Clayton sat next to me, staring at the ground. I sighed sadly, not sure what to do now. CJ had passed out again on the couch with what seemed like no intention of waking up. John was working on his second bottle of whatever he was drinking.

I was surprised that Clayton refused to drink any, but made no comment of it.

“Hey John” Clayton said “We gotta get a place to crash”

“Go find a room or something” John shrugged “CJ has like, a lot”

Clayton rolled his eyes “Put the bottle down and let’s go find somewhere to sleep”

John mimicked Clayton poorly but set the bottle down nonetheless. Clayton stood up, reaching a hand out to me. I grabbed it, hoisting myself up.

I followed the boys as they walked out of the kitchen and made their way down the hallway. I glanced at CJ as we walked past, noticing how oblivious he was to everything. I bit my lip, wondering if he really was such a reliable person.

John opened the door to the first room down the hall, bowing us in mockingly. Clayton gave him a shove before walking it. I avoided contact with John.

The room had a large bed and a couch tucked in the back. Aside from those three things, it was fairly bare. The walls needed a painting badly and the floor had cracks all throughout it. I hadn’t seen a place this bad in what felt like forever.

Clayton sat down on the bed, resting his hands between his legs. He slouched forward with a sigh, not looking at anyone. John stumbled his way over to the couch, falling face first onto it.

“Woo” John said sarcastically “This is the life”

“John, shut up” Clayton mumbled

John ignored him, “Always wanted to be on the run from my own government so that I could help protect a girl. Can’t believe I’m finally living the good life”

“John. Stop.” Clayton growled “I know you’re mad. I am too”

I bit my lip, trying to hide in the shadows of the room. I wished I could disappear and let John and Clayton live their lives as they were before I came along.

Clayton looked up, noticing me. Regret flashed through his eyes, but he did nothing, looking back at the ground.

I sighed, leaning against the wall opposite the couch. I slid down, leaning my head back. Where had we gone wrong? We were promised a free pass to safety.

John burped loudly, breaking the silence that had filled the room. I made a face of disgust, not being one for burps.

John noticed my face “Excuse me, Princess. Sorry I happen to be a guy”

“I didn’t—” I started

“Lay off man” Clayton said “She didn’t do anything”

“She’s the reason we’re in this mess”

“Oh please, you could’ve backed out any time”

John opened his mouth, but no words came out. He frowned trying to think of a comeback “Well, so could you!”

Clayton groaned “And I didn’t.”

“Neither did I. Who’s the tough guy now?”

“You’re such a moron”

“You’re a bigger moron” John said, bursting into laughter. He clutched at his stomach, giggling as if that was the funniest thing in the world.

I looked at Clayton curiously. Was John drunk? He did have nearly two bottles of whatever he was drinking but…

“He’s lined-up” Clayton said “Its..uh…like back in your time you guys had a lot of marijuana problems right?”

I nodded

“Well, John’s feeling the same thing someone who took marijuana in your time would feel, but doubled since he had two bottles”

“He’s high?”

“He’s what?” Clayton asked, confused

“High?”

“He’s on the ground…”

I shook my head “What was it you called him?”

“Lined-up?”

I nodded “He’s that?”

“Yeah”

“He’s really weird when he’s uh… ‘lined-up’”

Clayton smiled slightly “You should see him when he’s totally smashed”

Smashed. Finally a word I understood.

“You know” John said loudly “I can hear you guys talking about me. I’m right over here. Its not like I’m on the other side of the world”

“We know you can hear” Clayton rolled his eyes “Now shut the hell up”

I suppressed a giggle.

Clayton looked over at me, straightening up. He motioned with his hand for me to come over to the bed with him. I felt a blush creep across my cheeks at the thought. We had done this before, but then I was in total fear of everything.

Now that I had relaxed enough and new Clayton better…it was different.

I liked him. A lot. And the bed might provoke what shouldn’t be provoked.

I shook my head.

“Ellie” Clayton said sternly, motioning again.

“Just go over to him” John groaned “Holy shit”

Clayton held back a smirk as I stood up hesitantly. I walked over to the bed, sitting as far away from Clayton as I could get. He gave me a weak smile, maneuvering himself fully onto the bed. Clayton patted the area next to him.

I bit my lip before crawling next to him.

“Are you sure it’s safe to sleep here?” I asked quietly

“No” Clayton said. “But it’s our only option right now”

I nodded, leaning my head down.

“Look, Ellie” Clayton said, brushing some of the hair out of my face “Just go to sleep. I’ll keep watch for a few hours while John sobers up. Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to you”

I nodded, closing my eyes.

I didn’t realize how tired I was until the opportunity was presented in front of me. Sleep swept over me, dragging me into its realms.

~*~

“What the hell are you doing?! Get the hell away!”

My eyes shot open to the sound of John yelling and something else. It sounded like something charging. I recognized the sound; this couldn’t be good.

I took in the scene before me.

John was standing in front of me, his back to me. I was pulled against Clayton, his body covering me protectively.

“That—that’s a girl man! You have a fucking girl” Another voice said, panicked. It didn’t take a genius to realize that it was CJ talking

“So?”

“Man, I’ve done a lot of shit for you but a girl?!”

“Look man, put the gun down”

“John, move out of the way so I can shoot her”

“You’re not shooting her”

“I have to!” CJ’s voice grew more panicked with every sentence “Don’t you see? She’s tricked you into trusting her! Just move so I can kill her!”

“You’re not killing her” John growled, emphasizing each word.

“She’s a girl!”

“I know”

“The enemy!”

“Not her.”

“John, move” the charging sound grew louder. I felt Clayton’s grip on me tighten.

John sighed “Let me kill her”

“What?!” Clayton and CJ said in unison. My eyes widened in fear.

This was what he had been waiting for all along. He’d wanted to get rid of me since the beginning. Of course he would want to take full advantage of the first opportunity.

It all made sense.

“I’ve had to deal with the leech all this time, CJ.” John explained “Let me kill her”

CJ thought for a moment, debating whether or not he could believe him.

I felt my veins turn to ice at the betrayal. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

No, I could. That’s what hurt. I had grown to truth John and he turned on me. Clayton had be in a death hold, but I was gripping him back just as hard.

I didn’t want to die.

Not by John’s hands.

“Give me the gun” John pushed

“No” CJ said sternly. “I don’t trust you man. You shoot her, you shoot her with this” He tossed John a smaller version of what he held. John caught it swiftly, aiming it at me. CJ stood to John’s side, the larger gun aimed at John.

John gripped his weapon with both hands as the charge began.

I closed my eyes, my heart beat speeding up.

“How could you?” Clayton asked his voice heartbroken.

“Clayton, get out of the way” John growled

“Just answer my question” Clayton begged “John, she trusted you. Doesn’t that mean anything to you anymore?”

“Move”

“You’re not the John I was best friends with” Clayton said, not budging “You’ve turned into a monster”

“Clayton…”

“She hasn’t done a thing to you! If anything shoot me!”

“I’m about to if you don’t move away”

“Stop stalling! Just kill the leech already!” CJ shouted frantically.

John took a deep breath, his eyes set on me. I buried my face into Clayton chest, thankful he was still by me.

There was a loud bang and a hell of a lot of pain.

****Don't worry guys, this isn't over just yet! Bear with me!*****