Bang!
"Ah!"
Crash
"Micheal, you still alive?"
"Yes."
I tried to hold in my laugh. I don't succeed.
I get an annoyed look from Maria.
We've been practicing shooting for the last hour. She's getting better but still has issues with her aim. Kind of obvious when you see the bullet hole in the tent Micheal was currently napping in. He said he was alive so it was really funny from this
point of view.
The tent unzips harshly and Micheal comes stomping out.
"Are you two STILL practicing?"
"Yes and Maria is getting better."
I get a slight smile from Maria for that comment.
"Maria, you should take a break now."
I roll my eyes at that.
"Micheal, I'm getting better. I don't need to take a break."
"You almost shot me, so maybe you DO need a break."
"Key word here Micheal is ALMOST!" I tell him with a smile.
"Shut up, asshole."
I don't know what it is about this guy that pushes my button. "You shut up." And my immature childish side.
"Both of you shut up!" It might have something to do with the pritty brunette standing next to me. "Could we not do this now? We should pack up and get moving again."
We both nod and begin packing camp up.
Neither of us look at each other.

We finally found a working car. Well working isn't the right word. We got it started after some tinkering.
I am in the drivers seat. Maria is riding shot gun. She's looking out the window. Her gun ready on her lap.
Micheal is sitting in the back. I see him fiddling with his knife. His elbow is leaning on Maria's seat.
It's strange looking at these 2 now.
My sister's best friends. I knew them when they were kids. Now I see a grown man and woman sitting here with me.
It saddens me to see how this world changed these two so drastically.
We drive a another hour before I see Maria's body shift. I glance at her and see she's fallen asleep.
"Why do you insist on teaching her how to shoot that gun?"
I turn to look a Micheal who whispered the question to me. I quickly look back at the road so it will be easier to answer.
"When this all started I lost Maye. Because she couldn't protect herself."
"What happened to her?" I knew they both were hesitant to ask me what happened to the women I love.
I know he deserves an answer.
"I was at work when the world went to shit. I knew it was happening and it was bad. I rushed home to her. She was there. Okay. Alive. I told her I was going to pack some bags for us. I-I didn't think she was in danger. We were home. We were safe. At least
I thought we were." I know there was a hitch to my voice. "When I was in ourbedroom packing a bag she was watching the news. I heard her. The next thing I hear is her screams. By the time I got to her it was too late. Our roommate was eating
her...I had grabbed a knife from the kitchen and killed him. Then I held her as she choked on her own blood." I do everything I can to hold in my tears. I took a deep breath before I finished my story. "I put her down myself."
I was met with silence.
He had nothing to say to me. I still blame myself for Maye's death.
I look at him through the rear view mirror, just barley meeting his eyes. "You'll never understand losing someone you love like that."
Chris surprises me with his response. "That's where you're wrong."
I look at him again but he isn't meeting my eyes.
"There was this girl. She was in the army with me. Joinedaround the same time as me. She was beautiful, strong...brave." He finally looks at me. "We were surrounded. There was 10 of us but more of them. She-she was bit." He is crying now. "I didn't
even put her down. I had to leave her. We had to get out of there and - she's still there."
My hands tighten on the steering wheel. "I thought-you and Maria-?" I left the question open.
"There is no Maria and me. There never was." I let my lips twitch into a smile. "Doesn't meanI don't want there to be NOW." I let the smile drop. "Look Chris, I've know Maria since I was 11 years old. I gaveher her first kiss when we were
13. I took her to prom. We spent hours in silence just enjoying each other's company. We are meant to be together now."
"Now? How about before? I always knew there was something between you two. She was completely in love with you but you always brushed her off." I stop him before he interrupts me. "She was never your first choice just your back up. You should remember
that my sister is her best friend, I've heard them talk."
"Then you shouldn't forget that's all you are. Her best friend's brother."
I know he just wants to hurt me now. I just wanted him to hear the truth.
"Maria needs to protect herself. Let's just both agree neither of us can lose her now." I finally respond.
"Fine. Agreed."
Finally silence again.
Neither of us notice Maria shut her eyes again. Neither of us noticed she heard our entire conversation and cried for both the women we fell in love with then lost.
There was silence washed over the wholecar. All of us lost in our own thoughts.