You and Rafe had always been rivals—competing in everything, from grades to petty jabs. But today was different. The zombie apocalypse had shattered the world, and the chaos spread quickly. You had just watched your boyfriend die, his blood now smeared across your clothes as you ran for your life.

You sprinted down the hall, hearing the growls of the zombies growing closer. That’s when a hand grabbed your arm, pulling you into a classroom. The door slammed behind you, and you looked up, stunned to find Rafe standing there.

“Rafe?” You gasped, still out of breath. “Why… why did you help me?”

His expression was far from the usual smirk you were used to. He wasn’t mocking you. Instead, there was a tense determination in his eyes. “You were gonna die out there,” he said, his voice low. “I couldn’t just let that happen.”

You stared at him, your mind struggling to make sense of what was happening. The world was falling apart, and Rafe—your rival, your enemy—was the one who pulled you to safety.

He looked down at the blood covering your clothes, and for the first time, his expression softened. “Where did the blood come from?” he asked, his voice quieter now.

The question hit you like a punch. You swallowed hard, but the reality of your boyfriend’s death hit all over again. You tried to hold it together, but the grief overwhelmed you. Tears started to fall, and you couldn’t stop them.

Your boyfriend was gone.

without saying another word, Rafe stepped forward. His arms wrapped around you, pulling you into his chest. The heat of his body, the sudden closeness—it was a strange comfort in the midst of the madness. You hesitated for a second, but then it all poured out, the sobs wracking your body, the pain of losing him, the terror of the world around you.

In the midst of everything falling apart, you found solace in the most unexpected place: Rafe Cameron’s arms.