Chapter Text
A groan came from the mishappened curled lump buried under a pink camouflaged comforter, a petite fingered hand sliding out to slap the annoying bop-top alarm clock that had begun a loving rotation of loud beeping. Once again, the room was quiet outside the rustle of cloth and a sudden scratching followed by a whine. Another groan and a creak of bedsprings followed the soft sound of bare feet hitting a wooden floor as what was once a lump under blankets transformed into a eighteen-year-old young woman with long wavy mahogany hair and fuchsia pink tips.
Standing, the petite but muscle defined young woman stretched, her shoulders making popping noises followed by her jaw as a yawn forced it’s way past her lips. The sound of scratching persisted, another whine pulling the sleep-ridden youth towards her bedroom door.
“Calm down Marco I-“ another yawn interrupted her morning tirade as she grabbed the round silver handle of her bedroom door. “I’m coming.”
Looking down, Alora Jones stared into the rich almost black eyes of her two-year-old melanocytic American Doberman, Marco-Polo. Reaching out, she stroked his smooth black coat along his head, neck, and back before giving him a soft smile.
“Come on you mongrel, let me use the restroom then I’ll take you out.” Giving one last scratch behind his ears and giving him the ‘wait’ command, Alora turned towards the bathroom to complete her morning routine before getting ready.
With a fresh face, fresh breath, and an empty bladder, Alora slipped her house slippers on and clicked Marco’s leash in place before stepping out into the backyard so he could do his business.
The leash wasn’t necessary. In the two years of training the Doberman, having gotten Marco as a birthday gift (which she was sure she only got through intensive whining), Alora had come to train him perfectly under her command. Especially after her incident during cheer camp.
Alora stared at Marco as he ran the perimeter of the backyard on his retractable leash, her hand unconsciously tightening on the hard plastic handle.
During her summer before sophomore year, shortly after her sixteenth birthday, Alora had gone away to cheer camp like any other summer since elementary school. She had trained her form in gymnastics, dance, and ribbons from an early age so it was only natural to take up cheerleading as well – great university marks her father always said. Accomplishment was always a positive in her parents’ eyes.
She had also been on the debate team at that time as well as yearbook committee. Her afterschool activities split well between her friends Natalie Callaway and Zoe Parker, and she had been happy with where her life had been going. Till the drop of her life. Till the coma of nightmares.
After she had woken from a three-day coma, Alora’s outlook on the world had become drastically different. It could have been trauma from the incident, either physical or mental. A sudden lack of self-confidence or fear of heights. No one other than Alora understood why she suddenly quit the cheersquad, refocused her life around exercise, archery, and training her dobberman.
But why had she quit? That was easy. Waking up in a hospital room to find a younger version of Grover Jones holding her hand and calling her Orie over and over had really put into prospective that Alora Jones, formally Ally Martin, had really died that day on the archery field. Worse – a newbie had shot her through with a bloody practice arrow.
Blinking into the face of Grover Jones from a two-season canceled zombie apocalypse show that ended in a shitty cliffhanger was not something to rejoice in. Finding out you were his twin sister and another child of a morbidly intelligent but deranged Norman Henry Jones who spent his time destroying lives and experimenting on humans? She’d vomited on the nurse’s brand-new hundred-and-fifty-dollar leather Dankso clogs.
After that, Ally had taken to somehow ensuring the survival of herself as well as saving as many possible deaths as she could without coming off like a bat-shit crazy mental patient raving about the end of the world. It wasn’t the end of the world after all – just the end of Kent Valley. And she refused to be stuck with the worse version of the breakfast club on doomsday.
Pulling out of her thoughts, Ally clicked her tongue against the rough of her mouth before telling Marco to come. Taking him back into the house, she gave him a treat for good behavior then filled his dish with his morning serving.
At this time, the Jones parents were already off to work, leaving it to their children to take responsibility for their own breakfast and transportation to Kent High School. Not that it bothered Ally any. Not having to look at the devil’s face over her oatmeal made the brown sugar and apple chunks taste all the sweeter.
Mary came down the stairs with a spring in her step as she bee-lined it for the coffee pot Ally had started before walking Marco out the back door and Grover stumbled into the kitchen soon after.
“Life substance now please,” Grover moaned as he plopped down at he breakfast table, his eyes scrunched up from lack of cleaning his face after waking up and pointed in the direction of Mary making a cup of ambrosia.
“If you’d just go to bed when Ally said to, you wouldn’t be so rundown Grover.” Mary pulled her fresh cup of coffee to her lips, blowing a little before taking a sip. She winced as the hot liquid attempted to burn her taste buds away then quickly made way to the freezer for a little ice.
“Seriously, I probably don’t even need this cup of miracles, I slept so well.” A plip noise of ice dropping into scolding coffee followed up her comment with a slight moan of joy when Mary took another sip.
“Orie doesn’t control everything about my life like yours, Mary,” Grover groused, getting up to make his own cup of coffee seeing his sisters ignoring his plight.
“If I did, I’d be the one exhausted,” Ally spoke up from the oatmeal on the stove, prepping three bowls with fresh apple chucks waiting to be downed in brown sugary porridge.
Catching Grover’s movement out of the corner of her eye, Ally ducked as a sugar cube was hurled in her direction.
“That’s how we get ants, Grover. Ants! Tiny little swarms of six-legged pests!” Mary scolded, pointing a callused finger from violin practices at her older brother.
“I’m sure they can’t be as bad as sisters,” Grover grumbled under his breath before joining said sisters at the table to eat.
“So have you thought any further on what dad suggested?” Grover spoke up, looking towards Ally with curiosity.
“About an archery club? I have and I don’t plan to start one. I still don’t understand why dad is pushing for it, I already formed a garden club. I know I took an interest over sophomore year in different things, but I enjoy practicing archery alone or with people I trust. Just because the Keller Foundation decided to put in an archery field during Junior year doesn’t mean I need to make another club my last year there.” Ally took a sip of her own coffee, happy with the cooled down but still warm temperature.
“Application marks,” Mary piped up between bites of her oatmeal. “Seriously mom and dad are the weirdest parents. They push us to have amazing grades and try new things but aren’t strict about it at all. It’s like they know we will excel and just want us to have the best on our transcripts.”
“It’s called bragging rights, Mare,” Grover stood up, taking his empty bowl to the sink. “Three talented kids compared to all their co-workers.”
“What co-workers? They work the line down at the factory,” Mary grumbled, following Grover’s example with her bowl, only rinsing it out as well.
Grover shrugged. Honestly it had been the only thing he could come up with. That and maybe they didn’t want their kids stuck working in a factory – even if the pay was pretty good.
Ally stood up from her spot and went to the sink with her dishes, giving them all a wash and placing them on the drying wrack before heading back to her room to get dressed for the day. The truth was, even she wasn’t sure about their parent’s motives.
From the show, Mrs. Jones was only mentioned on context while Mr. Jones was discovered to be the world’s biggest asshat who used his own son as an experiment. If this was anything to go by, there was a possibility all the Jones children were experiments in their own way and Norman Henry Jones was hoping to prove he had created the perfect specimens of human biology.
Opening her closet door, Ally stared for a moment of what was inside, remembering what had filled it before when she had just been Alora Jones with no knowledge of the future events that could bring about the end of the world. Back then her clothing had been any typical preppy teen. Dresses, skirts, yoga pants – honestly there had been a lot of ruffles and lace.
Now? Her style took on a punkish appeal drifting between a biker babe, a soldier, and punk rock star. Even her hair had changed after she woke up, trimming it down a tad and giving it an emo chick layered cut with colored tips. Her father had not been pleased and her mother had pinched her mouth into a tight smile. But Ally had simply promised that change of expression broadened an open mind and aided in inspiration.
Her argument had been simple; To become her very best self she had to evolve. Evolution came in stages of mental, emotional, and physical growth. Teenage trends were the route to a maturing adulthood by being able to cast off the old for the improvement of the new.
Her father ate that bullshit up with a smile. Her mother still fussed over her hair.
Marco nudged the back of her knee, alerting Ally she needed to hurry up and get changed. Deciding on a pair of cargo pants the fit snuggly around her hips but gave her legs full coverage and allowed for flexibility, Ally paired it with a long sleeve skin-tight but breathable black V-neck thermal and her usual black leather jacket. She topped it with her black military grade steel toe boots and put her long hair up in a high ponytail, letting the shorter layers that could be called bangs frame her face.
A simple swipe of black eyeliner with toned down fuchsia glitter, and clear lip gloss later, Ally was taking the steps two at a time to the front door. Grabbing her day to day backpack and archery case, she turned to Marco and gave him a kiss on the head.
“Hurry up!” Grover shouted from his jeep, slamming his hand on his horn to get Ally’s attention while Mary sat in the passenger side seat texting a friend from orchestra.
Rolling her eyes, Ally gave Marco the command to behave and wait for her to come home after school before she locked the house and walked her way over to the jeep.
“Seriously, Grover, chill! It’s Friday, not the end of the world,” Ally grumbled getting into the backseat with her things. ‘Though tomorrow is a very different story,’ she internally grimaced.
“Grover wants to see Violet Adams give a smack down.” Mary glanced over her shoulder at her big sister with a ‘duh’ expression. It was no secret in their trio that their brother was madly deeply in hormonal handcuffs for the spitfire delinquent.
“She caught her boyfriend cheating on her with Tressa Mitt. I heard it was full-on tonsil tag,” Mary continued while turning back to text on her phone.
“So, she’s single then,” Ally wiggled her eyebrows into the rearview mirror at her twin.
A blush bled over Grover’s face as he tried to avoid his sister’s stare. Though he was a naturally confident guy, Grover had always tended to follow his younger twin’s lead when it came to choosing friends and staying away from people. When he had first told Ally about Violet, Ally had told him to be careful.
Ally knew she couldn’t stop Grover’s feelings for Violet, but she was determined to make sure he didn’t end up sad and pathetic over her if Zane came in and swooped the woman off her feet later.
It may be considered meddling as well…but Violet wasn’t the only one Ally had given Grover advice about. Point in case was Barrett McIntyre waiting patiently by his motorbike for Grover to pull the jeep into it’s usual spot.
Barrett had become a millionaire over the creating and sell of an application. Rumor was he had made it with a friend then screwed said friend out of the rewards. The truth was far from it. Barrett had made the app with the assistance of one of his little brothers. To protect his little brother, he paid a fellow classmate to pretend to be partners with him. After the sell of the application, said ‘friend’ moved away and Barrett took the downfall in the eyes of his peers.
From the show’s standpoint, that was never really explained, but Ally had wanted to ensure the best chances of survival. Call her cynical or callus, but she knew by having a healthy friendship with Barrett, it would also ensure his cooperation with them at the end of times.
So she had sacrificed Grover to the clutches of who became his best friend while also providing anonymous cryptic files through Grover to Barrett, ensuring that the giant-brained potential psychopath thought Grover was actively going against the devil to expose Keller’s secrets. Barrett never asked Grover outright and Grover had no clue the information transfer was happening, so it worked seamlessly.
“Hey Barry,” Mary said as she walked by, her phone still in front of her face until she got to her friends, pocketing the devise.
Barry just shook his head at the younger Jones sibling before watching as Grover climbed out to the jeep – noting once again how his best friend appeared to be a towering wall a muscled giant. Barry, himself, was rather tall, but his frame was lanky due to refusal of physical exercise beyond that which kept his body up to healthy standard.
As Ally climbed out the backseat, he shifted to watch her navigate herself. As someone who always stood outside of his peer group, Barrett had always been observant. When Alora Jones changed from spunky preppy cheerleader to sassy punk-emo “just call me Ally” he had begun to take a higher notice of her on his radar.
Grover becoming his best friend had been an unexpected benefit to his cause, but Ally had become a personal fascination of the female discovery. Out of all the females present in his grade, only a few registered with Barrett as potential partners. Zoe Parker was his personal choice for her genetic disposition and her nurturing care of her four-year-old little brothers. She’d make a good mother and he was sure his intelligent level could make up for her average mental strength.
However, she was entangled with a Neanderthal on the basketball team. Still, he was going to try and persuade her away.
Ally met Barrett’s calculating gaze with one of her own, before a ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Pulling out her backpack and slinging it over one shoulder while carrying her archery case by the handle, she gave Barrett a slight nod of a hello before turning away towards the high school where Natalie and Zoe were no doubt waiting on her.
Grover watched his twin and best friend for a moment before clasping Barry on the shoulder. “Still chasing Zoe?”
“Of course. I still believe she should be with a superior specimen, however testosterone boosted mindless soldiers would be a waste.” Barrett replied, watching as Ally joined up with her two best friends, noting how Natalie engulfed her with a hug while Zoe gave her a simple greeting.
Grover observed Barry a moment, having grown used to the less than normal way Barrett analyzed and responded to everything. “Right, and when she eventually stops being a snow queen to anyone beneath cheer and sports, I’m sure she will warm up to you.”
“She will when she realizes the best option for a healthy future and the betterment of her offspring.”
Grover shook his head and tried not to laugh as he clapped Barry on the back again, causing his friend to nudge forward a step. Finally unable to hold back, Grover broke into a laugh as Barry glared at him.
“Come on, I wanted to see Tressa Mitt get stomped today.”
“Ah yes, the odd choice of your own future partner. Violet Adams is trouble.” Barrett snorted.
“Have you met Orie? My sister is the biggest brand of trouble, Barry. I think I can handle Violet.” Grover grinned.
Zoe was practically wrapped around LaShawn’s waist afterschool as their small group of friends sat around the archery field. They had agreed to spend the afternoon together and Ally wanted to get some practice in. Honestly everyone had seen how cheer camp before sophomore year made a change in Ally. Still, despite who she used to be, who she was seemed to keep their group together.
She had helped Zoe and Natalie rebel, making sure no one got caught when they stole some alcohol. Helped Natalie with her weight challenge and plundering confidence due to her mom as well as chased off a creep who wanted to spike Natalie's drink at a summer party. Given Noodle the confidence to admit he was bi-sexual and had a crush on Natalie. Got Barrett McIntyre, the biggest know-it all ever, a friend. And finally managed to get Mary to hit the bulls-eye on the archery target.
Okay that last one wasn’t really important, but as Zoe watched the siblings hug in celebration, she couldn’t help the creeping disappointment that worked its way into her chest. They had all remained friends, even when Zoe thought for sure a year back that Natalie was going to make her take the fall if they got caught stealing from the supermarket before Ally saved the day with screaming smoke detectors.
Yet, ever since Ally quit cheerleading and moved on to archery practice, even before the school got an archery field, Zoe had felt the ever-growing separation between her childhood friends. Natalie was taking on a more direct approach to becoming school president this year to get her mom off her back. Ally seemed distracted or disinterested most the time in going out or throwing a get-together party. Instead, her preppy best friend was more determined to work out, play in the paintball course, and learn an irrational set of skills for a senior in high school.
Zoe felt like both her friends were maturing faster than her, leaving her behind. As she watched them, she even felt that somehow Natalie and Ally had a special bond between them that she simply acted as a third wheel too, which was ridiculous.
“Ouch!” Zoe turned her head to glare at her boyfriend in semi-real irritation. “Did you just pinch me?”
LaShawn gave her that goofy grin she loved so much. “Not much there to pinch, baby. You’re flat and curvy in all the right places.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Zoe leaned in to quickly peck his lips. “And if you want to keep touching all those right places, you’d do well to keep the pinching to yourself.”
With a mischievous smile, LaShawn reached up and pinched her right nipple through her sport’s bra causing it to harden. A quiet whimper curled in Zoe’s throat as her fingers tugged into his hair. “Seems like you like it when I pinch you,” LaShawn whispered into her ear before hoisting her up closer to his body and giving her firm bottom a squeeze.
“Get a room,” Ally laughed, having put up her archery case for the day and turning to see Zoe and LaShawn ten seconds from making babies. “I’ve got a little sister watching you two degenerates.”
Mary flushed red at her sister’s words and Noodle couldn’t help but crack a joke about practice makes perfect. Natalie play-punched her boyfriend in the arm before kissing him to make it feel better when he faked crying.
“Vibe killer,” LaShawn growled out as Zoe climbed off his lap, turning his annoyed expression onto the offender.
Ally just smirked back, absolutely uncaring about having bothered the two. Sure, these had been Alora’s old friends, but when Ally had woken up from her coma and realized what was going on, she instantly wanted to beat her head against a wall. Natalie and Noodle, she could handle – they had very loyal personalities. But LaShawn and Zoe?
LaShawn was a loyal friend, but his flaw was Zoe. Zoe was selfish despite her willingness to self-sacrifice for her brothers. She lacked real courage, showing strength only to spite who she felt people perceived her as less. Zoe was a burden unless provoked and Ally didn’t have the patience to spoon feed her into action. Though she managed to spare Zoe the worry of the twins by talking Zoe’s mom into taking the twins to stay with their grandmother in Seattle for a week, she didn’t see Zoe as an actual friend. When things went south, she didn’t trust Zoe to come through or make smart choices.
If Zoe made a choice, LaShawn would follow it as long as it didn’t put Zoe in danger. That left LaShawn as a possible hindrance in any plan the group tried to work out when the time came. She knew the two would die for one another, but they wouldn’t die for the group. Their alienation from those she wanted to protect didn’t bother her. Not when she had people she wanted to see live through an incoming zombie apocalypse.
“I hear under the bleachers is the place to go – just watch out for gum,” Ally smarted back, hoisting her backpack over her shoulder and grabbing her archery case. “I’ll see you guys later; I need to check on the garden club room.”
“I’m coming too! I want to make sure the hydraulic system doesn’t need a filter change.” Natalie kissed Noodle good-bye and followed the Jones sisters back into the high school.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how everything seems to change as the years pass,” Noodle mumbled, watching them leave before glancing over at his best friend.
“That was deep coming from you bro,” LaShawn raised an eyebrow at his usual class clown best friend.
“I can be deep!” Noodle mock-glared before giving a thrust of his hips and breaking into laughter.
“I’ll be sure to send a gift basket when Natalie lets you get that far.” LaShawn laughed, ducking as both Zoe and Noodle reached out to play-smack him.
Grover finally left the computer labs where he had been hanging out with Barry after watching Violet Adams spank Tressa Mitt all over the gym. A quick text from Ally told him she was done with her afterschool activities and ready to head home for dinner. Passing the principal’s office on his way out, he heard Mr. Princeton telling Violet she had Saturday detention. Raising an eyebrow and feeling the goofy grin he usually got fall on his face, Grover decided how best to spend his Saturday while Mary had Orchestra practice and Ally tended to the garden club, she had formed that back in sophomore year before the archery field was built.