Chapter 16

I paused and stuck my head back in.

Spencer was looking down at the generator with his arms crossed.

I hesitantly walked into the room and gave him a questioning look.

“Sad how Henry cant get it started.” He sighed.

I hesitantly shrugged and looked down at it.

“What do you think? Can you do it?” He laughed before walking out of the room.

I paused and fiddled with the can of air freshener before putting it down to the floor.

I looked at the side and noticed Henry had opened the panel.

How had I done this stuff before?

I went down to my knees and looked inside.

All the wires were colored.

Suddenly a memory flashed through my head.

“What are you doing Maxy? Thought you said it wasn't going to start?” Henry’s head was above the generator and I grinned at him, holding a wire.

I had attached a wire to our car out front and led it back here.

“I'm going to make it start.” I winked at him and jumped the generator back on.

Lights flashed up above us and Henry looked down at me in shock.

I stuck my tongue out at him.

“Honestly we're lucky I didn't blow us up.” I laughed.

I blinked and was back.

I hesitantly looked at the generator and noticed the wiring was similar to the one from my memory.

………

Either I was about to do something stupid or amazing.

I went back out of the room and started checking the shelves.

There was a small automotive section and I pulled some wires and jumper cables off the shelf.

The men were still discussing what to do as I went out to the front and attached the cables to the car battery, unrolling the wires towards the back.

Henry was watching me curiously and his expression turned to one of shock when he noticed what I was doing.

After attaching the wires to the generator I went up to Jay.

*Can I have the car keys?* I poked Jay’s side and made him read.

He looked at me in utter confusion but handed them over.

Henry followed me as I turned the car on and went back to the generator, now with everyone in tow.

I grabbed the wires coated in black plastic and touched the ends together to make sure I was getting a charge before looking for a light blue wire inside the generator.

The team was staring at me as I eventually found what I was looking for and jumped the generator.

It let out a few sputters but eventually started running.

The lights above us flashed a couple times, some working and some not.

Henry was grinning at me.

“Damn son! Zombie messiah who can fix shit to!” Spencer clapped.

“Guess we need to find that code.” Jay said with a shrug.

I paused.

Maybe not the back room code since it was doubtful it would be written down but….

A register code would be more likely.

I dragged Henry to the front room and eventually found a binder under the counter.

One of the registers was permanently turned off but the other two were on and asking for a cashier code.

It wasn't hard to find one in the binder and I unlocked the register.

I looked at the commands that controlled the pumps and prepaid all of them out with 50 dollars.

I turned and Henry was laughing, shaking his head at me.

I had done this trick several times out on the road with him.

The team was looking at us confused until Henry explained.

“Well…. Beats siphoning it out of the tank with our mouth then.” Spencer said and elbowed Jay’s side.

Jay let out a groan and nodded.

The team went to work at the pumps and started filling up tanks with gasoline.

I sat down at one of the pumps with Henry beside me as he was pouring gas into a tank.

“You did great today Maxy.” He grinned at me.

My heart was flying and I felt my face heat up from his praise.

I felt like instead of just a step I had taken several leaps today.

I really hoped he was impressed honestly.

Once we filled all the tanks we left back for the wall.

Jay threw another CD in the player and everyone was jamming out in the van.

Spirits were high and I was elated as Henry pulled me closer to his side.

We spent the rest of the day carting gasoline back to the town and filling up our stocks.

“We have enough gas for over half a year now.” Jay said as he patted the tank we had filled.

Half a year wasn't that long….. I thought as I looked at the tank.

Henry led me back to the hospital.

“I hear they're going to throw a party later tonight.” Henry said.

I blinked at him and nodded.

It was definitely the time to celebrate I supposed.

It made me happy knowing I had helped to cause a celebration.

“Did you….want to go with me?” Henry said after a moment and I paused.

I turned towards him with wide eyes and nodded my head enthusiastically.

 I was worried about people not liking me there but how could I fucking say no when he was basically asking me on a date?!

Jesus I felt like I was dealing with puberty again with how much my emotions kept spiking because of him.

Henry gave me a shy grin.

We turned around the corner to Sarah tapping her foot at us both in amusement.

“So you're taking my patient out tonight?” She said with a smirk and my face burned from embarrassment.

Henry cleared his throat.

“He’s fine to, right?”

Sarak pursed her lips but slowly nodded.

“Don't let him go too hard on the alcohol and no one can drink from any cups he does got it?”

Henry nodded his head.

“Alright fine but have him back here in the morning for the next dose also-” She walked up to Henry and pointed a finger at his face.

“No sex at ALL.”

My face felt like it was melting at this point and I spluttered, waving my hands in front of me.

Henry let out an embarrassed cough.

“Duly noted.”

Sarah started dragging me away.

“You can come get him at 9!” She yelled back.

“Alright.” Sarah said as we got back to my cell, turning to look at me.

“Let's get you looking HAWT.”

I blinked at her.

She waggled her eyebrows at me.

“What? It's your first date with him in HOW long? Lets get you looking sexy as fuck!” She squealed and dragged me to the bathroom.

“I'll go pick out clothes, get showered and comb the hell out of your hair!”

God I loved Sarah.

She had been such a big part of me getting back to normal.

I jumped into the shower after flinging off my mask.

Sarah had shown me how to take it off ever since we had started training and I mostly only wore it when in close contact with people.

After taking a good shower I jumped out and wrapped a towel around my waist.

I brushed my teeth so hard they nearly bled and worked to style my hair.

My hair had gotten too long and I couldn't spike it.

I let out a frustrated hiss as Sarah walked into the bathroom with clothes.

She grinned when I pointed at my hair in frustration and pulled out a pair of scissors.

After a nice trim my hair stood in familiar spikes.

Sarah had picked out a nice button up wine colored shirt with a collar.

The sleeves were a big longer but we rolled them up to my upper arms, giving me a slightly classy look.

The jeans were a bit tighter and dark.

I checked myself over in the mirror.

My eyes no longer looked cloudy but my iris’s stayed a greyish white.

I remembered I used to have blue eyes but I supposed I could make grey ones work.

They were a lot more bright than I wanted however, giving a bit of an eerie effect.

I supposed I would have to get used to it since that part didn't show any signs of healing.

I hoped Henry wasn't to put off by them anymore.

Sarah turned around and nodded when she saw me.

“You look good, Henry will be all over you.” She grinned and I blushed.

“No kissing either though ok?” She said and pointed at me.

I nodded.

Damn she really was acting like my mom now.

But honestly she had done more than my own mother had.

My memories of before the apocalypse had slowly started coming back and from what I knew I didn't have a great relationship with my mother.

Sarah had literally hand fed me, got me learning to do shit on my own again, was teaching me to write and get back to normal.

Damn I owed her alot.

Sarah and I spent some more time on letters and a bit of vocal training.

I stopped as I heard footsteps down the hallway, my heart picking up.

Henry hesitantly walked through the cell door and my breath caught in my throat.

He had slicked his hair a bit and was wearing a similar green button shirt.

I could smell a faint hint of cologne and thanked god that it wasn't strong on him.

It smelled nice, but too much easily overwhelmed me lately but I could tell it was the perfect amount.

I wondered if he noticed that I got overwhelmed by scents now?

I realized I had gotten up and basically floated over to him, grinning like a fool.

He was also looking me up and down and I hoped he liked what he saw.

My mask was in my hand and I shoved it into my pocket.

I bit my lip, looking a bit down in embarrassment.

He grabbed my hand and I looked up through my lashes.

“Hi.” He said.

I grinned at him and his eyes widened.

“Alright you two! Don't do anything I wouldn't and make sure to have him back on time!” Sarah said and shooed us out.

I blushed harder as Henry led me down the hallways, holding my hand.

I needed to calm down so I didn't act like an idiot and trip or something.

Pretty hard to do when you're about to go on the first date in years with the person you loved for most of your life.

Jesus we had sex plenty of times before this and now ur acting like your 14 year old virgin self again! I thought in embarrassment.

Of course the memories of said activity did not help and I was even more red by the time we made it to the party.

Several tables and chairs were under the tent ceiling and some music was blaring from across the lot.

I blinked as I looked around, noting a few familiar faces from the team and some of Henry’s friends.

Henry led me over to a free table and grabbed us some drinks.

I took a sip of the strong smelling alcohol and winced.

Henry grinned.

“It's pretty hard stuff, it was made here actually. Leave it to humanity to start producing alcohol first after an apocalypse.”

I let out a laugh, trying not to snort as I covered my mouth.

Henry was still grinning, seeming pleased with my reaction.