"Okay well Jacob's still got an hour on time out. How are you guys doing?" I asked, walking into Nicole's room not long after. The two were playing cards on the bed, probably Blackjack again.

"Fine." Nicole grumbled.

"Great!" Callie chirped. "We went to Baltia's school."

Yikes, that was probably worse than normal school.

"And you had fun?" I asked.

"Yes!" Callie said.

"No." Nicole spoke at the same time.

I watched Nicole carefully. She was even grumpier than usual.

"Nic, what's going on?" I asked.

"Nothing, geez." Nicole stood up. "I need some fresh air."

She took her leave. I turned to Callie.

"Did something happen?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I dunno. She's just been in a bad mood all day."

"I wonder why." I pondered. My mind drew a blank.

"Me too!" Callie nodded. "Wanna play cards?"

I shook my head. "Sorry, Cal- Maybe later. I need to figure out what's up with Nicole."

Callie shrugged and let me go, before playing starting a game of solitaire. I felt bad for leaving her, at least she could entertain herself.

I found Nicole on top of the room, overlooking Baltia. Autumn air sent a shiver down my spine, but Nicole pretended as if it hadn't bothered her.

"Hey, Nic, penny for your thoughts?" I sat down next to her, on the ledge.

"Stalk much?" Nicole groaned. "I just wanted some fresh air was all, geez."

I raised an eyebrow. "Of course. Sorry, I should have realized."

She huffed and didn't say anymore.

I sighed. "Oh come on! Don't give me that. I know something is going on."

Nicole glared at me. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a knife, flicking it open. She twirled it between her fingers, rather than threatening me, which I had expected.

"I'm just thinking about my cousin, okay? Xander would have pulled the same shit Jacob always does."

"Oh. Is he...?"

"Dead? Yeah, he died pulling some stupid stunt in Avalon Creek when the zombies hit. I don't know. I wasn't there." She grumbled.

Despite her harsh attitude, which was sort of her default anyway, it was obvious it had been bugging her on an emotional level. She cared about him.

"Jacob worries you, doesn't he?" I asked, softly. I placed a hand on her shoulder.

She shrugged me off. "No! I don't care what he- It's just- Ugh, you wouldn't get it."

I straightened up. "Oh yeah? Try me."

Nicole scowled. Then pensive pondering flirted across her face. She closed the knife, observing it in her lap.

"My parents are dead. Long time. Not a big thing, okay? My brother's a total tool. Haven't seen him in over a year. I moved West and it was my cousin who raised me. Him and his best friend were the older brothers I wanted. Now he's dead. People always do stupid stuff and then I'm alone. Kinda makes me want to do something stupid so I can get the hell out of this place."

"Are you pissed at Jacob then?"

She chuckled. "Always. But I bet it was really funny. Would have been less funny if they shot him."

"Yeah, it would have been." Yet I laughed at the thought. Sadistic, I know, but I was actually glad he had only gotten time out.

I let the quiet take over. Baltia seemed so still, so inhuman, so wrong. The safest place for humans was supposedly here, and yet, it seemed so lifeless. Everyone was already a zombie in a way, mindless and following pack mentality.

I decided to break the silence between the two of us, before any more depressing thoughts entered my head.

"You know, none of us are leaving you anytime soon. You know that right, Nic?" I smiled.

Nicole scoffed. "Sure, Locke."

She stood up. "Well you just ruined me time, so I guess we should go entertain Callie. Bet she's bored as shit."

She probably wasn't. She was good at keeping to herself. But I nodded, standing up, and following Nicole downstairs anyway.

I watched her pocket her cousin's knife. She hadn't needed to say where it came from. It was obvious.

I wasn't leaving her.

This was an odd chapter. Well I hoped you enjoyed it! Sorry it was extra extra late. College is a pain in the... Well anyway thanks for reading!