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Payton

I can hear someone walking back and fourth in my room. Opening my eyes, it's Gabriel. His pacing. "Gabriel?" I call out from the bed.

He halts and turns to look at me. "Y-Yeah?" He stammers. "Are you okay?" I ask, sitting up and I wring the slight sweat out of my ponytail. I feel slightly feverish and sniffle. "I feel the same way." He murmurs. "Allergies?" I respond. "Always, fucking allergies!" He jokes.

"Hey, so uh - c-can I sit down?" He asks, gesturing to the end of my bed. "Uh, sure I guess. We're stuck here in close proximity to eachother." I shrug.

"I'm so happy, Holly has a heart and didn't throw me out to the 'Zombies'" He laughs. "I'm sorry, what?" I answer, still feeling drugged out slightly. He chuckles and covers his mouth, then removes his hand a moment later.

"That's me, insulting my son of a Zombie, Manager!"

"Oh... That's funny, Gabriel. Is this the start of non-stop Zombie puns, jokes and one liners?"

"Maybeeeee..." He grins, cheekily, showing off a toothy smile. "This is awesome." I grin.

"And you will see more over the coming days, Payton!"

I frown. "Well, we'll never see eachother again actually... Once a inpatient mental health bed is found for me and... Wait, what's happening to you?"

"Oh, I should probably explain that..."

"Only if you want too, Gabriel."

"Call me, Gabe." He smiles.

"Oh, okay. Gabe it is then!" I smile back. "Hey, so, uh... I was thinking..." He murmurs. "Thinking what?" I respond.

"Thinking what if you and me took a walk amongst some roses... Maybe, stop and smell them even?"

"Uh, I don't think Holly or Security would let us get too far, Gabe. And even if we successfully snuck out of this place, where are we goanna find a rose garden?"

"Because there is an enclosed garden for patients here. I asked and one of the Nurses said there's a few flowers. roses being one of them."

"Well, why didn't you say so?!" I laugh. "I just did!" He responds, laughing and I punch him in the shoulder.

"So, how about it? Wanna take a walk? It might do us some good, we can clear our heads. Being confined in one room can send one slightly stir-crazy."

"I'd love too, thank you." I smile. "Cool, I'll go ask for us. The staff here will have a bigger freakout if you leave the room than they will towards me." He explains. I nod and watch him leave the room to find someone.

---

"Okay, guys. You have 15 minutes, no more right now. We'll see how you go and we'll look at extending your time in the coming days as transferring you guys won't be a quick turn around due to this... 'Apocalypse', but it's under control. Crescent-Port and Sully have things under control, I promise." A nurse tells us, unlocking a door and she shows us outside to the patient garden. It's enclosed walls, but is beautifully carved and there is spirals holding up a shaded area with wooden benches with pillows all around a fountain that's running and tons of plants and indeed roses like Gabe explained to me are everywhere amongst other plants alongside flowers.

"Thank you." He tells the Nurse. "It's no problem. Enjoy, guys." She smiles, leaving us and we start to stroll around, sunlight baking down on us.

"It's not bad weather out, huh?" Gabe murmurs. "No, not at all. Super sunny and I see fluffy clouds above for an apocalypse. Sully hardly ever has weather like this." I respond. He opens his mouth to say something, but my big mouth keeps talking so he closes his.

"Crescent-Port is the richer city too like god-damn! It really makes Sully look trash heap. While it's not a bad place to live, Crescent-Port is bigger, the Hospital is better quality and there is so many stores.

I don't think I want to go back to Sully in all honesty now, you know? There's not really anything there for me now except memories riddled with Zombies, blood, death and my own personal pain and tragedies, plus I have no living family and the friends I did have, are dead... Carl's gone." I explain, tears running down my cheeks.

"Then stay. No one's forcing you to leave, it'll get better for you surely. Work on your challenges with Holly. She wants to help you." He responds.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'd never be able to afford it, Gabe. Plus, I have no job now. Carl didn't own his cafe, it was part of a franchise and they've been looking to close us down down for ages. They'll do that and fire me. It'll be easy as everyone else is dead except for me."

"Payton, just stay here, please and Holly will secure you public funding." He begs me, taking my hands in his. 'W-what?" I stammer. "But we'e-"

"But nothing. You and me may come from two very different walks of life, but were still human aren't we? We'll figure something out so you can stay, so we can stay together. I... I don't know anyone else, I'm alone too now. You feel really easy to talk to as well."

"Gabe, why are you interested in me? What's going on? I'm confused." I murmur.

"Well, it's sure as heck not Swatches of Raven Love, I'll tell you that!" He laughs. "Are you kidding me?!" I laugh, slapping his shoulder. "I've never read that book in my life!"

He just smirks and shakes his head. "And even if it was, I'm no longer Bryan Pinku." He chuckles. "The fuck does that mean?" I question.

"I may be a Celebrity as you know, but I'm no longer..." He trails off, eyes sincere. "Gabe, what happened?" I question, squeezing his hand. "Tell me."

"I have no money now, Payton."

"How, what, why?"

"I've fired my manager essentially so therefore his agency will drop me soon. They're the ones with my money, not me."

"Then sue them if it's your money."

"I'll do that. God, imagine suing them with a public law attorney! Won't that be news for Crescent-Port?" He laughs. "I believe so." I answer. "So how big are you? How did you end up this situation? I'll listen." I tell him, pulling him over to a bench that's facing the pretty fountain for us to look at.

"Well, uh. I'm a singer, songwriter. Play guitar and I've had roles in a few low budget films from time to time, but what I mainly do is get up on the stage to play and sing. I sometimes dance even, had a few music videos over the years too."

"That's cool, I guess. I'd love to hear a performance then sometime."

"And you will when I get hold of a guitar."

"That's a promise?"

"Definitely." He tells me. "And I grew up in a very marketable household I guess. My parents were in the limelight and they expected the same life for me. I agreed because I wanted to make them happy so I followed in their footsteps, but despite this, we haven't been in contact for years.

Also, sometimes I can be a real entitled, selfish star... I traded my soul to the Devil long ago aka my Manager. I used to better a person and now look at what I've become? And lastly, I've lost it all due to wanting to escape from my Manager.

I have felt that way for the last few years.

It's not the industry I hate, but more just what they put me through."

"That's some story, but you know what? It doesn't matter. This in your life and how you choose to live it yours alone. That's all that matters now. It's never too late to improve yourself also."

"I know, I really hate the person I am. I'll change that."

"Push hard enough and you'll succeed." I smile. "Thank you for listening." He tells me. "Anything for you." I answer. "Have trust in yourself and Holly if she's going to help you."

"I will and you should do the same."

"I guess..." I shrug. "So, what's going to happen now for you?" I ask.

"Uh, well... I'll be sent for 30 days to a drug and alcohol program... I tried to stay many times, but my Manager always pulled me out. It's not involuntary and I haven't ever been convicteded by the cops, so..."

"Oh, you have a problem?"

"I guess... You hate me now?"

"Never. As long as you realize."

"And you? You suffer from Anxiety clearly. Maybe even Depression?"

"They'll do a full-scale re-assessment later." I murmur. "And yeah... Holly's going to send me to one, once a bed becomes available after they rectify this Zombie hell and society goes back to normal."

"So, Payton. Because you're the only person I know, can we please be friends at-least? I want you to stay. I know it's selfish, but you could also start over here."

"I'll stay, you're right. There's nothing for me in Sully and I'm more than happy to be your friend, Gabe provided you reign yourself in. I don't like entitled, selfish stars."

"I'll try."

"And you will. It is all we can ask of eachother..."

"Wait!"

"What?!" I ask, panicked. "We'll get sent to two different treatment centers and likely never see see eachother again! Plus, Holly has our phones and wallets so it's not like I can write down my number for you to hide somewhere and call me when you can."

"Shit, you're right! If we asked for paper and pen, I doubt they'd oblige even if we explained why." I gasp. "So, what do we do?"

"Come up with a plan, find a reason so they can't separate us."

"Such as? Nothing will work!"

"There is one thing..."

"Yes...?"

"You know how out in Reception I was being an obnoxious jerk towards you?"

"Yes...?"

"I was flirting with you."

"Uh, you were. Do... Do, you actually...?"

"I've never had a Girlfriend before surprisingly. I always wanted to settle down amongst a bunch of other goals on my list, but my Manager got in my way like all the time.

You're very pretty, Payton."

"You mean that? Really? This isn't a joke?"

"No, I'm serious. I'm not toying with your heart and emotions, promise." He tells me, giving me scout's honor.

"Do you really believe two people like us could fall in love?"

"I do, but minus the Raven stuff. That's just... Gross."

"I heard the books we're better than the movies."

"Oh, they were, trust me!" He laughs.

"So, we're trying to fall in love with eachother, huh? What we will do after that?"

"Sort our lives at and look at what opportunities there are for us, career rise. You worked in a Cafe/Bakery so I could see any one of them around here, taking you because you have the needed qualifications."

"And for you?"

"I'll stand on a fucking street corner and sing with a cheap guitar if I have too!" He laughs. "Sounds perfect." I tell him. "What will you sing about?"

"A girl called Payton and how I'll marry her when I can afford it."

"Staying classy I see, plus moving fast!" I joke. "Yep!" He answers. We break down in laughter. "I actually have my family's ring on me. It's probably in storage with the rest of my shit. I always wear it, weirdly enough."

"Your parents?"

"Nope, it's not special, not an air-loom. They just gave it to me though. I'm free to do whatever I want with it. Want it...?"

I shrug. "So, you have a type?"

"Red-head."

"That's it?"

"Yep."

"Well, meeting your criteria was easy!"

"What's your criteria?"

"I have none."

"Even easier!"

"Indeed."

"You don't have to want the ring."

"You should get it valued by a professional, Gabe. This is your way of life you've come from so it's probably worth something. The money could tide you over financially while you sue your Manager so you don't struggle."

"I'll do that when I can."

"Cool." I respond. "So, you really want to go through with this? We barely know eachother."

"And we can work on that. Dates will be cheap, but uh... I like rose gardens?" He says, embarrassed. "It sounds perfect. Very down to earth. I like that that." I tell him.

"Why don't we call this our first date and call it a day? There's no rush to get married, merely engaged.

Wedding's take planning and till then or if we break up later, no issues. We just don't want to be alone right now." I explain.

"I'm up for that. So, what kind of ring you would want, my girlfriend?"

"It's not about the ring."

"True. So I can surprise you later though?"

"If you want." I shrug. "So, are we going to kiss or something?"

"This will be awkward..."

"Never kissed someone?"

"Nope. You?"

"Had a few boyfriends, nothing serious."

"Looks like you'll be teaching me to kiss then."

"Guess so." I respond and we stand up, hold hands and start to stroll deeper into the rose garden together to find a secluded place away from prying eyes as were not the only patients out here.

His A-List celebrity and I'm just... A commoner essentially. An outcast in the darkness within the center of society who's never noticed or been put first once.