I walked back to the hospital wing with Cali. Nell was finally well enough to leave the hospital but Tess was still undergoing treatment. Cali was going to check up on Zeno who was still badly injured. It felt surreal to know that the cure worked on Nell and the extra cure bottles we had brought would help to save other people.

Cali and I parted ways and I continued up to Nell's room alone.

"Hey there," I said pushing open the door. Nell, who had already changed out of hospital clothes grinned at me. She still looked exhausted but at least she didn't look as frail as before. Nell's parents weren't there- they probably had gone to get more tests done on Tess.

"Hey. I was just going to visit Zeno," she said, bending down to tie Her shoelace. I stared at the unruly black curls falling over her shoulders and had to stop myself from laughing. Her hair was always like this no matter how much she tried to control it.  

"Cali is with him right now," I said, running a hand through my hair. "We might have to wait for a while."

"Oh, um, I guess we might as well wait here," she said, leaning against the wall.

"How are you feeling?" I asked cautiously, flopping down beside her.

She sighed.

"Everyone's asking me that since I got up. I feel better now, thank you very much."

I laughed.

"What?"

"You look cute when you're annoyed."

She looked unimpressed.

"You need to work on your game Axel, you're not as smooth anymore."

"Ouch." I grinned. "But seriously, you just got back from the dead, everyone has a right to be worried about you."

She put her arms around her.

"I guess you're right." she sighed. "I still remember that terrible pain I felt when I got bitten but after that, all I remember is waking up."

"How did that feel?"

"I felt as though I hadn't drunk anything for months, my mouth felt so dry. The wound didn't pain or anything even though I still have a scar."

She pulled down her hoodie and I saw the small curved scar on her neck. I gently ran my finger over it and looked at Nell.

"Did that hurt?"

"I didn't even feel it," she said. "I don't feel anything over that little bit of skin."

I bit my lip thoughtfully and was about to pull back when she spoke again.

"I missed you, you know," she said quietly. "All of this has just been so crazy."

"I missed you too," I said smiling at her. "Although it's been harder for me because you were bitten this whole time."

She looked concerned.

"And you had to get the cure. I mean, I can't even imagine how many of those zombies must have ambushed you."

"And I had to endure Cali's insults." I groaned. "She kept calling me pretty boy."

Nell giggled.

"I wish I had been able to come with all of you."

I pulled her closer to me.

"I am sure you wanted to come along just to put yourself in all those reckless situations."

She grinned.

"I was worried about you, Nell," I said softly as I pulled her even closer. I kissed her and she pressed against me, gently running her fingers through my hair. I still couldn't believe that she had been cured.

The door opened suddenly and she pulled away from me, blushing furiously. It was Cali.

"I have been waiting for you two-"

Cali stopped as soon as she saw us and groaned in disgust.

"Meet me outside when you're done," she said, storming out of the room.

"She just had to interrupt us when we were getting to the good part," I said, feeling disgruntled.

Nell giggled again and climbed down from the bed.

"We better go before she gets mad."

I sighed loudly and began following her out of the room.

Suddenly, Nell whirled around and pressed her lips to mine. I could feel her smiling as she stepped away again.

"Welcome back, pretty boy."