Walking Among Everyone

006

1 am.

Again, I asked Layla what time it was. She rolled her eyes at me and showed me her phone clock. I sighed. After the scene with Amanda, I couldn't fall asleep. I didn't want to risk being stabbed to death by her when I was asleep. Layla couldn't sleep either. She kept being woken up by Laura who had a nightmare so she stayed awake for her sister's sake.

A few feet in front of me, Fred and Mike slept, snoring lightly, as though we weren't in a dangerous situation. Actually almost everyone in the gym was sleeping, except a few who were night owls.

Zion sat beside me silently, his eyes never moving from the doors. It was good that he was alert but he was in desperate need for shut eyes as he kept yawning every few seconds. For the past minute, he had yawned about 10 times and yes, I counted.

My phone was still dead and I didn't think anyone had brought any android charger while Layla had plugged her phone in and was charging it. Every now and then, she texted her parents, asking them certain details about the situation.

So far from what we know, those who were evacuated were in another town, far from here, hoping the monsters didn't track them. The town's entry point had been completely sealed off; to quarantine the monsters inside.

I just pray they don't know how to climb a fence.

Or open doors.

I miss my parents. I wanted to know where they were now. I could borrow Layla's phone to call my parents but as someone with bad memory, I cannot remember their numbers. Hence all I can do is just sit in silence, wish for sunrise and hope help comes.

"Guys, check out the news website!" Someone shouted and immediately, everyone were on their phones.

I watched the news beside Layla, seeing the aerial view of our once beautiful town that was now bare of activities and humans. In just 6 hours, it changed so much. I could barely see the trees or houses anymore.

Just as we watch in utter silence and shock, the banging starts again. The zombies, I assume, were smashing against the glass door. Are they trying to get in?

The students that were asleep, woken up. Many start to panic while others were chanting "we're gonna die" but after a few minutes, the zombies began moving away from the door. I hadn't notice I held my breathe until Zion placed a hand on mine and sighed.

"They won't get in," he didn't look at me and I didn't feel like it was even assuring at this point. I was fearing for the worst.

"Yeah, sure," I mumbled as I slid my hand out from his grip. He noticed it and sheepishly brought a hand to his neck, apologising.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to. Might be a reflex," he was smiling again. That was when I felt my heart lurched out of my chest. He was undoubtedly good looking, with toned muscles all over. Like a Greek God with stricking green eyes, reminding me of the meadows I had seen as a child.

Of course someone as handsome as him would be dating Amanda Woods, a cheerleader but I can only imagine that she was the one who cling onto him nonstop to get his attention and got bored of him soon after he start showing his love.

"I know I'm handsome but you don't have to stare that intensely," he chuckled, dangerously in my ears. I turned away from him, blushing madly.

Honestly, I hadn't realised that I was staring. It just seems natural to look at him, at his features and study them. Of course that didn't mean I was attracted to him in any way. He was just handsome to me, like how I felt Brandon was also handsome.

Cringe.

I pushed the thought of Brandon out from my mind just as Zion continued talking after seeing me zone out. "I mean you're pretty too, I could stare at you all night but I know you'll feel uncomfortable."

"W-what?" I asked, even though I had heard what he said about me.

Pretty? Zion Matthews think I'm pretty?!

I was sure my mouth was agape, since Zion reach out towards my jaw and push it up. He chuckled, watching me from the corner of his eyes, making my heart do a somersault.

I heard Layla laughed beside me and turned to glare at her. She stopped laughing immediately but not before she gave me a wink.

I know Zion was flirting with me but I can't imagine why me but I also like the attention he was giving and of course the ugly face that Amanda made.

I admit, I was confident with my looks but not up to the point that someone would stare at me, you know. I shrugged as I thought that maybe this was just his way of coping in this stressful situation. Which brought me to think, how was I so calm in this situation. Had I expected this would happen one day?

I should stop reading wattpad.

I looked at Zion again, wondering what was going through his mind. He was also looking at me, as though he was studying me. His eyes darted around my face; from my hair to my ears to my eyes, nose and it stopped on my lips.

That made me self conscious because I know my makeup was ruined from all the crying and when I drank my coke bottle, I had used the back of my hand to wipe my mouth. The lipsstick must be smudged so badly, I can't even imagine. But the look Zion gave me, made me shiver all over.

It was not in a good way.

There was just something about it that made me scared. He wasn't looking at me, as a girl. He was looking at me like a predator looking at his prey. That was all I can think of before a girl suddenly screamed.

"I can't do this anymore! Staying here is driving me crazy! No one is coming for us. I just knew it!" She ran towards a glass door, prying off the chairs and tables against it. Almost all the students rushed up, to stop her. I wanted to helped but Zion held my wrist, tightly.

"Don't move," he shook his head. "You will just make matters worst."

I was offended that he didn't think I was helpful but the look in his eyes, scared me. Zion doesn't feel like the guy he was before, the angry Zion I had seen didn't even feel like this. His eyes, I felt like it had changed colour, but all I saw was the same shade of green.

The commotion was getting louder. I turned to see that some of the students were helping the girl out. They wanted to get out of here too and pushed aside anyone who was stopping them. I wriggled my arm, trying to get out from Zion's grip but he was too strong. The perks of working out. "Let me go, Zion! I have to stop them or they will die out there!"

Zion didn't let go. He continued holding me in my place, all my pleading ignored by him. Suddenly I felt a blast of cold wind. The door was freed from any barriers and half of the students in the gym was pouring out.

"Wait, don't! Come back in!" I shouted but they were too happy to listen to me. I heard car engines coming back to life while some students were just running wherever they felt like it. I didn't know how but I managed to break free from the hold and ran towards the door, standing right outside of it with a few students who were too afraid to step foot to the other side. From far, I could hear a weird growl then suddenly everything became red again.

×××

Author's note:
Just in case you're wondering, I'm team Zion.