Zombie's Guide to Falling in Love *Chanlix Edition*

Step 3: Signs of Interest

Chan had always been pretty good with schedules. Time management was an issue, yes, but he never missed a deadline and had never been late to anything in his entire life. Patterns and routines and predictability were his thing and he took great pride in following a precise schedule even in death (anything that could make him feel more like himself, he did; and if that meant learning other peoples' schedules to adapt his around or oftenly checking the clock on the main office building so he's aware of each hour that passes by, then so be it).

But since he gradually learns when everything is supposed to happen, he is also very hyper aware of when something that he plans for doesn't occur. And then he becomes antsy and kind of grumpy: cue the restless pacing zombie.

He was eager so he may or may not have started his day earlier than usual: wandering back and forth within the quad in case his new freckled friend was feeling like getting a head start on the day as well. This lasted from about seven to nine (give him a break: it's not like he had anything better to do) before he eventually got impatient enough to go pay Twice a visit in case he had somehow missed Felix or if the boy had gone a different way than usual (it's okay that the boy isn't as predictable; how would he know that Chan has committed his pathways and daily tasks to memory? How would he know that there was a zombie waiting for him in the exact shadowy corner he emerges from at eleven o'clock in the morning everyday? Chan is only mildly disappointed that Felix wasn't early).

Sadly, there were no signs of an alive male with Twice either (he waited with them until ten before huffing and trudging back down the tedious set of stairs that he has stumbled upon only three times in his entire existence as a nonliving dude). But it's alright, Chan has to periodically remind himself, Felix wasn't technically late. And just because Chan lived by the saying that early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable, doesn't mean everybody else does so he can't be overly bothered by this.

One just can't keep their hopes up in the apocalypse; it's like rule number two of survival, the first one being don't get touched by the undead (not that he's really keeping track of rules, anymore at least. He's dead, not dumb; everybody has a set of rules while they're alive. He's not weird, don't judge).

And one can't be disappointed or hissy when things inevitably don't go their way (but he's a zombie so maybe he can just do whatever he wants?). He goes back down to the quad and wanders around for another hour.

Nothing changes even as the clock's small hand makes its rounds. There are less undead limping about than usual, an observation that slightly pinches at his nonexistent nerves, and a naive alive person would most certainly see that as a good sign, optimistically wondering if the zombies have moved on to a new area; a wise alive person would know that it is a good sign but for an entirely different reason. It is not that the zombies have lessened in numbers or found a different place to spend their days hovering within; no, they have simply found something, or someone, to occupy them for the time being. The undead are not mentally complex enough to try and leave a fenced-in place by choice, like this campus; they may just turn and walk in the other direction when met with an obstacle. Meandering and meandering, in basically circles, until one of the large gates are opened or if something living, beating, breathing just so happens to catch their attention on the other side.

There weren't many people on the other side and, if there were any at all, they wouldn't be caught entering or being anywhere near an abandoned and highly infested high school.

Something already inside the campus has called for some undead spectating. That's great for the other people trying to survive, a good sign if you're hardened and conditioned to the selfishness that being a living person in a zombie apocalypse so calls for; not so great for the person causing the distraction, a bad sign if you're being chased or corned or fearing for your life with no one around to hear or care about your screams and pleads.