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The photo was creased and faded as she pulled it out of the cracked glass frame. There they stood, frozen, a moment in time from their youth - still not quite healed from the grief of lost loved ones, but with a small burning hope in their eyes, as they stood next to Betty in the forest.
It was a time of uncertainty, but then again hadn’t it always been? On the road, not knowing when their next meal would be… It wasn’t a time Ruby would ever wish to return to, but…
Muffled shouts came from down the corridor. She put the photo on her bedside table and walked to the door, the playful fighting outside within earshot. ‘Why the fuck would you put water into brownie batter? Have you ever cooked in your life?’ Chubs said, followed by the loud clang of a pan crashing on the floor.
‘Chubs! Language!’ Liam warned, putting his ears over Zu’s, who just stood there glowering. Ruby walked towards Liam in the kitchen, pulling his hands away from Zu and lacing them with her own.
‘She’s 18 now, I think she can handle it,’ she said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. They were about to have a moment, until Ruby looked over at the monstrosity on the kitchen bench. A slimy brown substance in a baking tray wobbled as Chubs poked it with a wooden spoon. ‘Ok I’m sorry I gotta agree with Chubs, have you guys ever baked before?’
‘It was looking a bit dry so we just added some water… How was I supposed to know it would completely ruin it?’ Liam said defensively, his hand against his heart as though he had been stabbed.
Zu rolled her eyes, pointing at Liam. ‘I tried to tell him… stubborn as hell, this one.’
Chubs and Liam’s bickering faded into the background as Ruby was reminded of their time living off of junk food, huddled together for warmth in the cold, harsh winter. Liam’s hero complex hadn’t fooled anyone, but the love and care he had for all of them had kept them going through the darkest of times. Chubs’ constant complaining about hypothermia and Zu’s quiet strength reminded them that they were in this together. And while they were just four lost teens, they would fight with all the hope remaining in this fucked up world.
‘Here goes nothing I guess…’ Ruby said as she put the batter in the oven, shaking her head. ‘Y’all are too old to be doing this shit.’
They all burst out laughing, red faces and teary eyes saying all the words that went unsaid. They had made it through those dark times, and whatever they faced into the beyond, they did together.