Chapter 18

As I approach the classroom door, my footsteps slow down. My ears strain for any hint of sound coming from within. The silence reassures me, and I tap my knuckles gently against the wood. "It's me," I whisper, just loud enough to be heard.

The door creaks open gradually, revealing Sara, Tim, and Lily's faces peering out. Sara and Lily's eyes widen, as they take in the sight of me and the mountain of food I'm carrying.

"You made it back!" Sara breathes, her voice filled with awe. "And look at all that food!"

I step inside, carefully setting the supplies down on a nearby desk. "Found it all in the cafeteria kitchen," I explain, keeping my voice steady. "Had a bit of a dance with a level 10 Zombie Chef first, but it was nothing I couldn't handle."

Tim's expression shifts, a blend of surprise and something else I can't quite place. "Level 10?" he repeats, his voice carrying an odd note. "That's... impressive. You're getting pretty tough, aren't you?"

Lily's eyes sweep over the food, her voice carrying genuine appreciation. "This is fantastic. We won't have to worry about food for a while now."

We roughly push a few tables into a cluster, and put the gathered provisions across the surfaces before taking our seats. I watch as Sara carefully opens a packet of non-perishable food – some kind of energy bar. She takes a small bite, then nods. "This isn't half bad, all things considered," she says, her voice warm with gratitude.

Lily peels an orange, its fresh scent filling the air. As she divides it among us, her face remains impassive. "These are... good," she comments.

Tim silently works his way through a can of what looks like stewed vegetables. His eyes flickering to the food occasionally, as if searching for comfort in its familiarity. "At least it's filling," he mutters, his usual energy noticeably absent.

I begin by opening an energy bar and mixing it with the stewed vegetables, curious about the taste from the combination. As I take my first bite, I'm surprised by how disgusting the combination is. I grimace, and almost spit it back out, but stop myself in time. 

Seeing my discomfort, Sara stifles a chuckle behind her hand, her shoulders shaking slightly. A blush quickly spreads across her cheeks when she realizes everyone was looking, and she hastily attempts to change the subject. "Hey, um, what's everyone's favorite food?" she asks, her voice a touch too bright.

I feel a wave of relief wash over me. Food is a topic I can actually contribute to, even if just a little. As we begin sharing stories of our favorite meals, for a fleeting moment, it almost feels normal - like we're just friends sharing a casual dinner, not survivors trapped in a nightmare.

But as we talk, I can't help but notice Tim's distant gaze. His responses are short, lacking his usual spark. It's as if his mind is wandering, lost in thoughts he's not willing to share.

I decide to address the issue sooner rather than later. "Tim, is everything okay? You seem a little distracted," I say, careful to keep my tone neutral.

He looks up, startled by my question. After a moment's hesitation, he sighs. "I'm fine. Just tired, you know? It's been a long day."

His words don't sit right with me, but I remind myself that we've only known each other for about a day. It's not my place to push too hard.

Still, Tim's behavior gnaws at me. As we finish eating, I find myself carefully watching him, trying to figure out the thoughts behind his distant eyes. For the sake of the group, I need to understand what's going on.

When we start cleaning up, I seize the opportunity to talk to Lily alone. I casually mention needing help with sorting out supplies, and she follows me to the far side of the room.

"Lily," I begin, keeping my voice low, "have you noticed anything... different about Tim today?"

She pauses, her expression guarded. "Why do you ask?" she counters, her eyes searching mine.

I take a deep breath, realizing there's no easy way to approach this. "He just seems off. More closed off than usual. I'm worried that it might be something serious."

Lily hesitates, her gaze drifting to where Tim sits. After a long moment, she sighs softly. "I wasn't sure if I should say anything," she murmurs, "but Tim... he has some doubts. About you."

Her words hit me hard. "Doubts? About me?" I echo, my mind reeling.

She nods, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's been on edge since we met. I think the stress is getting to him, but... he thinks you might be hiding things. That there's more you're not telling us."

I feel my jaw tighten as I process Lily's words. "Something I'm not telling you?" I repeat, struggling to keep my voice level. "Hey. We all have things we might not be ready to share. Even though we need to trust each other, that doesn't mean we have to spill our guts about everything, especially when we've just met."

I meet Lily's gaze, my eyes conveying my stance. "I've been pretty open about what matters. I've shared information that we need for our survival. Beyond that, what I keep to myself is my business, just like how it is for everyone else here."

Lily nods, her expression softening slightly. "I know, and I agree. We're all coping in our own ways. I just thought you should know what's going on."

Calming down, I give her a small, grateful smile. "Thanks for telling me, Lily. It's good to know where things stand, even if it's uncomfortable. I appreciate your honesty."

As we continue sorting supplies, my mind races. Tim's doubts about me are concerning; in our situation, even a hint of mistrust could fracture the group's unity. Is this just a temporary reaction to stress, or a sign of deeper issues that could escalate?

We're already trapped in a world we don't understand, fighting for survival against impossible odds. Trust is our most valuable resource right now, but it seems to be slipping away.