Manifestation

17: Hovering

"Negative." I said as handed the test to Zoey.

"Hey, all I asked is that you took one. It's better to know." She put her hands up in defense.

"My period is coming up. It's probably just that."

"Or you are just a moody brat that can't keep her temper."

I punched her playfully in the arm and she grinned.

We walked out of the bathroom together and back down the stairs to the runway.

"Who was the father?" I asked.

She looked up at the sun high in the sky. "It doesn't matter anymore. He is dead now."

I looked down at my feet.

"You know how you said to find other people you love? Michael was that 'other people.'"

"Zoey, I-"

"Don't apologize for something you didn't do. I just have to move on now."

I hadn't realized how much she had went through. All she got was rejected and bullied. She just wanted to live a regular life, sadly that was taken from all of us.

"Life sucks." She chuckled.

"Life does suck. But would would it be any different if we had a crappy president instead of a zombie apocalypse? Or high unemployment rates? Mother Nature is always going to find ways to make life a living hell." I picked at the raw skin around my fingernails.

"Where do you get all of this stuff?"

"What stuff?"

"Your...... smartness. You speak from the heart. I can't do that."

"Practice." I chuckled. "And tough circumstances."

We came up to Ryan's plane.

"Have fun!" She laughed as she jogged away.

I hesitated before I walked up to the door. I saw his head of thick brown hair sitting in one of the chairs. I opened the door and stepped inside. He jerked up and saw me standing there. His face got red. He stood up and took a step towards me.

"What the hell, Arizona?! You went outside and almost killed yourself! You can't just do stupid stuff like that! Stupid gets you killed! You scared me! You scared Jane! You were throwing up! I thought the Virus was coming back!" He yelled. I had never seen him this mad.

"You have a right to be angry at me. I'm sorry but you need to let me be me. I can take care of myself, I'm a big girl. We have gone over this-"

"Yes! We have gone over this! But you can't throw yourself in situations like that! Sure, a run in with a creeper at camp is fine but jumping the fence?! You aren't allowed to kill yourself without giving me a reason first!"

"I killed them didn't I? I killed all of them. I'm still here! Not a scratch! Maybe you should stop doubting me! I survived the friggin Virus! I think a few creepers are the least of my worries!" My face got hot.

He was silent. I knew he couldn't come up with any other defense.

"I'm done." I walked to the overhead compartment and pulled my clothes out.

"What are you doing?"

"I think we need a break." I said as I pulled out a pair of jeans.

"Arizona-"

I turned around. "I just need some space, okay? I don't want a hover boyfriend."

His face flushed white. "I'm not hovering-"