Ella

Rubbing my eyes, I finish packing everything I need in my bag. I put the jar of the peanut butter back, and the can opener, hoping that we get out of here soon. I want to move on, the smell here isn't as foul to my nose, but I can still catch it. I'm tired of smelling death and being reminded of all that's going around.

Standing up, I look over at Dean and Carol, them packing up their breakfast as well. "We had better get going as early as we can, see how much we can travel in one day." Dean announces as he stands to his feet and slings his pack over his shoulder.

"I hope we find another town soon," Carol mutters, "I'm not fond of the idea of traveling. I can't imagine what the sun is going to do to me, when it's all but cooked you guys." She huffs, before standing up too and putting her bag across her chest.

"We'll be alright," Dean says, meaning all of us. "If we survived a bit of sun, I'm sure your skin will be okay."

"Whatever," she sighs, rolling her eyes when he looks away. I don't quite understand her, yet. She seems eager to get somewhere, yet she doesn't even want to do the traveling. She likes Dean, yet he seems to annoy her. And God knows she can't stand me for whatever reason, I have no idea.

I let out a long breath as I follow them out the door, into the already hot sun. I hang back slightly as we walk across the crumbled houses and other buildings, trying to make it to the road. I can't help but think about last night. I was a mess as I lied there, just thinking about everything, all the things I said I wanted to forget. I thought about my brother and how much I truly loved him, and I just hope that he knew that. I thought about my mother and how she told me she loved me right before that asteroid hit. I thought about my father and how even though he made it to the house, I wish I never left him at that school. I thought about the darkness that overcame the planet as the space debris blocked out our only source of light. I thought about Hunter, and how much I loved him. I only hopes he survived, whatever miracle there might be, I hang on to the idea that he survived. I thought about Brad, and realized I missed someone I didn't even know, and that makes me feel bad. I thought about the woman we found, about the smell, about the journey, and about Dean. I can't forget all that he's said, but I hope that I can someday let go of it. I don't want to begrudge him forever, there comes a time I need to let go, no matter how hard, and I hope that day is soon.

"It's so hot out," Carol complains as she wipes her brow, acting as if she's already sweating when we haven't even been out here for five minutes.

"It gets way hotter as the day goes on," I speak up, hoping she somewhat decides to hang back in this ruined town. I can finally say that I don't want her to come along with us, human or not. I've tried to be nice but for whatever reason, she can't stand me and she's as annoying as they come. I should be thankful, though, that we aren't the only survivors, but I'm almost not. I think it's because I forget how annoying people truly are. Yeah, Dean's annoying, but I expected as much coming from him.

"I already knew that, Captain Obvious," she huffs. "I was only stating a fact."

"As was I." I roll my eyes, then I wonder if Dean can see me since I'm standing behind him, while Carol walks by his side.

My shoes are beginning to wear and tear, and my legs already hurt. I don't say anything, though, for complaining about the situation doesn't help. I don't want to be a burden on anyone, anyway, unlike some people. We just haven't really traveled much these past days. Yeah, we searched around town, but I think with the idea of actually traveling, my legs decide that I'm going to get tired easily.

"I'm thirsty," Carol announces once we finally make it to the road, the feeling of smooth surface beneath my shoes is welcoming. I was sick of walking on rough and broken rocks.

"Save it. We don't need to drink anything until we absolutely have to," Dean tells her.

"How do you know that I absolutely don't have too?" She contradicts.

"Fine. You drink all of your water, but when you're dying and panting, don't try to drink ours." His facial expression has turned rather hard, and I can tell Carol has noticed this.

"Alright," she whispers, looking defeated. It's kind of nice to see Dean snappy with someone other then me for once.

The dusty road stretches out for miles in front of our eyes, and I sigh in frustration as I look out onto the horizon at what we have left to travel. I know we'll make it. If we could survive making it to the town we just left, we can survive anything. I have more faith now, then I've ever had in my life, and somehow it feels really good.

"So, like, why did you guys hate each other?" Carol asks after a moment of greatly appreciated silence.

"Dean's a douche on occasions, and I'm annoying," I shrug, as we now all walk side by side, Dean in the middle. I can swear I almost catch a hint of a smile on his lips as they both take in what I said.

"That is one way to put it," he mutters. "You see, she was a human and I was a Norovian and those kinds of things don't mix well."

"Why not? I knew plenty of Norovians at my school that didn't mind me." I want to scoff, at least someone could stand her.

"Well, I basically ruined it when I was--as she so kindly put it--a douche. She wasn't annoying, either, it was just me being a jerk." I glance over at him, wondering why he's not roasting me right now like he normally would, but his face is unreadable.

"I was annoying though, I'd push his buttons and we never saw eye to eye."

"No," he says before looking over at me, his yellow eyes much yellower today. "You weren't annoying. We've been over this, I thought it was entertaining getting a rise out of you."

"But even you yourself said that I was annoying. I think that might have been before you said you didn't care about me." I didn't mean to bring that up, but it kind of slips out, proving the point that I was trying to make.

"I apologized for that, I was angry, remember? We both were."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean that I'm not annoying."

"You're being annoying now," he states, and this time I catch Carol with a hint of a smile.

"Because I'm trying to prove that I can be annoying and that you're not the only one who made us hate each other."

"But," he sighs, and I can tell he's getting frustrated. "I was the start of it all. I basically ruined your life in school, and I said crap I shouldn't have and I acted in ways I shouldn't have. I started it, Henderson, so drop it." I want to ask him why the sudden touchy feeling when I refer to myself as annoying, and why he's suddenly blaming this whole feud on himself, when he told me that I'm not innocent in this relationship, that I push him until he can't take anymore. I know exactly what I do, and he doesn't need to sit there and cover for me, no matter what.

"I can now see why," Carol mutters to herself. "So you aren't friends now? Or like frenemies?"

"Why the sudden interest?" I snap, and wait for Dean to scold me, but surprisingly, he doesn't.

"Why? I don't know. Maybe I wanted to get to know you guys. You don't have to be so touchy, Ella, not everyone's out to get you."

"Ha," I laugh, before turning my head and looking at her. "You sound exactly like him." This causes Dean to glance down at me, sending me a glare that I can't help but look away from.

"Then maybe you should start believing it." I don't know why, but I think that was the last straw with the Norovian.

"Enough!" He growls, "I'm sick of listening to you yap about all this negative stuff towards Ella. You don't even freaking know her, okay? So shut up. And what is your problem with her? She never did a thing." I want to mention that he doesn't really know me either, but I don't. I'm too shocked that he's standing up for me.

"What is your deal?" I ask him, confused with why he's acting like he is.

"Are you kidding me? I stand up for you and you turn on me?" We're no longer traveling, just standing in a circle yelling at one another.

"I'm not turning on you, Dean, okay? I'm wondering why you're saying that I'm not annoying and am blaming yourself for how our relationship with one another turned out, and why you're sticking up for me all of the sudden."

"Seriously?" He scoffs, before running a blistered hand over his face. "We're a team, Ella. Okay? No matter who else we find along this journey, it started out you and me. We're the original team, the two people that I know can hold everything together, and I won't deal with someone talking crap on the person that has helped me survive this whole journey when they don't even know you. I'm tired of hearing arguments all the time, I just want some peace." He sighs, and I don't exactly know what to say.

"We can't have peace when she's always ready to jump me for whatever I say!" Carol protests, pretending to be the innocent one here. I glance over at her, breaking the eye contact with Dean, and she sends me a smirk, before she attempts to subtly flip me off.

This causes a bit more of an outrage from Dean, and I want to smirk at Carol. She doesn't know that Norovians have eyes in the back of their heads, for I remember Dean telling me that he likes being able to keep some secrets about his species to himself. I then wonder how many humans truly know about this little secret.

"What is your freaking problem?!" He yells, causing the girl to jump slightly. "Ella doesn't jump you for whatever you say, you jump her. You're always bringing her down and acting like a little brat, for whatever reason, I don't know. Next time I hear or see you acting like that towards her, you had better sleep with one eye open."

"Are--are you threatening me?" She whispers, her blue eyes wide and slightly frightened.

"Yes, I am." He glares at her for another moment, before he begins to walk again. I don't hang back this time, I catch up with him, and before much longer, Carol catches up too.

Finally, that peace that Dean wanted is now here. I'd rather have her pouting then complaining or being ignorant. I can't help but laugh a little. Both Dean and Carol glance over at me, and I try to hold it back, but I can't. Before I know it Dean and I are both laughing, and Carol is just glaring at us. I could almost swear I watched her roll her eyes, as well.