Weird Feelings

[8 Days After the Food Supply Run]

The camp didn't have a food problem anymore, thanks to the haul we brought back. People were eating proper meals again. For the first time in months, the camp felt alive.

But me? I couldn't stop thinking about Reyes.

Her kiss on my cheek… I don't know why, but it stayed in my head. It was just a small kiss, right? Nothing big. But every night, I kept remembering it, over and over.

"Alan, hey~"

I turned and saw Reyes standing there. She was wearing nothing but a loose towel. Her hair was wet, sticking to her neck, and water was dripping onto the floor.

"R-Reyes, what are you doing?" I asked, stepping back. My heart started beating really fast, and my face got hot.

"What do you think I'm doing?" she said, smiling. "I just finished my shower. Don't you wanna join me?"

"What?! N-No!" I yelled, stumbling back and nearly tripping over my own feet.

She took a step closer, her green eyes sparkling. "Oh, come on, Alan. Don't be so shy. Just a little fun won't hurt~"

My brain was screaming at me to look away, but I couldn't. She was standing so close now, and her towel was slipping just a little.

"This is crazy! Reyes, stop!" I shouted, but my voice was shaky.

She laughed softly, her hand reaching out to brush against my arm. "You're so tense, Alan. Let me help you relax."

Before I could move, she grabbed my arm and started dragging me toward the bathroom.

"Reyes! Wait! This isn't—"

The steam from the bathroom hit me, warm and thick, and everything felt strange. Reyes turned back to me, her towel slipping dangerously low to the point it almost showing her breast, Reyes was grinning like she was enjoying this way too much.

"Don't fight it, Alan~" she said, her voice soft and teasing.

Then she leaned closer, her lips brushing my ear. "Just let go…"

"ALAN! WAKE UP!"

"AHHH!" I shouted, sitting up so fast I hit my head against something hard.

"OW! What the hell?!" Michael yelled, rubbing his forehead.

I blinked, the dream fading as reality came crashing back. Michael was standing over me, looking annoyed—and holding a fork.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked, rubbing my arm where he'd poked me.

"Wrong with me?" Michael raised an eyebrow, looking like he was trying not to laugh. "You were smiling like a weirdo in your sleep. What the hell were you dreaming about?"

I froze. My face felt like it was on fire. "I-It was nothing!" I shouted, waving my hands. "Just a random dream. Nothing important!"

Michael squinted at me, his lips twitching. "Uh-huh. Sure. Random dream." He smirked. "You were all red and mumbling something about—"

"I SAID IT WAS NOTHING!" I yelled, cutting him off before he could say anything else.

Michael crossed his arms, giving me a look. "Alright, fine. But whatever it was, it must've been good." He pointed at the door. "Anyway, it's morning, genius. Time to wake up."

"I hate you," I muttered, grabbing my jacket and heading for the door.

"I heard that!" Michael called after me, laughing.

[Outside the Tent]

I stepped outside, trying to shake off the embarrassment from the dream and Michael's teasing. The cool morning air hit my face, and I let out a long sigh.

"Good morning, Alan," a familiar voice said.

I turned and froze. It was Reyes.

She was walking toward me, smiling. Her blonde hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, and she looked… fresh. Bright. Beautiful.

"G-Good morning, Reyes," I stammered. My face immediately started heating up again.

She tilted her head, her smile turning playful. "You okay? You look a little red."

"I'm fine!" I said quickly, looking at the ground.

Reyes raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. "Are you sure? You look… flustered. Did I scare you in your dream?"

My brain froze, and I panicked. I quickly shook my head, but in my mind, the truth slipped out thinking to myself: Yup, that's exactly it, you cutie…

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" I blurted instead, taking a step back.

Reyes chuckled, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Alright, if you say so." She stepped even closer, and I froze again. "You know, Alan, if there's something on your mind, you can always talk to me."

"N-Nothing's on my mind!" I shouted, taking another step back. "I-I gotta go!"

I turned and practically ran away, feeling my face burning.

Behind me, I could hear Reyes laughing softly. "You're such a dork," she said while pouting, loud enough for me to hear.

[Later That Morning]

After breakfast, I tried to avoid Reyes for the rest of the morning. I wandered around the camp, helping out here and there, but my thoughts kept drifting back to the dream—and how close it felt to reality.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I spotted Alice near the garden, helping an older woman plant vegetables. She looked up and waved at me.

"Morning, Alan!" she called out.

"Morning," I said, waving back.

She seemed happy—happier than I'd seen her in a long time. Seeing her like that made me feel a little better.

[Around the Campfire – That Evening]

By the time night fell, I was exhausted. I sat by the fire with Michael, Kayla, and a few others. The stars were bright, and the fire crackled softly, keeping us warm.

"You know," Kayla said, poking the fire with a stick, "For the first time in forever, it feels like things might actually be okay."

Michael nodded. "Yeah. Food's stocked, no one's sick, and Alan hasn't screwed anything up today. It's a miracle."

"Thanks, Michael," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

Kayla grinned. "Don't listen to him, Alan. You're doing great. We're lucky to have you."

I leaned back, staring at the flames. "We got lucky," I said quietly. "Really lucky."

Michael shook his head. "No, man. It wasn't luck. You did this. You saved us."

Kayla nodded. "Yeah, don't be so modest. You're like… the camp's hero."

I waved them off, but I couldn't help smiling a little. "I just did what anyone else would've done."

"Sure," Michael said, smirking. "Anyone else would've led us through a horde and brought back a lifetime's worth of food. Totally normal."

The conversation drifted after that, and I found myself staring at the fire again. My thoughts wandered back to Reyes. The kiss. The dream. The way she smiled at me this morning.

For the first time in years, I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time.

I felt hope and peace.