“Don’t say it. I know you’re thinking it.”
Ryan smiled broadly. “Thinking what?”
Elliot knew that smile; it was infuriating, and far too
cute. “You know what. The Z-word.”
“Oh, that. Actually, I was remembering the last time we were
up here.”
Elliot coughed and looked away, feeling his cheeks redden. “That
was eleven years ago.”
“So? A boy remembers his first kiss.”
“The one that set him straight? And stop smiling.”
The sunset was beautiful. Hungered moans drifted up from the
street below.
“Why wouldn’t I smile? I couldn’t wish for better company at
the end of the world.”
How many years with Ryan before Elliot decides that kissing one of the Z-words is preferable to the only other living person? I assume they're the last two, anyway.
ReplyDeleteI like really fresh, inventive takes on the apocalypse. And homoerotic undertones, what can I say? *g*
Thanks, Becky. =)
DeleteI wanted to do a Z-word story that wasn't about the Zs... Glad you liked it. =)
Heh, I picked up on that too. :-) Hey, what's a few zombies between friends? Even if they're friends with benefits?
ReplyDeleteYou think Elliot's looking to bring something back from the dead? ;)
DeleteOh no munch and crunchers down below - least they've got each other eh! A different approach to an old subject, nicely done!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Helen. I wanted to try something a little different. =)
DeleteI'm a bit zombielike today so not up to clever comments. Can say I liked this though.
ReplyDeleteI think you do the 101 word thing really well. This was fun and dark at the same time.
Thanks, Pete. No need for clever comments, glad you liked it. =)
DeleteGet well soon! =)
I figured the Z-word would be zombie! While obvious, it was cute that they had each other for the end.
ReplyDeleteThank you, John. =)
DeleteI kinda hoped people would figure out the Z-word straight off, and then be pleasantly surprised that the story was about the boys, not the Zs. =)
I feel incredibly dense right now -- it didn't occur to me what the Z-word is until I got to the end. Not your fault though. Another nice job with a really short format.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tim. =)
DeleteYou've got me thinking now John, I mean, what on earth could the Z stand for? ... Hmmmm.... No, nothing coming to mind at all.... (Chuckle)
ReplyDelete"The hungered moans of zebras drifted up from the street below..."
DeleteNo one has plans for the zebra apocalypse, and that's what makes it a real possibility... ;)
Hi again John, I thought maybe there was a glut of Zoologists, and the ones there was no work for were starving to death, and roaming the streets in packs, yeah... that one works...
Delete"The hungered moans of zoologists drifted up from the street below..."
:-)
Maybe a glut of Eastern European buskers has brought civilisation as we know it to an end...
Delete"The hungered moans of zithers drifted up from the street below..."
;D
zzzzzZZZZZZZzzzZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZZZzzzzzZZZZZZZzzzz
DeleteThem zithers sure sound hungry. Ah well, zithers we can deal with... at least it's not Zo..... (oops, nearly) :-)