Sorry for such a long chapter**

Reese's P.O.V

*2 week time jump.*

"And you point it downward while you're running," Ryan instructed.

I smiled at him as he taught Max how to hold a knife and how to use one. Such a great big brother, and such a great boyfriend.

He winked at me and grinned, "Reese, do you know how to hold a knife?" he asked

"Yes sir." I smiled

"Just checking."

Kai and Cody wandered off down the trail, picking useful berries together. We're running so low on food and resources that we practically live on berries and creek water now.

That's their job, to gather berries and creekwater.

I assigned everyone a job, because not to brag, I excelled in Management and Organization senior year.

But anyway, I assigned jobs to keep us civilized and sane.

I, along with Ryan, kill wanderers approaching our campsite. We sometimes search for them instead of letting them come to us because sneak attacks are always possible. They could show up when we least expect.

Jose comes up with the good ideas, like hiking around everyday to maybe find other survivors or useful materials. Once he even volunteered to go to the city, alone, to rob every house he possibly could. But as great of an idea that sounds, I didn't let him go. There's way too many wanderers in the city, far too many that Jose, or any of us, could handle.

I can barely handle the 2 or 3 I kill daily.

Kimmy and Bella cook the food, sterilize the water, wash the clothes and organizes our loose accessories.

They do a great job, close to what a mom does.

And Max, he just sits around all day and talks to whoever's attention he can get.

It's a pretty repetitive cycle. This is how we live since the world ended.

Ryan left Max to swing the knife freely in the positions he taught him.

He joined me by the tree and kissed my forehead.

"You okay?" he asked

The height difference between Ryan and I is about 7 inches.
I'm 5'7 and he's 6'3. It's always nice to have someone taller than you though, the hugs are always great.

I didn't say anything, I just wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him tight. We were silent, and he was clueless until he finally wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Why the sudden outburst of affection?" he chuckled.

I pulled away and slowly pat his chest, "just glad you're here."

He stared into my eyes for a while before kissing me, "I'll always be here, Reese. You're stuck with me for the rest of your life," he laughed.

But what if the rest of my life is just a week? Or a year? Or even the next second. I don't know when I'll die, I just know I want to spend a long time with Kai and Ryan and everyone I'm surviving with actually.

"You think we'll get food soon?" I solicited.

"I mean, there's not many choices but to go to the city and scavenge." he sighed.

He's right but It's just not safe there.

"It's not safe."

"Jose and I can handle ourselves."

"I didn't say you couldn't, I just said it's not safe." I said.

"C'mon babe!" he pleaded.

"No Ryan, I'm not going to let you go---"

Just then, Jose came running toward us with a few other random people, screaming for us to run.
Once I realized there were dozens of wanderers behind him, I yelled to Cody and Kai to run and I took off.

I tumbled to the van but got back up and yelled at Kimmy and Bella to get in.

I reached in the weapon bag and pulled out my nail gun and without hesitation,
I began shooting down wanderers left and right.

Jose and the other random people turned their backs and began helping me fire but our force just wasn't enough. They were over running us.

"Get in the van, go!" I shouted

The first to take off to our van was a woman, slim and very tall, maybe 5'10, with smooth Caramel skin and long black hair pinned in 2 braids.

She hopped on the back of the van and helped us shoot down the wanderers with her small pistol in hand.

I stabbed them down with my knife, and Jose and the 3 others were doing great until the girl about my age, with pale white skin and long curly red hair....... She fell and that was it for her.

They tore into her skin and her blood shot out in all directions. She screamed as they ate her alive and all I could do was watch in disgust.

The others who were with her screamed and cried in terror, "ROSABETH!" they cried.

I pushed them on to the van before the wanderers got any closer to us. They were pushy, obnoxious people but for some reason I felt like I had to save them.

"GO!" I shouted at them.

They scurried to the van as I still shot down approaching wanderers.

Just one, two, three, four left. Just for left.

Soon as my finger wrapped around the trigger of the nail gun, something pulled me from behind.

Being on point, I automatically pulled my knife out my pocket and almost shoved the knife through Ryan's skull.

He pulled me to the van and I got in the passenger side, and he got in the driver's side and sped off out the woods and unto a dirt road.

"Jesus Christ that was close." Jose panted.

I looked back and fist bumped him and my attention caught the small Asian man stuffed on the floor of the van. The stranger's  life we just saved.

"Who are you?" Kai asked

The Asian boy dramatically pulled his long hair from the bun it was in, shook his hair everywhere, and stared back at Kai, "My name is Park Ha Joon, and my other friend Charlotte hanging onto the back of your van."

His voice was so soft, and calm with a bit of a foreign accent. His lips moved slowly as if he has a lisp.. His soft whispers could maybe put you to sleep.

He sat with so much manner, yet as delicate as a flower.

"I am sorry for our troubles, but thank you for saving our lives," He then turned toward me and did a small bow, "We owe you our lives and for that we must care for you in our home."

"Home? What do you mean home?" I asked

"We have food and water, and rooms to sleep. It is a home." He assured.

"Like--- showers?" Kimmy exclaimed.

Park turned to Kimmy and said something in a different language, to which she kindly shook her head no and responded by telling him she isn't Korean, she's Taiwanese and she didn't understand a word he said.

"Yes, we have showers." Park concised.

Everyone sighed of relief and began throwing their hands in the air like it was the first time they'd shower in years. It's only been 2 weeks and when you're on survival, showering isn't that serious.

I smiled as everyone celebrated the good news, I'm so happy to see them happy for once.

Ryan grabbed my hand and drove with the other.. I looked down at his pale white fingers as they collided and interlocked with my long brown ones. He ran his thumb over mine and he put me at ease. All my worries went away for a while when we held hands.

"Okay sir, I must give you the directions." Park insisted, "Take this first left."

"Nice hair by the way, Park." Cody exclaimed

"You too man! What is your name?"

"Dallas. Cody Dallas."

" Cody Dallas Did you know you look like an anime character?" Park said, whilst tilting his head sideward at him.

"So I've been told." Cody laughed.

Park gave us directions and we followed without hesitation because we're making it to rescue.
___________________________________

Ryan's P.O.V

After Park gave me directions to their house, I eventually rolled up to a really big, mansion like, beautiful dream house..

I parked in front of it and it was ----- really big and really beautiful. Nothing like I have ever seen before.

Lights from inside the house shined bright through the crystal clear windows. I could see inside, all the beautiful furniture and a few people walking around.

This house is very isolated, it's the only house for miles. Located in the country part of Columbia, and far from any wanderers, this is an ideal safeway.

Abruptly, the girl who rode on the back of the van (Who held on tight the whole time I drove), hopped down and banged on my window, "Let's go," She commanded.

I quickly rushed out the car, along with everyone else and we all stretched out our muscles and tendons from the 20 minute car ride.

"Stay here. I will go get our family." Park said. He bowed one last time and he and Liam and that other girl (who's name I can't remember) walked the stone path to their house.

I walked over to Reese and Max and pulled them into my arms. Max is tall, almost 5'5 so he could conventionally fit into the hug.

"You smell like wet dog and dead fish." I joked.

Reese laughed and pushed me off of her, "Shut up loser."

Seeing Reese smile made me all kinds of happy. Her teeth were so pearly white, and her lips were naturally dark and plump-- her smile is like God imagined the sky when he made her. She's a gift from the heavens, I swear.

She play hit me and I hit her back and we just full on wind-milled each other. It was fun.

"Okay we get it! you're a couple." Max sighed

Reese turned to Max and rolled her eyes at him, "Do you wanna fight lil boy?" She said sarcastically.

"We can square up  it's whatever." Max responded.

I taught him that.
That if anyone wanted to fight him, he was ready and he would square up.

That's what big brothers are for, right?

I leaned in and planted a kiss on Reese's lips and walked away as she and Max play fought.

I walked over to Bella, who was standing lonely by the van. Kimmy and Jose were talking, and Cody and Kai were too but Bella never changed, she is still all of a loner as she was before.

"You doing okay?" I asked.

She looked at me and half smirked, "I'm okay."

"You sure? You don't ever talk to anyone, that's strange."

"I just don't feel like talking anymore."

"And why not?"

"because I have so much going on in my head, so many mental battles." She said

"But you said you were okay.." I responded

"I'm okay because I'm winning them." She smiled.

Bella's depressed, and I don't know what to say or do to help her. I really hope she overcomes it and wins all the mental problems and battles she's going through, because she's a survivor. Her life matters and deep down, It would hurt to lose her.

"that's amazing, Bella. I'm glad to hear you're okay."

"Thank you. How are you?" She asked

"I'm great.. trying to stay on the positive side of things." I smiled.

"That's a good way to look at life.. How's Reese?"

"She's well...but hell, she better be great,  she's dating a hunk" I said, while pretending to flex my muscles.

Bella giggled but tried to cover her big smile with her hand. That's all I want, to make Bella smile. To help her be happy again.

At school, I was known as the heartless jock, captain of the baseball team who thinks he's all this and that but none of that's true. I'm actually the sweetest guy but no one gave me a chance to prove myself-- except Reese of course. But even she thought I was just a player after her goodies.

Just then, A tall white woman with medium length brown hair and a small child almost identical to her, approached our van.

"Hi guys, I'm Samantha!" She said

We met her halfway on the path and we all faced her like Tarzan faced Jane.

The little girl beside her clutched onto her leg tightly, trying to hide from us.
I looked down at Max and his eyes were on the small girl the whole time.

"Park told us about what happened out there, and we just wanna thank you guys by welcoming you into our home," She sympathized.

"I'm Reese," My beautiful lady said, stepping one foot forward to shake Samantha's hand.

They shook hands and smiled at each other.
I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling about Samantha.....

"well, follow me inside so we can get you settled in, alright?"

Everyone murmured "Alright," and we all followed her inside.

When we stepped into the house, we stepped into heaven. There was air and TV playing in the living room, and fresh smells of food from the kitchen.

The house was VERY BIG like I said, it could  be a mini hotel.

There were people gathered in the living room,  just staring at us when we all stepped through the door.

About 6 of them.

They were all fairly young, except the elder lady sitting in the recliner, staring us down like a hawk.

"Come introduce yourselves," she spoke.

Let alone how creepy she looked, her voice was even creepier.

We all shyly walked into the living room filled with staring eyes and low breath replies.

A tall black guy stood up and faced us. He wore a plain white tee with red basketball shorts and a red baseball cap backwards. His eyes eyed all of us but he spent extra time staring Reese up and down, to which I stood in front of her and bucked up.

"What's good lil bruh,"he said. His voice was so deep and so intimidating. Nothing you'd expect to come out a mouth like mine.

He held his fist out to mine and nodded, "I'm Tyrone."

"Ryan," I fist bumped him.

" 'Ight Ryan, that's Grandma Louise.. Don't dis-re-speck her." he emphasised disrespect and I just nodded Casually, like I knew the drill.. Though I really don't.

"This Tyler, he talk funny but he cool," Tyrone said, whilst pointing to the short dirty blond guy standing in the corner.

"I do not talk funny!" Tyler exclaimed.  His voice was high, pretty much what I expected of him. He seems a bit sweet, from the earrings and the fresh haircut, but hey, I can't judge.

"You so proper boy, shut up." Tyrone said.

"This Charlotte, she cool, she like used to be in the army or summin'. Her nickname is Charlie." he pointed to the girl who held on tight to the back if the van as I drove here. She still even  had her pistol attached to her hip.

She's pretty, yet she still  looks so bad ass.

She smiled at us and twisted her braid with her finger.

"This Samantha and June. Samantha da mom and June da daughter of course." He pointed to the lady and the little girl who greeted us outside. They shot us a small smile.

"This Dylan, he's mostly quiet and always readin cause he white you know how that go,"

No I don't know how that goes? He thinks just cause the boy is white.. All he does is read and stay to himself? Okay then..

He pointed to Dylan, who was sitting to himself on the couch, reading a book.. Not even looking up at us once.

"You already know Park ching chong woo," he laughed and so did everyone else, including Park.  Glad that he can take a joke.. It's always nice to smile at times like this.

"And last but not least, Victoria. She don't like the nickname Vicky so don't call her that, or I'll break yo neck fo' her and She don't ever stop talking so learn to ignore her...But she cool most da time." he pointed to a tall goregous girl with a smile ear to ear on her face.

She wore dark clothes but they were so nice looking and modem. She had short hair like  Kai, but styled it like a boy would style his hair.

"Hi! Thanks for the introduction Ty!" She smiled

"You welcome, shawty."

"Anyway,  I'm Victoria as you know, and If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me. I'm head of this Haven. I also give really good haircuts if you want one." she glanced at Cody and then at Park and smiled.

"Cool." I smiled.

"So who are you people and what are you good at?" Victoria solicited.

"I'm Ryan, this is my brother Max, he doesn't ever stop talking but he's good with whatever keeps him occupied," I laughed while pushing Max forward.

"This is Cody, one of our toughest fighters, great kid...this is Kai, she's very good with lots of things... and this is Kimmy, she's good with housework...uh, that's Bella, she's really good with house work too... And umm, that's Jose, he's the mastermind," I chuckled.

Jose nodded and folded his arms like he was the boss.

"And this," I said, while grabbing Reese's hand and staring Tyrone in dead the eyes, "this is my girlfriend, Reese. She's a warrior, like me.."

"Dammmnn white boy, how you get a fine piece of chocolate like that?" Tyrone exclaimed.

I glanced at Reese and smiled, "I ask myself that everyday."

Not to brag but I'm so charismatic it's crazy.

"How cute!" Tyler said, "but you all smell like putrid, and you must get cleaned up before dinner."

"I second that," Victoria said, while pinching her nose. "Here, go get settled in, I'll get Tyler to go get your bags out your car and I'll get Park to bring you up some fresh towels and clothes. Once you're all washed up, we can talk business over dinner."

"Get settled in where?" Kai asked.

The question we were all wondering.

"Oh, any empty room. There's 3-- well, 4 now since Rosabeth is gone.. anyway you'll have to share." She smiled.

"How many rooms are in this house?" Kimmy asked, curiously.

"8 rooms 4 bathrooms."

"4 bathrooms? This is heaven." Kimmy smiled.

"No this is my haven, now go get cleaned up." Victoria exclaimed.
____________________________________

Kai's P.O.V

After we all settled in and we all figured where we would sleep, I finally took a shower after what felt like forever.

The warm water hitting my skin felt like paradise,  I had to hold my face under the water for like 5 minutes.

First round of showers, I took the small bathroom downstairs and Max took  the other small one. Reese and Ryan shared a shower in the master bathroom and Kimmy took the last bathroom.

2nd round was Cody, Jose and Bella. Reese and Ryan took extra time, so no one got the chance to shower in the Master bathroom but them.

"Can I come in?" I said, while knocking on Cody's door.

"Yeah, It's open." He shouted.

I turned the knob and slowly crept into room,  to find a shirtless Cody with no glasses and smooth slicked back hair.

When he turned and stared me in my eyes, I swear I had to hold on to the door to prevent myself from falling down.

Remember when I said Cody was pretty strong to be the nerdy boy? Under that long sleeve button up he always wears, wasn't chicken arms, but instead, Cody is very muscular.

"Oh, I'm --- yeah,  I'll just exit the r- room." I said turning around and shutting my eyes tight.

"here, let me put on a shirt before you have a heart attack," He chuckled.

"Yeah, don't kill me." I laughed

There was an awkward silence until Cody finally told me I could turn back around.

"Where'd you get the cool shirt?" He asked

Come to think about it, I hadn't stopped to take a look at what I was even wearing, I just know Victoria gave me a shirt and some tennis shorts to wear to sleep.

"Oh, uh, I got it from Victoria." I smiled shyly.

"well, I have you know I love Panic at the Disco -- and the shirt looks great on you."

Though Cody just gave me a compliment and I played it cool, on the inside I was really screaming 'MARRY ME NOW?'

"Thanks, um..that shirt looks great on you too." I panicked.

Wait

Damn It...

He's just wearing a plain white t-shirt and I'm such a dweeb :(((((!

He lowered his eyebrows and burst out into laughter.

"What?" I said, awkwardly.

He held his head down and nodded but still continuously laughed.

"What?"

"Nothing, Nothing.." He said

"Tell me!" I exclaimed

"You're just adorable when you're nervous."

Adorable is for puppies, just call me beautiful already!

"Oh yeah? says the shyest guy I know."  I shot back.

"I'm not shy at all, you know this. I'm the baddest boy you'll ever meet." He smiled

Baddest boy I'll ever meet, huh? Bet.

"Okay suuurreee..Anyway where's your glasses and why is your hair slicked back?"

"I decided to take them off for a while and I just got out the shower so while  it's still wet, I slicked it back." he explained.

"Oh.."

"What? You don't like it?" He asked, worriedly.

"No, I think it's cute. It makes you look older than 16 though." I said.

"Really? I was thinking about getting Victoria to cut it cause  I don't wanna be known as Cody the anime character anymore." He chuckled

I laughed and flopped on the bed, still staring at him do whatever it is that he is doing, I don't really know and I don't really care.. I just can't seem to keep my eyes to myself.

"But then again it took me 3 years to grow this luscious mess."

"Do what ever you feel like doing. It's just hair, It'll grow back." I assured.

"True. I still need to think about it though.. Anyway, you're sleeping in here with me tonight?" He asked

That was the plan. I was going to sleep in the room with Reese and Ryan but they said no.. I WONDER WHY.

Then, I was going to sleep with Bella and Kimmy but I'm just not as close to them as I am to Cody. We'd just sit in silence and stare at each other all night.

So finally, I asked Reese If I could sleep with Cody and she agreed as long as Max slept between us. And that's okay. Us 3 are pretty close and it's a queen sized bed although it would be best it if was king sized. But I can't be picky---  hell, I could still be sleeping of the hard dirt... but here I am.

"Yeah, Max has to sleep between us." I said

"Why? we aren't going to do anything but whatever."

"Yeah I know. Her rules are dumb." I sighed

Cody came over and sat my me and we both stared at the ceiling in silence for a while.

"What do you think of this place?"  He murmured

"I don't know.. I just know that we're safe and I  hope we can be here for a while." I responded "What do you think?"

"I think...maybe this is just propaganda."

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hey guys sorry for such a long chapter;
What'd you think, and what character's P.O.V would you like to see?

Excuse the typos I rushed