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Curtis watched through squinted eyes as the shiny new Durangos were having last minute checks done. He stood on the platform that straddled the wall between the hotel courtyard and the entry gates.

It was two days after Nerit’s collapse and she was no closer to life or death in that time. She seemed suspended between the two worlds and the Reverend was holding an around the clock prayer vigil for her.

Nervously, Curtis shifted from foot to foot, his hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers. Glancing over his shoulder at the back entrance of the hotel, he saw several of the volunteers saying emotional farewells to their loved ones.

Linda and Bette came out together, Bette walking in front dressed in Army fatigues. Linda wore hunting clothes and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. To his disgust, they were holding hands. As they neared him, he took a breath and boldly stepped in front of them. Bette looked surprised, but Linda already looked annoyed.

“Linda, I would like just a moment of your time,” he said softly. He tried very hard not to glare at Bette.

“I don’t know, Curtis,” she said.

“It’s okay, hon. You take care of this,” Bette said, giving Linda’s hand a squeeze then walked on.

Linda put her hands on her hips and looked at him intently. “What is it Curtis?”

“Look, I. . . uh. . . know I fucked up…somehow…somewhere…you know. . . with you,” he stuttered, trying to remember his well rehearsed speech.

“We were never together, Curtis. We were fuck buddies,” Linda answered tersely.

He winced, but plunged on with his pre-planned speech, “But you’re going out on a dangerous mission. You could die. I just don’t want, you know, bad blood between us. ”

Linda sighed deeply and folded her arms over the breasts he had loved to touch so much. She looked away from him, then said, “Okay, that’s true. I don’t want bad blood either. Look, I just wasn’t clear enough with you. I needed you to relieve all that stress. I thought you understood. That it was just sex. ”

Curtis felt his temper rising and felt his face flushing, but he curled his hands up tight and tried not to scream at her that she was a dirty whore.

“Linda, I love you. ”

She took in a deep breath and exhaled very slowly. “Curtis, I’m sorry. I just don’t feel that way toward you. ”

“I did something wrong. I know that. I know I’m young and not wise in the ways of women,” he said in a voice that was becoming increasingly heated. “I know I do not fully know how to satisfy a woman yet. But if you had just given me time-”

“Curtis, the sex was fine. It was what I needed at that time. I was not looking for a relationship. I didn’t want that. Bette just happened. I’ve never been with a girl before. Ever. It’s been all new to me. But I love her.

I’m sorry that hurts you. But if we can just be friends and let our past go, Curtis, that would make me so happy. ” Linda was close to tears and looked at him with trembling lips. “I really don’t want bad blood between us. ”

Hurtful, angry words danced on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them away, nodding slowly. “Okay, okay. ” Forcing a smile, he said, “Friendship is good. ” In his mind though, he saw the two of them, tangled up, naked, sweating, touching each other, kissing each other and he wanted to hurt them both so badly he felt pain in his gut. “I can live with friendship. ”

For the first time in awhile, Linda smiled at him. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Curtis. That makes me feel good. ”

He kissed her awkwardly on the cheek, tasting her skin, and hating her as much as he loved her.

Linda walked on toward the woman that she now let touch her breasts and the other places Curtis had considered his. He felt himself grow hotter and more flushed.

“Hey, Curtis, ready to go?” Greta asked from beside him.

He started, his sheepish grin wiping away the tension in his young, handsome face. “Sure. Yeah. I’m ready. ”

Greta nodded. “Great! Let’s go zombie hunting. ”

* * * * * “You die, I kick your ass,” Lenore told Ken firmly.

“Okay. Do it now,” he said, presenting his rear.

Smacking it, she gave him her sternest look. ‘You shouldn’t go out without me. ”

Dale tattooed and intense, stood nearby. “I’ll take care of your boyfriend. ”

“He’s not my boyfriend. ”