This one is a multi-POV chapter. I haven't done this before but I think this chapter lends itself to this style. This one is very fluffy.

Enjoy.

Chapter 10 – My perspective

(Max's POV)

'Come on Lamefield, we don't have all day.'

'One minute.'

Wowser. I am so nervous. This is a big thing for all of us.

'Coming.'

'Finally.'

I go downstairs. Chloe, Kate and Victoria are waiting by the door.

'Ok, has everyone got everything?'

'Yep.'

'Let's go.'

…

Kate and Victoria are ahead of us, holding hands. We must look quite a sight as we walk down the street. Two humans and two recovering zombies. Us zombie still look scary, not as much as before though. I wonder if that will ever change. Will I ever look like I used to? Can I even do this?

I am pulled to the left.

'Whoa Max, you nearly walked into that lamp post, you ok?'

'Yeah.'

Chloe looks at me sternly.

'Max, I can tell when you're lying to me. Don't you trust me?'

'Yes.'

'Then what's up?'

How do I tell her?

'Well, what if I'm too scary?'

Chloe looks at me and bursts out laughing.

'What's so funny?'

'Oh dude, they will love that. Trust me.'

'It won't scare them?'

'I would have loved it when I was a kid.'

'Yes, but you were a weird kid.'

She playfully taps me on the head.

'Hey, no fair. It's not like you were any better.'

'Touché.'

Victoria turns around,

'Can you two hurry it up? It's fucking freezing out here.'

It's the middle of winter now. Victoria and Kate are wrapped up in a huge scarf which they share.

'Sorry.'

Chloe grabs my hand and squeezes it.

'Chillax Max. Trust me, everything's going to be great.'

…

We reach our destination. I take a deep breath. Chloe kisses me on the forehead. Kate pushes the door open. Where are we you ask? Well, after the cure, a lot of kids don't have any parents now. So, what happens to all these orphaned kids? They get adopted. That's why we are here today.

'Hello, welcome, can I help you?'

Chloe clears her throat.

'Hi, we are here about the adoption service.'

The lady smiles.

'That's wonderful. Take a seat please.'

We go and sit down. The lady walks over and gives us forms.

'If you could fill in this form please.'

She passes us some pens and walks back to her desk. I feel like I'm about to take a test. I look at the form.

Name:

Age:

Status: Alive/Recovering – please circle the one which applies

This really is like a test. After a few minutes, the lady walks back over. I pass my form to her.

'Thank you Ms Caulfield.'

She takes the forms from the others.

'If Ms Caulfield and Ms Marsh could follow me please.'

We look at each other.

'No need to look so worried.'

The lady laughs. We stand up and follow the woman. She leads us to a room.

'You don't mind doing this together do you?'

'No, in fact I might prefer it.'

Kate looks so nervous.

'Me too.'

She nods.

'We just need to check that you are sufficiently recovered from the Hunger. We have had a few cases of minor relapses being documented. It's just a safety precaution.'

I nod.

'If you could both sit please.'

…

The lady writes something down.

'Ok, you're good to go. If you wait back in the reception for me.'

'Sure.'

She winks at us.

'Something tells me that you guys will be absolutely fine…but you didn't hear that from me.'

Kate and I breathe out.

'Thank you.'

'No, no. Thank you. There are too many kids here without anyone to look after them. Bless you for this.'

She opens the door for us. We exit. Victoria looks worried.

'Kate, are you ok? They didn't do anything to you did they?'

Kate laughs.

'Don't worry so much.'

Kate puts her hand on Victoria's face.

I sit beside Chloe. She grabs my hand.

'So, how was your test?'

'I think it went well.'

…

(Kate's POV)

'Ms Marsh, Ms Chase, Ms Caulfield and Ms Price, could you please follow me.'

Finally. We all stand up and follow the lady.

'Ms Marsh and Ms Chase, here is your room. I'll give you a bit of information before you go in, if you'd like.'

I nod.

'You have a little girl called Emily. She is 7 years old. She is recovering from the Hunger. She seems to be doing really well. It is a good thing that you are also recovering Ms Marsh, I'm sure you will be able to relate to her in that sense.'

'All too well.'

'When you're ready.'

She, Max and Chloe walk away. Victoria looks apprehensive.

'What's wrong?'

She looks at me.

'What if I'm not mum material? I can be a complete bitch most of the time. My mother wasn't exactly the most maternal person in the world.'

I gives Victoria a hug.

'That's one thing we share in common. We just have to work to make sure that little Emily doesn't feel like we have.'

Victoria hugs me harder.

'It's just scary. I can barely look after myself. How am I going to look after a child?'

'Because I'm here with you.'

I grab her hand. She nods. I open the door. A young girl sits there. She is playing with a doll. When she hears the door open, she looks around and smiles when she sees us. She gets up and walks over. She grabs our legs.

'Hi, my name is Emily.'

She grins.

'What's you names?'

'I'm Kate.'

'I'm Victoria.'

She gives us a once over and smiles.

'Nice to meet you. Are you going to look after me now?'

I bend down to be at Emily's height. I ruffle her hair.

'Yes we are.'

…

(Chloe's POV)

'Here we are.'

The lady points to a door.

'Would you like some information?'

I shake my head.

'I like surprises.'

'I'll leave you to it then.'

This place is huge. I guess a lot of kids lost their parents. I can relate to them. This place feels so…lonely.

'Chloe, you ok?'

Max pulls me out of my thoughts.

'I just… I just thought that all these kids must feel so abandoned and lonely. I know I did when… when William went. At least I had Joyce. These guys don't have anyone.'

'Well, one of them is going to have us now.'

'You're right.'

'Of course I'm right. I know you are going to make an awesome mum.'

'Oh yeah, the runaway delinquent with blue hair and tattoos is going to be such a good role model. It's you who is going to be a good mum.'

Max kisses my cheek.

'Don't put yourself down like that. You are going to prove it to yourself. You're loyal, loving and a big kid at heart. You're going to do just fine. Besides, I'm the one who is probably going to scare this kid.'

'Max, you couldn't scare anyone.'

Max shoves me.

'Thanks girlfriend.'

We walk up to the door.

'Ready?'

I open the door. A girl, no older than 9 is sat at a table. When she hears us enter, she turns around. I am surprised. In her hands is a camera. She looks at us, really contemplating everything. She snaps a picture.

I laugh.

'They could not have chosen a better kid for you Max.'

I walk up to the girl. Max follows. She looks up.

'Hey kiddo. What's your name?'

'Lisa.'

I look over at Max.

'Oh this doesn't bode well. Run while you can kid. Max here doesn't have a good track record with the name Lisa.'

'Hey. No fair Chloe.'

I lightly jab Chloe in the ribs.

'Ouch.'

Chloe dramatically falls to the floor.

'Lights fading, limbs growing cold. I won't last much longer.'

Lisa laughs.

'You guys are silly.'

'Hella yes we are.'

'Oh no Chloe, don't start that. It's already enough that you say hella, we don't need to pass that on to the future generation.'

I stick out my tongue. Max walks over to Lisa.

'Can I see your photo?'

'Yeah.'

She hold out the photo. Max takes it.

'Hmmm, that's a pretty sweet shot.'

'You like taking photos?'

'You could say that.'

'Can I see yours please?'

Max places her hand on Lisa's head.

'Because you asked so nicely, sure you can. I only have a few on me right now, but you can see more later, ok?'

Lisa looks excited. Max opens her bag and produces some photos.

'These are so cool.'

'Not as cool as your photo.'

Lisa carefully looks over the photos, inspecting each one thoroughly.

'Do you have a favourite?'

'This one.'

She holds out one of the photos. It is a bit crinkled and worn. Max takes the photo. She smiles.

'I like this one too. You know, I think it might be one of my favourites.'

'Yeah?'

'Yeah. I've had it a really long time.'

I walk over to them. Max passes me the photo. It's one of me and her. We looks so happy and carefree here.

'I've had it since the start. I woke up with it in my pocket. That's how I knew it was you when we met.'

'That makes sense…wait you kept it all that time?'

Max looks at me.

'Of course.'

'That means… that means you must have had it when the tornado hit.'

I hug Max.

'I love you, you sentimental nerd.'

'I love you too dork.'

I grab Lisa and put here on my shoulders.

'Who wants to play horses?'

'Me.'

…

(Melissa's POV – the lady at the reception if you're wondering.)

'Well, it's been a long day. Hopefully Emily and Lisa can get a home. I hope. They are such sweet kids.'

The Hunger has really messed everything up. So many people's lives have been shaken up, or worse. I sigh.

I hear a loud squeal.

'What in the…?'

I see Ms Price bounding down the hallway, Lisa on her shoulders, giggling and screaming, with Ms Caulfield running after them.

'Be careful Chloe.'

'Hey, I'm not that one who needs to be careful around Lisa.'

'I am so going to get you for that.'

I shake my head and smile. At least it looks like that's going well. Ms Marsh, Ms Chase and Emily come out of their room. Well, don't they look like a cute family?

'How's it going?'

Lisa grins at me.

'It's so fun.'

'Good. How about you Emily? Are you happy?'

She nods.

'Yes ma'am.'

She always was so polite.

'Right now off you go before you break something.'

Ms Price turns to Ms Caulfield.

'That's Max's job.'

…

(Victoria's POV)

Emily is in between Kate and I, holding our hands. She is so adorable.

'I saw you there.'

'Huh.'

Kate laughs.

'I saw that little smile.'

'What smile?'

Kate leans down to Emily.

'What do you think Emily? Did you see Victoria smile?'

'She so did. I saw her.'

She looks so proud.

'Maybe I did, a bit.'

'I knew it. Nice detective skills Emily.'

This is not how I imagined my future at all. Not that I'm unhappy. In fact, this is the happiest I've ever been in my life.

'There it is again. That smile trying to break through.'

'It so was not.'

Emily pipes up.

'You did.'

I laugh.

'Thank you for snitching on me. Punishment time.'

I start tickling her. She shrieks and runs.

'Oh don't you even dare think of running from me.'

I give chase.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THAT TRAILER! WHY? WHY DO I HAVE STUPID UNIVERSITY LECTURES UNTIL 3PM (GMT)? A whole 5 hours after I could have been playing episode 5 (I'm playing on xbox 360) Oh, well.

I will be avoiding the internet like the plague until I've finished it so if anyone messages me, I'm not ignoring you. I'll reply to stuff as soon as I finish playing. Knowing me, it won't be until after 12am (GMT) because I like looking everywhere and at everything.

I know I keep saying this, but this very well maybe be the last thing I post on here before episode 5, at least that's the plan.

I'll probably be doing some more chapters related to this. I might even have some interactions between Lisa and Emily, that could be cute I think. It was a bit strange writing several POV's in one story, but I think it works well for this chapter.

See guys, I can do cute things, it's not all death and destruction. Hopefully this will combat whatever horrible shit is coming in episode 5.

See you soon. Take care. :)

Just remember, no matter what happens, JEFFERSHIT IS GOING DOWN!