Patting her head, Sebastian smiled some. "It's okay. You would not have known anyways." Shaking his head, he looked up at her again. "It's getting rather late. I think we ought to turn in for the night. Although... with this temperature, we might have to look for something to keep us warm. A fire won't do. Any thoughts?"

Glancing around, he frowned when he saw they were pretty much in a wasteland. "I highly doubt we'll find anything useful here...."

Alice tried to ignore the old memories and focus on what Sebby was saying, but it was hard, she traced the scar on her neck before she shook her head to concentrate.

It was going to be dark soon, and the undead were more active then, Alice really didn't want to be out when it got dark. She shuddered at the thought. "We should at least be able to bunker ourselves in one of these little buildings. Somewhere were we can bar the door shut." she looked up. "And preferably some where not on ground level so we don't have to bar the windows." She saw an old office building, lots of the lower windows were shattered, but it was a pretty tall building. They could probably find an empty office they could use for the night. "Does that look okay to you?" Alice pointed and then looked back to Sebastian.

"Hey, anything is better than getting eaten alive. I'm done for anything. But let's hurry it up. I'd rather not... ya know, have to run. I might be the cross country captain and all, but I can only run so fast and for so long. Besides, I'd feel bad if I had to... leave you behind." Scratching his head, Sebastian walked up to a rickety building. "This place looks... okay?"

Poking his head in the door, he took a hesitant step in. Eyes darting back and forth, he finally nodded in approval. "This place has an elevator to get to the seventh floor. I think we might be able to use the pulley-system elevator over there. C'mon."

Alice cautiously followed him, but once they deemed it safe enough, she relaxed a bit. "And just because i wasn't on the cross country team doesnt mean i'm not a quick runner." she poked. "But i understand your point." She gave him a smile. it was nice to know that he'd at least feel bad for leaving her. Alice was finding her self growing to like Sebbys company, maybe it was because he was the last sane person left, but she didn't think so.
She followed him to the elevator. "You sure this thing is going to work?" she raised an eyebrow as she looked at him.

"Oh please, hun, cross country isn't about speed. It's all about endurance. I can out endure a zombie, but a whole herd of zombies? I doubt I'd be able to run for more than eight solid hours." Exhaling, he looked about the elevator.

Jumping on it, he bounced around some. Watching the chains and then the rope, he smiled. "Believe it or not, I want to go to college for... physics." Helping Alice onto the little landing, he tugged away at the ropes. It inched ever so slowly up, but it was better than having to walk. Or at least for Alice. That and the muscle workout was nice.

When they were at the sixth floor, Sebastian stopped and exhaled several times. "Not sure I'll be able to pull us up another. But I think this floor will suffice... right?" Scooping her up, he stepped up with her in his arms. Taking a seat up against an inside wall, Sebastian curled up into a ball. "We should sleep near one another, or we'll freeze."

Alice's face turned a bright shade of red when Sebastian picked her up to carry her out of the elevator shaft. Her face stayed it's nice rosy color as he sat down and mentioned the sleeping near one another. He had a point. Nights tended to be extremely cold. Alice set her board down and slid to a seat next to him with a sigh.

Her mind was racing as she though about the day and everything that had happened since she had run into Sebby. Why was it that everytime she looked at him she found her cheeks heating up. He was alot nicer then she originally thought, you know, before everything happened. Quite frankly, there wasn't a thing wrong with him. If Alice's manager was still alive she would have fired him for concocting the stupid stunt that prevented them from ever having a civil conversation until now. Alice scooter a little closer so that their arms were practically touching.

"so what's the plan for tomorrow? Just find more supplies?" Alice asked without looking at him, she was trying to hide her still red face.

"But of course! We need to keep ourselves clean, feed, and warm. I can't have you getting ill on me. I'm not qualified to be your doctor." Reaching his arms out, he pulled her into his chest and nuzzled her with his cold nose. "I hope you're okay with the clinging and cuddling. But I think, with how the world is, you wouldn't be one to complain. Although... you might still hate me."

Releasing her, Sebastian sat up and hugged his knees. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. Hell, I didn't even think twice about it. I'm sorry, Alice. I meant nothing by i..." cocking a brow, he couldn't help but grin. "Are... are... are you blushing?"

"Wha...Uh No!" She lied and pointed to her face. "T-This is my angry face." she couldn't keep the smile off her face though, she never was a good liar.

The hug had taken her by complete surprise. She had found herself almost embracing him back, but he had pulled away before she could. In all honesty she didn't really mind the cuddling he had attempted, she had just never been held that way before. Every guy she attempted to date in the past almost immediately wanted in her pants, that's why her relationships were poor and always ended quickly. None of them ever just hugged her. She found herself smiling when he nuzzled into her with his cold nose. He was cute. Alice couldn't believe she was thinking of it, but he was.

Alice let out a sigh. "I don't hate you Sebby. I'm not even sure why i ever really did in the first place." She admitted with her face still red. She looked at him as a smile formed on her face. "And I don't mind, really."

I light-hearted grin followed her soft words. "So you don't mind cuddling. Heh. I'm a sucker for cuddling. So you better watch out! I might just come up from behind and wrap my arms around you." His cheeks gained a slight pink hue, but it wasn't too noticeable.

"So tell me more about yourself. I know you're a fantastic, fiery, young boarder, but there must be other things you do. Are you into anime? Video games? Or perhaps you're an artsy girl who likes photography and painting? If not that, maybe an outdoorsy type where you frolic in the flowers?" Reclining onto the floor, Sebastian looked up at the dusty ceiling. "I don't know what it is, but I've always loved women who were headstrong, different, and brave. It's a rare thing to come across. A female who would openly admit she liked guy things...."

His black bangs went into his eyes as he exhaled lightly. The air around him was calm and still almost as if he were frozen in time. Sebastain's eyes blinked several times before he propped himself up on his elbows. "Please don't get mad when I say this, but... I'm glad you survived. You're one of the only people I could actually count on. Had I not run into you, I think I'd have killed myself. So thank you."

Alice looked over at him, wide eyed. She leaned over and put her hand on his cheek to force him to look at her. "I'm glad you survived too. But please don't talk about killing yourself. Honestly, i don't know where i'd be if i didn't find you, but i know it wouldn't be good." She let him go and looked away, trying to hide her red face. She really was glad he was there.

She figured a change of subject would be good so she thought back to his previous question. "What do i do...hm... Well, i'll admit it, i'm a gamer. Call of Duty has to be my favorite game." She laughed, she was a bit of an odd girl all together. "Uh, but i do like to go camping and mountain biking. Its hard to find people to do things with though. Girls cant keep up or they think its to dirty, but guys get embarrassed when they can't keep up with me." She shrugged and sighed as she looked at him lying on the floor. Before she could change her mind, Alice laid down next to him and put her head on his shoulder as she wrapped an arm around him. It was nice to be able to hold onto someone again. Her face was glowing red but she didn't care. "What about you though? You do anything besides serenading women with your voice?" She asked as she cot comfortable

When her arm wrapped around his waist, he was half tempted to flip over and lay atop her. Perhaps he would pour sweet words of nothing onto her and attempt to kiss her innocent lips. But, rather than coming across a player, Sebastian smiled and answered her questions.

"I'm impressed. You've got guts, girl. I have to give you more credit." Wiggling a bit, Sebastian placed one of his arms under her head and then curled it up and over her body to keep her in place. Nuzzling her forehead with his nose, Sebby laughed. "I sing, dance, act. You know, the typical stuff. I also play ball and cross country. I'm on the Brainiacs Team as the captain, but I'm also on the Envirothon Team as the forest and animal specialist. Kinda nerdy, but I'm smarter than I look. Only, half the kids in the school don't know about my geeky side."

With her in his arms, Sebastian could only continue to smile. "I bet you would have survived just fine without me. You're a trooper. I highly doubt you would have fallen victim to a stupid zombie. Besides, you're cute. You could just wink and they would fall dead." Laughing, he fell silent. "If you had one wish, what would you wish for?" Rolling over, he looked Alice in the eyes.

Alice felt a smile cross her face as Sebby wrapped his arm around her.She wasn't exactly used to the situation, but it was nice, being held. She relaxed a bit as they laid there but she couldn't hide the giggle that escaped as he talked of the clubs he had been in school. "Never would have thought you would have been on the nerdy end of the spectrum." She admitted, but it was nice learning about him besides just what the tabloids and her manager told her.

Her face turned red as he stared at her, his face was so close. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin and shivered from the surrounding cold. "That's flattering, but i still don't think i'd survive by my self." Then she froze at Sebby's last question. His stare was so intent, but she couldn't bring herself to look away. What would she wish for? The apocalypse to never have happened? A chance to redo that stupid stunt?
"I-I don't know Sebby." She admitted. "If i changed something, it means we wouldn't be here, right now." Then a thought struck her. "But if i had the opportunity to change anything, I would have stopped Travis." her voice was soft as she spoke. She Didn't want to upset him, but if she had the ability to change anything, she would have stopped that accident. She would have saved Sebby from all the pain he had to go through. Alice finally tore her eyes away afraid that she would have upset him but she hugged him hoping he would understand.

That name drove through his heart. He was never really one to speak of it. He hated reliving that moment. Seeing his other half ripped away, forever losing his brother killed him. Lying there in silence, he turned his head away. He couldn't face her. Not now. Maybe not even ever.

Sebastian's eyes swelled with tears as he laid on the floor. It was cold, dark, and lonely. Alice's breath was the only heat for the night and her little inhales and exhales were breaking his heart. If he didn't figure out a way to keep her warm, her last breath would come by 2am.

Getting up, he removed his jacket and tossed it at Alice's feet. "Just stay here. If you follow, I might shoot you, so just stay. Just obey me and stay." His voice was raspy and harsh as he towered over her. Going down the elevator shaft, he made certain she would be unable to follow him. Trying the ropes to the basement level, Sebastian looked up the opening to see Alice's lonely face.

It was a cruel thing to do to her, but he wasn't about to let her freeze. That and Sebby needed some air. He needed to feel the life get shocked back into him.

Scurrying about, he dipped in and out of buildings in search of warmth. Every now and again Sebastian would slip past a zombie. Killing one would be far too much of a hassle, and besides, there were several of them every time.

It was getting late by the time Sebastian found what he was looking for. However, he did not go unharmed. In his attempt to flee from a monster, Sebastian tore open his leg on a truck's exhaust pipe. Hobbling back, he slowly but surely made his way back up to Alice who had fallen asleep. Smiling, Sebby crawled over to the female and wrapped her in the sleeping bag he'd found about a mile and a half from where they were staying. Moving closer to her and then pulling her into his arms, Sebastian stared out at the stars that shinned brightly from out the cracks in the wall.

"I'm sorry I left you like that. But I couldn't have you freezing to death. The day Travis died I lost half my heart. The day you die, I'll lose the other half. I will fight day and night to keep you warm, healthy, fed, and alive. I will give me life away to keep you that way. You mean more to me than you'd ever know. To think, three years ago I was going to ask you out... it's a shame I never had the courage. And now you'll never know how I've longed to call you mine. I can't tell you. I just can't. I wouldn't want to jeopardize anything or make us foolish so we might fall victim to zombies. Forgive me, Alice, for I haven't the courage to be brave like you."

Kissing her neck, Sebastian sank into a deep sleep. He was slightly worried that she might have heard him, but he figured, if she did, he would play it off like it was a dream.

Alice opened her mouth to speak when Sebby got to his feet but she was cut off by his harsh words. She knew that by talking of Travis she had hurt him but was he really that angry with her, she hadn't meant it. Alice wtched him tie the ropes down so ther was no way to follow him. Tears stung her eyes as shea sat back down. She grabbed his jacket and pulled it on as the first tears fell from her eyes. She thgouht they were finally getting somewhere, but then she went and ruined it, just like she did every time.

She had cried herself to sleep by the time that Sebby had arrived. Her eyes slowly opened as she felt Sebby cover her up and lay down next to her. She was going to roll over but then Sebby started speaking again. More tears dripped down her face as she listened to him speak. Her heart was aching. She had always cared for Sebby, that's why she hated the stunts her manager made her pull. Why hadn't he said something earlier? He would have been the first person she would have actually dated because she liked them and not because her manager told her to. When he kissed her neck, Alice had to fight herself to keep from crying out loud, she didn't know he cared so much. She laid there in his arms for a while until she finally got up the courage to turn over and face him.
With a gentle hand she brushed a piece of hair from his eyes and let her hand trace his face. "You should have said something." She said in a soft voice before she gently leaned in and softly pressed her lips to his. It was just a small kiss, but she pulled away and smiled as she looked at his sleeping face. Then she wrapped the sleeping bag around them both before she let her eyes close as she drifted to sleep.

When the sun broke through the clouds that morning, Sebastian shot up straight. Blinking and then shuddering, he realized his sleeping partner was most likely confused and terrified. "Sorry babe. The sunlight just caught me by surprise. In all honesty... I didn't think we'd survive. But I'm glad the world proved me wrong."

Stretching, the black haired male yawned and moaned some as his bones snapped back into place. "So I brought us back some food. I found this canning store down the way and took everything I could find. I hope you're a beef jerky fan because we've got a backpack full of 'm." Kneeling before her, he pushed Alice's hair aside. "I think we'll have to skip the showering today. But, if it makes you feel any better, you're just as beautiful as always." Smiling, Sebastian put out a hand to help her up.

Alice jerked awake when Sebby woke. She looked around franticly as she tried to see what was wrong. Her heart was pounding. When Sebby knelt down infront of her, Alice fought of the urge to slap him. Instead she threw her arms around his neck and held on tight to him. "don't you dare leave me again. I was so worried last night. I thought you weren't going to come back." she had to fight of the urge to cry as she remembered what Sebby had said while he thought she was asleep. As Alice held on to him she found herself trembling. How could she explain that all the things he said last night, she felt them too. Her mind was racing as she thought of options and different ways she could try to tell him. She finally let him go and just stared at him not knowing what to say next. Was he really just gong to pretend that nothing had happened yesterday?

"Me. Leave you. I could never. If I did, I'd throw away years of stalking you." Winking, he scooped her up and spun her about. "So, would you like breakfast. I did my best to scavenge up something delicious. I found canned peaches, smoked Canadian bacon, and some blue cheese. Odd combo, but we need to do our best to keep up with the food groups."

Digging into his bag, he pulled out the items he spoke of and handed them to Alice. When his fingers collided with hers, he hesitated for a moment. Looking down, Sebastian saw his fingerless-gloved hands intertwined with hers. Eyes raising to met hers, his mouth opened, but not a sound came out. Lip quivering, Sebastian leaned forward as his eyes closed. However, just a moment way from her lips, he stepped back and coughed. "Anyways, the faster we eat, the sooner we can make it to downtown DC."

Her face turned red as she was spun around by him. It was strange seeing the sudden contrast in his behaviors from last night to now. Alice took the food as it was being handed to her but when his fingers laced with her's she felt her face flush again. Her heart started racing, pounding against her ribs. As he leaned closer, Alice let her eyes close, but nothing happened. Sebby pulled back and spoke once more. He was clearly just as uncertain as she was. However, when he pulled back, Alice refused to let go of his hand.

"Sebastian look at me." She wanted him to look her in the eyes. "I...I heard what you said last night." She finally admitted after a moment of hesitation. "I wasn't asleep, I heard every single word." Alice stepped closer to him still clinging to his hand, she was shaking, unsure of what to do or say. "Sebby I..." She hated when she couldn't find words to say. It happened a lot when she got nervous. Alice bit her lip as she put her other hand on his cheek. Her heart was still racing as she debated on what to do. Would he be mad if she kissed him? She already upset him last night when she spoke of Travis, she didn't want to upset him anymore so she tentatively pulled her hand back and grabbed his other hand instead.

Her reaction was a bit surprising. She heard everything, he hated hearing that. He was never really one to open up and, when he did, he made it known. It wasn't really the way he wanted this relationship to start out, but hell, he was being standoffish about it. Almost squeamish.

He shook his hands free and slowly walked Alice toward the sturdy support beam in the center of the house. With her back now pinned against the post, his seductive eyes played their little trick. Keeping her eyes on his eyes, he placed his right hand beneath her chin. Slowly tilting it up, taking several seconds to move it hardly a sixteenth of an inch, Sebastian tired his best to keep her unaware of his doings. Smiling, the black haired male rested his free hand on the wall behind her head.

Still tilting her chin up, Sebastian bent some to make the moment a little less rigid. Lips pressing lightly against hers, the hand on the wall moved behind her head. Pulling her into his chest, he cradled the woman. One light kiss would suffice, for now, he thought. Perhaps, later that day, he would gather up the strength to add some tongue. As he thought about it, his pale cheeks became flushed. "I couldn't leave you. I never could and I never will" he whispered softly in her ear.

Alice was saddened when he pulled his hands from her, but as he started backing her up to the support beam she felt her heart racing. When his hand touched her chin, she felt her face flush. The seconds seemed to drag out as she stared at him, getting lost in his gorgeous eyes. She let her eyes close as his lips touched hers. Her heart was pounding, she was sure he could have heard it as he pulled her closer to him. When he broke the kiss, Alice opened her eyes and listened to him whisper in her ear, his warm breath spreading goosebumps down her neck. Before he could pull away Alice wrapped her arms around his neck and held him there. She saw his cheeks redden and she smiled before gently putting her lips to his once more. It was brief but she wanted to make sure he knew she felt the same way. She put her forehead to his, a smile on her red face. "I'm not going to leave you Sebby. You don't have to worry about that." She thought about what he had said last night and she was glad they finally got their feelings out in the open.

It was a pleasure surprise when she returned the kiss. Sliding his hand down to hers, he tangled their fingers up again, and pulled her over to the food. "Ya gotta eat!" Trying to suppress the blush, Sebastian opened the ham and shoved a piece in his mouth.

The taste was out of this world. It wasn't too smokey, but it wasn't too dull. It was shockingly delicious. "Wow. This stuff is amazing. You have to try it. And the peaches will be heavenly, too. I used to buy his canned peaches all the time. They are so... amazing." Ripping a little piece of ham off the large slab, Sebastian placed the piece between his teeth. In a somewhat obscured tone, he spoke through his teeth. "If you want this, come and get it."

Alice smiled as he blushed. When he went for the food she gave him his hand back so he could open things. Her face flushed hen he teased her with the piece of ham hanging from his lips. At first she didn't know what to do, but eventually a playful grin crossed her face. She reached over and grabbed him by the shirt to hold him still as she used her mouth to retrieve the food. Once she had it she let her lips barely touch his before she pulled away and chewed the bite of food. "Wow, this is good." She giggled, speaking more of their game than the real food. She sat down and grabbed his hand to pull him down next to her. It took a moment before she let go of his hand to grab the peaches and open them up.

As she sat there with Sebby her spirits started lifting. She hadn't been happy in years, even before this whole mess started. Alice looked at Sebby, a true smile on her face.