•Thicker Than Blood•

•Chapter 9•

Finally, the end of the day had come. Sherry and Genevieve had blossomed into a beautiful friendship once the suspicion and anxiety blew over. When Sherry finally finished her testing, she joined her in the cafeteria. Where the both of them went and sat outside while they ate their lunch. They talked for the entire period, until they were sent to separate classrooms. Once school was over, they met up at the main exit and got on the bus together.

Once again, they sat together. Rather than the heavy silence they shared in the beginning, they were chatting throughout the entire bus ride. They talked about their parents and how strange their work could be. Sherry opened up about being an orphan and losing her parents during the t-virus outbreak. Genevieve opened up about losing her father to an unknown circumstance. How it affected their family.  Her mother was often gone while she remained home alone, despite only being twelve years old.

Of course, Sherry also opened up about her new found family. Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy. Sherry rambled on about how they said they weren't together, but would be great together. Genevieve even admitted to thinking they were married due to how casual they'd eeeee together. How she caught a glimpse of Claire leaning on Leon while their bus headed to the school. Sherry was ecstatic to know she wasn't the only one seeing it! Considering she hadn't seen many true romances in her life... none other than the movies she watched while her parents slaved away at work.

Soon, their conversation would have to end however. The bus arrived at their stop. As predicted , Leon and Claire were already there waiting for her. Claire had a big grin plastered on her face as soon as she saw the girl get off the bus with her new found friend. They were laughing together as they got off the bus. When it was time to depart, Sherry waved to Genevieve and made her way over to Leon and Claire.

"So, it wasn't so bad after all, huh?" Claire asked, giving Sherry a playful nudge.

"Not at all! It was a little scary at first... but Genevieve and I hung out together at lunch. I got to take my test... and my test should be graded tomorrow! Then I should get a proper schedule." She explained.

"Perfect! See? I told you it would be okay!" She held up her fist and Sherry bumped it with her own.

Leon seemed to be focused on something else though, looking ahead and down the road. His eyebrows furrowed in a way that made him seem confused. As the other little girl walked down the road alone. Considering her and Sherry were only around twelve years old, he found it strange to see her walking home alone. They were still so young and this certainly wasn't a setting you'd expect to see a little girl walking down the side of the road in.

"Sherry, isn't that your friend?" He asked, pointing to Genevieve in the distance.

"Oh, yeah. Her mom is probably at work. Her dad isn't exactly... around." Sherry explained.

"So, she's going home alone?"

"Yeah, she says she's normally home alone."

Leon bit the inside of his cheek, sneaking a glance towards Claire as if to signal his worry. Claire returned the glance and gave him a small nod, acknowledging that she understood. The both of them looked back towards Sherry, smiles on each of their faces.

"Well, glad to hear you've had a good day. Let's head home, shall we?" Claire waved them over to the truck that was parked on the side of the road.

Smiling, Sherry ran ahead of Leon and Claire. She opened the door to the backseat and immediately jumped inside. She threw her book bag to the other side of the plush bench that was the backseat. Laughing along with her, Claire made a hustle to the driver's seat, that she never allowed Leon to touch unless completely necessary. He had no idea why she still held that one crash against him! They were in the apocalypse, for Pete's sake! Nonetheless, Leon took his rightful spot in the passenger's seat.

"I take it you don't have any homework?" Claire asked, starting up the car and pulling off onto the actual road. Making a quick 3-point turn in order to get on.

"Nope, not today at least. I probably won't till I get my classes in order." Sherry responded.

"Good to hear. We can do something fun before Leon goes to work tonight." Claire grinned.

"Oh? What do you have in mind then, red?" Leon questioned.

"I was thinking we could explore that property of ours a bit more. There's a forest back there, yknow."

"A small one, I bet."

"Oh, hush, rookie. It's something."

There was silence for a moment, then, per usual, there was an outbreak of laughter within the confines of the truck. Despite not even being all together for a year yet, they already felt like a family. They may have lost just about everything after the outbreak of Raccoon City. Though, they did gain something too. Family. Something much more valuable than anything material. A bond so close that something only as traumatizing as that could bring them together. They all shared a silent agreement that they would protect each other. They had been there for one another through hell and back. That bond was stronger and thicker than any blood could ever be.

Soon enough, they'd arrive back to their property. Per usual, they parked their car and headed back into the house they made into a home together. The air was warm and colors were vibrant. The curtains waved gently with the draft. The floorboards creaked as if to give a warm welcome to the returning family. Once the door was shut behind them, Sherry headed up the stairs to her room. Each step creaked under her weight like the old house it was. Smiling, she set her bag against the wall and laid down on her bed. Looking up at the ceiling.

She finally felt as though she was at home. Something she never truly had.

Something she craved more than anything.