The Zombie Zovels (Book 1): Zombie Suburbia (15 page)

The sound of a toilet seat clonking down woke me up. I slowly opened my eyes and stretched,
noticing I was alone in the bed. I sat up and checked the time on the nightstand 5.20pm.
Wow, I must have been tired. Where's Lane?
I followed the sounds of running water to the bathroom. Lane stood in his boxers using a washcloth
to clean his upper torso down, it was still smeared with dry blood.
“Hey,” I said, leaning against the door-frame.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.”
“It's okay. I'm pretty sure my stomach would have woken me up any minute. I'm starving!”
“Me too.” he said.
“How does a bowl of dry cereal sound? No milk, though, I'm all out.” I joked.
“Dry cereal sounds great.” He grinned at me.
“I need to change those for you,” I said, noticing the blood had seeped through his gauzes. “I found
another First Aid kit, so we've got plenty of extra gauze and stuff.”
“All right, but let's eat first.”
I turned to leave, and he called me back.
“Alex,”
“Yeah?”
“I found a deck of cards.”
“Cool, I think we're gonna be up late seeing as we slept through most of the day.”
I opened the curtains, outside was dull and drizzly. I found the two bowls I had taken from the
kitchen and filled them with dry cereal and stuck a spoon in each one. I spread the map across the
bed, and sat down, eating my cereal, looking at our options. The map was ripped and the rest was
covered in dry mud, it needed a clean before I could figure out where we were.
Lane walked back in, saw the map, and frowned.
“Where do you think we should go from here?” I asked.
He didn't answer, instead, he grabbed the map and folded it back up.
“Hey! I was looking at that.”
“Can we pretend for a few days that this shit pit of a world outside doesn't exist.”
He opened the nightstand drawer and shoved the map inside and closed the drawer again.
“I'm just saying, we should come up with a plan. Decide where we're headed.”
Lane picked up his bowl and sat against the headboard, staring at the blank TV.
I turned away and sat on the edge of the bed. Then I noticed the chair.
“What's all that?” I asked, walking over to get a proper look. A small bundle of clothes, male Tshirts, gaming magazines, a packet of gum, a bottle of alcohol, a deck of cards, a Stephen King
novel, and a box of condoms.
“Where did you find all this?” I asked, looking back at him.
“From that car.”
“What! You went back to that abandoned car on your own?”
“It's fine, Alex, there's no one here... well, no zombies anyway. I didn't even see a squirrel or
rabbit.”
“How long have you been awake?” I asked.
“Since three.”
“You should have woken me.” I said, shoving another mouthful of cereal into my mouth.
“Come sit back down.”
I walked back to the bed, noticing a pile of keys on the other nightstand beside him. It was all the
other room keys.
“Lane!” I said, giving him a scolding look.
“I just wanted to check it out, and good thing I did. I found a bunch of candles in room four.”
“And where'd you get this?” I asked, picking up an unopened bottle of alcohol from the nightstand.
“Main desk. It was in one of the drawers. I think the receptionist liked a few drinks after hours.”
I scratched my head and pulled out the elastic that was pulling. I shook my hair, and rubbed the
back of my head, then noticed Lane looking at me differently. My thoughts went back to the box of
condoms, wondering what ideas were going through his head. I moved up the bed, sitting next to
him, and finished my cereal. Afterwards, Lane passed me a soda from the vending machine. I
greedily gulped it down and hiccuped a little after.
“Better?” he asked, watching me.
“I forget how much I love this stuff.”
Lane brushed his fingers down my arm. There was nothing subtle about it.
“Right, let's take a look at your shoulder.” I said, hopping off the bed.
I think he noticed I was trying to avoid him. I was. My heart was suddenly pounding and my tummy
felt as though a million butterflies were fluttering around inside it. I needed space. He moved to the
side of the bed and I got to work on his shoulder, cleaning it up and changing the gauze. The exit
wound didn't look any worse, which was a good thing.
“How does it look
nurse
?”
“It looks good.”
“Really?” he asked, trying to turn his head to look at it.
“Really.” I replied.
His hands found their way to my waist as I applied the last piece of tape to secure the gauze.
“What do you want to do?” he asked, his hand slipping under my vest top. I promptly grabbed his
hand and pulled it back out. I looked at him again and he grinned at me. Then I looked at the bottle
of alcohol on the chair.
“That one was unopened when you found it, wasn't it?”
“Maybe,” he said, standing up, towering over me. I stepped back and tidied up. The alcohol
explained why he was getting hands on with me.
“Do you want a drink?” he asked.
“No, not right now.”
“Oh, come on, Alex.”
“No. One of us has to stay sober for if we come under attack.”
Lane peeked out the nets. The sky was already turning dark. “I think we're safe for another night.”
“We'll have to draw the curtains again when we light the candles.”
He nodded and picked up one of the magazines, knocking the box of condoms on the floor. He
scooped the box back up, he caught me watching him and my cheeks flushed red. He gave me a
devilish smile and I walked into the bathroom to wash my hands... and hide my blushing face.
“I don't even know why you brought the condoms back from the car,” I blurted before I could stop
myself. Scolding myself afterward for even bringing it up. “What are you going to do with them?
Blow them up like balloons and use them to distract the zombies?”
He didn't answer and my gut twisted. I think Lane had other ideas.
“Well, that's not going to happen...” I mumbled under my breath.
“What's not happening?” Lane asked from the doorway.
“Shit!” I jumped at the sight of him. “Don't sneak up on me like that.”
“So what do you want to do tonight?”
“I don't know. Play cards.” I suggested.
“Are you sure you want to play cards?”
I felt my face burning again.
Damn Lane, he knew exactly what to say to wind me up and make me blush like an idiot. I turned
away and dried my hands on the towel trying to avoid his obvious staring.
“Yes, I just want to play cards.” I said, looking up at him as I passed him in the doorway.
“Ooo.. kay.” he said, following me.
We sat on the floor playing cards. Lane's forehead wrinkled with crease lines as he looked at his
cards in his hands. He reached for his cigarettes again and lit another one.
“You're gonna run out real quick if you keep that up.”
“I've got one more pack after this, and we usually find smokes easily.”
“I think you should quit.”
“Why?”
“Because it's an expensive habit.” I said, picking up a card and looking at my hand.
“Funny!” he said, flashing me a wicked smile.
“No, seriously. How are you going to outrun a zombie when you're coughing and wheezing because
you're out of breath... I'm just saying.”
“Alex, don't worry yourself too much, it would mean you're becoming
attached
to me.”
“Fine. Don't expect me to slow down for you when you can't keep up.”
“Unlikely... you're legs are too short to outrun me.”
My mouth dropped. He smirked at me. I popped open another can of soda, took a sip, and passed it
to him. He took a few mouthfuls watching me carefully.
“Are you really a virgin?” he asked.
I nearly choked on my half eaten cookie.
“I thought you already knew that,”
“I took a guess before. I assumed you were, but I don't really know much about you... seeing as you
won't talk about yourself... You know it looks like we're going to be spending a lot of time together
in the near future-”
“If we don't get eaten or turn into the walking dead.” I said.
“Yes, but
if
we don't I'd like to know more about you.”
I picked up a card and rearranged my hand. “What do you want to know?”
“I dunno... anything. Like how you always win at fucking
rummy
?”
I laughed. “I can't tell you that. If I did I'd have to kill you.” I stuck my tongue out at him and he
knocked my leg with his.
“What's your favorite food?” he asked.
“Really? You want to know what I like to eat?”
“Sure I do. Then when the world goes back to normal I'll know where to take you out for dinner.”
“Big Mac.”
“Big Mac? That's your favorite food?”
“Yes,” I smiled. “My mom was a crazy eater, she was always cooking me and my dad Indian dishes.
Don't get me wrong she was a great cook, but I still found myself craving
McDonald's
. Me and my
dad used to sneak off for a Big Mac on Tuesdays after gun practice. What's yours?”
“Spaghetti bolognese. My mom made the best spaghetti bolognese.” he said, looking sad.
“Can I ask you something?” I said.
“Sure,”
“Why did you hang around with Eric and the others? You're nothing like them.”
“My mom is cousins with Eric's dad.”
“Huh? I did not know that.”
“It's not like I advertised it. Eric was a dick. Now he's probably an even bigger dick, running around
eating people and causing havoc everywhere.”
“Didn't he get into a facility?”
“No. His mom worked in a hair salon and his dad didn't work.”
“You always sat with them.”
“I dunno... I figured it was easier to sit with them and get along with them than to not get along with
them. Eric had a pretty big influence on everyone at school. You know what it was like to be on the
receiving end of Eric's unwanted attention.”
“Don't remind me.” I said dryly.
“My mom expected us to play nicely together. She used to cook family meals and invite his family
over. It's not like I wanted to, but I didn't really have a choice.”
“That kind of makes sense now.”
“What, you thought I was hanging around with him because I liked him?”
I shrugged. “Eric was good for two things, getting his hands on beer and weed.”
“You liked Katherine,” I said, regretting it as soon as it had left my mouth.
Lane laughed. “What's funny?” I asked.
“You. I didn't take you for the jealous type.”
“I'm not jealous. Definitely not jealous of that up-tight-bitch.”
Lane reached over and popped open another soda.
“Didn't you date that kid that played guitar for awhile?”
“You mean Kyle?” I was surprised he knew about me and Kyle.
“Yeah, that one.”
“I did. It only lasted three months.”
“What happened?”
“He repeatedly tried to get in my pants and I wasn't ready. He got bored and moved on to some girl
called Callie. Next question.”
“I would have waited.” he said, leaning forward on his knees.
“Waited for what?”
“Until you were ready.”
I laughed, but he looked hurt.
“Says you, who plants a box of condoms in our motel room.” I wasn't cross. More amused than
anything. “You know they're probably out of date.”
He jumped to his feet and went over to the chair and picked up the box.
“Well?”
“Yeah, but it's not like it's gone off food, they're not going to make us sick or anything.” he said.
“I'm allergic to latex.” I said.
“No, you're not. You just made that up.”
“No really. Anyhow, it doesn't matter. We're not doing
that
. I'm not that type of girl.”
I couldn't believe we were having this conversation. I was still a virgin and he was experienced, and
a player from what I'd heard.
“What type of girl?” he asked, placing the box on the nightstand.
“Your type.”
His eyes narrowed and he glared at me. “What does that mean?”
“It means I'm not backseat car material.”
Lane ran his hand down his face. “I never said you were. Alex, I was stupid back then, but it's all in
the past now. That's not who I am anymore. All those girls meant nothing to me... it was just sex.”
“Good for you,” I said, packing the cards away. “I'm feeling tired. I think I'm going to try and get
some sleep.” I climbed to my feet.
“Alex,” he called as I walked into the bathroom.
I shut the bathroom door, about to use the toilet, with my jeans down my thighs when he opened the
door and walked in.
“Lane, I was about to pee. Do you mind?”
“It never bothered you before when you took a piss in front of me.”
“Well, it bothers me now. So if you could just give me a minute.”
“No.” he replied, picking up my toothbrush.
I stormed out and sat on the bed waiting for him to finish in the bathroom. He came back out with
his T-shirt and jeans slung over his shoulder, flashing his rock hard stomach. I lowered my eyes to
the floor, trying not to stare.
Everything was changing, seeing Lane half naked never bothered me before. Now it made my
cheeks warm and caused my stomach to flip-flop. This was exactly what I didn't want to happen.
Ever since he'd kissed me on that rock and told me how he felt he had ignited a mixture of strange
feelings inside me. I knew deep down they had always been there, but up until now I had managed
to suppress them, only now I couldn't control them anymore.
“Are you hot? You look a bit flushed.”
“I'm fine.” I answered rushing into the bathroom. Locking the door this time.
Lane was already in bed when I came back out. He had his head propped up on his arm watching
me.
“What?” I snapped.
“I didn't say anything. What? I'm not allowed to look at you now?”
I ignored him and pulled off my jeans, leaving only my vest top and panties on. I blew out most of
the candles, then climbed into bed. I laid my head on my pillow and looked sideways at Lane and
found him staring back at me. I rolled onto my side and faced the window.
Within a few minutes, he edged closer to me under the covers and pressed his body up against mine.
“Are you serious?” I said, trying not to laugh, moving away from him, dangerously close to falling
off the bed.
“What can I say? It's the effect you have on me. I'm tired of trying to hide it from you.”
“Well, you don't have to poke me with it.”
He edged closer to me again.
“Lane, come on, stop it.”
He looped his arm around my waist and nuzzled his face into my neck.
“Pack it in.” I said, firmly, removing his hand from my waist.
“Alex, I'm just messing around. You didn't mind yesterday when I cuddled you.”
“Yes, but you weren't acting like a horny teenager then. Just don't, I want to go to sleep.”
Not that I was going to get much sleep thinking about Lane and how he had openly expressed his
desire to sleep with me and that he had feelings for me.