I would just like to say thanks to all my reviewers, you guys really made my day.

It's snowing in Connecticut, and yes we, the shoreline are getting more than inland for once. In your face!!!

Anyways, enjoy.

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Chapter 3

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She went back into her room, and got under the blankets, just as he came into the room, and lay down on the spot he was sitting on before.

She liked to think of it as 'his spot.' It was rarely used.

"Goodnight," she said, and laid her head next to his, on the pillow on his side, but not on top of him. She wanted to get closer, but like in the living room, when she got too close, he normally pushed her away. She didn't want that on her conscious when she went to sleep.

But she did remember one thing that Syl did, that would not be too bad to try. She remembered Syl telling her that one upon before going to sleep, she told him that, 'I love you,' and could've swore he said it back, but wasn't sure. He didn't bite off her head when she said it, so what would he do if she said it?

"Zack," she said, quietly, the only sound in the dark room.

"Hm?" he answered back.

"I love you." She whispered, and like a school girl with a crush, she looked at his shoulder, and not his face, as she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks.

He didn't feel this, for he tilted his head, and looked down at her. She looked at him, then, and in such close proximity, she brought her lips to his, and surprisingly, he returned her kiss.

-

The sun didn't shine in the morning, and the temperature wasn't like the night before. If anything, it was the opposite of what she wanted. She wanted the clear sky, and the cool, but warm temperature. Instead it was raining outside, heavily, and the breeze was chilly, and the air was cold. What happened to late spring? It was supposed to be nice. The April showers should've been gone, and the nice warm Mat should've been in.

Just like the weather, Jondy was not feeling well. The 'cold' was in full force. Her nose was clogged, her throat was dry, and her lips chapped. She couldn't remember the last time she brought Chap Stick, but she was going to need some. Her eyes were runny, and her head ached in the back. So this was what it was like to be sick. This was what any 'normal' person felt like, when the germs of another were passed to them.

Jondy thought her lucky. Maybe she was normal after all. Maybe she was human. But, it still bothered her that she was sick. Zack said that they weren't supposed to get sick. He made it his business to make sure they were up to their full potential. He was like a shadow; a very annoying one, that followed you, even when the sun wasn't out.

Sitting up, she looked to her side, and Zack wasn't there. Of course he wouldn't be there. Why would she expect him to be? He came, and then he left. In the blink of an eye, it was like he wasn't there at all.

"And I expected differently," she thought gloom fully.

The toilet flushed, and the sink went on.

Okay, she thought to herself, a happy camper on the inside; so he stayed. If she had a metal, she would surely put it around his neck, or ring his neck with it; whichever came first.

The door opened, and he came back into the room. She freighted sleep because if he left, she didn't want to have an 'act.' from She had to already act when it came to making him stay.

He sat on the floor, and she heard him pick up the annoying alarm clock off the floor, and plug it back in. Jondy wanted to tell him it would end up in the same place again, but didn't.

Next, she heard him go through the second drawer of her nightstand, and knew exactly what he was doing. He was going through Jondy Johnson's bills to see if they were up to par, and whether he would force/give her money to pay for something, if it was falling behind. It bothered her when he did this; she hated it, and tried declining it in every way, but he always said she kept herself safe, and he wasn't going to let her change that.

"Your gas bill is due today," he said.

"I know," she said, turning over, and rolling a little she crept to the edge, "his" side, and hanging her head on his shoulder, said, "I have to go to the Pawn Shop today. The guy there, with a furious dog, a 'poor baby,' really, has a huge crush on me." There she was, pushing his buttons again. If only he would say what Zane said, when she spent Thanksgiving with him.

"You're hot; you should be used to it by now." He said, casual, just like Zane said. Smart minds must've thought alike.

"Thank you," she said, and crawled back a bit, till her head was on the bed. She closed her eyes, and wiped her nose with her hand.

So he was calm this morning, she thought, and put the blanket on herself. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to push his buttons. Maybe it was best to just go with the flow of things.

And get better. That was a high priority on her list. Because she was different, she didn't know if it would become worse.

He turned around, and put his hand on her forehead.

"I'm not dying," she mumbled, trying to swat him away when he didn't move his hand. Turning over, did she finally get away.

"How do you feel?" he questioned.

She didn't say anything, just shrugged her shoulders.

Her phone rang in the pants she had left them in.

"Aren't you going to answer it?" he questioned.

"Nope," she said, and sat up. Running a hand through her hair, she grabbed the clip off her night dresser, and pinned her hair back on her neck. She wanted it out of her face, but she still wanted to block her barcode.

In a comfortable spot, legs crossed, hands in her lap she looked down at him, which he watched her back. He was so handsome, she wondered if he did get all the girls. He must've got offers. And if so, did he ever accept any? Everyone had needs, and to fulfill them…….

The phone still rang.

"What if it's important?" he said, ready, himself to get it.

"It's not, it's just work, probably reminding me I have my shift tonight," she shrugged, "If you want to get it, you can."

He retrieved her phone anyways, and she watched him fiddle with it, for the person stopped ringing it, then he watched her again, watch him.

"What?" he said, "What are you thinking?"

She shook her head, then straightened up, "So," she said, the subject of the other matter clearly over, said, "You want to come with me this time, or are you going to follow me there anyways like a five year old?"

"Yeah," he nodded. It could've gone for either answer, maybe it was for both.

"Well, let me shower, and then we'll bounce," she said, and getting off the bed, she went over to him, and bend down. It was nice to have someone decent there in the morning; not someone she wanted out as soon as it was over…….

Bending down, she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Good morning."

-

When she was out of the shower, and dressed, hair down, with a little serum, she found Zack staring out the kitchen window, so lost in thought; she thought she'd never be able to bring him back.

"Zack," she spoke his name softly, and touched his arm, which in a quick moment she blocked his fist from slamming into her face.

"Zack," she shouted, and they both dropped arms. "I see your arm is fine."

"Yes, let's go," he turned away and immediately walked into the living room. She followed, right after grabbing her cell phone. Pulling out her key, she locked the door behind them.

-

In the rain, she put her hood on, as well as him, for it was pouring heavily. The wind blew, so there was no direct focus ahead, otherwise the rain was in her face.

Just great.

"I don't like the rain," she grumbled, in spite of herself.

"Why, are you going to melt?" he added.

Whoa. Was that a joke? It would be the first one in; she wasn't going to waste her time in thinking when the last time was for that.

He didn't say anything else, as she expected from the other times, and ever. Occasionally she would wave to people she knew, and even made him stop so she could talk to a familiar face or two.

He did not even say one word of greeting. He was quite rude, she mused to herself.

But then again, like the last time he was here, she wanted to hold his hand, but didn't want that hurt feeling to hurt so much, so she didn't. Instead, she linked her arm to his "bad" one, which she only put a light touch.

He didn't say anything to this, so maybe he was okay with it. But this was Zack, we're talking about.

Happy, like a child who was going somewhere pleasant, she steered him in the direction to the Pawn shop which was a postered, front window building, with a bullet hole through the glass door.

Like a gentleman, he held the door open for her, and they both entered. Having been there before, plenty of times, she knew the floor curved in a downward slant, and there was a board to step over.

Zack didn't, and of course it "wasn't" funny when he stubbed his toe, but so quickly, and gracefully it didn't look like anything, unless you had a quick eye, in which she did.

She caught it; otherwise she would not have cheesing.

"I saw that," she mumbled, but all he did was shrug.

Inside, there was one customer, an obnoxious looking guy, eyeing the bootleg, adult film displays case. He wasn't even blinking; though his lips were up in a devious smirk.

"Pig," Jondy snorted, but walked past him to the back, where the window was to pay bills. That was where the guy with the 'madd' crush on her sat, and the dog, though she was leashed on the outside, in a large, flat, old dog bed.

"Aw, hi baby," Jondy cooed, kneeling down to the old pit bull, which was starting to lose her fur. She petted his head, and he lifted his chin.

"You being a good boy," she cooed some more, like she would to a baby, though she didn't like babies. They made too much noise, and were always crying, or fussing, and they were messy. At the age of thirteen she had a babysitting job, and she ended up with the dirty diaper all over the kitchen floor, and a crying baby.

The dog barked, a happy, short reply, but when she saw Zack, she let out a sharp, angry bark.

Zack stared back, and the dog gave a whimper, and cowered.

"I know, I know," she said, and petted her head some more, "I'd be afraid of his mug as well, if I was a dog."

Another point to pushing his buttons. Was he getting all of it? He sure didn't say anything.

She kissed the top of her head, and then took her place in front of the window, and took out her bill and money. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zack go over to one empty display case, and look at the gun inside. The price said five-hundred, so she doubted he would be getting it.

"How are you today, Jondy?" the southern accented, small eyed, wrinkle faced, long haired man smiled at her, and he took her papers through the slot.

"I'm great," she smiled, "Just paying my bills, otherwise I'mma be without a shower, and stove to cook on."

They both laughed.

"You don't have to worry about that," he said, "Will you be working tonight?" he asked, eyes wide, with 'happiness,' and nasty snagger-toothed on his bottom showing wide.

She nodded. "Yup, I'll be there. Stop by, I'll hook you up."

"Will do," he said, handing her bill back, and receipt. "You have a great day." He eyed Zack, and then looked back at her.

"Thank you," Zack joined her, and stood at her side, and they walked back up the crooked floor.

Before she left, she heard the dog crunching on something. Looking back, she didn't see what it was, but the dog was chewing.

"Peppermint," he said under his breath, once they were outside.

"You're just full of surprises aren't you?" She said sarcastically. Her stomach growled. "Let's get breakfast," she offered.

"Sure," he said, and she once again looped her arm through his, and used the other to put her hood up. Of course it had to rain, hard. She was going out. Otherwise, with her home for the day, the sun would be out, it would be sixty degrees, and the birds would be chirping.

Go figure.

-

The two ended up grabbing a few things from the convenient store, and sat in the park, under a tree, and ate. The rain was letting up, and the clouds were lightening. Who knows? Maybe the sun would come out.

Leaning against the bark of the very old tree, she closed her eyes for a moment, and thought. With the idea in her head, she turned to Zack, and opened her eyes.

"Zack?"

"What?" He said, knowing that his very answer would be a 'no'. She could already feel it starting to form on his tongue, though this wasn't a yes or no question.

"Do you have any more soda left?" she busted out laughing.

"What is it Jondy?" he asked, but handed her the bottle. She didn't want any, but took the bottle anyways, to keep her hands busy, she watched a little girl dropped her umbrella onto the ground, and run, and jump right into a puddle.

Case and point: kids get dirty. And that little girl chose that moment, to run up to the two of them, and smile, a missing toothy grin, and say to loud for Jondy's sensitive hearing, "Are you going to the carnival this Saturday?"

"Yes I am," she smiled at her, "Are you going?"

"Uh huh," she nodded, "My daddy is taking me. Hey are you taking her?" She asked Zack, who looked ready to say something, but nodded.

Really! Jondy thought. It was what she wanted, and he had just said he was to the little girl. Maybe she should've just asked him last night when they were in bed together.

"He could win you a bunny!" she said excitedly. Jondy had to give it up for her. She was fearless, to just run up to the two transgenics, and talk like she was in some relation to them at all. If she only knew, and understand, she would be scared, and not want to talk to them at all; like they were some kinds of monsters. They weren't, but that's what they made them out to be. They were normal, for society, and put their pants on, one foot at a time.

Just try telling that to them.

"Well bye," she said, and waving wildly, she ran up to, and into the arms of who she presumed to be her father.

She turned to Zack. "Really?" she said.

"No," he said, and gathering their garbage, he stood up, and threw it away.

-

That's it for now. More soon. There is about a good six inches of snow outside, and it's still snowing. Horray!!!!