This Isn't the Zombie Apocalypse

28. I'm Like, Sure

Emily was the Lady with the Hair's name.

I learned this as we—meaning Calvin, Darell, Denton, Hunter, Andrea, and I—were heading out the door and Andrea suddenly launched herself at the lady and squeezed her tight, promising, "We'll see you soon, Emily."

Emily smiled sweetly, squeezing right on back, and said, "Yeah, see you soon, Andrea." It was sad, almost, like soon wasn't soon enough, but maybe I was reading too much into it. But, then again, people were dropping dead, and maybe it was just that soon might mean never.

I didn't dwell on the topic, though, because then we were gone, out the door and marching towards the empty Shell gas station. We clustered together against the persistent rain and ducked our heads away from the hidden sun. Everyone was strangely subdued and quiet on the way back, not loud like on the way to Emily's, and I wondered why. Did they not like living in an abandoned gas station? (I assumed not, but you never know.) Why live there in the first place? I mean, come on, strength in numbers, and if not that than smaller chances of being killed by anything, right?

As we were walking, Darell came up beside me. "Sorry about Emily," he said quietly, trying not to let anyone else hear. Water from his hair dripped down onto my shoulder. "She's a bit cold at first, like Andrea, but next time will be better." Still smiling—honestly, he never stopped, at least not for long—he just sort of... stared, like he was waiting for something.

Maybe a reply. "It's cool. I mean..." I trailed off, grasping for words. "I dunno. But I'm fine. Don't worry about me." I tried to smile back, but it was more of a tight-lipped strain than anything resembling a smile.

"So, next time, right?" Darell bumped shoulders with me, and I almost went down—which showed that I really needed to put on some weight. With muscle, preferably.

Stumbling, I thought about that. Next time? I definitely didn't see myself as sticking around long enough for a next time. If things went my way, Calvin and I would be leaving before nightfall. Maybe, if I was feeling generous, I would allow this ragtag group of people to come along, but I doubted it—if I didn't need a ride and he wasn't so stubborn, Calvin probably wouldn't have come either. I would have managed to leave him behind one way or another if the need arose. Running was always an option, if slower. Slyly steadying myself, I clapped Darell on the shoulder. "Uh, I don't think so, buddy. We'll be leaving soon."

Darell got this shocked look on his face and then it kind of crumpled, as if this was news. I didn't understand why he seemed so hurt because Calvin and I made our intention of leaving pretty clear early on. "Oh, it's just that—well, you know... Never mind."

"Okay." I shrugged. "I'm—"

"It's just that it gets boring. Suffocating. I mean, it's just the four of us, and sometimes we go visit Emily, but we don't do anything really. Just talk about, like, the world goin' downhill and how we all need to be prepared and all that crap. The most interesting thing that happens is when Andrea and Emily get into debates about this theory or that in whatever topic they've somehow studied. Denton doesn't like it either, but he can handle it somehow. I just... I want to leave." Darell eyes shift to me, openly staring. Water droplets slid down his nose, and he sniffled. "Or have someone new stick around."

Well, obvious invitation, but I didn't want to stick around either. It sounded boring, and actually having to live it would kill me in about a week. It may not have been the best lifestyle, but I had grown used to being constantly on the move; trapped in one small space with four other people was about the last thing I wanted, right behind being trapped in a huge city full of people. (The last was seeing Death—or even Life—any time soon, and being in one place for too long always led to an unwanted visit.)

"You could always just leave if it's that bad." It just came out, totally against my better judgment—no, it came out before I had even fully formed the thought.

For the first time, Darell full out frowned, eyebrows knitting together tightly. "What about Denton?"

I was nervous now, wondering what I had gotten myself into and how I could possibly stop this conversation. "Would he leave, too?"

"I don't know. Maybe. What if he doesn't? What would you do?" He looked so earnest, genuinely conflicted.

I internally sighed and cursed any sort of soul or conscious I still had. "If he's happy or content and not dying or anything terrible... I would leave."

"Really?" He sounded surprised.

I waved at Calvin a little ahead of us. "I met him, like, a week ago. Not even." And, wow, was that really it? "Before that, I was on my own for over a year."

"Where'd you live?"

"Everywhere." And, yeah, I complained, and it sucked, and I never saw anyone or went anywhere too crowded with people, and I was always worried about Death finally catching me and finding the Other, but there were some cool places I had gone. Some really amazing places.

"Oh." Darell was quiet for a moment. "Could I go with you?"

And this was it, the big question, the one that I didn't want to answer. Thinking, I chewed on my bottom lip, and then I shrugged, like, whatever. "If you're ready, I guess. And if you bring enough food. And don't have terrible B.O."

Darell snorted, shaking his head as—yep—yet another smile spread across his face. "Nah, my body odor is just like any other boy's."

"That's terrible," I deadpanned.

Darell laughed loudly then, attracting the rest of the group's attention, but he didn't seem to mind. "Okay," he chuckled. "I think I can manage that."

I rolled my eyes, but maybe I was smiling. Just a bit.