"Huh?!" Martyn couldn't believe his ears. "Why?!"
"You really want an explanation?" Aron raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah…?!" Martin frowned.
"Okay then," Aron said. "First of all, nobody gives away their shit for free. Secondly, we shouldn't accept questionable presents from a stranger. Third of all, it could be a trap, ranging from a tracking chip to a bomb!"
"Oh, okay," Martyn nodded slowly. "That's totally understandable! I thought you were past the daily recommended amount of bullshit for today."
"I see," Robin looked him in the eye. "So, I'm still some stranger to you, huh? Is that why you ditched me that night?"
"Well, let's check some facts here, shall we?" Aron said. "You have been lying to me about your name. Your very name."
"I didn't do it with any bad inten-" Robin's voice broke off. "I just didn't want to admit you were right! And moreover, you did too!"
"I still can't swallow the fact you went on three dates!" Martyn shook his head.
"Two!" they yelled at him in unison.
"No wonder we were running low on funds," Martyn muttered.
Aron turned red as a beet. Robin smirked.
"No," Martyn shook his head immediately. "I didn't mean it like that! It was his portion anyway!"
"Well, she asked me out on those dates," Aron lowered his voice.
"Uh-huh," Martyn nodded. "So?"
"So…" Aron cleared his throat.
Robin tried to keep her chuckle down.
"Wait," Martyn looked skeptical. "You're telling me she paid on all those dates–alone?!"
"Two dates?" Aron shrugged sheepishly.
Robin laughed.
"Wow!" Martyn's voice gained a high pitch. "Seriously…?"
"Okay!" Robin spoke gleefully. "Cut him some slack. I insisted on those dates. And I intended to pay both the times."
"But, still-" Martyn shook his head. "Don't you think it's a bit too much to accuse and call someone a stranger after all of that?"
"Wait," Aron said impatiently. "You're not seeing-"
"And?" Martyn raised his brow.
"And what?" Aron asked.
Martyn backhanded Aron on the shoulder. Aron sighed.
"I'm sorry, Mel… Robin," Aron spoke, looking away.
"You can call me Melody if you like," Robin stared down at her feet. "But there's no reason to apologize."
"Well, in that case," Aron said. "I'll take the car."
"I thought Martyn was more interested in it," Robin looked up at him.
"Oh, he doesn't have a driver's license," Aron said.
"It's the apocalypse," Martyn stuck out his tongue in response. "Who cares? The cops?!"
"Well," Aron leaned in closer to Robin. "We are gonna take our leave now, love. And I suspect you might not want us here when your help arrives."
"You know," Robin leaned in even closer. "You might seem like some random guy, but I know you are far dangerous than you look."
"If you really thought so, you would have stayed away," he spoke nonchalantly.
"Well, that's where you are wrong, Mr. Know-It-All," Robin whispered in his ear. "I live for the danger."
Before Aron could react, Robin gave him a quick peck on the lips. Aron lost his thought processing for a moment. Robin chuckled.
"Wow," Martyn uttered silently.
"Take good care of him for me," Robin turned to Martyn.
"Um, the car or…?"
"The car first," Robin smirked.
"Huh," Aron murmured. "Okay, let's a-go now."
"Can I drive?" Martyn looked at him eagerly. "Please, please, please!"
"Um, okay," Aron shrugged.
"What? For real?!" Martyn's eyes gleamed.
"Yeah, why not?" Aron said.
"And you're not gonna bring up the fact I don't have a license?" Martyn eyed him suspiciously.
"You better get us out of here quick before I change my mind," Aron said impatiently.
"Epic!" Martyn quickly threw their stuff on the backseat and got into the driver's seat. "Mm–It smells like a new car in here!"
"Hey Robin," Aron paused for a while. "Thanks for the ride."
"Sure thing," Robin smiled as she fiddled with the garage door controls. "I prefer you'd call me Melody, though," she spoke low.
Aron faced away. Martyn pushed the start, and the Maserati roared to life.
"Hear that baby purring!" Martyn couldn't contain his excitement. "I never thought I'd be riding one of these in a long, long time!"
"Perks of the apocalypse," Aron muttered. "Let's get moving already."
"Um, where to, though?"
"Huh," Aron scratched his head. "Didn't think that one through."
"You guys need a map or something?" Robin sneered.
"Actually," Aron shrugged. "That would be helpful, yes."
Martyn killed the engine.
"Oh," Robin exclaimed. "I was only joking."
"Yeah, I figured," Aron looked away.
"Wait!" Robin raised her hand. "Will–an iPad do?"
"Hm," Aron thought for a while. "If you wouldn't mind, yes, please."
Robin closed the garage door and left. She returned a few minutes later with an iPad.
"Looks like you boys would have been lost without me!" Robin smirked.
"You are an angel, Robin," Martyn grinned.
"Dude, stop, you are flattering me!"
"Okay, maps," Aron checked the iPad. "Now, where to-"
The trio peered at the map.
"How about we travel West?" Aron asked.
Martyn got fidgety but said nothing. Aron looked at him and Robin.
"How about north then?" Aron asked.
"You must be crazy to go northwards," Robin raised her brow.
"How so?" Aron asked.
"Didn't you guys watch the news?" Robin frowned.
"Well, if you haven't noticed it yet–the power is out," Martyn shrugged.
"I'm not talking about now, dummy," Robin sighed. "Yesterday."
"What did it say on the news?" Aron massaged his own shoulders.
"This thing comes from the Northeast and is spreading downwards."
"So, going north or east isn't an option?" Aron murmured.
"How about down South? Texas, Seymour?" Martyn got fidgety again.
"That was really specific," Aron narrowed his eyes. "Wait, don't tell me."
"Yep," Martyn didn't look him in the eye. "She's–there."
"She?" Robin looked puzzled.
"It's his lover," Aron poked Martyn with his elbow.
"Oh!" Robin exclaimed. "I see,"
"She's not! We met two days ago," Martyn raised his arms in defense. "I just want to–I really hope she's alive out there. And if she is, I want to-"
"…save her?" Robin completed his sentence. "Damn, that's a good guy right there. Maybe you should learn something from him."
"Ha-ha," Aron laughed sarcastically. "I don't remember being your boyfriend, though."
"I don't remember asking you to be,"
"Guys, she's not my girlfriend!" Martyn protested in vain.
"Okay, you know what?" Aron said. "Let's go save your girlfriend!"
"Wait, really?" Martyn's eyes lit up. "You mean it?"
"Well, anywhere is better than–here," Aron shrugged. "Yeah, why not?"
"Okay!" Martyn grinned.
"Now get the car moving," Aron put on the dark glasses he found in the glove compartment. "We got a lady to save!"
"Hey," Robin pointed at the glasses. "Those are mine!"
"Huh, it doesn't come free with the car?" Aron smirked.
"Sure, keep it," Robin rolled her eyes. "It lost its charm now!"
Martyn got the engine running again.
"Sweet manumatic, I'll be paddle shifting you real good later–when I've got the time," he said. "Right now, we've gotta 'sport' the fuck out of here."
Aron shook his head. Robin laughed as she opened the garage door again.
"Can you please get us out of here before you start making out with the car?" Aron grumbled.
"Yeah, man, geez!" Martyn stepped on the gas. "Thanks for this beast, Robin! And for the iPad too!"
"You're welcome!" Robin shouted out after them. "Take care, you both!"
"We will!" Martyn shouted back. "You too!"