"Yo, Lovebirds, what's your 20?" A female voice sounded through the walkie talkie on Riley's belt.
"I hate it when they call us that." I muttered. Riley leaned over and pecked a kiss on my lips to reassure me before answering the walkie talkie.
"Call and I checked out the town, they're plenty of supplies but a lot of walkers. Where's Cholo?"
"He's dumping trash. He should be on his way back. We're ready to go in."
"Ok, let's put some flowers in the graveyard then." Riley ordered. A branch snapped behind me and I quickly pulled my 1911 colt from my boot and turned around and shined my flashlight on the source of the noise. It was only Charlie. He was 'special' but he was still Riley's best friend. I put my gun away.
"Damn it, Charlie. You don't sneak up on people like that."
"I'm sorry, Calla." He apologized.
"Let's go." I said, falling Riley out into the open where cars and motorcycles where ready to leave to make the supply trip into the dead town. Fireworks shot out from Dead Reckoning and bloomed into the sky.
"Flowers in the graveyard? Why do they call them that? I don't get it." Charlie muttered. "These are sky flowers, way up in Heaven." I wrapped my arms around Riley's waist and laying my head on him as we continued to make our way to the front of the truck.
"That's what I like about you, Charlie, you still believe in Heaven. Plus, those shitheads can never keep they're eyes off them damn things." I muttered. We got to the front of the truck where a jeep stood. I reached inside and pulled out a shotgun and handed it to Charlie who was dazed by the fireworks in the sky.
"Well, yeah." Charlie said. "I mean, look."
"Yeah, Charlie, they're beautiful." I mumbled. A horn honked and some headlights blinded my eyes for a split before turning left. A cargo truck pulled up with the back opened. Three guys stepped out of the back.
"Hey, Lovebirds." A black haired, small face, brown eyed man greeted us. I pulled out my gun again and pointed it at Cholo's head.
"What did you just call us?" I growled.
"Put the gun away, Baby." Riley ordered.
"What? If I'm going into a hot spot then I want to be sure my aim is accurate."
"Lily," I looked into Riley's blue eyes and sighed and reluctantly put my gun away. He pecked another kiss on my lips and turned his attention to Cholo.
"Looks like God left his phone off the hook, huh, Baby?" Cholo joked as he jumped out of the truck. "Pedro, get my ride. Get yours too." Cholo walked over to Riley and me.
"What's the matter? You look like shit. Didn't I tell you not to bang chicks with problems worse than you? When you gonna listen to me?" Cholo said. I started to reach for my gun again but Riley pulled me into his arms and I practically melted. I relaxed but I never took my eyes off of Cholo.
"You done?" Riley asked, his chest vibrating against my ear. Cholo sucked on his cigarette before answering.
"I'm never done, baby, why?"
"Town's full of walkers."
"Every town's full of walkers."
"These guys aren't just walking,"
"They're communicating." I finished for Riley.
"Right." Riley agreed, running his fingers through my thick blonde hair.
"But they're dumb, Lovebirds." Charlie said, coming up behind him.
"I call you Lovebirds and you pull a gun out and point it at my head but when he calls you Lovebirds you just stand there?" Cholo questioned me.
"Unlike you, I like Charlie." I held out my right fist and Charlie bumped it with his.
"Hell, dead folks is nearly as dumb as me." Charlie scuffed.
"You learned to make yourself useful, didn't you, Charlie?" I questioned him.
"Yeah." Charlie muttered.
"Ok, that's what they're doing." Riley told Cholo.
"Make yourself useful." Cholo gave Charlie a gentle shove before turning around, yelling orders. Riley walked after him, sliding his arms from me. I walked behind him.
"Hey, Cholo, I'm talking to you." Riley said. Cholo stopped and turned around to face us.
"All right, what?"
"Things are changing, just be carful. We go in, we do our job and we get the fuck out of there. Everyone alive. You take command of this unit, you can run it anyway you like. But tonight is my last night out, I don't want any fuck ups."
"Oh, so that's what it's about, huh? You're not going to dump these recycled delinquents on me. I don't want to take command. Cause you know what? It's my last night out too, Baby."
"Fine, fine, but I need you to take Calla with you on this run." I looked at him in astonishment.
"I'll be delighted to." Cholo chuckled.
"No, Baby, Rye," I begged, clinging to his arm. "We do every run together. You and me. Please, Rye." Riley looked down at me and brushed his thumb down my right cheek.
"I know, Lily, but the jeep is only two seats and Charlie's going with me." He walked me over to Cholo's bike who was already on. "You got to trust me, Lily."
"I trust you, Rye, but I don't trust him."
"An hour. We'll be apart for one hour and one hour only." I climbed onto the bike behind Cholo. He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. I opened up and thrust my tongue into his mouth. Our tongues clashed together and it sparked every cell of my body to life. It was him who had to break off the kiss. "I love you, Calla."
"I love you too, Riley." A tear slipped from my eye as I wrapped my arms around Cholo's waist and we were off. This might be the last time I ever saw him.
