Chapter 2:

Beautiful

Summer

20 Years Later

Sarah shot up in bed. Her knees bent close enough to her chest to where she could bury her face in them if she wanted to, but far enough away that she could rest her elbows on them, which she did. She realized she was crying, and her hands slowly covered her face.

A soft knocking made her look up. Her long dirty blond hair cascading down her back and shoulders, covering her black tank top and just barely touching her skinny jeans.

The sound came again, more insistent than before. "I'm coming!" She huffed as she slid off the bed, wiping away any trace of her tears. As she did so she glanced at the broken watch on her wrist.

Sarah swung the door open, already sure who was on the other side. She examined him through narrowed eyes. He was very attractive she had to admit, with his dark brown hair that curled in just the right ways and his beautiful green eyes that she often found herself lost in. But he always had this look on his face, like he knew it, and that was what she hated the most about him. This morning however, he had cuts on the side of his face.

He wore a plain black V-neck shirt with a sweater over that and a jean jacket over everything. "New clothes?"

Ryan smiled at her sweetly. "Yeah, I... found this place... Don't worry I brought you something!" He placed a bag on the table and pulled out about 10 dresses.

Sarah's frown got deeper as each one was shown to her, until he pulled out a brown leather jacket. "I'll just take that. Why don't you try on everything else?" She grabbed it and tried it on. "Yeah, this'll work."

"How was your morning, beautiful?" He poured himself a glass of alcohol. "Want one?"

"No, I don't want one. All I want to know is where the hell you've been. Besides shopping." Sarah walked over to the kitchen counter and leaned against it. She closed her eyes in an attempt to control the anger that just begged for her to beat her friend to a pulp.

Ryan was silent for a second, then he lifted the glass to his lips. "West End district. We had a drop to make."

"Yeah, Ryan, we had a drop to make." She grabbed a rag and threw it at him roughly.

"Don't be mad. I just didn't want you getting hurt." He dipped the rag in his alcohol and patted his wounds.

"I can take care of myself, and how is running out and almost getting yourself killed helping me in any way? Did you even pull off the deal?"

Ryan laughed. "Actually, the deal went off without a hitch. We got enough ration cards to last us a couple of months at least."

"Then what's all this?" Sarah gestured to her face.

"On my way back here, some fucking pricks jumped me. They got a few good hits in, but..." He noticed Sarah making her way toward him. Shaking her head in disapproval. "Look, I'm fine, see. I took care of it."

"Gimme that!" Sarah snatches the alcohol soaked rag out of Ryan's hand. She pushed him backwards until he was seated on the table. "Get fucking shorter."

Now eye level with him, she grabs his chin and angles his face so she can see better. "The fuck you smilin' at!" When she said it she had meant to get him to stop, but she should've known it would only make his grin wider.

"Just the most beautiful lady in the world."

Sarah sighed.

"Actually, this morning I saw this zombie and she was fuckin-"

Sarah stopped him with a look. Her 'Really?' look. Ryan had his arms out to emphasize whatever he was about to say, but seeing Sarah's face, dropped them into his lap.

"They still alive?"

"Zombies? No Sarah, you see zombies-"

"Those guys that jumped you, idiot."

Ryan scoffed, "That's funny."

"Well, did you find out who they were?" Sarah checked out the rest of his face.

"Yeah, they didn't really matter. A couple of nobodies, but I do know that Robert sent them."

"Robert? Like Robert Robert?"

"Yeah, Robert." He paused. "How many Roberts do you know?"

Sarah shrugged, "Does he know that we're after him?" She walked back to the kitchen and put down the rag.

"Yup, thought he'd get us first."

"Ha, he's smarter than I thought."

"Not smart enough." Ryan walked in front of Sarah. "I know where he's hiding. What do you think? Wanna have sex with me yet?"

"Like hell I will. Where?"

"Eh, old warehouse in Area 5. Don't know how long though."

"Well, come on." Sarah walks past him to the door. "We're wasting daylight."

Ryan chuckles as he follows her, "I was hopin' you'd say that."