So Long and G'night

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I sigh an exasperated sigh and mutter, “Please get off my shoulder, Ally... it's really numb.” The girl doesn't move. Great... this is what I get for falling asleep, unaware of my surroundings. I glance around the car to find Ritsu talking to Carl, a covered coffee cup in one of the redhead's hands and a Boston creme donut in the other.

He turns around and smiles brightly. “Oh good Kenny, you're awake! You want a donut?” I lift up my eyebrow, thoroughly confused of where he got donuts at this time of an apocalypse. “Oh, I guess you're confused. We passed a Dunkin' Donuts, so Ritsu and I decided to stop and collect what was left of the wreckage.” Wreckage? Is that what minimum wage employees do when they've been modified into zombies? Zombified?

Ritsu's hands steady on the wheel, striving her best not to lose focus of the road. “You think there are any bodies lying on the way, just waiting to be driven over?” Shane snickers, obviously now awake. The raven-haired girl lets out a squeal as the car swerves a bit, and I smack Shane on the shoulder for worrying her. “Well sorry if I'm stating the obvious. Carl, you got any marble glazed?” He hands over the pastry to the blonde, who happily digs in while Danielle starts to stir from his chewing.

She slowly rubs her temples with her fingers. “What happened...?” she mutters. “What time is it?”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“It's 3:04 PM, Danielle,” I sigh. Everyone's still silent about a few hours ago, I see. Luckily, Sleeping Beauty over here wakes up to change the subject. She realizes where her head has been and quickly slaps me. “Why... just why.” I instinctively raise my hand to my face, though pain isn't felt.

“Because you will never, under any circumstances, be my pillow again!”

“Too late for that,” Shane remarks, a wide grin on his face while he winks at me. In return, I give him the finger. “So Carl, are we almost at Virginia?”

“Yeah, you're looking at it,” he bores. We all immediately stare outside into the wonderland of trees. The top still seems to be open so—even if it is a few degrees below freezing-to-death—I stand up and raise my arms on either side of me. Danielle moves over as Shane does the same thing, and we soak in the glory of it all. Ah, the sweet breeze. “Nothing like the good ol' notice of being late.” I can literally hear Carl gritting his teeth, even with all the wind.

“Is it ever this nice in New Jersey?” Shane laughs, and I can't help but shrug and crack a smile. Seeing how cold it is, I breathe out some of the hot air in my body, revealing a visible gas in the air. Only for a bundle of seconds, though, as it fades away through my face when we drive.

After ten more minutes of searching, we find a Shell gas station, and Ritsu parks next to the self-station. Carl gets out of the car and strolls up to the machine, peering at the screen. “Uh...” He turns towards us, sweat rolling down his forehead. “Anyone have some money with them?”