Read Zombies! Episode 3 - Love Bites for Free Online Page B

laugh. When it
came to Marcus, Shawn dropped the act. Marcus wasn't impressed by
it and Shawn wasn't interested in anything that didn't impress
Marcus. Under the façade, Marcus had found Shawn to be a sensitive,
somewhat timid boy. Jail!
     
    They walked slowly towards Marcus' apartment.
He lived in a downtown two bedroom that looked like it cost more
than he had any right earning at his age. Of course, it went well
with his suits and his jewelry and the restaurants they went to.
Shawn had had to buy some new clothing just so he could be seen
with Marcus. As they walked, desperate to be holding hands but both
afraid of who they might run into, Shawn told him the whole story.
When he was done, Marcus said nothing. He looked off into the
distance, just walking, soaking it all in. Shawn was sure that
Marcus thought him a liar. Even when they'd reached the apartment
and rode the elevator up to the third floor, Marcus was still
silent. Even as they went inside and sat on the sofa, Marcus had
nothing to say. Even as he poured them both some liquor, Shawn's
very watered down, he was still chewing on the whole story.
     
    Finally, he asked, "So this zombie thing is
real?"
     
    "It's on the news," Shawn told him.
     
    "What does that mean? You can't believe
everything you see on TV."
     
    "My mom told me half the people in the city
up and left."
     
    Marcus shrugged. "Not me. The office was
closed for a week and I got to plan my future."
     
    "Well it’s real," Shawn said finally. "And I
wouldn't go planning any futures right now."
     
    "Well then there's no point in us carrying on
together," Marcus said sarcastically.
     
    Shawn harrumphed, a little put out by the
other's attitude.
     
    "How'd you get out? If you really killed a
woman, which I can't believe, how'd you get out after three
weeks?"
     
    For a moment, Shawn hesitated. He didn't know
whether or not to tell Marcus about his relationship with Detective
Heron.
     
    Marcus smiled, sensing Shawn's hesitation.
"What? Did you cut a deal?"
     
    "Sort of. The cop got the charges suspended
in exchange for me being his informant."
     
    And just like that, Marcus' smile turned into
a frown and his brow furrowed wrinkling the smooth skin of shiny
head. " Suspended? What does that mean? When the policeman's
done with you, they put you back in?"
     
    "Not exactly. I think it's more like, if I do
a good job, they lose the evidence."
     
    "I don't like that," Marcus said sternly.
     
    "It's better than prison."
     
    "But not quite freedom. I think we should get
you a lawyer."
     
    "I had a lawyer."
     
    "Ha! Some green public defender, I bet. I'll
find you a professional."
     
    ""I can't afford that, Marcus."
     
    "I will pay for it."
     
    "No, Marcus," Shawn pleaded. "It'll be
okay."
     
    Marcus frowned some more. "You want to be
this policeman's bitch?"
     
    That stung. Badly. But Shawn was backed into
a corner. "You can't get me a lawyer, Marcus. My parents will
wonder where the money comes from and then I'll have to tell
them."
     
    Marcus waved a hand. "You're old enough to
make your own choices."
     
    "My dad will kick me to the curb."
     
    "You can stay here."
     

    That was tempting but impossible. "Marcus,
I'm only seventeen. It would be worse for you than it would for me.
Besides, I want to graduate and go to college. I got my whole life
to love you but the next few years have to be about getting that
life going."
     
    "Who's talking about futures now?" For a
moment, he thought Marcus was going to cry. He may just have been,
but he choked it down. Then he opened his arms and Shawn moved in
for the embrace he'd been craving for so many weeks.
     
    ***
     
    IT was getting late and Shawn knew he
should be leaving. But it had been too long since he'd spent any
time with Marcus. Still, with his recent troubles, his parents were
ever vigilant about having him home on time.
     
    "Just call and ask," Marcus asked. If he was
annoyed that his boyfriend had to ask permission to stay out