A GIFT OF TIME

Episode 10

"I can't believe you'll say that" Charlie exclaimed in disbelief after we both left the auto workshop to explore the place. We were not literally exploring the place, my brother just wanted to talk after the announcement.

"Why are you so shocked about it, I mean I told you seconds before we made our way in" I exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yeah, you did told me. But I wasn't expecting you to be so frank. I mean it was okay to tell me but you announcing it to the whole team, I mean are you that serious about this?" Charlie asked hands on his hips as he turned to face me with a cynical look on his face.

"Yeah Charlie. I'm that serious" I answered with my face frank.

"Alright then, we should go back... I guess" my brother pointed and I nodded in agreement, heading back with him. The sight I met when I get in wasn't really something I was ever hoping to see. What's wrong with these people really? I groaned in dissatisfaction as both Nick's brawled at each other like they were ready to pounce any minute.

"Seriously?" I asked, my voice a pitch higher than usual. They all turned to look at me and I sighed.

"Danny can I talk to you?" I requested and he nodded taking me deeper into the workshop.

"Seriously Nick I left you for 5mins and you're already in an argument with yourself. Like really?" I asked shocked to even think about it.

"He was being such a duck. I really didn't wanna talk to him. I didn't wanna face him. Because I knew him. He was me and it's crazy because he hates this face, this body just as much as I do-

"I thought you and Danny just don't get along not hate each other" I frowned.

"yeah, we didn't get along. Before he left our school to yours he did something. Something terrible-

"Terrible like? "I asked slowly folding my hands.

"He said he wanted to get back at me before he left. For the years of bully he decided to get back at me and he did. He told everyone in school my dad... My dad was a male w***e that liked to sleep around with married women-" he froze for a minute and I saw his eyes change.

"You cannot believe him Claire. He started it. He called my mom a w***e because he wanted to remarry his dad. Nicholas didn't let her. He insulted my mom first. He was the one that started it before I announced to the whole school. I only retaliated after what he said to me before saying that. It was his fault " Danny sputtered right before I felt Nicholas was taking back control. This is the worst thing that could happen to Nick really. How is he surviving having a conflict with his own body all this while. I have to solve this problem first. If I ever want the team to work together I really have to solve their differences.

"That was not true-

"Nick "I called all of a sudden and he looked up at me.

"Can you let Danny take control for a while. You need to solve your differences. This is a team. We have to work like one. Nick you know how everyone used to work together back at camp. If we don't like to work together we will all be dead. Danny's involved now we have to work together with him as well-

"What are you planning to do?" Nick's eyes furrowed at his own question.

"Solve it, that's what I'm doing and you'll let Danny be in control-

"Claire-

"please" I pleaded and he sighed running through his hair with his fingers. He looked into my eyes to see the determination and my sincerity in it before giving into my request, he relaxed and let Danny take control.

"Thanks Claire" Danny smiled in Danny's type of way. He truly is distinct from Nick.

"You and Nick need to solve your s**t. If you don't we are not going to make a team. As much as I don't want to involve you in this mess, we have no choice. Danny you're part of us now. And thankfully I do not have to explain what's going to happen soon to you. You've seen it and you know it. We died Danny, we died and that's a proof enough to this whole alien thing. I'm taking you to Nick now or I'm bringing him here. You should both sort it out. Punch each other if necessary but after today you have to work together like a team you are." I declared and he nodded heaving a soft sigh. I went back to where the whole team was, working actually. It was about time Nick solve his differences. He was not making it easy for himself conflicting with the body he was in. How was he even doing that? I don't know how and I know it wasn't as much painful as being with my little alien informer. The memory of that scene make me sweat as I felt panic rose up my chest

"Nick?" I called and he shot up his head to my direction ignoring what he was doing.

"Can I... Talk to you?" I requested and he nodded heading for my direction.

"Look, this thing...this team, this effort it's not a joke. We need every hand we can get. Every hands working together in secrecy and harmony to survive. Have you ever felt death been so close?" I asked as I walked deeper into the workshop where Danny was playfully playing with an empty fish can with his leg.

"No" he replied and I nodded.

"I know you haven't but I have. Countless times I thought I'll die and boom I got a second chance. But it's real, I did later died but it's very fortunate that I come back" I smiled but Nick's face was developing a scorn as he watched Danny who wasn't so pleased to see him either but had no choice.

"Why do you hate each other so much?" I asked Nick and he frowned.

"He's a d**k head" he simply replied and Danny frowned then scoffed.

"And you're an asshole-

"Danny" I interrupted silently warning him to wait until his turn to talk. This freaking thing was making me bossy. I'm not usually like this. Most of the time I was the one listening, the one awaiting commands well probably because I've got an older brother but I was the submissive one and now I'm not so sure. Danny relaxed and pressed his lips tight refraining himself from talking but will burst if he was allowed to. I could see the rage in his eyes.

"Go on" I urged Nick and he sighed.

"I just don't like him-

"No you don't. You have a reason Nick, and your reason was that you thought he spread rumors about your dad being a man w***e that sleeps around with married women and he thinks you told everyone his mom was sleeping with your dad" I sputtered my eyelids dancing as I make my explanation.

"How... Did you know that?" Nick had his brows furrowed tight in a deep frown.

"Well, Danny here told me. Like I said. He's my boyfriend-

"He wouldn't have known what I thought about it?" he arched his brows at Danny who only rolled his eyes. Believe me I didn't expect him to be that smart to pick it up. Well Nicholas was always smart. God seriously I have to concentrate.

"He must have heard it somewhere or he thought you think that" I grew a large smile and he sighed.

"He told Clarisse, he told few of his classmates-

"I didn't tell them anything" Danny defended.

"Well that's what I heard. You told them-

"Well you heard wrong, because I didn't tell anyone anything-

"What exactly are you telling?" I asked butting into their brawl because I was suddenly confused.

"He told them my dad was interested in his mom like he was interested in every other married woman-

"I never said that" Danny interrupted.

"I only told Clarisse that your dad seem interested in my mom because he came by very often, I even said they look good together" Danny briskly defended wiping off the scorn on Nicholas face.

"Who's Clarisse?" I found myself asking because Nicholas seem to have missed that part out.

"Brian's girlfriend" both replied simultaneously and my eyebrows shot up. I mean I feel this s**t goes deeper than I'm seeing it and I have to get to the bottom of it I want to have them working together in peace.

"You're lying Danny. You said you wanted to get back at me for bullying you in your junior years and you did that right before you left school-

" No, I didn't do that. What I meant by getting back at you was different. I only punctured the four tires of your brown Volkswagen right on junior prom-

"You did that?" Nick seem ready to pounce and I hope the older Nick was just very patient. I got in between the two before the two could throw a punch. I would have allowed it but Nick might likely to hurt himself. I mean the older Nick was right inside Danny. Complicated if you ask me.

"Okay, Nick you've gotten exactly what he did when he meant he was going to get back at you" I started hoping to make calm Nick down but he only grunted in frustration. He wanted to lashed at Danny, beat his life out if he was allowed but there was no way I was going to stand by and watch.

"Who started the rumour then?" Nicholas finally asked.

"I have absolutely no idea and I didn't care until I heard you said my mom was a w***e sleeping with my dad" Danny replied trying to stay calm himself.

"I never really said that" Okay that got my brows arched up at Nicholas. I mean he did said it.

"Well, that wasn't exactly what I said okay. I only said your mom was the one after my dad-

"Where's the f*****g difference? " Danny lashed at Nicholas who frowned.

"Well I didn't tell anyone I only told Brian " Nick defended and I sighed.

"And why did you tell Brian?" I asked knowing Brian and his girlfriend for sure has a hand in all this mess.

"Because he told me Danny said my dad's running after his mom like the man w***e he is-

"This is called misinterpretation of words" I scoffed.

"Brian!" I yelled three times before he approached us. He was a little bit surprised by the time he was right in front of us. Can't blame him though because none of us was smiling. I was suddenly upset at Brian because right now it seems Brian and his girlfriend caused all of it.

"What's... Going on?" he stuttered his question probably hoping everything was alright and of course nothing was alright. Everything wasn't fine.

"Brian, did you tell Nicholas that Danny called his dad a man w***e?" I asked and Brian flinched at my words. Sorry I don't know how to make words seem lighter. I'll rather be frank. I subconsciously apologized.

"No...well yeah, he said. Nicholas dad was always coming around his mom's house. He said he was after his mom and he knew he had other girlfriends-

"No, that's not what I said. I said I hope he doesn't have other girlfriends because my mom seem to like him" Danny sharply retorted.

"Well that's what Clarisse told me" Brian shrugged.

"Is there a way we could talk to this Clarisse?" I asked after my cross examination with all of them and Nicholas exchanged looks with Brian.

"Why does this matter to you-

"Because I can't have my team having anything against each other it's risky. Imagine you saw a lion running after Danny and you have the choice to save him? Would you? " I asked and I saw uncertainty marring his perfect feature probably at the imagination.

"Maybe I don't like him but I certainly do not want him dead" he gruffed in reply and I chuckled.

"you can't say that yet Nick, so how can we get Clarisse?" I turned to Brian who sighed and brought out his phone. He dialed probably Clarisse's number and head to a corner. His voice was indistinct as a result of his distance from us but I don't mind as long as we can get that girl. I don't know the girl but I do not like her.

"She'll be here soon and besides she's with Hailey, looks like they're coming here together" Brian relayed and Nick beamed. I do not need to be told to realize Hailey was Nick's girlfriend and my colleague in Camp. I see why she doesn't like me. Hailey was in the same bunker with me and Nicole. She was always trying to get on my nerves and it was annoying because I never did anything wrong to her, aso she always try to make Nicole hate me now I see why.

"Why don't you go back to work while I talk to Nic-Danny here for a while" I immediately corrected before I got eyes on me.

"Yeah sure" the boys muttered heading away and I didn't need to tell Nicholas to take control because before Brian was out of sight Danny's eyes had changed and I could tell he was in control.

"Hailey was my girlfriend" he confessed almost immediately I turned to face him.

"You didn't say anything about it in camp" I pointed and he sighed.

"You never gave me a chance to Claire. You were always trying to distance yourself from me" Nick defended and I heaved a heavy sigh.

"Why did you two broke up?" I couldn't bottle in my curiosity. I wanted to know.

"She cheated on me, she was two timing me with the basketball guy in school" Nick briefly explained and I saw the hurt in his eyes. He must have been really hurt.

"When was that?" I asked and he sighed.

"I found out two weeks before the apocalypse. It really hurts because at the time it was our 3rd anniversary of being together" he snickered looking slightly disturbed.

.

"It's okay. You're okay now" I assured wrapping my arms around him. He kissed my forehead smiling at me his lips funnily spread as he stared right into my eyes.

"There's so much to do Nick. So much. How are we gonna stop a whole mass destruction? Sometimes I feel us, being together in this place preparing just ain't enough. All these people they haven't seen what we've seen. The blood, the corpse, the decayed human skulls we saw when we walk. None of them had seen it and I don't want to push them too hard. But we need to work faster and harder if we really want to survive" I complained and Nicholas nodded.

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine" Nicholas assured hugging me tighter.

"Claire" Brian came calling and I hesitatingly released Nicholas.

"They are here so but I feel we shouldn't let them in here. You know how girls can be" Brian fretted and I chuckled.

"Let's go see them outside then" I suggested heading out with Danny who now seem back in control.

Walking into the junkyard where cars are mounted to each other we found a safe spot to have a conversation though the girls doesn't look so please with the place. If only they know how worse the world can be after two years. Hailey was still looking like she's the queen of the world. She had her auburn hair packed tight in a ponytail but moving closer in realised half of her hair was left loose to the back. A nice style by the way. Her milky white skin was still perfect in fact more perfect than I know in camp. The scar she had at the corner of her hazel eyes back at her camp wasn't there. Good for her. She was more chubby than she was in camp. She was wearing a pink top that was drawn to cover half of the white flared skirt she wore. A pop jacket was over the top and a pink heels complemented her dressing. Looking slutty as always. Looking next to her was a girl with strawberry blonde, her hair packed in the same style as Hailey but she was wearing a chocolate flowery dress with sliver strapless heels. It was a great compliment to her chocolate color eyes.

"Girls, meet Claire, Our friend and you both Know Danny and also Claire meet Clarisse and Hailey. Clarisse is my girlfriend and Hailey is Nick's girlfriend" Brian did the introduction and I was tempted to roll my eyes and correct him 'was'. That's who Hailey was. She was Nick's girlfriend. Get it straight girl. You can't let your personal feelings get in your way. I mentally scolded myself and heaved a sigh. Before tuning to Danny who was studying me intensely. It wasn't Danny studying me. It was Nick, arching my brows at him he stifled a chuckle and relax letting Danny take control. Brian and Nicholas seem to study the silent conversation we were having and was tempted to ask what was going on but I could see them shrug it off.

"So girls, I'm Claire. I'm this big guy's girlfriend and we need to ask you some few questions if you don't mind" I politely added and they both exchange curious look before looking back at me.

"Why don't you two ask a question?" I asked turning to Nick then Danny. Nick seem frustrated at the mess. He doesn't look interested in my attempt to get them to go along but I knew it was necessary.

"Clarisse what exactly did I tell you about Nick's dad?" Danny asked Clarisse masking the aggression in his voice. Clarisse seem taken aback by the question and quickly glance through the boys, briefly meeting my eyes.

"Well, you told me Nick's Dad likes your mom and he came by very often and you said something about him having girlfriends I don't really recall. it's been a while" Clarisse answered and we all groaned except Hailey by the way.

"You told me he had other girlfriends" Brian frowned.

"And I told you I hoped he doesn't have any other girlfriends" Danny half yelled putting emphasis on the 'hoped'

"well I, I didn't really remember when I told Brian-

"And your wrong information cause a whole lots of trouble " Nicholas said in a matter-of-fact voice.

"Yeah, a whole lots of trouble " Danny agreed. I sighed in relief because finally the two agree on something.

"And what's trouble is that?" Clarisse asked eyes moving as if trying to focus on both Danny and Nicholas at the same time. Both boys paled an I felt something was more wrong than it already was.

"Well, dad wanted so much to marry... Danny's mom" he completed his statement meeting Danny's eyes.

"I swear I was gonna leave him if he does that. So he didn't but he resorted to drinking" Nicholas response got my hair standing on end. The s**t went really deep like I thought.

"Same here" Danny's timid voice left my mouth agape.

"All because of the wrong information you stopped your parents marriage and their happiness?" I couldn't hide my annoyance now.

"I thought he called my mom a w***e Claire-

"And I thought he called my dad a player, a womanizer Claire. It was unacceptable-

"And you both didn't hear each other out but some flimsy little gossips. That was immature. How. Old are you two, ain't you like 21. You both have a mess to fix with your parents" I was pointing fingers at them.

"And you Clarisse, it'll do you good to learn how to keep some stuffs to yourself-

"She told me alone" Brian's defended her and I abruptly turned to him.

"Did she?" I turned back to her now and she paled.

"I told few of my friends" She confessed and I scoffed at Brian's blank expression.

"You-" oh not again. I thought as I felt myself slipping away.

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