Friends Against The World (Book 1): Bite Me

by Walters, Geneva

  "Me? The night owl? Ha, you're funny." I stick my tongue out and he rolls his eyes.

  "Well, what shall we talk about?"

  I shrug. "Well how do you feel about the end of school coming up?"

  Xavier rolls towards the ceiling, thinking. "Well, I haven't told anyone besides you know, my parents are moving to British Columbia after I graduate, and they want me to come with."

  "Wait, what?" I say, my voice rising in pitch from shock.

  "I didn't want to tell anyone this weekend because I didn't want to ruin the weekend."

  "Well, are you thinking about doing it?"

  "I want to stay with you guys, in Niagara, but I don't know if I have much of a choice."

  "You always have a choice dude. I will always push for you to stay here, you know, and the others will as well."

  "I know. But if my parents move out there without me I wouldn't be able to fly and go see them, but if I go there, I won't be able to come back for many more years." He sighs, and I lay my hand on his shoulder.

  "Tough choice, it's all up to you." I concluded the discussion that way, and he looks to me.

  "Now then, enough depressing topics, let's move onto something I've been wondering for a while." He mused, and quickly changed position so he had a hand on either side of my head, and my breathing sped up. "A little birdie hinted that you might have a crush on me?"

  "What? I don't know what they are talking about!" I say quickly, breaking eye contact and looking at the wall past his arm.

  "So, it wouldn't affect you in any way if I leaned a bit closer?" He breathed as he lowered his head to right by my ear, and my heart felt like it was goanna break my rib cage.

  "Nope. Don’t know what you are talking about." I wheezed, breathing heavily.

  "Hmmm, thought there was something there. Shame thought that little birdie would have told his girl that I might like you back." He taunted with that trademark smirk of his, rolling over.

  A smile broke across my face and I whispered. "You like me back?"

  "Of course, silly, ever since seventh grade. Honestly I am surprised you didn't notice." He rolls over and we lay facing each other on the bed.

  "I had no idea. You weren't obvious at all."

  "Hmm, contrary to the consensus of our elementary friend group." He said, and he places a hand gently on my cheek, running it across my lips and the piercings there. "This okay?"

  I mumbled my consent and lean into his touch. He smiles a soft smile and leans in closer, me following his lead. We look each other in the eyes and then close them, lessening the distance between us until our lips meet. His lips a soft yet firm, and mold to mine in the most perfect way, a spark igniting between us. Our lips move together for a wonderful while before we both pull back, a smile across both our faces.

  "Wow that was better than I imagined." He breathed, and I agreed. "Kind of did it backwards, usually you date then you kiss, but whatever? Can I ask you on a date for when we get back?"

  "Of course, dude. Thought you'd never ask!" I giggled, then yawned.

  "Well I am sorry my kiss bored you to sleep." He laughed, and I shook my head, joining in.

  "Nope, just less stressed I suppose, now that I know the answer to my troubles." I watch him roll onto his back and I rest my head on his chest, which I hear him laugh deep into his chest.

  "Well our comfort levels are certainly high."

  "Eh, fuck it. I am comfy." I say as my eyes slowly close.

  "Night love." He mutters, and I smile as I drift off to his slow breaths.

  Chapter 8

  "Clang! Clang! Clang!"

  A bell rings loudly and interrupts my sleep and I groan, realizing my position has not moved since last night. The door bangs open just as a smile crosses my face, and Vi whistles as she sees the position we're in.

  "Busted." Xavier chuckles and I sit up quickly, seeing his smirk out of the corner of my eye.

  "Looks like you two had a little fun last night." She observes, and I get up and push her out the door, closing it behind her.

  I hear her laughing in the hall and I grumble, crawling back into bed. "Well so much for keeping it quiet for a bit."

  "With our friends, you really expected that?"

  "More hoped." I respond, and he snickers. "I like to think the better of our friends, even if it's false."

  The covers rustle as Xavier sits up, and I lean against his shoulder. "Did last night really happen or did I dream it?"

  He chuckles and brushes his hand gently against my hair. "Yes, it did, darling."

  A couple of firm knocks on the door echo through the room and I groan.

  "Alright you two, time to get up. Stop making out and get out here." Anthony's deep voice is muffled through the door.

  "Well that spread quickly, god damnit." I face palm, and Xavier gets up, stretching and yawning.

  I follow suit and walk to the door, putting my hand on the knob, leaning my head against the door. A warm presence follows behind me and I lean back into it, smiling. Xavier hugs me from behind and gives me a gentle kiss on my neck.

  "We should face the music before they make more assumptions?"

  "Now who's having false hope about our group of idiots?" I reckoned and opened the door and walked to the living room where the others are, all turning to us with silly grins.

  "Twenty bucks Liam, hand it over." Lee turned to Liam, who groaned and dug it out of his wallet and handed it over.

  "Fuck you."

  "Not your job." Lee winked at Quiyl, who giggled nervously.

  "You guys bet on us?" Xavier accused, and Lee shrugged.

  "You all suck. No, don't say anything!" I hold up my hands to the sexual innuendos already formulating in my friend's minds.

  "You know, we will handle breakfast." Xavier wrapped his warm hand around mine and started walking towards the kitchen, ignoring the whistles that echoed behind us.

  "Don't do it on the counter!" Lee called to us, with a muffled 'ow' that followed. "Why did you have to throw the book Vi?"

  "Don't be a bitch, or I will be forced to throw another." Vi promised.

  We got to the kitchen and I began to gather ingredients for omelettes and bacon while Xavier gathered the utensils and pans. The smell of cooking eggs surrounded Xavier as he added the ingredients, looking at me when he thought I didn't notice. I chopped up the ingredients for the next omelette as he finished the first one, placing it on a cookie sheet to stay warm in the oven. I grab enough plates for all and fill ten glasses of orange juice, making the next omelette.

  "We make a good team. Already so in sync and everything, funny how the fates work." Xavier pointed out, and I turned to him, biting my left piercing slightly.

  "Well they have enough practice." He holds the next omelette up to me on the flipper, and I sniff it. "Mm mm that smells amazing."

  We finish the last few omelettes with conversation in between and we turn to each other.

  "Well, shall we call the idiot crew?" Xavier questioned, wielding the flipper in my direction with a playful look on his face.

  I grab the flipper and walked closer, backing him into the counter. My eyes catch his and I observe his eyes widen, a slight tint colouring his cheeks. I kiss the base of his neck and catch his eyes again, a playful glint in his eyes.

  I walk backwards quickly, not allowing him time to react and wink, muttering, "Turnabouts, fair play love."

  "Tease." He responds to my back as I continue towards the door, sticking my head out the door.

  "Food, ya nutjobs!" I called to the living room, and the sound of multiple footsteps began towards me.

  As I turn around my plate is in my face, with a beaming Xavier. "Yours might have a bit more bacon, don't tell the others." He winked.

  People began to line up at the door as I grab my drink and fork, heading towards the living room and claiming the couch. Liam leads to group back out, each holding a plate and glass, Xavier last as he sits beside me. Everyone digs in then Idris pipes up; the
others quieten down to hear what he must say.

  "So, you two. What's the story?" He teases.

  "You are a bird." I deadpan, and Idris raises an eyebrow.

  "What?"

  "You heard the lady. You are a bird." Xavier agrees, and Vi breaks out laughing as she gets it.

  "What are they talking about?" Idris askes Vi, confusion on his features.

  "I told Geneva that a little birdie told me something." Vi confirmed in between laughs.

  "Okay besides the fact I am a bird, what the hell happened? Yesterday you were awkward and blushing and now you are outright holding hands and cuddling?" Idris inquired, ignoring his girlfriend and her laughing.

  "Shit happens?" Xavier shrugs, and Idris shakes his head with a tired sigh.

  "Details, you lovebirds!" Lee proclaims, almost knocking his plate off his laugh with his excitement.

  Quiyl catches the plate with a practiced ease and puts her hand on his shoulder, pressing him back into the chair.

  "I finally grew a pair and admitted to my feelings." I clarified, and the group's eyes turn to me.

  "Wait, you grew a pair. What about him?" Liam points to Xavier, who shakes his head.

  "You had our genders all wrong my friend, she's the man in this relationship." Xavier told the group.

  "I am the man!" I exclaimed, flexing my arm with a laugh.

  "Well does that make me bisexual then?" He flirted, and the group groaned.

  "Guess so. Well now we can check out boys AND girls together." I mention, and Liam pretends to gag.

  "Okay, we get it you two. God, please stop!" Liam begs, stuffing his face with more omelette.

  The rest of breakfast is finished with light conversation and plenty of laughing, the single friends ganging up on the couples. Liam volunteered for dish duty and we began to discuss what to do for the day.

  Chapter 9

  Arguments about what to do rang out from various people and Idris shushed everyone, holding the remote.

  "Let's watch the news then continue arguing about what to do! Okay? Good!" He said loudly, sitting down as he hit the power button.

  The television flicked on with commercials, which were soon over, and everyone's eyes became glued to the television, Liam joining us just as the news came on.

  "Hello, my name is Amanda and here is Canadian morning news! The outbreak in Michigan is no longer limited to borders, a few infected boarding planes not knowing of the deadly virus they carry. Scientists have discovered it transfers between blood to blood contact as well, and a few nurses who were handling blood transfusions met the virus and boarded planes, having no idea. There has now been minor spreading of this disease in Washington, Florida and Hamilton. Hospitals are working hard to the control the victims, the disease believed to be under control now." She finishes and transfers over to the weather man, the rest of us looking between each other.

  "This sounds an awful lot like a bad zombie film." Vi pointed out, and the rest of the group muttered their agreements.

  The somber mood settles over us all and Idris turns off the television and looks to the group.

  "Alright, turn your frowns upside down. We got weapons here, it's all good!" He says, and it gains a few chuckles. "Let's do something fun! What shall we do, come one, suggestions people!"

  "We snuck our Xboxes up, we could play Minecraft if you wanted?" Liam volunteers, and Vi turns to glare at him.

  "We told you no gaming this weekend!" Vi stalked over to Idris, who had the right to look threatened.

  "He told me too!" Idris pointed to Liam, who shrugged.

  "Brought eight controllers too." Liam sang, connecting wires and goes outside, bringing another television in from Idris's car, where he hid it.

  Liam finishes setting up and hands a controller to each person, minus Vi and Quiyl. He silences the protests with "share".

  We begin to gather materials and find a mine. As the group of us spread out I end up in a mine with Lee and Xavier's characters. I 'accidently' aimed wrong a few times and hit Lee's character, who turned to glare at me.

  "Oops." I said with a smile.

  "Hell no, you meant those!" Lee accused.

  "Who me? Nah, I would never hit a friend!"

  Anthony coughs, which sounds an awful lot like 'bullshit'. I flip him off and continue gaming. One hour quickly turned into two and before we all knew it; it was five o'clock.

  "I got dinner this time!" James says, walking to the kitchen, after passing his remote to Vi.

  "Would you stop that?!" Idris mutters to his girlfriend loudly, as she keeps placing TNT blocks next to him and setting them off.

  "Aww, but I like blowing you the hell up!" Vi gives puppy eyes to Idris, who exhales in defeat.

  Liam starts to say something until Quiyl slaps a hand over his mouth. "Don't you even think about saying what I think you are thinking!" She threatens.

  Liam blinks innocently and Lee smirks. "Won't work, she doesn't believe anything about innocence after meeting us all."

  "Nope. I do not. So, you can wipe that off your face and forget whatever comment you were about to say."

  Liam sighs and shrugs off her hand, resuming building his stone fortress, threatening death upon all those who attempt a siege. Lee likes taunting so he's building his right besides, oh so subtly crossing the boundary now and then, growls emitting from Liam.

  Xavier and I continue building a treehouse with a giggle now and then, the others rolling their eyes at us. James calls us to dinner just as Lee wages war on Liam, rather Quiyl does as the remote is suddenly shoved into her hands. Liam saves the game and gathers the remotes, placing them in front of the televisions, and turning off the systems. James made a stir fry, a separate one for Vi who can't eat red meat, and she says her thanks as she fills her bowl, walking to the living room. Rest of us follow suit and gather in the living room, Lee being put on dish duty this time with his lady.

  "What if this new story is basically saying we are about to go into a zombie apocalypse?" Anthony poses the question the group, Avyanna voicing her agreement alongside.

  "Well the movies certainly prepped us for this." James says, a slight sarcastic tone in his voice.

  "We have better than ever medical care, and a police force force able to handle this. We can't let ourselves get too worried, it will all be fine." Vi speaks up with confidence.

  "I agree with Vi, she is a smart girl." I add and send a smile Vi's way.

  Dinner falls into a silence except for the clinking of silver wear on plates and a few mumbles here and there. Lee and Quiyl gathering up dishes, and I go to Xavier and I's room, picking up my phone and sending a text to my Mom.

  Hey Mom! Heard the news about an outbreak in Niagara, everything okay there? <3

  My knuckles go white as I grip my phone, waiting and praying for a response. My mind starts to go to the worst-case scenarios, and I don't hear the door open and shut quietly. An arm wraps around my shoulders and pulls my head to their chest, snapping me out of my thoughts. The regular beating of their heart calms me down slightly as they brush through my hair gently.

  "Now it's my turn to reassure, it is all going be okay." Xavier says softly, and he begins to hum Pink Floyd, my breathing finally beginning to slow.

  My phone vibrates with a response, and I hurry to unlock it, messing the code up a few times. My finger shakes as I select the new message, quickly reading the response from Mom.

  Don't come home honey. We had an infected come to the parent teacher conference and snap right then and there, and bite quite a few more people. For some reason the disease has quickened the speed at which the victims lose their minds, and about twenty people were bit before we finally got a hold of them. Some escaped though. I repeat, do not come home. Tell all your friends that, I will text you updates! Love you! P.S. Update your Dad as well!

  Xavier gently takes the phone from my hand and reads Mom's message. I ask him to forward it to my Dad and then he leaves quickly to read it to the group, various voice
s muttering as they text their parents. He opens the door gently and comes back to my side, closing it before. He gathers me into his arms as the first few tears fall, worry for my parents bubbling up as my heart rate increases. His warm arms tense as my crying gets louder, before he begins to rub soothing circles into my back.

  We lay back on the bed as my tears soak his shirt, my focus on the thoughts running full force through my head. His hand continues the circles as my sobs echo through the room.

  "No, love, breathe. It is okay, now that they have made it national news people will be on the lookout for it." Xavier mentions, and I raise my eyes to his, his form looking blurry through my eyes.

  "What about our parents? They all went to this parent-teacher gathering, she didn't say who got bitten. It could be any of our parents."

  "Why would she tell us? That would practically be an invitation for rushing back to see them, bringing us into danger. She wouldn't tell us because she knew that if you found out it was your step-dad, you hijack a car to drive back."

  "I suppose that's true." I say, wiping the last few tears from my face.

  "You suppose. Hah. You would, don't lie." He teases, and I give a small smile.

  "Damn, you know me too well." I reply, sitting up. "Oh sorry, I got your shirt all wet!"

  "You think I really care." Xavier responds, and sits on the edge of the bed. "I am just glad you are feeling better. Now if you don't mind, I am going to change shirts."

  The bed creaks as he stands up and rummages through his drawer. He strips off his shirt and I admire his back muscles as he changes. He turns to me with a raised eyebrow and my cheeks heat up again.

  "Enjoying the show?" He teases.

  "Yes. I can't throw dollar bills at you though because Canada doesn't have those, and I am pretty sure coins would hurt…" I respond and Xavier laughs.

  The mood becomes somber again, and I grab my pajamas.

  "I am going to go change, let's just head to bed, yea?" I offer, and Xavier nods.

  "Alright, sounds good." He replies as I open the door and walk to the bathroom.