His companion raised an eyebrow. “But we already…” He stopped at Zion’s wide-eyed stare, and then continued, “...Told them we didn’t have time today. So Tori, we might have to wait a few minutes for them to make us something fresh,” he stumbled over his words nervously. “I mean. Um. Assuming you’re free and all.”
She pushed her glasses up her nose and seemed amused by his nervousness. “I would like that.”
Calvin’s face lit up as she joined him.
“Just be down here in forty-five so we can get prepped,” Zion reminded him as they sauntered off together.
Calvin didn’t even break stride, giving a thumbs up over his shoulder as they left.
Zion shook his head and chuckled under his breath. “I swear, that boy wouldn’t get anywhere if he didn’t have a wingman like me.” There was a smattering of chuckles and he turned to the remaining trio of students. “So, what other sorts of crazy zombie-killing gadgets you guys come up with?”
Harold rubbed his hands together in excitement. “Come on, let us show you our idea book.”
CHAPTER THREE
Zion sat in his truck, loaded up and ready to go. He glanced in the side mirror, watching one of the guards fill up the tank with a gas can before setting the half-full can in the back. After a few moments, the passenger door opened and Calvin slid into the seat.
“There’s the playboy!” Zion declared with a grin. “How’d your breakfast date go?”
His companion simply threw him a smirk.
“Just remember that Christmas isn’t too far away, and your wingman likes weaponry,” Zion said.
Calvin winked at him. “Tori and I will whip you up something nice, then.”
“Well, buckle up so we can get on the road,” his friend replied with a laugh. “Gotta get you back quick so your girl doesn’t yell at me for keeping you out so late.”
Calvin chuckled as the truck roared to life, and Zion peeled out of the parking garage, heading out down the driveway and towards the interstate.
“So, you gonna give me some details?” Zion pressed.
His friend blushed and shook his head, pulling out a joint from his pocket. “Not much to tell, man,” he admitted, and sparked it up. “We just sat in one of the garden areas and drank coffee. Honestly, spent a lot of time just sitting quietly and enjoying the peacefulness.”
“Uh oh,” Zion said.
Calvin blinked at him, choking on his inhale. “What do you mean, uh oh?” he asked through a fit of coughing. “I really enjoyed myself.”
“I don’t know, man,” his friend replied, drawing out his words. “You sure she was having a good time too? My sister has told me some horror stories about guys who couldn’t hold a conversation.”
Calvin’s eyes were wide as saucers. “I mean, she put her head on my shoulder while we were sitting there,” he said. “I’d say that was a good sign, wouldn’t you?”
Zion burst out laughing and smacked his friend on the arm. “Man, look at you giving me the ole okey-doke,” he teased. “You know exactly what you were doing, didn’t you?”
“Gotcha!” Calvin replied with a grin and took a smaller puff from his joint.
“Well, I’m happy for you, man,” Zion said. “Glad you got you a little romance brewing there.”
His companion let out a happy sigh on the exhale. “Me too,” he said wistfully. “I know this is gonna come as a shock, but even when times were good, I was never much of a ladies’ man.”
“No!” Zion gasped dramatically. “You don’t say?!”
Calvin rolled his eyes, fighting a smile. “Shocking, I know.”
“Well, make sure you treat her right,” his friend instructed, “because it’s not like you can avoid her.”
Calvin chuckled and shook his head. “No shit, right?”
When they reached a mile within the interstate, there were half a dozen men standing in the road, and Zion sobered as one of them flagged him down. He pulled up and unrolled the window.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“That mob of dead fuckers are still shambling by,” the guard replied, jerking his thumb over his shoulder.
Calvin leaned over. “What did they do?” he asked. “Stop and have a picnic? They should have passed by now.”
The guard shrugged. “It’s been moving steady for a while now,” he said. “So either those boys can’t count, or they picked up another group along the way.”
“Either way, it’s good that they’re getting so many of these things outta here,” Zion said with a sigh. “Less we gotta deal with, right?”
The guard nodded stoically. “Yes sir, mister Zion.”
“So, any idea how much longer we need to camp out here?” he asked. “Because we got stuff to do.”
The guard pulled out his walkie talkie, holding up a hand. “Hang on, let me check.” He lifted the radio to his lips. “Hey bubba, you copy?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m here, what’s up?” Bubba came back.
The guard raised a hand over his eyes, peering towards the interstate. “How’s the tail end of this thing looking?”
“Last of them passed by the exit about five minutes ago,” Bubba replied.
The guard nodded. “All right, you keep sitting tight till I tell you otherwise,” he instructed.
“Ten-four,” Bubba replied, and the line clicked off.
“So, what’s the verdict?” Zion asked.
The guard lifted a hand and tilted it back and forth. “He’s a ways down south, so you’re probably looking at another hour or two before the last of the stragglers come through,” he replied.
“Wonder if Tori is free for lunch?” Calvin joked.
The guard pursed his lips and cocked his head. “If you don’t mind a bumpy ride, I got an alternative for you.”
“I’m listening,” Zion replied, leaning out the window.
The guard pointed past him. “Go back up the road about half a mile until you see a dirt clearing in the trees,” he said. “It looks like at one time they were trying to put in a mountain bike path for all those healthy fuckers that could afford to live in these parts. They didn’t get much past the clearing stage, however.”
“Is it drivable?” Zion asked.
The guard
