November 11, 10:00 A.M.
Nat hadn’t seen Jack around. Which was odd, as the young man was all over the place during the last couple of days. Always working on something. Always busy.
She wanted to find him. Alone, preferably.
They needed to talk.
Nat wasn’t sure where this was going. She was kind of new to relationships. Sure, she’d had a boyfriend in high school and a few flings in college. But nothing that made her feel this way.
Her rational mind told her that this wasn’t the time or place.
Don’t get involved. Don’t get hurt, it told her.
But she couldn’t resist the urge to seek him out. She had been sneaking looks at him at every opportunity. Those looks quickened her pulse, every time. That had to mean something.
So, she had to find him. Now. She had to talk to him. Suss out what his feelings were. Maybe they could find a way to take it slow.
Maybe he’s not into you. Do you really want to embarrass yourself again? Nat shook the thought out of her mind, but not before one more thought presented itself: It’s not the first time you’ve been rejected. Remember?
“Fuck,” she said under her breath as she ascended the wide school stairs. She thought nobody had overheard, but somebody had.
The second floor was all but abandoned. Everybody was busy doing chores or still having lunch. She walked up to the room that Jack shared with his mom and found the door closed. Nat bit her lip, not sure what to do.
Then she heard a noise coming from inside the room. Somebody was weeping.
Jack! Without a second thought, Nat opened the door.
He stood near the shuttered window, on the far side of the room. He turned and hurriedly tried to wipe the tears from his face.
She could tell that he was struggling. Nat closed the door behind her and stepped closer.
“Hey.” She waited until he looked up. “What’s wrong?”
Jack’s face screwed up in pain. He shook his head vigorously and looked down at his feet.
Nat took another step closer. She could reach out and touch Jack if she chose to. “Hey, Jack ... It’s OK ... You can talk to me if you want.”
Jack’s eyes had started to tear up. He wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt, his face still downcast. He was silent, stuck in his own thoughts.
“Sorry.” For a moment he looked embarrassed. “It’s ... everything.” He finally muttered. He looked at her again, fresh tears shimmering in his eyes. “I can’t sleep. They haunt me ... The zombies. I couldn’t see their faces when I shot them. But when I sleep, they are all I see.”
He thought about it for a moment.
“They won’t leave me alone,” he whispered, as if in confirmation to himself.
Nat nodded, but did not speak. She wanted to reach out to him but could tell that he had more to say.
“That’s not the worst ... At least, I don’t think that’s the worst.” His stare went far away for a moment. “My dad.”
Jack struggled to keep his emotions in check, lifting his fist to his mouth. The moment eventually passed, and he lowered his hand once more. He took a deep breath before continuing.
“I can’t believe he is gone. Just like that.” He snapped his finger, his expression turning angry. “And now he’s left Mom and me alone.” He shook his head slightly, as if confused. “I don’t know if I’m angry that he has abandoned us, or if I’m filled with rage at the ones that killed him!”
He met Nat’s eyes then, and his look of anger slowly faded to one of pain.
“I’m trying to keep it together for Mom. She needs me.” He started shaking his head ever so slightly. “But I don’t think I can ... I feel—” He met Nat’s eyes as he searched for the right words. “Fractured. Like I’m about to break.” There was fear in his eyes now.
He reached out then. His hand came to a stop, hovering halfway between them. Nat’s eyes never left Jack’s as she stepped forward, into his hand. Jack flinched slightly, as if shocked. He looked down at his hand. The back pressed into Nat’s belly. She could feel the heat of his skin emanating through her t-shirt.
Jack slid his hand to Nat’s side. Their eyes locked once more. Nat could see the need in his eyes. His other hand reached around to the small of her back and drew her to him, suddenly and frantically
Nat reached up, her hand finding the back of Jack’s head and pulling his face down to hers. They kissed. Hesitantly at first, then with ever more passion and urgency. Their bodies met as they pulled each other close. Nat felt the bulge in his pants even as she sensed her own body responding.
They fumbled with each other’s clothes, awkward and clumsy.
Neither of them cared.
A FIGURE STOOD JUST outside the door of the classroom. She listened intently to she muffled sounds of clothes being taken off and two bodies grasping and clutching each other in intimacy. She heard the sigh, and imagined Nat sliding down onto Jack. Then came the gasps and moans of pleasure.
A tear rolled down Christine’s cheek. She wiped it with the back of her hand and looked at the droplet as it glistened on her skin. Her expression changed from one of sadness and pain to one of determination and anger.
Rejection and scorn were not things that she was used to. Neither was the feeling of hurt and betrayal.
She turned and walked away, slamming a locker door as she walked by and smirking at the startled noises coming from the room.
Oh, you wait. I’m only just beginning, she thought as she descended the stairwell.
Chapter 58
Nancy
November 11, 2:15 P.M., The Ren
Nancy walked down the broad staircase towards the basement level. Noise came from the gym, and she had a peek inside. John, Jack, Ethan, and Keith were working out.
“Aren’t you guys getting enough action
