Romancing the Slayer

Just a couple of nuts

"We aren't secret military anything." Cam laughed at Avery. He seemed like he was still in a slight panic, but I didn't know what to do about it. I wasted my life away watching zombie movies and playing "Left4Dead". My social life was more dead than the zombies that wander aimlessly outside. Cam was the only person I'd had any interaction with since... middle school! She's been my best friend for forever and a half.

"Would you like some tea, Avery? It helps with nerves... I think." I spoke up, snapping out of my own little La La Land. Looking over at him, I offered a sweet smile as he nodded and got up. Grabbing the tea kettle, I filled it up and grabbed an old Batman coffee mug that I had in the cabinet and set it on the counter top. Realizing that Ryan was the last to make tea, I knew that the tea bags were up where I couldn't reach them. Sighing, I silently cursed myself for being vertically challenged... As though he saw me struggling, Avery walked over and grabbed the tea bags off the shelf and set them down. Looking over at him, I smiled. "Thanks."

"It, really, should be me thanking you." He said as he leaned against the counter as I got things ready for the water.

"Sugar?"

"Two scoops. Juliet, I don't think you realize-"

"Honey and lemon?"

"Sure." He sighed and shook his head, I think I was frustrating him a little with my interruptions. "Juliet, you saved my ass. Who knows how much longer it would have been before those things came busting through my door. I didn't have anything to defend myself with! I would have been fucked!"

"Avery. You had plenty to defend yourself with. You just don't think the way I do." I said. It made me seem like I was some kind of serial killer, but it was how I had to think in these times. "You don't have to thank me." I said as I poured the hot water into the cup and stirred everything together. "I'm not going to say that you would have done the same, since you didn't know I existed prior to today. But I'm sure that you'll pay me back some how." I smiled at him and handed him the mug. "Becareful, it's hot." I warned before making myself a cup, grabbing my favorite spider-man coffee mug off the shelf. "Cam! Tea?"

"I'm good! Thanks!" She called back. She was sitting on the couch, talking to Ryan about how he and Avery needed to start thinking differently in these times. "As a bad guy in a show Juliet and I used to watch once said, 'In these times, you either kill, or you die.' Even though the guy was a total prick, that holds true to life now."

"Yeah, but there are no sexy hillbillies named Daryl to come save us." I called over with a laugh.

I'd always had the misfortune of having great hearing. Things that I didn't want to hear, were usually things that I heard a lot. Living in a dormitory with paper thin walls was horrible. I had to sleep with headphones in. I suppose, my misfortune of great hearing, is a blessing now. Now I could hear walkers over a distance and figure out which way they're going. It helped Cam and I stay alive longer. Cam was an amazing shot for when we got cornered by the walkers. It's insane! I've seen her kill three with one bullet! It was CRAZY!

Looking back at Avery, I smiled at him. The tea seemed to be calming him down a little bit, which was a good thing. He needed to start thinking differently from here on out. I didn't know how to have that conversation with him. Looking down, into my cup, I watched as the cute little spidey face became more and more visible as the cup became more and more empty. How the hell am I going to explain to Avery that everything is a weapon now? How am I going to tell him that everyone that he ever knew, and loved, are probably one of them... That if he was faced with one of them, he had to kill them...? My cup was now empty, so I lowered it and sighed. Looking back up at Avery, he was, also, finished with his tea.