Stanley and Zero had survived the desert and were now living in a small town not too far from where they had escaped from Camp Green Lake. They had taken up residence in a rundown motel, sharing a room and what little they had.
Their days were filled with odd jobs around town, anything to make enough money to afford food and shelter. Despite the challenges they faced, Stanley and Zero were happy. They had each other, and that was all that mattered.
One day, Stanley suggested that they go on a date. He had been thinking about it for a while, wondering if Zero felt the same way he did. He had always been drawn to Zero's quiet strength and determination, and he found himself thinking about him more and more each day.
Zero was hesitant at first, unsure of what a date entailed. But Stanley assured him that it would be fun and that he had everything planned out. Finally, Zero reluctantly agreed.
They dressed up in their best clothes - Stanley in a simple button-up shirt and jeans, and Zero in a clean white t-shirt and pants. They walked through the town, hand in hand, attracting a few curious glances but ignoring them.
They arrived at a small restaurant, and Stanley led Zero to their reserved table. They ordered food and talked about their dreams, their hopes for the future, and their favorite memories.
Stanley found himself growing increasingly drawn to Zero as the night wore on. He loved the way his eyes sparkled when he laughed or smiled, and he found himself wanting to reach out and brush his fingers over Zero's soft cheek.
As they finished their meal, Stanley mustered up the courage to ask Zero a question that had been on his mind since they had escaped from the camp.
"Zero," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you remember when we fell through that hole in the desert?"
Zero nodded, his expression curious.
"There was something I wanted to do, but I never got the chance," Stanley continued. "And I've been thinking about it a lot lately."
"What is it?" Zero asked, his voice soft but earnest.
Stanley reached across the table and took Zero's hand in his. "This..."
He leaned in and gently pressed his lips to Zero's. At first, Zero was surprised, unsure of what to do. But then he relaxed, and his lips moved in response to Stanley's kiss.
It was a gentle kiss, full of hope and promise. They pulled away, and Stanley looked into Zero's eyes, searching for a sign of how he felt.
"I know we're still figuring things out," Stanley said, feeling a lump form in his throat. "But I just wanted to tell you how I feel. I care about you, Zero. More than I've cared about anyone else."
Zero smiled softly. "I care about you too, Stanley. More than you know."
They finished their date, feeling happier than they had in a long time. As they walked back to their motel, hand in hand, Stanley felt a sense of contentment that he had never experienced before.
This was just the beginning of their relationship, but Stanley felt confident that they had a bright future ahead of them. Together, they could face anything.
