The alarm didn't wake her.
It was the sun bleeding through the torn window blinds, slashing gold lines across her bare legs, that pulled her from sleep. The fan hummed lazily above her like it didn't care either. For a moment, everything was still — her room, her sheets, her body under them.
Then she sat up.
Her name was Zara, and she was very, very late.
"Oh..my fuck Im so late now"
She flew out of bed in such a rush she almost slipped and fell.
Her socks didn't match. Her hair was still damp from last night's shower. She brushed her teeth with one hand and tried to find her left shoe with the other. School uniforms were evil and time never waited, especially not for girls who ignored 6 alarms.
She grabbed her bag and sprinted out the door, phone in one hand, toast clenched between her teeth like every cliché schoolgirl in a movie — except this wasn't a movie. This was real. And today would be the last day her life felt normal.
⸻
At School
The building buzzed like it always did — loud, filled with fake laughs and rolling eyes and hallway chaos. Zara barely made it in time for the second period. Her friends teased her. Teachers gave her side-eyes. But none of that mattered to her.
What mattered was Liam — her boyfriend.
And that they hadn't spoken since the night before. Since he yelled at her over the phone. Since she hung up.
She was still mad. Mad enough to ignore the way he looked at her in class. Mad enough to pretend like his soft voice calling her name didn't twist her heart. Mad enough to almost cry when he didn't come after her.
⸻
Lunch Break
She pushed open her locker just as the bell rang. Then — arms. Warm, firm, pulling her back gently. A hand over her mouth.
"Shh. Come on."
It was Liam. Before she could protest, he'd already guided her through the empty hall and into the janitor's closet. The door clicked shut. Darkness. Dust. Her heartbeat felt like it was about to come out of her chest.
"What the hell, Liam?!" she snapped, yanking her hand from his grip. "Don't touch me."
He didn't answer right away. Just stared at her with that broken look. The one that used to melt her.
"Zara, I'm sorry."
She almost gave in.
"No. You shouted at me. You don't get to say sorry now like it fixes everything."
He stepped closer.
"I panicked, okay? I was scared. You weren't answering. I—I didn't mean to take it out on you."
She crossed her arms, eyes wet. "That's not an excuse."
"I know."
His voice dropped lower.
"But I love you."
Something inside her cracked.
He leaned in. Slowly. Carefully. Like she might disappear. Their foreheads touched. She could smell his cologne, the faint sweat from running to catch her.
"I hate how you make me soft," she whispered.
He smiled.
Then their lips collided.
⸻
It wasn't sweet. It was urgent. Like they'd both been holding back too long.
Liam kissed her like he needed her. Like her lips were the only thing keeping him sane. His hands found her waist, then slid down, stopping just above the curve of her thighs. His fingers gripped tighter when she gasped against his mouth.
She didn't pull away.
Her back hit the shelves as he pressed against her, and she felt everything — his chest rising fast, the way his hand trembled when he touched her leg, the heat rushing through her body.
His lips moved to her jawline. Then her neck.
"Say you're not mad anymore," he breathed desperately.
She didn't answer. She just pulled him closer.
In that tiny, locked room, nothing else existed.
Not the screaming outside.
Not the blood drying under classroom doors.
Not the world ending, one scream at a time.
Just them. And it was almost beautiful.
Not until they heard a large bang at the door.
They both left each other terrified and wondering what was going on.
And then, so suddenly it made her jump, the sound of rushed footsteps outside. Not one person — several. And they were running.
Zara's stomach sank.
"Something's wrong," she said.
A scream cut through the hallway.
Muffled. Far. But definitely real.
Then another.
Closer.
Zara backed away from the door. "We need to get out of here I'm so scared Liam."
Liam turned to her, eyes wide now. "Something's happening."