While Jay had things like food, water, and games, he found to keep a good mood. Noah concentrated on getting some supplies for the ladies, meaning a tampon here or a pad there. He also took some medication, like painkillers. Some backpacks even had vitamins and powerbanks, and one even had a pack of cigarettes. Noah didn't know why he would need that but packed it up anyway. On the way back, it also reminded him of a little conversation before they walked out of the last room...

Jay always had a funny glance whenever Noah picked up anything period-related.

And after the sixth backpack, he couldn't hold back anymore, "Noah are you possibly... a girl? If not, why do you pick that stuff up?"

Noah could only roll his eyes, "No, but I am being considered. It's been three months, do you know how much period the product all four of them use?"

Jay chuckled, "Noah, listen in all of the three months that we've been together, I have never even seen them use any of that stuff. Meaning maybe they just turned their period off because of the ultimate threat by the zombies." Noah looked at Jay and saw that Jay really seemed to believe that. And worse, he really thought it was Noah who didn't think of this.

Noah just stood up, walked to Jay, laid his hand on the right shoulder of Jay, "That was the most stupid sentence that has EVER, come out of anyone's mouth. Did you have Biology? Then you would know that girls and women get them every month, the only exception would be if they take antibiotics, they're pregnant, and in some cases if they are really sick. Next, you want to tell me women can choose not to be pregnant by not wanting the baby anymore."

Shaking his head, he walked out of the classroom since he searched his last bag in there. After a while, Jay came out too.

He walked to Noah with a wide grin, "That last sentence was a joke, right? I mean, ducks can also choose they don't want the baby anymore, so why couldn't women do it? See, now I am smarter than you." Jay patted Noah on the shoulder and walked by. Noah was perplexed how someone could be that stupid. He knew he needed to talk to the girls so they could talk with him, and educate some very bad media influence.

'How the hell does he think ducks are the same as humans? That's a whole different species?' He thought to himself as he began to catch up behind him...

Thinking of this, they finally reached the headquarters, where everyone else was already waiting.

Jay walked inside and announced, amused, "Noah just wanted to tell me women can't decide if they want a baby or not. Even though we all know that women can do it like ducks do. If they don't want it, they can just decide in their body not to have it." He laughed and expected the others to laugh too, but when he realized no one was laughing with him, he stopped.

Noah walked up behind him, pat him on the shoulder, and said, "It was not without reason that I was sarcastic with the last sentence."

He walked by Jay and went to the girls, with a puppy smile he put the period products on the table near them, "Here I thought you might need this, and maybe you should educate Jay a bit more. He thought that a period could be switched on and off." He chuckled and curled his eyes, which made the whole person more cheerful and sunny. Cindy and Lea first looked at each other, and then at Jay, they both felt a little warm. Since everything broke out, especially with the shortage of everything, they always cracked their heads on what to use. Seeing that Noah was thinking of that made him look better.

Cindy thanked him and talked with him a bit about what he found, while Lea was interested in what Noah said.

She walked to Jay and began to laugh, "So let me get this straight, you not only compared the human body to that of a duck. Which is not even the same species in terms of biology. Do you even say that the period can be switched off?"

Even Zenix and Ben had to laugh, Ben chuckled, "Dude were you even in class? Where were you? Getting chalk?"

Zenix was wiggling with his eyebrows and said, "More like getting it on with that transfer student, you know I think her name was Leonie... The girl from Germany."

Ben thought about it and looked enlightening at Zenix, "Right, after class, he said he didn't need to know since he was going to experience biology firsthand, and we were confused. You know, since we ended up talking about the period, he probably only listened when we talked about how babies were made and not actually why a baby can be made."

Lea smirked at that and seemed to remember that lesson, "Still I don't seem to remember Mrs. Fauna saying something about pregnant ducks."

Both boys laughed, "Yeah, who knows where he got that one from." Jay just rolled his eyes and walked to Noah, who was having an enjoyable conversation with Cindy. He put one arm around Noah as if to show sovereignty. Noah was still talking to Cindy, but now Jay could finally hear what they were talking about.

Noah gestured wildly as he said, "And then Jay hit the first zombie with a roundhouse kick, I swear that was the first time I saw someone do that ever." Then he had a sad look in his eyes, "But I don't think I'm of much use when it comes to combat itself. Jay had to pretty much carry me the whole time, but as you see, I'm pretty well off in the scavenging team. I've even found some vitamins, powerbanks, and painkillers. Painkillers can be really useful after all. They also have a fever-decreasing component."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Cindy smiled back, "I fully understand, and the things you got we've not even thought about. I mean, in our team, you should let the combat be taken care of by the ability users anyway." Loraine came over when she heard that, wanting to say something but realized halfway that Jay was standing there. So she stayed by Zeana, who was annoyed since they only got radio snow today and nothing useful. Jay, on the other hand, who just heard that Noah was not at all good at combat, was stunned. He looked at Noah, wanting to confirm what he said, but the look Noah gave was even more incredible.

He hunched over like he was scared, head down like he was really disappointed with himself, and had a sad look on his face. Which was very contradicting with whom he fought today. Noah was showing no facial expression, standing straight, making himself look taller, and he moved around like a soldier.

Totally confused Jay tightened his grip on Noah's shoulder, he smiled and said, "Cindy how about you and Lea give out the rations for today, me and Noah have a thing or two to talk about. And after we ate we can give a quick talk about how far you are with the roof. And Z-" He wanted to say something else but was interrupted.

"Don't even bother asking us two. There was nothing on the radio. Only the usual radio snow," it was Zeana, and she was very annoyed about that.

"Okay, then you guys eat and drink a sip. We will be right back," he said and walked out the door with Noah.

Out the door, Noah could hear Ben faintly, "So I guess a zombie date went well." And Zenix snickering.

Jay let go of Noah's shoulder, took his wrist, and walked inside the boys' sleeping classroom. Inside, he let go, closed the door, and looked Noah in his eyes. And there they were, those same emotionless eyes he'd seen before.

Intrigued, he looked at Noah, "What are you doing? Why are you doing one of innocent, when in reality you were basically carrying me?"

Noah looked Jay deep in his eyes, "I'll be honest. I don't trust you guys yet, and besides, you're all keeping secrets from me... Why can't I keep some, too?"

Noah shrugged his shoulders, walked by Jay, and opened the door, "You don't have to worry, if it comes face to face, I will not hesitate to expose my fighting capabilities. But until then, I will play the little puppy, Noah." With those words, Noah left the room and walked to the classroom. Before going in, he pinched his cheeks to make them look red, like a blush. And walked inside to hear the others already talking about funny things that happened.

"-almost hit Ben. Although it wouldn't have been so bad either way, his ego was enormous today, said he could lift a ten-kilo stone and throw it with his pinky. The reality? A five-kilo stone picked up with both hands, sweating," Lea laughed and bit into her snicker bar. Ben rolled his eyes and saw that Noah had just come in his face was abnormally red. He smirked and winked at Zenix, Zenix sent a confused look and Ben sent a little side motion with his head toward Noah. Zenix looked at Noah and the red shade across his cheek. He looked back to Ben and wiggled with his brows. Cindy didn't notice the interaction between the two best friends, but she saw Noah.

"Come here, we left you a place," she motioned to the chair to her right, which had a Mars bar and a bottle of water on it. Noah smiled shyly and walked toward his chair. Ben and Zenix looked at each other, smiled at each other, and looked at the door to see if Jay had come at any moment.

"Thank you," Noah said as he sat down and ate his Mars bar. Cindy just smiled and talked in a low tone with Bea.

All of them ate in silence. The topic of before was forgotten by everyone. So Zeana looked at Noah, who was eating their rations, and was annoyed. Didn't he say before that he was carried by Jay? Why does he get to eat then? That doesn't make any sense. She wanted to say something but was interrupted by Jay coming through the door. His eyes were immediately fixed on Noah, who was drinking a sip of water. He walked towards him but was intercepted by Ben and Zenix. And brought to a corner wall, so no one could hear their conversation.

"Dude be honest, did you two fuck? Or are you only a little bit together for now?" Zenix whispered.

Ben hit him on the back of his head, "Stop with these thoughts of yours, as if Jay can fuck anyone with zombies lurking in every corner. But you at least kissed and are kind of together, right? Why would Noah come back with those flushed cheeks otherwise?" Jay felt a little bit bombarded and if it was true he would already burst with praise for himself and his charm. But they didn't do anything, so Jay felt a bit humbled. But then again his ego couldn't take the humiliation if he would say that they were not.

"Of course, we kissed. But Noah wants to get it on slow, after all, Loraine hates him and he is concerned that she will hurt him," Jay said with a sad smile. With the mentioning of 'Loraine', one could visibly see the annoyance on both of their faces.

With disgust, Zenix said, "Don't worry, if you really get together. Me and Ben will take care of that bitch."

Ben nodded seriously, "What he said, Dude, we have your back. You helped us before, so we are going to stay by your side too. Hopefully, we can repay that favor someday." Jay is thankful for these two guys, but sometimes when they say stuff like that. He can't seem to remember ever helping them with anything at all. Ben and Zenix just went to him one day, in the middle of freshman year. He never even saw them before.

They just went up to him, and Ben said, "You were right. They wouldn't have liked it, and we know you said you don't want to be friends. Could you maybe make an exception, we really... would love to be your friends. Without you, heck, who knows where we would be without you? So please."

Zenix chimed in, "Don't make it sapy. Jay, you're a really cool dude, so be our friend, will ya?" Ben rolled his eyes when Zenix spoke the last word.

Jay didn't know them but said, "You're welcome, we can be friends."

Since then, the three of them had been friends.