Chapter 13,

I started running. I glanced back at the scared woman one last time and she reached her hand out to me, screaming for help as the infected ripped through her with its teeth. I gritted my teeth and looked ahead of me at TJ. 

She was still having trouble with the infected in front of her while the three infected behind her were almost on top of her. I pumped my legs as fast as they would go and tackled TJ to the side before the infected could bite her. 

"What the-" She began until she looked to the side and noticed the four infected approaching us. I stood and pulled her to her feet by her wrist. "Why didn't you just shout?" She asked, getting her knife ready. "I did," I said, glaring at her with my teeth clenched. 

I rushed forward and slammed my knife into the head of one of the infected. The other three immediately turned towards me and I pulled my knife out and moved backward. "Fuck it." I muttered. I rushed forward and drove my knife into the head of one then punched another as hard as I could. 

"I need some assistance!" I shouted at TJ. She nodded and moved forward. She jammed her knife into the one I hadn't touched yet then punched the one I had. We pulled our knives out and each stabbed the infected in the head. It fell to the ground, dead. 

Around us, I heard gunshots as men in suits began killing off the infected. "You okay?" I asked as I retrieved our knives. "Ya." She said, out of breath. We were about to leave when a guy in a suit stopped us. "Are you two the ones who were killing infected?" He asked. 

"Yeah, we are," I said. He nodded. "The mayor wants to meet you." He said. I sighed. Great. "When and where?" I asked. "Six p.m. at the diner beside the tower." He replied. I nodded. "Tell him we'll be there," I answered. I walk off with TJ following behind me. 

"I don't need you to speak for me or protect me." She said, looking a little pissed off. I sighed. "I wouldn't protect you if I thought you were capable of protecting yourself and I didn't mean to speak for you, that was an accident," I said. 

She looked even more pissed off and she stopped walking. "I'm more than capable of protecting myself!" She said angrily. "No, you aren't," I replied, my mind replaying the memory of her struggling against one infected with three more approaching from behind, almost close enough to bite her. 

"Yes, I am! I'm going to the hotel room! You can do whatever the hell you want, just like always!" She shouted, fuming. I put my knife away and walked back to the cafe, feeling like I need coffee more than ever. "How can I help you?" The girl at the register asked. I sighed. 

"I need a cup of coffee, black," I replied, rubbing my face with my hands. "Of course, is that all?" She asked. I nodded. "That'll be one point." She told me. I swiped my card. "Okay, your all set. Would you like that here or to go?" She asked. 

I looked out the cafe window and stared at the hotel for a moment before looking back at her and replying, "Here, please." She nodded and I walked over to the table TJ and I had been sitting at earlier.

After a couple of minutes of thinking, my thoughts were interrupted b up the telltale clack of my coffee being set in front of me. "Enjoy!" The lady said with a smile and I just gave her a half-hearted nod. I sipped my coffee slowly. I wonder what TJ is doing? 

I understand that she doesn't want my help but I'm going to keep giving it to her anyway. She was about to get torn to pieces had I not intervened when I did and instead of thanks, all I got was attitude. An innocent woman died because of the selfish decision I made. 

I'm not going to forget that. The way she screamed and begged for my help. The way she reached her hand out to me, begging me to save her. Watching tears stream down her cheeks as she was torn apart. That's not something I'm going to forget. 

"You look like you have a lot on your mind. Want some company?" I looked up and found the cashier lady smiling down at me. I sighed and shook my head. "I'm good, thanks for the coffee though," I replied, finishing off my coffee and standing up. "Are you sure? I'm a good listener." She insisted.

I shook my head again. "No, thank you," I replied once more. "Alrighty then, enjoy the rest of your evening!" She answered with a smile. I nodded and left. I stared at the hotel for a while before I sighed. "I'm gonna have to talk to her eventually," I mumbled to myself. 

I walked down the street and walked through the doors. I looked at the doorman. My sister was right. Something about him just didn't quite... Fit. Whenever I'm near him, I get the feeling that he doesn't belong here. "Is there something on my face?" He asked kindly. 

"Oh, no. Sorry for staring." I replied and headed to the elevator. "What you seek will find you, but you first must stop searching." I spun around and stared at him. "What?" I asked, confused. His voice had been deep and something about it felt wrong like he had just done something he wasn't supposed to do. 

He smiled at me like nothing had happened. "Nothing." He said. I hesitantly nodded and entered the elevator. Something about his words felt important. I reached the seventh floor and was about to open the door when I heard something. 

I pressed my ear against the door and was shocked to hear moans on the other side. I immediately backed away from the door until my back hit the wall behind me. I gulped and clutched my hand over my chest. I got into the elevator and took it to the roof. 

I surveyed the city while trying to distract my thoughts from what I'd heard. I grabbed the pack of cigarettes in my pocket along with my lighter and lit one. The sun had long since disappeared behind a storm of clouds. I looked out past the walls and my heart slowed. 

Thousands of infected were banging and pushing against the already weak walls. The walls are going to collapse sooner or later, I just hope I'm in the tower by the time it happens. I smoked three more cigarettes and was in the middle of my fourth one when I heard footsteps behind me. 

"The receptionist guy said I might find you here." Said a familiar voice. "I feel like we should learn his name," I replied, turning to face TJ while taking a puff of my cigarette. She approached me, snatched the cigarette from my hand, and tossed it to the ground. "Smoking's bad for you." 

She said. "So you've mentioned," I said, taking out another cigarette and lighting it. She just shook her head. "At this rate, you'll get lung cancer before your thirty." She said. I sighed. "With the world, the way it is now, living to thirty sounds more like a dream," I replied. 

Unable to keep my mouth shut about it any longer, I asked, "So, mind if I asked who was keeping you company earlier?" She looked confused until realization dawned on her. "Is it bad if I don't remember her name?" She asked with a sheepish smile. I froze and my heart skipped a beat. Her. 

She said her. She likes girls? She likes girls! My face suddenly felt like it was on fire. She noticed my silence. "I-If your uncomfortable sleeping in the same bed as me then I can sleep on the-" she began but I interrupted her, "No! I mean- no, it's fine. I just didn't know you were..." I said, clearing my throat, unsure of what her sexuality is. 

She noticed and responded, "I'm into guys and girls." I nodded. "I just didn't know you were interested in both and I was surprised. Please, don't feel like you have to sleep on the floor. I'm perfectly fine sharing a bed with you." I said with a smile, recovering from my shock. 

She smiled back. Suddenly, this day just got a whole lot better. She reached over a grabbed a cigarette. She placed it in her mouth and tried to grab the lighter but I pulled it out of reach and shook my head. "I didn't know you smoked?" I said, suspicious. 

"I don't. However, with everything how it is, I could die at any moment. I want to try things I never have before my time comes. I don't want to die with regrets." She said. I took the cigarette from her mouth and placed it in mine. I lit it and started smoking. 

"How about this, I'll give you a cigarette when we leave that tower." I replied. She sighed. "If." She answered. I shook my head again and gave her a light slap on the head. "I meant what I said. Not if, when. I'm going to make sure you make it out of that tower alive, whatever it takes. If I have to slap you for you to get that in your head, then believe me, I will." I said. 

She laughed and shook her head. "Find, fine. You better not slap me." replied. I smiled at her and we watched the sun begin to set on this dark, cloudy day. "Did you have the decency to clean the sheets?" I asked, smirking. Her face turned red. "Shit." She muttered. 

I laughed. "What about a shower?" I asked, trying my best not to laugh. Her face turned a brighter shade of red if that was even possible, and she buried her face into her hands. "Shit." She mumbled. 

I laughed and she smacked my arm playfully. "Shut up." She muttered, embarrassed. "Alright, I'm going to take a shower, you get new sheets from the receptionist. After I'm done, you can take a shower." I said. "Why do I have to go last?" She asked, pouting. 

"Because you brought company over without informing me first. Then, you forgot to clean the sheets or even exchange them at reception despite knowing we would have to share that very same bed tonight. You also neglected to take a shower when you were finished so that's on you." I replied, crossing my arms with a smirk. 

She hung her head in defeat. "Ugh. Fine. Asshole." She said, walking across the roof to the elevator. She saw me still smirking and she gave me the middle finger. I laughed and I heard her muttering something about getting revenge on me. 

I finished the cigarette and stomped it out. I walked across the roof to the now-empty elevator and went to our room. I found her stripping the bed and I just shook my head as I grabbed a clean pair of jeans, a white t-shirt, and a belt and headed to the bathroom. 

After the shower, I used a comb to brush my hair and I quickly got dressed. I walked out of the bathroom and laid on the bed that now had a fresh set of sheets. "Happy?" TJ grumbled. I closed my eyes. "Very," I replied. 

I heard her footsteps as she walked to the bathroom and turned the shower on. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I sighed and stood. I walked to the door and cautiously opened it to find a redhead with brown eyes and a confused look on her face. "Who are you?" She asked. 

"I'm Farah. Can I help you?" I asked, equally as confused. "I'm looking for TJ? I was just here not too long ago..." She replied, her eyes darting behind me and searching for TJ. I was even more confused until it suddenly dawned on me. I forced a smile. 

"Ah, so you're the company she had over earlier..." I said. She nodded. "She is taking a shower right now. Would you like to wait for her?" I asked. She nodded. "That would be great, thank you!" She said. My eye twitched. "Of course, come on in," I said, moving to the side to let her in. 

She immediately sat on TJ and I's bed, took her phone out of her pocket and started playing on it. "What's your name?" I asked. "Stephanie." She replied. My eye twitched again. I just shook my head and grabbed my leather jacket I put it on and my shirt lifted up slightly when I raised my arms. 

"Damn, I'd love to have a roommate as good-looking as you. With abs like those, I can only imagine how many girls chase after you." The redhead said, making it obvious she was checking me out as her eyes roamed my body. "Not interested," I said, not intending to lead her on. 

She put her phone away and stood, approaching me. "What, are you saying you're straight?" She asked with a  smirk. I rolled my eyes. "Don't be so full of yourself. I'm a lesbian and I'm not interested in you. Not in the slightest." I replied, staring down at her. 

"Hmm. I see. Let me guess. You're in love with that sexy roommate of yours. Let me guess, sharing a bed with her is torture. Her body is right next to yours but you can't touch her. You're in love with her aren't you?" She asked, her lips beside my ear as she whispered, flicking her tongue against my ear. 

I shivered and my face turned red as images of TJ appeared in my head. "I- I don't know what your-" I began but she stopped me. "I can still taste her lips on mine. You're curious, aren't you? What she tastes like? She tastes like vanilla and strawberries. So delicious." She whispered. 

Her lips softly moved against mine. I could taste it. The vanilla and strawberry. It was faint, but it was there. My lips moved against hers, eager to taste more of TJ. I back her against the wall, my hands groping Stephanie's ass as images of TJ ran through my mind. 

My mouth devoured hers and Stephanie let out a whimper. My hand reached down and I unbutton her pants. I reached my hand in and wasn't all that surprised to find that she wasn't wearing panties. I gently stroke her mound and she gasped. 

My finger was soaked by her juices and feeling her soaked made me wet. I pushed a finger inside and she moaned against my lips. I added a second finger and pumped them as deep inside her as I could go. In. Out. In. Out. Suddenly, her breath caught in her throat and she let out a long, loud moan. "What the fuck?" I heard a voice behind me. I froze. TJ.


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