Zombie Town

Chapter 15

When I went to school the next day, I hadn't expected it to be so difficult to see Greg again. At first, I tried to ignore him completely; I didn't think he noticed. Deep inside, I hoped he took another day off but then english class came. 

I walked into the classroom, I expected people to be crowding around his desk, drooling over him, asking him what happened, and signing his cast. But everyone was in their seats and Greg's desk was empty. Instead of listening to my thoughts, I tried to focus on the class, even though it was utterly unimportant, but I couldn't help myself from wondering where he was?

Did he stay home again?

Was he in worse condition?

Was he ignoring me?

I buried my head in my hands in misery and waited for the day to be over. It seemed like centuries went by until the bell rang for lunch. 

My hands fiddled with my locker as I put away my books. 

"Where were you during english class today?" I asked as I closed my locker. 

"I was at the nurse, my leg was killing me."

Greg stood in front of me. He on crutches and had a big white cast around his leg. I noticed that people signed their names in sharpie marker all over it. Even though he was crippled, he was still as admirable as he was before. I couldn't handle the pressure and more, so I threw my arms around his neck and held on to him tight; not so tight though because I didn't want to make him even more crippled. 

He lost his balance a little bit, but he put his hand against the locker to support his weight. With his free hand, he wrapped it around waist and hugged me back. 

"I missed you," he whispered into my hair. 

"I missed you too." 

I wanted to stay there forever, holding him, but I had to let go even though I dreaded doing so. The bell rang and we were officially late, but neither of us cared. 

"How are you doing?" I asked keeping in mind that I was grateful to have him still standing in front me. 

"Um, it hurts still but I'll be fine. I get off the crutches in a few days."

"That's good." He scratched the back of his head. 

"That's good," I repeated quietly. 

We stood in silence for a while until he asked,"Thanks for everything Justine. I don't even know what happened really. I was laying in bed and then someone put something over my mouth. The next thing I know, I'm in this dark room and someone's beating the shit out of me."

I bit my lip bitterly, furious with whoever did such a thing to him. 

"Martha told me everything that happened," Greg mumbled. 

"You're welcome," I replied. "I'm just glad that you're alive." It was too hard to look into his eyes. 

He must've seen the pain that it put me in because he gently lifted my chin up so that my eyes could meet his. 

"Everything's okay," he whispered. "We'll be okay. 

I nodded lightly and he bent down to kiss my cheek. His gesture gesture gave me comfort. 

"So how is your investigation going?"

I shook my head. "It's been going nowhere. Problem after problem has been piling on top of my life, creating a heap of drama."

"You sound cranky. It's kind of hot," Greg said. 

I smiled because Greg was back and his lame flirtations were as well. 

"Have you gone hunting lately?"

"No."

"That explains it."

Happiness sept through the holes in my heart. 

"I've really missed that," I said.

"Missed what?"

"You're weirdness."

He laughed at me. "So what have you been up to besides hunting down this stalker person?"

Cameron. It just popped into my head, but I would never say that to him. 

"Mostly just thinking about you." I sounded like a total nerd for saying it, but it was true; plus it was the only answer I could come up with that wouldn't hurt his feelings. 

Greg blushed a little bit and I smiled. 

"Do you want to come over after school today? You know, to find out some more stuff about Owen Patel," Greg asked, rebounding from his awkward moment. 

"I'm not really welcome at your house anymore."

"Oh, right. How about Martha drives me to your house? Is that fine?"

"Yeah it's fine," I replied. 

He smiled. "Okay, I'll see you later." He hopped away on his crutches. 

My problems had gone away when I was with Greg, but as soon as he left, they returned as well. It was then that I realized that I was digging a bigger hole for myself. I needed to find out about Owen Patel and leave Holdenburg. Fast.