Last Dawn of a Horde

Chapter Ten: The Showdown ~3 James

~James~

I wanted to sleep. I really do. I’ve been up for so many days with my friends and I only got about less than a full day of sleeping hours from decent sleep. Decent sleep meant this—sleeping on a soft and fluffy bed with down feather pillows.

But on my count, as I saw Jimmy enter the boys room, (yeah, girl and boys are divided by the principal,) he brought up too much light I woke up with stinging eyes, and he was the third guy to sneak out of the room in spite of kept home rules by the Guns couple.

The first guy to sneak out was Jules. Next was Leo, (I was wondering why he haven’t insisted on staying with the girls,) and the latest was Jimmy. I don’t know what’s with the cold night that they kept on waking me up indistinctively, but they all smell like coffee.

Because of interrupting my good night’s sleep, I think I want to grab some coffee, too.

I wake up John, and while he didn’t try to slap me upside the head, I noticed that both Jimmy and Jules looked so happy tonight—their lips forming a smile that must’ve reached their ears. I just don’t know what happened to them, maybe their crush (who were just a wall next to us,) talked to them after so many days, or that they can finally have a good sleep.

We’re on the kitchen grabbing milky coffee, (Mrs. Guns wouldn’t be too happy about her cream getting so overused,) and John kept on placing his hands below his chin to keep his face from falling. His eyes were tightly shut, and his brows are furrowed. I was in the opposite mood—as early as one o’ clock I’m awake, my spirits up. I finally don’t have to worry about zombies lurking around.

I went on to the table with two cups and saucers full with steaming coffee whiter than John or me. John kept on frowning, like he had a hangover from drinking.

“Why you have waked me up,” John groaned, “I was so near to that kiss on my dreams.”

I chuckled weakly, not wanting to wake up sleeping people. I began sipping my cup, and the warmth quickly went down my stomach, sending me a tingle.

I began to wonder who used the coffeemaker, because it was just left there, with drips of hot chocolate, I was sure. I cleaned it up, not wanting Mrs. Guns to have a bad look on us. None of us should mess up with this setup, right? Because I feel so safe here at the Guns mansion.

John smelled his coffee, eyes closed. “Too much milk and sugar, James Stan.”

I chortled. “You guessed?”

John’s eyes opened, and they were bloodshot. “No, I didn’t,” he sarcastically said. Now, after ten minutes had passed, with the sound of our sipping coffee filled the kitchen, it dawned on me why have I asked John to have a coffee with me at this early. To talk?

“I saw Jules wake up,” John groaned. He started taking his hot coffee. I just wondered if it scalded his tongue or something, but he wasn’t saying anything.

“And Jimmy,” I added. “What did they do?”

John shrugged. “Do I read minds?”

After a while, John finally opened his eyes, full. He kept on rubbing his eyes, and when I asked him if he’ll sleep afterwards, he said no.

“Are you a joker or something? Waking my insides and asking me to sleep again when I can’t? Uh uh, no. I’ll scout over here.”

I nudged him. “Are you crazy or something? There are no zombies around. The place’s peaceful. Quiet. We can live here peacefully.”

Suddenly his expression darkened. He dropped the cups on the sink, and opened the faucet. “You know that’s impossible, James.”

“Why?” I said, sounding astounded. Why wouldn’t he want to stay here? Principal Guns and his wife are both nice to us, (when you’re not counting some of their house rules,) and in fact, they serve delicious food here. The gardens were so wide and green I feel like strolling and playing there with John and the others, frolick by the grass like outgrown kids. The rooms are temperature-controlled, and there’s this nice terrace that looks about the whole garden. We could live here peacefully together.

But then he opens a topic I couldn’t resist on escaping, or much less, a topic I want to take.

“What about our families? We’ll just sit our asses here, live an easy life away from the zombies, while them…they weren’t sure if…if they’re be alright, if ever they still exist—“ John said.

“That was for your case, friend,” I said defiantly. “I don’t have a family.”

“You do, James. Mr. Riggins told me,” said John, his eyes unsettling.

“They found my parents?”

“Yes, James. You weren’t some kind of kid that just popped on the doors of the orphanage,” said John. “You have a mother and father waiting for you.”

I don’t want to get angry at John, my best friend, but at the same time, maybe I shouldn’t push everything. Maybe it would be best to let the sleeping dogs lie.

“Waiting for me?” I muttered while opening the ref, trying to remember what I was getting. “If they are, why let me spend my childhood days in a lonely orphanage?”

John was trying to convince me, I feel that. But I just don’t want the topic, I want to drop it off my shoulder, but at the same moment I don’t want to hurt him.

“They just left you off because they are working for the army,” added John. I finally got the cold water, and I closed the ref. “They were working for the country. For you.”

“Ugh, John, don’t believe Mr. Riggins,” I countered. “Sometimes I doubt his sanity’s reliability.”

“Well, just…” John said, sounding concluding, “just don’t try to get absorbed on our temporary lives here, because…we still have families to return to. My parents, and my two sisters…They must be waiting for me.”

I settled down a glass of water, and looked at John, trying to look positive. “Okay. I’ll try to. But can you please consider our life here? We’re together, Josephites surviving a deadly plague, taking the world arm by arm.”

John sighed. He nods. My best friend taps my back as I gulp cold water. Instantly I felt better.

He turns, and he seemed to look like he’s going for a walk.

“Where are you heading?” I asked after returning the wares I used.

He smiles. “A stroll on the garden.”