just can't process the fact that she's actually…" his voice trailed off. He didn't need to finish it. It's not that Christian was over her death, but he knew for a fact that it was true. She'd never want to cause anyone pain.
Since Ruby had always gotten easily sunburnt, she couldn't really hang out there for long. But it was still one of her favourite places. When they had reached the beach, Christian and Nicole settled to carry her body over to a sunbed. Perry closed Ruby's eyes with her hand, taking a moment to look over how peaceful she looked.
"Should we bury her later..?" Perry asked. But she didn't think it was their place for that.
•───────•°•𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋•°•──────•
The three took at least an hour, sitting on the sand next to Ruby. The beach was rather deserted of zombies, thankfully. They spoke to each other about everything Ruby would've loved, what she had already missed out on. But before dark, they had to get back to the house. The way back was silent. It'd take years (probably more) for them to get over this. Ruby was a part of their group, and always would be.
"Hey! You guys are back early." Rexine called out, smiling a little. The only reason the three were the ones to go were.. Well, everyone else seemed to think they needed to be alone. Axelle and the rest had told everyone what happened, and.. The unfortunate events that took place.
"Early… huh?" Nicole sighed, entering after kicking his shoes off. "Its been almost two hours." He added, walking inside behind Perry.
"Well, we assumed it'd take… longer." she replied. They were playing uno. Rexine, Damian, Ivy, Axelle and Eli. Nicole shrugged in response. Nathan and Darren were playing on the console, Dave, Waylen and Maverick on the couch.. arguing?
"Ohh! So NOW you don't want my red socks?" Dave scoffed.
"Obviously not if you haven't washed them!" Waylen rolled his eyes. Maverick didn't know what to do, just staring between them both.
"..Are you both arguing over.. socks?"
"Don't act like you're too good for that, Maverick." Waylen gave him a scowl.
"Sorry…??" Maverick apologized, rather confused.
Nicole sat down next to Darren and Nathan on the couch. Millie, Alice and Emily were baking. Alice sucked at it. She was just about as clumsy as an elephant on roller skates.
"Fifth time you've made a mess on the counter. You're better off doing the dishes, Alice." Millie sighed, snatching the whisk from her hand rather aggressively. Emily was taking a batch of cookies out of the oven.
"I never did that!" Perry's voice cut through the living and dining area, even reaching the kitchen.
"Yes you did. It was middle school and it was after a Math period with me."
"If I did something that embarrassing I'd remember, dude."
"Well you sure don't seem to right now."
"Because I didn't do that!!" Perry yelled at last, having her final straw with Christian. And worst of it all, he found this causing to no end. But don't get him wrong, he was still annoyed at her stubbornness. He'd never not be.
"Prove it, then."
"Prove what?!??" Perry was about to combust.
"That you didn't do that."
"How? You want me to time travel, idiot?"
"Maybe."
Rexine sighed, barely glancing up. Nicole just pinched the bridge of his nose. "And here I thought they were actually starting to get along." he mumbled, loud enough everyone but them heard. They wouldn't snap out of it even if zombies barged in and ate them all alive.
"Them? Your expectations are unrealistically high, Nicole.." Rexine replied, before shouting 'UNO' rather loudly.
Waylen had enough of Dave's insults so he flipped him off and got off the couch to approach the dining table they had been playing Uno at. He leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the backrest of Axelle's chair, casually stealing the wafer she was eating. Queue her turn, Axelle placed a card down before turning slightly to glare at Waylen. Waylen shrugged.
"Hey, these wafers are good.." he muttered, with a slight smirk on his face. And, to the wafer's demise, Maverick overheard. He rushed over, eyes scanning over the table.
"Wafers? Are they vanilla??" he eagerly asked, looking at Waylen expectantly.
Waylen sighed.
"Yeah.." he slowly but surely slid the FULL packet of wafers to Maverick watching them disappear every other time he glanced over.
Back with.. Perry and Christian, things were anything but calm. They were now fighting over how Christian should've tripped Perry when they were running a long while ago. They both knew it was stupid, but both of them were no better than two toddlers who wanted to prove themselves right.
Nicole was on the couch, watching Nathan and Darren play on the console. But his mind was elsewhere. He was spaced out, completely. It'd take time. And a lot. He wasn't sure if he could or even wanted to ever replace Ruby. He didn't think he could. She was.. one of a kind, and one of the closest to his heart. He just wished.. he could've done something to prevent it. The grief hit hard.. especially with her last words being so directed at him. It hurt, a small frown twitching at his lips. But he kept the urge at bay. He knew.. Ruby would want them, even him to be happy.. to not cry over the pain she'd caused them.
But it wasn't even remotely her fault.v