Deep Freeze

>>>13<<<

"There has to be something you can do... at least to save my baby." Kate was pleading with Keith and Cynthia, to come up with a solution that wouldn't involve killing her, or her unborn child.

The survivors stood by the mall doors, along with Keith and Cynthia. The building's interior looked relatively normal. The only odd thing, was that the escalator wasn't running.

"I'm sorry," Keith let out a long sigh.
"I don't think we can help either of you."

"Please don't kill me," Kate choked. Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.
"P-please.."

"We'll throw her out." Cynthia said coldly.

"That's not fair!" Leslie snapped.
"At least wait and see if she's infected!"

Keith stepped between Cynthia, and Leslie and Kate.
"We'll put her in a storage closet... and-"

"Fine, whatever." Cynthia stormed off, with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Bitch." Sam murmured. He leaned against a wall, to take weight off his injured leg.

"I'm sorry about her," Keith sighed. "I know she's not the nicest person.. but-"

"Not the nicest person?" Sam scoffed. "She seems like a mean motherfu-"

Without warning, Leslie slapped him across the face.

"What the hell?" Sam clapped a hand over his cheek, which now had a red mark.

"Stop swearing in front of the little kids!" Leslie exclaimed, her hands curled into fists.

"Fuck.... you." Sam said slowly, dragging out each word. A defiant gleam was present in his eye, along with a slight smirk at his lips.

"I... am going... to kill you." Leslie growled. She began stalking toward him.
A murderous look was painted on her face.

"You're gonna kill me, just cause I said fu-"

Leslie slapped him again, this time harder. Since he was balancing on one leg, he stumbled and fell on his side. He hit the floor with a thud.

"Leslie!" Johnny shouted, while Kate was ushered away by Keith.
"Be nice to him."

"Yeah, quit tryin' to hurt me." Sam was helped off the ground by Wayne. He tossed Leslie a flirty grin, which just angered her more.

She huffed, and her gaze wandered to the floor.

~~~~~~~

"He likes you, you know." Joelle whispered. She merrily twirled a plastic fork in her fingers.

She and Leslie, sat in the food court. Everyone else had eaten dinner that night, and were lying on blowup mattresses.

"What?" Leslie murmured. She shoved a large spoonful of applesauce in her mouth.

"Sam. He likes you."

Leslie scoffed.
"He's annoying... and how would you know?"

"Well," Joelle's words were muffled by a mouthful of potato chips.
"Every time he's around you, his pupils dilate.. and he blushes a little, not to mention I've caught him checking you out a bunch of times."

"I don't like him." Leslie said plainly. She looked away, feeling her cheeks heating up.

"Yeah, sure." Joelle teased. "You pick on him, more than anyone else."

"Yeah, I think he's attractive... Now let's change the subject. You think Kate's gonna be alright?"

Joelle chuckled softly, and shook
her head.
"I hope so." She released a long yawn, which she muffled with her hand.
"I'm going to get some rest, goodnight."

"Yeah."

Joelle feigned a smile, before standing up and heading to where the others were sleeping.

Leslie stuffed one last bite of applesauce in her mouth. It felt nice on her dried throat.
She followed Joelle, lagging behind slightly.

She plopped down on a mattress next to Sam's. In the dim lighting, she could tell that he was fast asleep.
He lied on his side, facing Leslie. His chest rose and fell slowly, with each relaxed breath.

Leslie stared at him, better examining his facial features. He smiled in his sleep, and a dimple appeared in his right cheek.

"Shit, he's got a dimple." Leslie whispered to herself.

Sam's eyes sleepily fluttered open.
"What?"

"Nothing," Leslie said quickly. "Goodnight."

Sam groaned, and turned over, with his back to Leslie. She heard him yawn, and mumble something.

Leslie sighed, and lied down. Her breathing slowed, and she soon drifted off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Leslie," Sam's voice disturbed her slumber.
"It's late, you want breakfast?"

Leslie shot upright, and squinted at the rays of sun seeping through the mall windows.

"Yeah, I guess." Leslie yawned lazily. Sam raised an eyebrow, and Leslie gave him a questioning look.

"Were ya starin' at me last night?" He asked.

"You were probably dreaming." Leslie said gruffly. She blushed, and her gaze shifted to the floor.

"Okay, because that would be really creepy."

"Mhm..."

Sam's eyes darted to her lips for a moment.
"Anyway," he said, licking his own lips.
"We'd better get going."

"Yeah..."

Bang!.... Bang! Bang!

Gunshots punctuated the air, breaking the peaceful afternoon....