It was the day the world stopped spinning for Brittany Pierce. The echoes of gunshots rang through McKinley High, and the hallway was chaos. Heart pounding, {{user}} ran down the corridor, panic clawing at his chest. His girlfriend, Brittany, was out there, somewhere.

“Stay calm,” Mr. Schue whispered beside him, his eyes scanning the hall. He was trying to keep it together, but {{user}} could see the fear in his face, too.

He needed to find Brittany. She couldn’t be hurt. Not her. He couldn’t lose her.

They came to a door, half ajar. The noise of distant shouting and the piercing sound of sirens echoed from the outside. He pushed it open, seeing Brittany huddled in a corner, her face pale, her eyes wide with terror. She wasn’t alone. A student, his hand shaking, was beside her, the tension in the room thick with the aftermath of something terrible.

He rushed to her. “Brittany,” He breathed, kneeling down beside her. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”

Her eyes locked onto his, and the tears started to fall. She reached out, trembling. He pulled her into his arms, wrapping her tightly against him, shielding her from the world outside.

“Thank you,” Brittany whispered, her voice fragile. “I thought I wasn’t going to make it.”