BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
The sound of my familiar alarm clock disrupted my goodnight's sleep. I hit the off button as I struggled to get out of bed. I washed my face, brushed my teeth and threw on some skinny jeans and a bright blue crop top. I took my long, dark brown hair out of the messy bun it was contained in. I curled it, ridding its naturally straight look and then did my makeup to make my gray eyes pop out. I made my way downstairs and grabbed some breakfast to go. Of course no one was home. I live with my mom and stepdad. My mom means so much to me, but I never get along with my stepdad. I fit in really well at my school, but I feel as if no one really knows me.. I have a lot of friends, I just don't really tell them about my life at home. I brush off my side thoughts as I plug my headphones in, grab my bag and head out. I make my way to the bus stop, walking down the sidewalk of my suburban neighborhood. The walk is very short and consists of passing many houses that all look the same. I make my way past the green trees and lawns until I reach the stop. Great, the only one here is some weirdo named Zeke or Zayn or something like that. I don't know much about him but he's always getting into trouble and I've never seen him talk to someone unless he's fighting with them. I observed his upright dark brown hair, studded leather jacket, and all black outfit. I stopped looking at him and turned to the sound of my friend's voice, "Hey Valerie!"
"Oh hey Danielle! Why do you always look so perfect for school?" I ask her as she greets me with a hug. Me and Danielle have been good friends for awhile now. We've known each other since we were toddlers, but we've grown a bit distant ever since she started to date Liam. Don't get me wrong, Liam is the sweetest guy ever. And he's the perfect boyfriend. I'd rather spend time with him than myself any day.
"I do not!" she laughed. We stood in silence as more and more students came to the bus stop. Finally the bus pulled up and we all shuffled in. I sat next to Danielle and got lost in my thoughts, looking out the window. When we arrived at school me and Danielle made our way to our lockers.
I was shoving some books in my locker when the schools biggest flirt walked by.
"Hey hot stuff," he shot me a wink and continued walking.
"Bye Harry." I rolled my eyes and looked back towards Danielle, "Are you coming to class with me or waiting for Liam?"
"Sorry hun, I told Liam I'd meet him before class! But I'll see you when the bell rings!" she smiled. I waved bye, shut my locker, and headed towards my first period. I sat down in my assigned seat which just happens to be right next to the class clown, Louis.
"Hey Valerie!" he cheerfully greets me.
"Hey Louis!" I reply. I don't know much about Louis except the fact that he's hilarious but he seems really nice. I can tell he's a gregarious person. His girlfriend Eleanor is pretty good friends with Danielle and she seems really friendly too. The late bell rings and the last of the students make there way in. The teacher talks about history for what feels like forever and finally the class is dismissed. I sit through three more classes and finally the lunch bell rings. I arrive in the cafeteria to see my best guy friend first in line. Of course.
"Hey Niall! Early as always I see," I say as I slide in line behind him.
"Yeah I have to get the good food before its all gone!!" he tells me. I laugh and we get our lunches.
"Care if I sit with you and Jack today? Danielle is with Liam for lunch." Jack was Niall's best friend. He was a really cool guy and was in eleventh grade, the grade below us.
"Of course you can sit with us!!" Niall says as we make our way to the round lunch table.
Niall started eating right away. It amazes me how much that boy can eat. He had four slices of pizza on his plate, a salad, some fries, and dessert as well. I smiled to myself as I started eating too. After about five minutes, Jack and his friend Kendall sat down at the table.
"Hey guys!" their voices greeted us at the same time.
"Hey! How are you guys?" I spoke up cause Niall had too much food in his mouth. We all talked and continued eating until the PA system interrupted us.
"Attention all high school students, staff and guests. This is a very important announcement and this is not a drill. We need your attention immediately," the cafeteria quieted down to almost silence. The man continued, "there have been reports of, uh, zombie like attacks in our area." I could hear Louis start laughing hysterically on the other side of the cafeteria. Once again the man went on, "this is not a joke nor a drill. I repeat this is not a drill. Five people have already been reported dead in our city from being eaten alive." I gasp in shock, almost choking on my pizza. Niall rubs my arm to comfort me. "We need all of you to remain calm and enter into secure classrooms with no windows or doors leading to the outside. Please follow all teacher directions." The PA system clicked off and Louis' laughter halted to a stop. "This isn't a joke?" his voice spoke up with an unfamiliar sound of fear. Voices started whispering and some people started to panic. I was frozen with shock. Tears started forming in my eyes.
"Niall please tell me I'm dreaming.." I drop my food on my plate.
"I wish I could.. This can't be real.." Niall spoke with disbelief. I looked at him. At Jack. At Kendall. I looked around the cafeteria. Everyone's face was filled with fear, shock, and disbelief. This is the type of stuff you watch in movies. This shouldn't be happening in our lives.. Suddenly it hit me. My mom. She works outside at her gardening store.. She couldn't be safe. I stood up and started running. I ran out of the cafeteria passing the panicking people.
"Val! Valerie come back!!" I could hear Niall yelling after me. I ignored him. I have to get to her. The hallways were filled with people rushing into classrooms. I could hear the sound of cries and screams.. I'm not the only one who is scared. This is all happening so fast.. I run past everyone until I reach the school doors. I run out of them, almost out of breath.
"Hey, stop!!" I hear someone yell at me. I needed a moment to catch my breath so I stop and turn around to see who it is. That kid from the bus stop. I roll my eyes and continue forward again. Suddenly I heard footsteps creeping up behind me.. The only thought in my mind was that it was someone who wanted to eat me. I kept forward and didn't look back, but the footsteps got louder and louder. A hand smacked against my wrist and I screamed in horror.
"Shh!" it was the boy. His other hand went to cover my mouth to mute my screams. I grabbed his hand and shoved it away.
"What the hell are you doing?! Get off of me!" I push him away. What is going on here? The world is ending and some random jerk wants to scare the life out of me. I brush off my confusion and some of my fear and continue in the direction of my moms gardening store. The next thing I know, I trip over a bump in the sidewalk. I go flying forward onto the hard concrete. Great. My jeans ripped and my knee was scraped open. Blood started to stain my pants as it trickled out of the opening. I pushed myself up and noticed the peeled open status of my hands. I also managed to twist my ankle in the process. Just my luck. I guess I couldn't make it to my moms job safely like this. I didn't know what to do.
"Stay down." I heard a voice. That bad boy again. Why was he following me..?
"Why should I listen to you?" I ask him in annoyance.
"Because a zombie is heading right towards us at this moment. You're bleeding. They like blood. I suggest you just stay down and shut up," he snapped. A zombie was heading towards me.. This is it. I didn't think I would die so soon. I started to cry silently to myself and say some final prayers. I was laid out on the sidewalk, face down. I peeked up to see what I never thought I would. The zombie was just like in the movies, covered in blood with blackness around the eyes. It was terrifying to see the lifelessness of the person being taken over. But that's not the unexpected. That boy, the one normally so rude and mysterious, was fighting it. He had some sort of crowbar in his hand. Blood was flying everywhere as he hit the creature. I closed my eyes in horror. I heard him grunting and the zombie humming a weird growl. I heard a loud yell and a thump. Then silence.
"Get up, let's go," the boy's voice came closer. I opened my eyes to see a beheaded zombie splattered across the grass.
"Who are you? And why did you save me?" I said through my tears.
"Zayn. And don't worry about it. But we have to go. Can you walk?" he asked with no expression change. I tried to stand up and walk but I had a horrible limp. He picked me up bridal style and he headed towards to school. I gave him a weak smile and spoke up, "thanks for saving my life."
