Chapter Two

Bella's POV

I frowned opening my eyes to see Matt moving around. He didn't sleep much anymore. I smiled "Hey Matt." I whispered, it was still dark out, I suspected it was around six. He glanced over at me and frowned "Oh, hey." I glanced longingly at Stefan, was he really a vampire? Or was I seeing things, Edward didn't have fangs, wherever he was…

I swallowed sitting up "So, how are you…it's still awful early." I said trying to make a conversation. Matt shrugged "I don't sleep much lately." He said leaning against the wall grabbing a pen from the table. He grinned writing something on the wall. "So…tell me about you." I said standing up to see what he was writing. He frowned looking over at me "I'd rather not."

I blushed my eyes fixing on what he'd written 'Bella Sucks'. I frowned; tears welling up in my eyes. I swallowed them back, no time for crying. I swallowed again "That's not nice." I whispered softly wishing Edward was here. He looked up not the least bit bothered by what he'd done "The world ain't nice, dude." He said underlining it, circling it twice.

"I'm Bella." I said slowly "Isabella Swan, from Forks Washington." He looked at me like I was crazy "Um, I know." He said raising an eyebrow like I was crazy. "Why are you telling me this?" he demanded curtly. I sighed, he didn't get it. "I'm starting over." I said "Getting rid of the disputes between you and I." he shook his head looking up at me with those muddy brown eyes of his. "Didn't work, but if you insist." He took a deep breath looking my strait in the eye "Matt Engarde."

I felt a blush creep onto my face as I looked back at him "Matthew." I corrected "That is your full name, isn't it?" He nodded shrugging "Yeah, technically." I nodded running my tongue along my lower lip keeping my eyes fixed on his almost perfect mouth, "Then introduce yourself as such." I prompted looking into his eyes. He sighed "I'm Matt." He said mimicking my voice "Matthew Engarde."

I blushed; "Matt!" I whined "This is serious!" He only laughed at this turning away. His hand moved swiftly as he wrote something else 'Bella Still Sucks' I felt large tears roll down my cheeks my face growing hotter. I swallowed my voice shaking, why did he hate me? What did I do to him, when he was sick I stayed by his side until he was able to open his eyes and speak. "Why?" I demanded looking at him "Why do you hate me so much." Matt shrugged looking at me speaking smoothing "You're generally annoying, don't talk much." He shrugged "You're voice is so high it actually hurts my ears, dude."

A racking sob rolled through my body, why would he say those things to me? I wasn't any of those, Edward told me I was beautiful…I was perfect. I longed to touch him, so I settled for Matt reaching out stroking his cheek with my fingertips. His skin was warmer than mine. He'd never lost that fever from when he was sick…

He looked at me questioningly "What are you doing?" He asked his voice sounded annoyed "Touching you." I said leaning in closer brushing the hair out of his face to revealing three long scratches over his right eye. I blinked stroking them "Matt, what happened?" I asked. He didn't have a chance to respond before I brushed my lips against his. His eyes widened and he shoved me into a nearby wall. I gasped hitting it hard falling on top of Leon.

Matt brushed the hair back down and I stood up. Leon was so beefy that he hadn't noticed. He glared at me "What was that for?" he demanded angrily writing something, most likely about me, on the wall. I didn't know what had come over me, but he…was the best thing besides Edward. I looked down not saying anything, letting him be angry.

"When I first moved to Forks, there was this guy named Edward." I began speaking quickly before he could interrupt. "He was so perfect…but I thought he hated me. Sooner or later we ended up getting closer…and he took me to this field. And the sun came out and his skin was like diamonds." I smiled. Matt snorted bursting out into laughter. It wasn't long before he was on the ground clutching his side. He was laughing at my Edward.

"Seriously Bella, he sparkles?" He burst out into another fit of laughter. I felt my cheeks redden, of course he didn't understand. He didn't love Edward like I did; he didn't think every aspect about him was perfect. I frowned "Don't laugh, its very beautiful." He continued to laugh clutching his side "Yeah, if you're a chick it might be acceptable, dude." Matt said between laughs "He's probably cheating on you with another boy right now!"

I frowned "Whatever, you don't get it." I whispered nudging Leon and Stefan, almost forcing them up. I couldn't stand to be so close to Matt right now. He insulted Edward, he insulted my love. I clenched my teeth, and to think that I would have loved Matt too. I would have brought him closer. Leon rubbed his eyes clearly still tired and Stefan opened his eyes, his brilliant green eyes. I wasn't sure if he could be a vampire. His eyes weren't golden, he didn't sparkle in the sun…if he was he was awful different. He was a vampire freak, that's what he was.

"We're going." I ordered strictly looking into his eyes, switching to look into Leon's crystal blue ones. "Now." He frowned rubbing sleep from his eyes and yawning, he didn't seem to amuse him that we were already on the move. I looked over at Stefan; he was completely fine, grabbing his semi-auto rifle slinging it around his shoulder grabbing some extra ammo.

Matt had stopped laughing by now and was getting ready tossing health packs to people. He had been ready for awhile and Leon moved over to read the walls. He smiled and spoke one aloud "Bella sucks?" he asked looking over at Matt who grinned and nodded back. "I agree." He said and they slapped each others hands "Burn!" They screamed happily.

I felt color explode in my cheeks, and I looked down averting my eyes. I would have to ignore them, if that's what they wanted. When I was reunited with my Edward, I'd be able to be free of them. I looked over at Stefan; he was very handsome as well. He didn't speak much, and when he did his voice was smooth. I couldn't get him out of my mind…the way he walked, and the way he talked. He was too much like a vampire to not be one.

Leon took the lead, opening the door firing his pistols at some common infected as they ran at him. Common infected was what you were most likely to become. There was safety in numbers; they traveled in groups of hundreds…maybe more maybe less. They weren't really much of a threat alone, but could become a major problem when they appeared as a group.

I shivered thinking of the Hunter that had attacked Stefan yesterday. They moved with the horde, but moved higher. They were like in fact...hunters. It was hard to see them and they were able to jump far places. They all wore dark cloths; I suspected that it was a special strain of the virus that caused people to wear a certain thing…or something.

There were also Boomers, the easiest thing to get rid of. Unless of course it barfed on you…they the horde would attack. It wasn't that hard to kill them, one shot to their swollen belly and that's all she wrote. I shuddered the countless times I'd attacked a Boomer too close and had been showered with bile. It was disgusting, and the horde came soon after. But at least Matt, Leon and Stefan were willing to help me if I got into a jam.

I looked up to see Matt and Leon far off; I realized that I'd been moving very slowly. Forcing Stefan to stay behind with me, I frowned slightly. That was hardly fair; Stefan was so nice to me, even when the others weren't. I looked over at him looking into his eyes, almost apologizing. "Let's catch up." I said breaking into a jog. Stefan called something but I wasn't listening, it was actually kind of good to run again. I looked up to see Matt and Leon not far off. They were moving for a lake. I grinned, a lake.

I speed past them running as fast as I could, putting as much distance between them and me, as I possibly could. When finally stopped to catch my breath, careful not to lean against any cars. It was peaceful, at first. But a thick tentacle like thing wrapped around my torso pulling me away. I screamed for help but they were far off yet, that's it.

I looked behind me to see a tall looking zombie pulling me in with its tongue. I grabbed it screaming as loud as I could. I gnawed on it kicked and screamed, as if to make matters worse something thick and smelly fell on me. I looked through the haze to see the fat zombie burping and groaning as it usually does. Oh great…just what I needed, a Boomer.

The scream of the horde came in the distance and soon I felt their claws scratching me. I screamed tears falling down my face, I was helpless. The tongued zombie finally pulled me in wailing on me. As it did so it gave off a noxious smoke that made me dizzy. I couldn't really scream anymore…just sit there.

Suddenly my bonds were released and I fell to the ground. I gasped my side burning sobs coming freely now. I looked up to see Stefan who was pulling me up, how had he gotten here so fast? I decided not to think about that standing up with his help. He sighed "I told you not to go ahead, you could have gotten yourself killed." I blushed and nodded looking down, ashamed of my own stupidity.

Matt and Leon came jogging up to us "Whoa, Bella." He said his eyes wide "What happened?" Leon asked, though he hated to admit it, he did care some for me. I don't know if he cared a lot, but he did have some regard for my life. I swallowed "This zombie…with a really long tongue and smoke." I said swallowing back my tears. "It attacked me…I was so scared. I thought I was going to die!"

Stefan spoke slowly "That's why we travel in a group," he said glancing at me, then at Leon and Matt. "We need to stick together or be killed. This is serious, you hear me?" he said brushing the dirt off of my back swiftly. I nodded. Matt gave a hasty 'sure, dude'.

Leon swallowed "That might be best…" he said looking over at me and then at Matt. I nodded, along with Matt. I bit my lower lip "So you guys aren't running ahead anymore?" I asked slowly they exchanged looks and then nodded "Yeah, we'll letcha keep up, dude." Matt said glancing over at me.

I sighed gratefully, we would stick together now. As we moved slowly toward the large cliff ahead I began to listen to Matt and Leon's conversation. "Well I think we should call it a tongue man, dude." Matt said looking over at Leon who was shaking his head "No, I think that Smoker is better." He said; Leon's voice was very deep. He had short blonde hair and a tight black t shirt. Matt shook his head "But how it gets ya is the tongue, dude." He said Leon nodded "But that's too much to say." He argued, his voice was…so sexy. I grinned; "I like Smoker." I said looking into Leon's pale blue eyes.

Matt frowned then shrugged "Whatever, I guess we could call it that." He said looking at me "But what is wrong with tongue man?" I shrugged "To much to say." I said and Leon and Matt exchanged looks "You're too much to hear." Leon said and he and Matt high-fived "Burn!" the cried bursting out into laughter.

I sighed looking up at the hill to see a Cliffside, we would have to climb down…I gulped looking back at Stefan. I wasn't able to look at him for long because something hit me full force. I screamed falling down the Cliffside landing hard on my back. I looking down to see that I had landed on a pile of corpses. I was to hurt to be sick.

I looked up to see a giant zombie pounding on my chest, and that's all she wrote. When I awoke I looked up to see a very unhappy Matt carrying me. He looked exhausted when I spoke my voice was raspy "Matt?" I whispered, he looked down and sighed "Yeah?" he asked. I swallowed taking a deep breath "You saved me?" I asked slowly, fearing some for the others. He nodded "Yeah I did, Stefan has to carry Leon, after you passed out it went for him." I nodded wanting to say I could walk, but I couldn't.

"You're tired." I said looking up at him, the sky getting darker. He nodded "Yeah, I am." He said. I swallowed looking up at him, he wasn't Edward, but he was still pretty hot. His light brown hair covered his right eye…hiding those scars that he had. He only wore a black undershirt, having given the jacket to Stefan. I wished he was my soul mate…that he was meant for me.

"Safe house!" Called Stefan as he moved closer, it wasn't a moment too soon either. As soon as Matt laid me down on the piles of cloths I finally got a good look at him. He had dark circles under his eyes and he looked about to be sick. I spoke slowly "Matt, don't…" I said slowly, ignoring the pain through out my body. He shook his head "I'm not sick, dude." He said; I could hear a note of falseness in his voice. He was always able to stand after a day of moving about…he looked completely worn. I was about to say something but I slipped off into a grateful sleep.