I try to be like Octomom and pop out multiple chapters. It doesnt always work in my favor though. My brain has been going on stand-still so I forced myself to start this fic in hopes that the creative juices will start flowing but all my brain wants to think about is vampires with glasgow grins and katanas(side project). Then there the whole End of Course Exams coming up that I am not looking forward to. So enjoy what I have here.

Own Left 4 Dead, I do not. Own Zoey jacket, I do.

"Juno:You're like... the coolest person I've ever met and you don't even have to try.

Paulie: I try really hard actually."

-Juno


Zoey watched the infecteds head explode from the force of the shot. She stared down the scope, not sure what to think.

"I'm sorry this happened. After all that Bill did., I mean." Louis said.

"What a waste," she said, pulling away from the rifle in her hands. Her placed a hand on her back in a comforting gesture. He could feel the breath wheeze out as she sighed in frustration. "What are we supposed to do now?" She put the gun down sat herself up from her lying position on the rooftop.

"We keep going I guess. You said you wanted to keep fighting." Louis replied.

"Right now, I just want to feel some semblance of normal," she said "Don't you?"

"You mean, do I want to be back at the office telling a million different people to just restart their computer? I'd choose this over that any day." he said.

"Sometimes, I think that I'd give anything to hear my parents fight over me again," she said. "That I know how to deal with. It's funny, I kind of took that for granted up until now."

"You never know what you have until it's gone." Louis said.

"How Francis holding up," she replied, changing the subject.

"Hating everything still."

As if on cue Francis' voice rang out from behind them.

"I hate Florida!"

Zoey laughed out loud from the sheer mundaneness of it all. She began to think that maybe this was all she would get, this would be her normalcy. The extent of any life she would have would most likely be spent with these two. She cared about them she really did but what about when she got older, what about falling in love? Getting married, having kids. In all the movies about a zombie apocalypse she saw, none of that ever happened. People had flings, that was it. Would she ever have a 'happy ending' to call her own. Sometimes she just wanted to feel like a little kid and wish for her prince to come. Even though she knew that would never happen.

But it's not she'd ever tell anyone else that.


Rochelles eyes widened in terror at the body in front of her. The lens of the soldiers gas mask was cracked and leaking blood profusely. Nick had somehow managed to keep a magnum on his person, and had shot the man as he pointed the rifle at the back of Rochelles head. Coach took the moment of shock to nail another solider in the back of the head with his fist as Nick shot another one in the forehead. Ellis was shell shocked at the blatant murder of three very alive men.

"Nick… how did you- how could you-?" Rochelle stuttered. She was having a harder time with this than Ellis seemed to be, her hands shaking.

"To me, this is no different than killing an infected if it means us surviving." He said, coldly. "Would you rather I had let him blow your brain out?"

"Of course I wouldn't! It's just a little shocking to see," she said "Killing a zombie is one thing… but a healthy living person is something else entirely!" Her voice was bitter, but she had to thank him for saving her life.

"I suggest we get out of here," Coach said, breaking the silence. "I've never been to Florida. So I don't know where we're goin' ."

"I was here with my ex-wife once," Nick said. "I know a little bit of the area, but it would be better if we had a map. I want to get out of here fast."

"Hey, how come you never talk about her eh Nick?" Ellis said, breaking out of his silence.

"There's not much to say, really." Nick said "She was gorgeous, spitfire… and Russian. I remember one time she dumped noodles on my face.[1]" His face screwed up in distaste as if he could feel it again. Nick sighed and began walking off through the rows of warehouses, the stench of rotting bodies beginning to rise from the heat. The scent reeked from the flesh of both human and inhuman.

They continued walking until they reached a waterfront, the breeze coming off the water barely succeeding in cooling them. It couldn't calm their nerves in the slightest. Rochelle pointed out the sight of something poking out of the water. Upon further inspection, Coach announced it to be a sail. Cans of food, drinks, health kits were floating in the water, apparently having risen from within the sunken vessel.

"Why do I have a feeling I should know what this is?" Coach asked.

"Hang on to that feeling Coach, because I've got it too" Rochelle said.

She had a good feeling about this, she really did.


"I'm beginning to wonder how long we're going to have to walk." Coach groaned. "This heats starting to get to me now after walkin' in it for so long."

They had been walking for a while now, the sun had set hours ago and they needed to find a place to stay for the night. Somewhere safe from infected. Then again, was anywhere safe these days? A loud crack echoed around them. A familiar noise.

A gun.

The four braced themselves for any oncoming attackers. No one seemed to show until the sound of a can rattling drew their attention to the entryway of a warehouse. Nick pulled the magnum from its holster and held it out in front of him. Slowly approaching the entryway. His gut twisted as he got closer, unsure of what he'd find. When he finally reached it, he moved to jump forward only to have someone jump out in front of him. He found himself face to face with the barrel of a sniper rifle. Shocked, he lowered his gun, as did the person in front of him. Said person was considerably shorter then him… and female. It took him a moment to recognize her but after a moment of consideration he was sure. There was no doubting the pink jacket and brunette hair pulled back into a pony-tail. She was looking at him in shock. As if she didn't think she'd ever see him, any of them, again. No doubt Ellis was back there as nervous as a bull in a china store.

"Never thought I'd see you guys again." she said, eyes narrowing at Nick. She'd made it obvious before that she didn't like him.

"Likewise," Nick said, his tone a little bitter.

"Okay before this gets into a pissing contest," Coach said, breaking the tension. "Where are the other two? Francis and Louis." Zoeys head snapped up at this.

"Oh! They're inside. Follow me." she said, gesturing for them to follow as she walked back into the darkened warehouse. As they followed behind Coach elbowed Ellis lightly in the ribs, raising his eyebrows.

"What?" Ellis whispered, oblivious.

"This is your chance, kid." Coach replied, in a hushed tone. "You know… to talk to her."

"I'm too nervous. Coach" Ellis said. Just the thought of being within five feet of her twisted his stomach into knots. "I mean… look at her."

"I know what you mean, but you gotta step up and take a shot," he replied. "You'll never know until you try." Ellis watched Zoeys form walking ahead of them, leading them farther into the warehouse. His eyes traveled down her back, going lower until they rested on the small of her back. He then found himself looking at her butt, it wasn't very big but he thought about what it would be like to touch it.

No!

Bad Ellis.

He shook his head to clear the thoughts from his mind. Now was not the time. And besides, he hadn't even talked to her yet. He had to get past that hurtle before he even thought about touching her. In all his musings he hadn't realized they were already in a room outfitted like a small bunker, like a make-shift saferoom though it lacked the barred windows and doors. Louis was sitting over a small burner, cooking a can of what looked like some kind of ground meat. And Francis, it appeared, only had eyes for Rochelle. He reminded Ellis of one of those sappy old movies where two lovers are reunited after a long time apart and they run into each others arms. Except this lacked the field of flowers and sunshine. Although Rochelle did walk over and hug him, much to his surprise. The man squealed in excitement for Gods sakes[1].

"Louis man, it's good to see you." Coach said, reaching forward to shake the other mans hand.

"It's good to see you too Coach," Louis replied, smiling.

"You know… uh. I- well, We missed you guys after you left," Francis said. He had a hand on Rochelles shoulder. He put on a good poker face but anyone could guess that he was as giddy as a kid in a candy store at the moment.

"Francis, I think it was you that missed a certain someone," Zoey said, putting her gun down in the corner.

"And like you didn't miss hee-haw over there," Francis said. Zoeys eyes widened, before returning to normal size.

"That's irrelevant Francis." she replied, a little miffed.

"Aw, your just mad that I brought it up in front of him."

Ellis was a little dumbstruck. He looked at her until she looked at him. Her eyebrows rose slightly, and Ellis felt sweat gather at the base of his neck as she kept her eyes on him. She must think he's a weirdo for staring at her. Was he staring? Yeah he was definitely staring now. Wait, did it count if they stared back? That he didn't know. A million and one questions were flying through his head but he couldn't bring himself to ask a single one of them. So he said the first thing that came to mind.

"You're uh, pretty good with there gun," he said. The room seemed to quiet just then, too quiet for him. Stiflingly quiet. He watched her expression to blank and all his fears seemed to ball up into his stomach at once. Then, for no discernable reason, her face tightened before relaxing as her lips curled up into a smile. And the next thing he knew she was laughing. Laughing hard. Not the kind where you hold your sides, but still pretty hard. His stomach plummeted in that instant, surely his disappointment showed on his face. Soon her laughing faded into giggles, then little hiccups of laughs as she calmed down. When she was in control of her emotion, she actually said something.

"Thank you? I guess?" She seemed uncertain of how to respond.

"I just thought you should know, I guess." he said, still a little embarrassed.

[1] I hugged a Coach cosplayer at the convention this year and he squealed in excitement when I did. Best. Day. EVAR!

Blargh. Reviews? I could use some of those. Especially if anyone has ideas for a plot here. So far I'm just winging it.