A/N: Okay. For people who may or may not figured it out this is a story from my old account khnoir which I no longer use. For the people who do know me I basically lost all my stories, story plans, character profiles, everything wiped clean because of a Trojan virus that managed to sneak in. Luckily my laptop was saved so at least I didn't have to fork out for a new thank god. So now I'm starting anew and since this was the one story I loved so much I am completely rewriting it - again. With a new a title (it was originally called Blood Bonds) and character who wasn't in the original original version. Whatever. Honestly I much happier on where this is going.

Anyway enough of that. Please enjoy. I'm sorry it's a little short but this is just to get the ball rolling. The rest will be much longer. Hopefully. Anyways enjoy~!

Chapter One – By a Hair

She slams the door shut; sliding down panting sweat drips down her forehead and neck dampening her red hair. There's a massive stitch in her side echoing through her ribs and her lungs feel like they're in flames. Any more running and would have probably had a heart attack there and then. Once she caught some of her breath back she takes her blood ridden baseball bat and places it somewhere it's easy to grab in an emergency. A girl with bright blonde hair touches her shoulder smiling tiredly.

"We made it….Vie" she says pulling her into a hug. Vie breathes deeply leaning her pounding head on her shoulder.

"Yeah Jayne, we made it," she replies. Her face turns into a frown and pulls away walking into the living room. "But we barely crossed the street." She places her bag down and wanders into one of the bedrooms. A man groans lying face down blood splattered all over his back soaking his once white t-shirt while another older man prepares some tools for cleaning the bleeding claw marks.

"I'm sorry dude but this isn't going to be pleasant. Though I think you already know that." He spots Vie in the doorway looking worried and motions to her. "Hey, think you can give me a hand? I think Ray could do with some support to help him get through this." She nods and sits down next to their injured friend stroking his hair gently. Ray looks up and smiles weakly.

"Hey baby girl. You okay?" Vie smiles sadly slapping his arm ever so softly.

"Idiot. Don't ask stupid questions, of course I'm okay. You…took the blow for me after all." Ray looks away.

"I've been through enough shit, you haven't. Besides I can't let that body be destroyed now can I?" Vie shakes her head while Jayne appears rolling her eyes.

"You're such a perv Ray. Even in an apocalypse girls is still all you think about."

"Well I managed to group up with two beautiful girls. No man can resist temptation." Suddenly he cries in pain as the other man starts cleaning his wounds with peroxide. Gripping the pillow tightly he squirms about nearly kicking the man in the face.

"Whoa! Vie hold his legs down would you would? Jayne, see if you can comfort him." He dips the cotton wool in more peroxide.

"I'm sorry man, I'm sorry…" Vie nearly gets kicked herself as she watches the wounds bubble and everyone's painful expressions at the sounds of his cries.

"Come on Ray. It will be over soon okay? Why don't you tell me about the first girl you kissed?"

"Yeah Ray. I bet it was a busty girl no doubt." Ray whimpers and takes a breath.

"Her name was….Christi….and she had the biggest boobs out of the whole of 10th grade. God she was hot. She wasn't a cheerleader nor was she one of the popular kids. She was the nicest girl who could ever meet and she liked me, out of everyone else me! I remember the kiss so well. It was a warm spring day. She was wearing a floral dress that looked great on her. She had called me up that day to meet her under a blossom tree. That's when she told me she liked me and then we kissed. It was amazing. She was amazing and I felt so lucky to have her in my life." He was so caught up he didn't realise that the cleaning was done and he was being bandaged up. Vie and Jayne looked at each other with happy smiles.

"My god that's so romantic Ray. Who knew you had a soft side?" Vie's smile drops when she sees the pained look on his face.

"Did something happen to her?"

"She…died. It turned out she has some rare life threatening disease. A couple of days before that kiss she found out she had only a couple of months to live. She told me she had always liked me ever since she first met me in 7th grade and she wanted to spend every second that she could with me…"

The room falls silent only the occasional faint groan from outside.

"Well this mood is too depressing for me. Ray, get some sleep and that's an order from a doctor here. In the meantime I'm going to cook us dinner. Why don't you girls check the hot water and take a shower? I know you want to Jayne. You wouldn't stop complaining." He leaves the room with Jayne at his heels protesting that she was only moaning because some boomer vile landed on her yesterday and she still hasn't washed it off. Vie sits on the end of the bed running her hands through her hair.

"I'm sorry….it was me who provoked you to tell us….if I had known"

"It's fine. It happened like what 8 years ago? I've had many girls since her of all sizes. And I don't just mean your dress size." Sighing she takes his hand squeezing it gently.

"But weren't quite her were they?" Ray shakes his head and gets more comfortable in the sheets.

"Get some sleep okay? I'll wake when it's dinner." She walks into the living and collapses on the sofa suddenly feeling drained.

"We have hot water however not a lot," Jayne nudges her leg with her booted foot. "Shared shower?" Vie nods and they disappear into the bathroom. Immediately Jayne strips off her clothes and turns the shower on. However Vie hesitates.

"Ahhh so good! Come on! Or you suddenly chicken now after all these years?" Sticking her tongue out she joins her best friend under the refreshing water.

"No I'm not you silly whore." They take turns washing each other hair before applying soap to themselves one at a time.

"I'm not a whore, I'm just popular. Or was popular. You know what I mean." They swap over so Vie can wash the soap off.

"You know…I still think of him. Even now." Her best friend turns her round so quickly Vie nearly slips on the wet surface of the bath.

"If this is about that guy who saved you from being run over that day you still haven't told me shit about him." She turns off the shower and climbs out handing over a clean towel. They quickly dry themselves and retrieve the spare bed clothes they picked up along the way. Once dressed they sit back in the other bedroom and start brushing their hair.

"So does he have a name?" Vie bites her lip.

"I never actually got his name.."

"Oh my god, are you serious?! You keep going on about him but you never asked his name?! You idiot!" She slaps her with a cushion.

"Ouch! Sorry okay? It just never came up. Besides he was going to be late for work."

"Well you know what he looks like at least right?" Vie nods.

"He was wearing jeans and a red vest. Oh he had a pair of blue overalls in his hand. Looked like mechanics overalls. And a tribal patterned scarf around his neck."

"Yeah, was he handsome?"

"I guess so. He had shaggy brown hair and really blue eyes with a little stubble and he was tall, skinny but muscular I think. I'm guessing he was about early 20s?"

"Whoa sounds quite the dreamer. Not bad. Seems all my tricks are rubbing off on you." Vie chuckles playfully hitting her back with the cushion.

"Yeah right. At least I didn't get my braces lip locked in 6th grade." She jumps out of the way as the air wave of a cushion flies past her.

"Shut up! That was so embarrassing!" Soon they're both running around the room smacking each other with cushions and trying not to make too much noise because of Ray in the next room. The door opens.

"Having fun are we girls? Just wanted to let you know dinner is ready."

"Yay! I love your food Jacob. You make even the simplest of foods taste good." They disappear to the kitchen while Vie goes to wake up Ray. Soon they're all sitting around the table, eating and talking like a group of friends having dinner before watching the Super Bowl or something. Just trying to be totally normal. Because that's all you can do sometimes when the world has gone to shit.