{ Instert clever zombie-related title here }

The tale of Mithridates

"Wow, co-operation from a Zombie? No way." the voice went on.

"Zombie? You got me all wrong sweetheart." I said. My throat was so dry it came out like more of a croak.

"So turn around."

I could tell this voice was male. Deffinitly male. But i'm scared he might be playing me. Even if Walkers are not the sharpest tools in the shed, they sure have tricks up their sleeves.

"How do I know you're not a Walker?" I asked the boy, still turned around.

"Zombies are stupid. Nuff said."

I laughed at how true that was, and it was the first real laugh i've had in a very very long time.

"You seem harmless, that why i'm turning around, but if I find that you are a Walker, i will take that gun from your hands and blast your face off, got it?" I stated to the boy, my voice dripped with sweetness.

"Oh, a girl in control."

I spun around and what I saw shocked me.

This boy looked tired, beat up, and sad. But yet he had a smile on his face. A playful grin. He had eyes the colour of caramel, and sandy blonde wavy hair. Nice build, and he was tall.

He was not as stunning as the Walkers, but he was pretty close.

"Why do you call them Walkers?" he asked me, face to face this time.

"Do you honestly think they get to be classified as Zombies? They're something we know nothing about. Zombies we know loads on. Walkers are track stars, smart-asses, and kill quickly. Zombies can't run, or talk, and are very messy eaters."

That goofy grin was back, but this time I found it kinda sexy.

"Good point. Walkers; it suits them... But what brings you all the way out here? Don't you have a family to get back to?"

"I wish. My dad went to some camp. Mom is a Walker. I'm an only child. You?"

"Whole family was kidnapped. I've been looking for them ever since. It's been about two weeks now."

"Sorry man," I told him. And I was truely sorry because having no one sucks. Royally.

"The names Daniel." He held his hand out.

"Joey."

And that was the start of a beautiful, un-Walker friendship.

　***

"So, this looks, um, appatizing?" I said to Daniel as we sat down to eat.

It was early in the morning, but since I reverse the days, we were having dinner. Just something small. Cereal. It was a little out-dated, but it was food. It seemed oddly comforting considering he was a very relaxed kinda guy. Just very calm and collected. Also, he had an amazing smile.

"Ay shaddap, at least its not Rat-on-a-stick." Daniel said and that smile was still on his face.

"Don't tell me you've eaten rat before."

"Oh, indeed I did."

"How do you know it wasn't infected?" I asked, half horrified, half humored.

"I don't... But I would've turned into a Walker by now, right?" Daniel questioned me, suddenly nervous.

"Calm your knicks kiddo, 'I tell a tale that I was told. Mithridates, he died old.'"

"Come again?"

"Mithridates," I began. I hated to tell this story. My mother used to tell it to me everytime I ate something gross, that I didn't like. She'd compare the food to Mithridates, saying that if I kept on eating it, I would eventually like it.

"Mithridates is most famously said to have sought to harden himself against poison, both by taking increasing sub-lethal doses of the poisons to build tolerance."

He sat there and said nothing. I guess he was just soaking up the information that I just randomly spat out at him. But the thing that worried me was - as he was thinking- that everpresent smile had dissapeared. Just. Like. That.

"I like the way you speak, Joey." He finally said.

"What do you mean 'the way I speak'?"

"You just sound so intelligent, so sure of what your talking about."

"Thanks..." Thank God it was still dark outside, so he wouldn't see me blushing.

"No problem."

I thought it would've been awkward, but surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I expected. Daniel is actually quite a lugh. We reminenced about old times, old best friends, old loves. The people we missed, the people we didn't, and what we would've liked to have said to those people.

"There was this one guy, but typically, he didn't know I existed." I started off.

"And there was this one girl. But she had a boyfriend." he said.

"He was really sweet. I mean, i'm kind of to myself, you know? And he was always nice to me."

"She was beautiful. Inside and out. She appreciated my sense of humor."

"All the girls wanted him. And he knew it. Thats the one thing that I didn't like about him."

"She let guys take advantage of her. And they did. It pissed me off."

Our stories were very back and fourth. And in most ways, we were alike. So different, but very the same. Our thought process, the way we spoke, and some of our humor was the same. But we had different opinions on everything. And I guess I like that. It's refreshing to actually have a friend. Or whatever he is to me.

"So, what happened with the guy?"

"His name was Ryan. We went to a party together. I wasn't supposed to be there and all, but I went-"

"Badass." he muttered, loud enough for me to hear.

"Anyways, we danced and had fun. But he only wanted one thing... And that was the day that I swore to myself to never let anyone in. What happened to the girl?" I asked him.

His eyes kinda glazed over a little bit. I don't think I should've asked that question. But I mean it wasn't too touchy, right?

"Suicide." Daniel stated flatly. 

Wrong Joey, very very wrong.

"She was so popular, yet never had many friends. You know, people you can turn to? No one to trust, thats all."

"I'm so so sorry, I didn't know. If I did I wouldn't have asked."

"Nah, it's cool Joey, you just wanted to know."

Thats when things got awkward.

"Well, i'm going to go find some more fire wood so we can at least get to sleep." Daniel said suddenly.

"Oh, okay."

"Promise me something Joey,"

"Depends." I flirted a little bit.

"Don't leave when i'm gone."

"I couldn't even do it if I tried."

Now, this wasn't a total lie. I hate being alone. I always have hated it. But now that someone is here, and is asking me to stay, I don't know. It felt right though.

"Thanks... Now, take this gun and please, in the name of Gods pajamas, Don't. Get. Eaten."