Infection: Dying Days

(Andy's POV)

"Here you go, boy. A nice juicy steak."

Slapping the nicely done t-bone steak onto a plate, I set it down on the floor and said happily to the drooling Marco. Ever since I declared that the first steak was gonna be his, he hopped off the couch and patiently waited by my side for it with his tail wagging.

Which I appreciate since I spared no expense in cooking it. Because you lose a good amount of seasoning on the steak as soon as you plop it onto the frying pan, I seasoned it heavily on both sides with salt and pepper, seared it to medium rare, and to add some extra aroma and flavor to it, I used rosemary, butter and garlic.

You might be wondering why I'd do so much to a steak that's only going to a dog. After all, he's not going to give me compliments or anything, he's just going to eat, lick his lips, and poop it out later. 

It's simple, I just want to create something delicious. I want to create something that'll bring joy to all those who taste it. It doesn't matter if you're a human or if you're an animal, as long as you're happy while eating the stuff I make then I'm satisfied. Because at the end of the day, cooking is about making something delicious for another person...or animal.

"Woof!"

Giving a bark that I take as thanks, Marco immediately bites into the steak. But not before moving out of my way so that I'd won't trip over him. Quite the considerate dog. 

"This goes for you guys too. The food is done."

Cutting off the stove and wiping my hands with a nearby hand towel, I said to the girls who were chilling in the living room. While I was cooking Marco's steak, I didn't forget about them and cooked them something as well.

They were going to wash earlier but decided that they'll do that after having something to eat. Fighting all those infected burned an insane amount of calories, leaving all three of them famished (Erika said she was hungry because she slept all day). 

The same could be said about me too. The whole time I was cooking, my stomach couldn't help but growl in hunger. I was even tempted to disregard Marco and eat his steak myself! 

"What did you cook?"

Getting up from the couch, Sara asks. Putting on a proud and confident smile, I showed her the freshly cooked food that was already on plates. I made a plate for everyone here, totaling seven plates altogether. 

"For you guys, I've cooked a seasoned pork tenderloin and the last of the t-bone steaks. I wanted to cook some vegetables to even out the meat to vegetable ratio but sadly I couldn't find much. It wasn't enough to make a good side dish out of."

Showing Sara a bitter smile I said.

It's like this house was made for straight carnivores. Everywhere in the fridge was meat, meat, and more meat. Other than a couple of green peppers, and a can of french style green beans, there was no type of vegetable in sight. However, there were a lot of seasonings. He had a nifty pull out cabinet dedicated to them. 

"That's fine. I just want to eat something that's other than cold canned food."

"I bet. Well, here's the food. Take whichever one you want."

"Gladly. The food smells so good that it's taking every fiber of my being not to just dig in!"

As Sara was saying this...

"...Should I tell David and Desmond the food is done?"

Amanda, knowing that the food is done, closed the book she was reading and innocently offered to notify Desmond and David. Being the only one in here who knows what they're doing in the room to 'relax', I quickly declined her offer.

"N-no, it's alright. I got it. I have something to ask him anyway"

Not waiting to hear Amanda say anything, I quickly but calmly walked to Desmond's room and entered. And when I entered…

"Cough! Cough! cough!"

"Haha! When I said inhale, I didn't mean with all your might! Haha! Look at your face, it's all read!"

"Cough! Cough! I feel like I'm dying! My throat! Cough!" 

"Hahaha!"

I saw David on the bed trying to stifle his coughing and I see Desmond sitting in his gamer chair with a joint in hand. He was laughing hard at David as he struggled to keep his coughing in check.  On the table, right in front of Desmond's computer, I saw a grinder, some rolling papers and a jar of marijuana labelled 'Northern Lights.'

It was quite the funny sight.

Then he notices me. And with a look of desperation, he, in a hushed voice, said to me.

"Dude! Close the door!" 

"My bad!"

Because I was surprised at what I walked into, I left the door slightly cracked. With Desmond's reminder, I closed the door. Hopefully, the smell of the weed didn't leak out. Because if so, then we'll have to throw it all away. 

Which would suck like hell because I haven't gotten to smoke yet!

"Want it?"

Offering up the joint after he took a drag and ghost inhaling the smoke, Desmond asks. Without a second thought, I nodded my head and said.

"Yes. Yes, I do."

I walked over to Desmond, took the joint from him, and took a little puff. I know I'm a beginner so I'm not going to be a big boy and try to take in as much as I can. David was a prime example of that.

However, after taking a hit, I remembered what my original goal for coming in here was. 

"Oh yeah, I came in here to tell you the food's done."

"...I forgot about the food thing. David, where's the air freshener? The smell of the weed is probably stuck on us."

Getting up from the chair with his slightly red eyes, Desmond starts to search his room, albeit a little slowly. David was the same as well. He got off the bed and slowly started searching Desmond's room.

"How should I know?...Is there even any air freshener in here?"

"I don't know...Help me look for it. I don't wanna get in trouble with the big boss in there. I haven't smoked enough to make me feel satisfied."

"Me neither...Sara becomes scary when she's mad."

"Big Sis too. Hey, why did I even start calling her that? Didn't it start off as a joke?"

At Desmond's pointless question, David explained.

"It was for a while. I believe it started when one of the guys she had under her called her 'big sister' out of habit because she reminded him of his older sister. After that, as a joke, everyone in GSB started calling her 'Big Sis.' Then before I knew it, everyone started calling her that."

"It doesn't roll off the tongue like the ever famous 'nee-san.' Thinking back on it now, it seems a little cringey to me."

"That's exactly why I've stopped calling her that after a few times. It made me feel cheesy as hell."

"All these years I've been calling her that. Only to realize now that it's really cringey...Screw it. From now on, I'll call her Belle instead!"

Acting like he just had an epiphany, Desmond boldly declares. And while he was doing so…

"I didn't find any air freshener but I did find some cologne. Will that work?"

Coming out from under the bed, David shows us a small glass bottle of cologne. Upon seeing the cologne, Desmond says happily.

"I've been looking for that! I wanted to use it when I tried to ask Sara out. That bottle cost me $35."

"You just letting it all out there now huh?"

Surprised at what Desmond said, David asks with a smile. Shrugging his shoulders, Desmond replied.

"Might as well. The two of you are dating now and I decided to let bygones be bygones. So what's better than to make this whole thing comical as it can be so that we can look back on it and laugh our ass' off?"

"Those are some wise words you are speaking there."

"It's the weed talking. It's giving me the knowledge of the sages."

... Getting bits of info from the conversation, I'm gonna take it that these two made up. Good for these guys!

 In celebration, I will take another puff!

"Anyways, I'll be going using this first."

David then takes off the cap covering and starts to spray the cologne on himself. After he was done, he handed the cologne bottle to Desmond, who, in turn, looks at me and says.

"Andy let me see the joint. It's puff, puff, give rotation in here. I got to smoke enough until next time."

"...Fine." 

Feeling a little reluctant, I pass the joint back to him. And when I did, Desmond spared no expense and inhaled as much as he could. You could see his effort by how much of the joint he was burning up. After about three seconds of holding it in…

"Phe~w!"

He blows out a huge amount of smoke. He blew out so much that it caused the front of his face to momentarily covered up. After he did that, he fanned away the smoke, put out the joint and started to heavily spray himself with the cologne. He then moved towards his computer and carefully put all the weed paraphernalia back into the bag and stuffed it back under the bed.

When he was done, he handed the bottle of cologne (now half empty) to me. I used it and tossed it on the bed.

When all three of us had sprayed the cologne on. Desmond looked us in our slightly red eyes and said in complete seriousness.

"Okay boys, let's act cool and casual. I don't want to throw away all this once in a lifetime amount of weed and I'm sure you guys don't either. Therefore, this is a life and death situation. We cannot f*ck this up. Also, if they ask why are our eyes slightly red, tell them it's because of the cologne. The smell of it is too strong. And if they ask why there's cologne on us, let's say the bottle broke. You boys ready?"

David: "I'm ready." 

Me: "I'm ready."

Desmond: "Good. Now, let's go."

Desmond walks to the door and goes to open it. 

"Err, why isn't the opening?"

However, much to his surprise it didn't open. The reason was simple.

"...Desmond your pushing on the door. You need to pull your way to open."

"O~h, gotcha."

At my advice, instead of pushing on the door, Desmond pulls it. Thus, opening the door and leaving the room. As me and David watch as Desmond leaves the room. A unanimous thought went through our heads

We might be f*cked!