Holy shit...you guys rock! I can't believe how many reviews I've already gotten for this! Thanks to Satanic Mechanic, XxHarleyQuinnxX, DigitalFruitBomb, Frankensaurus, Shotty, Legendary Armor, brokenpassions, Desolate Passion, and xXxSoulKeeperxXx. Oh, and to Rin, yes I don't like the shortage of non-one shot EllisNick stories either! On a personal note, OMIGAWD DON'T YOU JUST LUV ELLISxNICK?! Lol. I know I do. (Oh, and if you haven't seen Ellis' face model yet, Jesy Mickenny, YOU NEED TO. * major drool* He's all preppy scene and totally hot.) It really irks me when my chapters are so short, as this one is and the last one, I really do hate short reads :/. Read & Review if you'd like :). I own nothing you recognize in this.

"Guys! Can you believe it! It's Keith! Oh man, I been tellin' these guys alla 'bout you!" Ellis wore the most childish grin any of his teammates had ever seen. This irked Nick to every extent possible...Ellis had never smiled like that for the con man. The 23 year old seemed to be glowing as he introduced his long lost pal to his friends. "Keith, these'r my new friends, Rochelle, Coach an Nick! Man have I got some stories to tell yah 'bout them!" Ellis excitedly spoke, his voice eager with passion. Keith studied the survivors, especially Rochelle. A pondering look crossed his face. Then, all of the sudden, Keith smiled.

"I know you! You're that there news lady from Ohio! You 'ere down here a few weeks ago at Trinity!" He chuckled out, having a boyish charm about his tan face. His teeth were aligned perfectly, dimples sunk into his cheeks, and his crystal blue eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, much like Ellis'. Nick growled under his breath at Keith's adorable features. Ellis' counterpart smiled as he removed his hat to greet Rochelle. "Very nice to meet you, Mam." The blonde politely bowed, making Rochelle giggle at his chivalrous mannerisms. "Very nice to meet you too, Sir." Keith firmly shook Coach's gloved hand as he placed his cap back on his short, ruffled hair. "Well howdy Nick, it's nice to meet yah!" Keith gave a grin as he presented his extended hand to Nick. The con man gave him a sharp, dagger like stare. Nick's envy glowered as green as his eyes. Keith brought his hand back to his face, stroking the blonde stubble that caressed his jaw line. "Not a hand shake man? That's alright! This reminds me of that one time when me 'n Ellis met this guy..." The man beamed happily. The three teammates couldn't help but to groan. Who would've thought in a million years that Keith had Ellis stories?

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The group of five had sat down to eat their meal, and get to know Keith. They had learned the man was 22, and also had the same love for horses and Jimmy Gibbons Jr. as Ellis did. After the outbreak had occurred in Savannah, Ellis and Keith had become separated. Keith told the other survivors how he had stayed in Georgia the entire time of the infection. He said, "Waitin' it outs the best thang ta do!" Aside from that, countless stories upon stories were told of Keith and Ellis' childhood, adulthood, and everything in between. Nick sat, slumped over in the stiff plastic chair. His fork sifted through his food, as if he had become sick and lost his appetite. He now knew why he despised Keith so much. Ellis and him were so close, having what seemed to be a deep connection...and that's exactly what Nick wanted. The two mechanics could tell a story for literally any occasion. From wrestling gators, pissing in water balloons, and 'tryin' to get laid by yer girlfriend in the tunnel of love.' Having enough story telling for one night, the sleep ridden team rose from their seats and headed for the bunk assignments station. Approaching the white desk, a woman dressed in complete camouflage uniform sat, clipboard in her palms. Her brunette hair was pulled neatly back into a tight bun, a barret topping her head.

"Your number please?" She asked, her eyes staying glued to the clipboard.

"206." Ellis spoke as the woman flipped through the papers attached to the piece of wood. It seemed that hundreds of people were already in this safe zone. She scribbled on a small card and handed it to Ellis, who took it in his hands.

"You're in tent 365." The brunette spoke with no emotion, handing him some sleep wear and toiletries.

"What tent did you get Keith?" Ellis asked as soon as Keith received his paper.

"366! Were right next to each other!" He cheered, giving Ellis a high five. "Nick! What'd you get?" Keith questioned the older man as he walked up. Nick wondered why the man he hated so greatly was acting all buddy buddy with him.

"Um, I got 365." Nick's emerald eyes darted to Ellis as soon as he read this.

"Well butter me up! We're roomies Nick!" Ellis slung his arm around the gambling man, making his cheeks grow hot. God how Nick adored that southern drawl of his. "Imma head off to the tent now, wanna come with?" Ellis warmly asked Nick, who nodded in agreement. He had found himself becoming less irritated by the boy lately. He had even started acting...nice towards the younger man. As the two walked into their tent, they stopped in the entrance way to study it. It was very plain, not to their liking. The tent connected and covered the floor, in case it rained or snowed. There were two cots placed no more than a few feet apart. A small table stood on the other side of the tent, bare. It was very small, and Nick didn't approve.

"Well great. We get to live in this shitty place..." The con man plopped down on the dinky cot, finding it very comfortable compared to the safe room's hardwood floors. Ellis just smiled, as he always did, zipping up the large tent's opening.

"It sure is a heck of a lot better than sleepin' in them God forsaken safe rooms, right?" He said, walking over to his cot. Nick wondered if Ellis could read his mind. The southerner began to undress, slipping his stationary white T shirt over his head. Nick's heart lept to his throat as he stared at Ellis' rippiling back. His tan, caramel colored skin made Nick's pants get just the slightest bit tighter. He watched as Ellis' blue tribal tattoo seemed to dance as his toned arms moved. Dropping his pants, Ellis revealed he wore tight dark blue boxer briefs. Nick's mouth went dry as Ellis turned, exposing the rather large bulge in the front of his underwear. "Uh, Nick?" Ellis cocked his eyebrow at his older friend as he noticed his eyes staring at his lower body. Nick snapped to attention, finding himself the most embarrassed he'd ever been.

"Y-yeah kid?" Nick nervously stammered out, his jade eyes meeting Ellis' copper ones.

"Were you just-never mind. Imma get some shut eye." Ellis quickly pulled his sleep pants on and snuggled into his cot, throwing the blanket over his half naked body. 'Was Nick just checkin' me out? I coulda sworn the fella was starin' at my junk...I wonder if he was...' Ellis thought to himself, his face flushing. "Nick?" Ellis called out, his back facing his friend. Complete darkness had now enveloped the tent, making the two friends blind.

"Yea Overalls?" The con man called back, sounding a mixture of uneasiness and boredom.

"G-goodnight." Ellis smirked, closing his eyes. Nick smiled to himself as well.

"Night Overalls." He bundled himself up under the warm covers and contently shut his eyes. He could have sworn he heard Ellis give a short, quick giggle. Nick's forest eyes wandered aimlessly in the pitch darkness, listening to Ellis' steady breathing as he slept. This calmed Nick. Sleeping in the safe room with Ellis, Coach and Rochelle was different from it just being him and Ellis. It was quieter, and softer...and the con man loved it. Then he wondered to himself: 'What in God's name is so fucking special about that Keith son of a bitch?' Nick's eyebrows furrowed. It literally made him nauseous to think of the blonde, pretty boy redneck. Nick yearned to be the one Ellis dreamt of. Nick wanted so badly to wake up next to the sandy haired mechanic in the morning sunlight and kiss him softly. Nick ached to be the person that Ellis brightly spoke of, every time something reminded him of his gambling boyfriend. Why couldn't Ellis just see how much Nick admired him, without actually making Nick say a word.

Nick knew it was wrong...but he wished so desperatly that he, Rochelle and Coach had all been right.

'Why didn't Keith just die?'