I glanced around myself for the first time.

"Where do you want to eat?" Jess asked.

"I don't care."

"Okay."

Jess started talking about the male lead in the movie as we walked. I nodded as she gushed over his
hotness, unable to remember seeing a non-zombie man at all.

I didn't watch where Jessica was leading me. I was only vaguely aware that it was dark and quieter now.
It took me longer than it should have to realize why it was quiet. Jessica had stopped babbling. I looked
at her apologetically, hoping I hadn't hurt her feelings.

Jessica wasn't looking at me. Her face was tense; she stared straight ahead and walked fast. As I
watched, her eyes darted quickly to the right, across the road, and back again.

I glanced around myself for the first time.

We were on a short stretch of unlit sidewalk. The little shops lining the street were all locked up for the
night, windows black. Half a block ahead, the streetlights started up again, and I could see, farther down,
the bright golden arches of the McDonald's she was heading for.

Across the street there was one open business. The windows were covered from inside and there were
neon signs, advertisements for different brands of beer, glowing in front of them. The biggest sign, in
brilliant green, was the name of the bar—One-Eyed Pete's. I wondered if there was some pirate theme
not visible from outside. The metal door was propped open; it was dimly lit inside, and the low murmur
of many voices and the sound of ice clinking in glasses floated across the street. Lounging against the wall
beside the door were four men.

I glanced back at Jessica. Her eyes were fixed on the path ahead and she moved briskly. She didn't look

frightened—just wary, trying to not attract attention to herself.

I paused without thinking, looking back at the four men with a strong sense of déjà vu. This was a
different road, a different night, but the scene was so much the same. One of them was even short and
dark. As I stopped and turned toward them, that one looked up in interest.