By the time we got back to the hotel, the sun had fully risen and our feet dragged from exhaustion.

Cassie told me she hadn't found much other than some sanitary materials from the women's restroom and some bottles of water from one of the work rooms.

That coupled with my first aid kit and handgun and I reasoned that our trip had been a fairly successful one. You know, if you just completely disregarded the fact that Cassie almost got shot (again) and we were arriving at least an hour late.

When we opened the front door to the hotel, I was immediately bombarded by the sound of yells and shouts from the floor above. They no doubt belonged to Zombie.

Cassie rested a hand on my shoulder, holding me back momentarily. "Maybe it's best if I take the blame for this whole thing," she said slowly. "I can say I wanted to help Evan and you just wanted to make sure I didn't go alone."

This whole situation would be better if Cassie did take the blame. Well, at least it'd be better for my relationship with Zombie. But despite the lack of conflict between Zombie and I, it'd only make Zombie hate Evan more. Which was something we definitely didn't need. At this point, Evan was our only hope to figuring out the Megan problem.

I gave her a small smile. "Thanks, but it's ok," I said. "It was my idea. I'll take whatever Zombie throws my way," I continued.

Cassie nodded once, dropping her hand.

"And after all, it's not like we're coming back empty handed," I added, before bravely ascending the steps to where the noise was coming from.

Zombie and I hadn't talked much since I'd gotten mad at him last week. Zombie had apologized to Dumbo but he hadn't gotten around to Nugget yet. So, I'd held true to my words. I hadn't talked to him or associated with him for a whole seven days. And if I was being completely honest, I was hoping he would apologize soon to Nugget so I could be around him again. I missed him.

But after the stunt I'd just pulled with leaving the hotel, who knew when Zombie and I would be on good terms again.

"Shit, Flint! You just let them go! You just agreed to stand guard and let them go? What the hell? What the hell were you thinking?!"

"Chill, man. It's not like I just 'agreed'. I mean I had conditions! And I also took their place taking watch. I don't understand why you're being such a little bit-"

"You don't understand? What do you mean you 'don't understand'? You let two of us just leave! And what conditions? What the fu-"

"I don't understand because they left in the middle of the night, when no one would see them and they made sure to put someone on watch before they left. And as for my conditions-"

My eyes widened as I anticipated what was coming next. Now seemed like the perfect moment to intervene. I looked over at Cassie briefly before throwing open the door, barging into the room.

"We brought back medical supplies," I announced, dropping the first aid box on the ground.

Zombie stood, leaning against the wall on the far right side of the room. His face was slightly red and his arms were crossed firmly across his chest. The bags under his eyes seemed to be darker and his hair was sticking in every direction. He obviously hadn't gotten much sleep. It was either that or he'd run his hand through it in frustation one too many times. Or maybe it was both.

"Ah, speaking of my conditions," Flintstone said, the corner of his lips twisting into a smirk.

"Can it, Flintstone," Cassie snapped, punching Flintstone hard in the shoulder before moving to stand next to me.

My eyes met Zombie's and his eyes seemed to softened for a fleeting moment.

"So, Canary..." Flintstone said suggestively. "Tell me."

"Tell you what?" I asked cautiously, starting to feel the irritation creeping into my voice.

"Who's the better kisser? Me or Zombie?"

I quickly diverted my gaze away from Zombie. I suddenly felt my cheeks grow warm and my mouth go dry. I felt embarrassed and guilty and everything I should be feeling for kissing someone else to keep something hidden from the guy I actually had feelings for.

But among the flurry of emotions I was feeling, I was also surprised. One, how did Flintstone even know Zombie and I had kissed in the first place? And two, did he really have the nerve to bring that up right now?

"Wait, you've kissed Ben?" Cassie asked under her breath.

I turned quickly to look at her, not really sure what to say. This wasn't really the way I wanted any of this to come out. "Uh, I-"

"What the hell are you talking about, Flintstone? Tell me or I'll fucking strangle you, right here, right now," Zombie said, taking a threatening step away from the wall.

Or at least he tried to take a threatening step. He staggered momentarily, grimacing, before retuning to the support of the wall.

Flintstone raised his hands up to the side of his face in surrender. "Don't get mad bro, it was just one of the conditions."

"Don't get mad? -"

"The only way I'd let her go was if she kissed me. So she did," Flintstone said nonchalantly, leaning against the wall, the same arrogant smirk still plastered on his face.

It took every ounce of will I had left in my body to resist slapping the smirk off his face. I curled my fingers into fists until my nails were digging into the skin of my palms.

"Zombie, I needed to go, ok? I did it because I had to," I said carefully.

Zombie stopped advancing on Flintstone and turned to face me for a second, his eyes still cold and harsh, sending daggers in every direction.

"I'm sorry we went behind your back. But I'm not sorry that we left," I continued. "We have supplies- supplies we wouldn't have gotten if we hadn't left the hotel. I'm not going to apologize for that. I can't."

Aside from the sound of the rats crawling in the walls, the room was silent for a couple minutes. Flintstone still sported the same smirk and Cassie was biting her lip, tapping her foot softly on the ground. And Zombie was rubbing his jaw with his eyes trained steadily on the ground.

"Cassie, please check on Megan," Zombie said eventually in calm, chilling tone. "Flintstone, go make yourself useful somewhere. But I'm not done with you. I'll find time to kill you later."

Cassie left without much of a protest and Flintstone looked like he was about to object, but a harsh glare from Zombie sent him following in Cassie's footsteps.

"Zombie-" I started to say once they were gone.

"Canary, please tell me what's going on," he said tiredly, the anger subsiding from his voice for a second.

"Cassie and I got started talking about Megan and then that led to Evan which then led to us needing medicine and I wanted to help out," I said slowly, choosing my words carefully. Who knew what would set Zombie off again. "And you're not getting any better," I said, softer this time. "Someone had to do something."

"I know we needed medicine," he said. "But what you did was incredibly irresponsible and reckless. What part of you thought that was a good plan?"

"Bloody hell, Zombie. I know. I did what I thought was the right thing to do at the time."

"It could've waited until-"

"Waited until what, Zombie?" I asked, placing my hands on my hips. I took a step forward so there were only a few feet separating us. "Until you died of infection? Or until Megan led the Others to us?"

"Damn it, Canary. It could've waited until I was awake! I don't understand why you kissed Flintstone in order to do it behind my back."

I bit my lip slightly, bringing up one hand to hastily brush a stand of hair out of my eyes.

"You would've never let me go if you'd been awake," I pointed out, my eyes narrowing.

"Yeah, you're damn straight," he said hoarsely. "I would've gone. Me, Dumbo, and Flint-"

"Oh and that's such a great idea? Zombie, would you take a look at yourself for a second? You're sick. You're why I had to get that medicine. Do I care about Evan and Megan? Yes. But not the way I care about you. I went for you. So why does anything else have to matter?" I asked, feeling tears threaten my eyes.

I blinked them back, wanting desperately to maintain the strong front I had going for me at the moment. "A-and I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I'm sorry I kissed Flintstone, because trust me I wish I could take that back...for multiple reasons. And believe me, I understand why you're upset. I do. I just don't think it's necessary for us to get into another pointless argument over something that's already done."

"I just need you to be honest with me," he said. "I want to make sure you're safe. And I can't do that if you go and do random shit behind my back."

I nodded once, feeling a wave of shame rush over me. "I'm sorry," I murmured. I realized I was being unreasonable. I'd been the one that had just up and left in the middle of the night.

"For all of this and for being rude to you the other night-"

"You don't need to apologize for the other night," Zombie said softly. "You were right. I said sorry to Nugget this morning and I-"

"You said sorry to Nugget?" I asked quietly, a small smile taking place on my lips.

"Yeah-"

I took a bold step forward and reached up, pulling him down to me. "Good," I whispered, silencing him by pressing my lips against his.

I'd waited a whole week for him to say sorry and now that he'd finally done just that, I could kiss him without damaging my pride.

His hands found my waist, pulling me closer. Zombie returned my kiss deeply and turned me around so my back was against the wall.

He placed a hand on the wall near my head, closing the gap between us again.I tangled my fingers in his shirt, pulling him closer to me. He kissed me once, twice, three times, over and over and over again.

I smiled to myself. Every time he kissed me I felt an exhilarating, perfect feeling that I couldn't quite describe. And even now, after all this time, I still couldn't believe that Zombie, Ben Parish, was kissing me. He wasn't Cassie's anymore; he was completely mine and I was completely his.

The hand still on my waist shifted upwards under my shirt so his fingers grazed my bare skin slightly and I smiled, letting out a small giggle. I felt Zombie smile against my lips before he kissed the corner of my mouth and then trailed down to my neck.

I was about to laugh again when Zombie stopped for a moment. It was only for a second but I knew something was wrong. "Zombie," I said, letting my eyes flutter open.

Zombie winced as he pulled back to look at me.

"It's you're injury, isn't it?" I asked quietly.

He shook his head, shifting slightly. "I'm fine," he reassured.

"No, no you're not," I said. "Show me, please."

He sighed and slid his shirt off over his head. I looked at the bandage for a split second before looking away. "Sit down, I have something that can help," I said, thinking about the first aid kit that was still lying on the floor.

"Canary-" he breathed.

I shook my head. "Zombie, you're not ok. I'm serious about you focusing on getting better. If you don't, I'm going to lose you."

Zombie thought for a moment before nodding slightly. "Ok," he said. "I'll sit down. But I want you to answer a question for me first."

I almost laughed when he raised his eyebrow quizzically. It amazed me how he could still look so attractive while making such a stupid face.

"mhmm and what would that be?" I asked.

"Who's the better kisser, me or Flint?" he asked, running his tongue slowly over his bottom lip.

I looked up at him, into those eyes I loved, and I cracked a smile. "You," I said quietly. "Definitely."

Zombie smiled his coveted Ben Parish smile and kissed me softly on the lips. "Good."

<><><>

I have so much homework to do but I was really in the mood to write some Perish today so alas, here is an update.

Let me know how you liked it in the comments hehe.

My favorite comment from last chapter from from @luminiallous !

I'll be choosing my favorite comment this chapter as well and will be shouting out that person in the coming chapter! So find something you hated/loved and type something rad.

Only a couple more chapters left in part 2: The Infinite Sea, everyone! Wands at the ready.