A/N: Reviews are cool.

Warm Bodies belongs to Isaac Marion.

Chapter 4: Anger

R steadily read the last words of the book and closed it, looking hopefully at Julie, whose blue eyes were smiling. "Wow," she breathed.

"Did I d-do alright?" he asked.

"R, you've improved so much," she said. She leaned in to kiss him just as Nora stepped onto the balcony where they were sitting.

"What's going on?" the two quickly snapped their heads back. "Oh," she said, smirking as she realized what was going on. "I'll leave you two alone."

"No! Nora, R finished the book!" Nora squeaked happily.

R was taken aback by all this excitement over a little thing he had done. I could've done a lot better. I could've been a lot better. He had been thinking a lot of those sort of thoughts lately. He didn't like them, but they managed to crawl into his mind, telling him everything he was doing wrong, and why wasn't he doing better? He should understand all this by now!

All this thinking put him in a bad mood, and he got up from his chair. "I need a nap," he grumbled.

"Aw, what happened?" he heard Nora ask as he walked away.

"I don't know. I think he's just tired. Maybe I need to get off his back for awhile," a hint of sadness was in Julie's voice.

Oh, God, no, Julie, it's not your fault. It's mine. R thought. I'm so stupid. Why am I so stupid? He tried to listen to music to put himself to sleep, but everything sounded wrong and off key, so he curled up in a fetal position and drifted off into an odd, uncomfortable sleep.

"R," a voice woke him. "Are you okay?" he opened his eyes, annoyed. "What happened?" it was Julie, gingerly taking his hand, a look of pure concern in her eyes.

"I just...I just wish I was better." his brow furrowed angrily at her.

"Better at what? R, your reading is great."

"No," he shook his head, "it's not about that it's just...I-I take up so much of your time, it's like I'm some n-new puppy when...I should know all this by now and...I'm so angry with myself."

Julie silenced him. "Shh, no, no, R. You've gotten better, I keep telling you that. I know it's hard but...I'm gonna stay with you. I'll help you, me and Nora will...and you're getting to the point where you barely need help." she leaned in and gave him a real kiss then, locking her fingers with his. "Don't be mad, okay?"

"I'll...I'll try." he chuckled as she nuzzled into his neck. "Th-thank you Julie."

"You're always welcome," she said, giving him another kiss.