It was the first time, she felt the clasp of a male's hand around hers. With her weak lungs working overtime, Teal's breathing was out of control. Her head swirled, and she half-blamed the drinks she'd ingested.

Once out of the club, and into the muggy evening air, he turned to her, with an uncertain smile.

"It's quiet."

She nodded and rubbed her hands together drying the sweat off them. "What's your name?" A timid smile drew on her lips.

"Daniel."

Daniel didn't ask for her name, nor was she expecting him to. She filled the uncomfortable void of silence.

"I'm Teal."

He nodded.

Teal noticed his eyes were dull but had a slight, almost unnoticeable tinge to them. Similar to her mom's, but not quite as much. It was interesting to see their differences, even though according to humans, they were supposed to be the same. Stupid, raw-brain-eaters, who are dead inside.

For reasons obvious to her, other zombies didn't notice these subtle differences but in their defense, neither had she. She'd been solely looking at her own. Teal wondered what other characteristics he might have, that might be different than the ones she already knew.

They fell silent and he looked around above her head, massaging the back of his neck. She, fixed her pupils on a few annoying flies, roaming over his pale face. Teal could tell he couldn't feel their tiny, sticky legs. She made a face and the thought to swat at them crossed her mind. Simply reach up and smack her hand on his face.

Maybe, he'd speak to her then ... even if it was with a loud yelp.

Instead, Teal lowered her eyes and looked at her laced fingers and played with her short, flaky nails.

"Come often?"

She lifted her eyes and narrowed her stare. The flies now buzzed over his head.

"No, never. It's my first time in this club. How about you?"

In this club? OnDead was the only one for a hundred miles. Her need to keep the conversation going was reeking desperation.

"Sometimes." He shrugged.

Silence. It had never been Teal's friend and made her uncomfortable.

"Sooooo, what do you normally like to do? Day or night doesn't matter. When you're not here–" Sickened by the small talk, she bit her tongue.

"Eat." He lifted his shoulders to his ears, then dropped them.

She expelled noisily and internally rolled her eyes. "Hmm, yeah. Brains I imagine? Brains are great," her stomach churned. "Anything else?"

Blah! Perhaps this is what vomiting feels like?

Teal focused on the insects buzzing around them, or perhaps the droning sound came from generators scattered about town, in the otherwise quiet night.

"Cut animals. Plant." With a bored look in his pitch-black eyes, with his thumb, he pointed towards the meat plant situated a few miles behind him.

Impressed, her eyes widened. "Ah! You work at the factory. Niiice." She nodded quickly a few times. "Very nice. One of the lucky few, huh?"

"Guess," he shrugged again.

"I mean, to have a life outside of this, and home ... It's good, right?"

"Whatever."

At that moment, Teal wished she could retch. The guy was excruciatingly dull, even for a zombie, and did nothing for her in the brain department yet, she still wanted to kiss him. Badly.

Why the urge?

"Soooo, came out to make out?" His eyes were on her lips.

Nerves got the best of her. "Oh! Yes, yes. Kisses. Making out, heh!"

He stared at her, looking bored again. "So?"

Blinking a few times she realized this was it. Her first kiss ... with a moron. He'd have to do. Her body was still positively reacting to him, and her lips wanted to learn.

Leaning her back against the red, brick building wall, his eyes turned heavy and his shapely lips stilled. With a hard swallow, she pressed her lips together and awaited his next move. Mainly, because she knew little of what would happen next.

"You're pretty, Teal." His face, inches away, as he studied hers closely.

She nodded, unable to thank or reciprocate the compliment, even though, he was attractive.

As he approached, she made a quick note that his lungs did not work. Shutting her eyes, Teal diligently waited for the feel of his skin against hers. The iciness of his lips felt nice, and even though Daniel was rough around the edges, his kiss was soft and gentle at first.

"Relax," he said matter-of-factly.

She hadn't realized how stiff her body was. Her shoulders tensed and her mouth tightly pressed in a line. She breathed out of her nose and rolled her shoulders back striving to loosen up.

"That's it." He coached.

Daniel's mouth roamed over hers and he stuck the tip of his tongue out, towards the center of her lips guiding them open and he entered her expectant mouth.

"You're mouth–wet. I like!" He sucked on her bottom lip. "Tastes gooood."

She giggled.

Daniel took the opportunity to deepen the kiss. His tongue rolled over hers and touched every corner of her mouth. It was exhilarating and she deliberately reciprocated the movements of his lips. Teal noticed she was good at it and learned the trade quickly.

He pressed himself closer, attacking her eager mouth. She felt— all of him. His hands clutched her palms, then slid up her arms to her shoulders grabbing at her roughly. Teal gasped and seized him by the waist.

After a few more deep smooches, she was ready to stop and gently unclutched her hands from his back and pushed slightly away from his chest. Although she wanted more, the pressure was too much and he was growing tempestuous. She could hear a growling rumble in his throat.

"Daniel," she heavily breathed. "We should get back now."

"What?!" he looked bewildered. "Why?"

"My brother's likely looking for me." She pushed harder against his body.

"One more," he pleaded, dipping his head and capturing her mouth. Hungrily.

Her head swoon. Even though she had no other to compare him to, his kisses were pretty great, and exactly as Samantha described them. Rough and impetuous.

Happy to finally experience her first couple of kisses, real open mouth ones, with tongue kisses, she conceded. They were much like she imagined the ones in the stories she loved were. Where the heroine and hero find each other, and fall in love.

Except this wasn't one of those stories, and Teal wasn't ready to take it further. Zombie or not, Teal wasn't comfortable with him.

"Okay, I think that's enough." She grunted and pushed more forcefully against his body.

He budged but an inch. As strong as she was, he, was stronger. Teal didn't want to have to get angry and shout for him to listen.

"Your mouth's addicting," he drew her deeper unto him. "Different," Daniel said between kisses.

Perplexed she stared and he plunged his face towards her mouth. Teal turned her head and offered her cheek instead. His mouth found her neck and he traced the line of it with his dry tongue, down to her collar bone.

She squirmed in his arms, "I–I'm flattered really, but-"

Wow, she shivered. That felt good. Real good. But no–

She wasn't ready for more. Not with him. She'd wanted to venture from her former self and experience a few kisses. Get them out of the way, out of her head, and into reality. Nothing more.

He sucked at the little beads of sweat at her clavicle. "Sweat? C'mon Teal, your taste, it does something to me. I can't, stop–" he persisted.

"Didn't you fucking hear her?! Or, do you need me to repeat what she just said?"

Marc's explosive voice startled them making Teal and Daniel jump. Their eyes grew with surprise and the pair turned to face him.

Shaky, Teal felt a weird tingle, similar to the one she experienced earlier when she met him. He looked imposingly chivalrous with his tattooed arms crossed in front of him.

Why is it hot inside my body?

"I did man. Fuck off! We're simply kissing. Who are you anyway? And, what's it to you? This is clearly none of your business," he said eloquently.

What's happening?! She hyperventilated.

"I know she fucking asked you to stop and turned her head away. Probably revolted. Am I right Teal?" Turning, he pointed at her.

At the mention of her name, she grew mute, looking from one male, to the other.

What did he ask?

"You know this guy, Babe?" Daniel discernibly asked.

Babe? Who the hell does he think he is? And, why is he articulate all of a sudden?

"I doubt very much she's your babe and yes, she knows me. Now move away, asshole."

Daniel let go of her waist as if his skin had been seared by it.

"Next time you're around and muscle boy isn't, look me up." He winked and smiled wickedly at her. "Your taste, I will keep in my thoughts tonight until I see you again." Facing her, he licked his lips, then turned towards Marc and bowed in a ridiculous medieval-jester fashion.

Teal stood motionless. Daniel said more words in that split second than the entire time he'd been with her. She couldn't figure out what was happening.

"I'm gonna fucking punch the undead out of you if you don't leave. Now!" Marc scoffed at Daniel. "I better not see you around here again!" He shouted as Daniel walked away and got lost in the darkness of the streets.

Languidly walking over to where Teal stood petrified, he muttered under his breath. "Next time my ass ..." Something, something, "I'll tell Rocco..." Something, something, "Loser ..." And then something more that seemed like a grumble.

He peered down at her. "You okay?"

Not a peep from her. Her breath fast and hot.

His face was centimeters away. "Can you hear me?" Curious eyes, like a cat's, studied her expression.

Her warm breath briefly fanned his skin. With one last ragged breath, and as any rational female would, she clasped her digits around his biceps and leaned forward closing the gap between their mouths.

She kissed him. Hard and lustful. Like Daniel just taught her. She took him by surprise. The gasp he gave felt cool, as it traveled from his mouth to hers, and into her throat. Teal's tongue slipped through his lips and guided him into her mouth.

That was pure deliciousness she could taste every. Single. Day.

"Teal," he whispered and closed his eyes.

Marc recaptured her mouth with demanding force and wrapped his arms around her slim figure. With comfortable strength, he held her tightly. A force Teal could get used to. Releasing a low moan, she snuggled closer to his chest, and what little rational he thought to have left, was lost in the maze that was, Teal.

Music by:
Prince*Kiss