I tapped the dull, paint-chipped pencil on my black-and-white notebook, in time with the ticking of the second hand on the clock. Tick. Tick. Tick. As I pushed my thick rimmed glasses up to the bridge of my nose, I peered out the window onto the lake located a couple hundred yards from the school. I sat gazing out over the water in complete boredom: watching, waiting, hoping for something to happen. I wanted to be anywhere else on earth besides the dull, dimly lit classroom I was currently in. Maybe just a spark of excitement or a little hint of action that would disrupt Mrs. Wakefield from the lesson she was reciting. But, asking for something like that in Scarlet Lake High School was like asking for snow in the Sahara-it just wasn’t going to happen.

“Thomas? Is there something out there that is more important than my lesson?” I shot my head in the direction of the voice. Mrs. Wakefield stood in the front of the classroom, her arms crossed over her chest, glaring right at me.

“Um, no-no there isn’t.” I replied.

“That’s what I thought. Now where were we...” she continued on. She then turned to the board where she began explaining some equation that was written out.

Math had always been my least favorite subject. The numbers always seemed jumble together and nothing ever made sense. The only thing that had made that year’s first period algebra class the least bit bearable was Penny Newton.
I had known her ever since kindergarten where we had sat at the same table. I remember admiring the way she colored, always perfectly inside the lines, a skill I was never able to master. Penny was intelligent, kind, and had quite a few friends, her closest being Amelia Gonzalez. Those two had been bound that the hip ever since they had met. Amelia was loud and could make anyone laugh, but quite a bit different than Penny. She was never as outgoing as her best friend, but I thought she was absolutely amazing.
I looked over at her and watched as she diligently took down notes and pushed her light brown hair behind her ear. She then lifted her head up and turned slightly in my direction. I saw a flash of her vibrant green eyes as she looked up at the clock positioned behind me. As soon as her glance came near mine, I pulled my eyes from her to the whiteboard where Mrs. Wakefield was writing with a blue dry erase marker. The marker was faded and squeaked slightly as it wrote. She stepped away from the board and scanned the students sitting barely awake in their seats. “Can anyone tell me the answer?” she asked.
Almost as if he had timed it, Justin Anderson’s hand immediately shot into the air. As soon as Mrs. Wakefield began to speak his name he blurted, “Y equals -26.”
“Very good.”she stated and then began to write out another equation, the marker letting out a squeak every time she jotted down another figure. She then turned, her eyes locking down on mine. “Thomas, do you know what Y equals here?” she questioned.
I looked blankly back at her, searching for answer. I squinted at the numbers on the board, still slightly blurred, even with my glasses on. The pale blue numbers that sat on the board appeared to be in a random order. Maybe if I don’t answer, she’ll forget about it. Maybe if I ignore her for long enough, she’ll forget I’m here. I thought myself.
“Thomas?” she asked again, looking slightly annoyed.
I began to open my mouth to give her some lame excuse as an answer when I was abruptly stopped. At first I didn’t know why I choked on my words, but then I heard an echo in my ears. A loud “BANG” rung throughout the building. A few girls squealed due to the surprise and a look of confusion washed over everyone’s face.
“What was that?!” Theresa Park frantically asked from the front of the classroom. Another 5 bangs followed the first from what sounded to be down the hallway. Screams came from other class rooms. Panic wiped over the entire room and people began to get out from their seats.
“ Everybody stay calm.” Mrs. Wakefield announced, her eyes wild with fear. She grabbed her iPhone on her desk and immediately started to dial a phone number. Everyone ran to the back of the class and huddled together some under desks and chairs. I found a place between a file cabinet and the corner of the room that no one else had taken and sat wedged between the two. Is this happening? I thought to myself. I could feel my heart begin to pound against my rib cage and my hands begin to shake. Mrs Wakefield then started toward the door with the key when it suddenly swung open.
Mrs Wakefield stopped dead in her tracks and from what I could see, a man was standing in the doorway. “Please, no!” she begged. Bang. Mrs. Wakefield crumpled to the floor, her phone sliding off her outstretched hand.
I scanned the others desperately trying to hide themselves. Tears streamed down the cheeks of many, some holding onto each other for comfort. I was hidden mostly, but could see a pair of black work boots, slowly pacing on the white tile floor. They took a few steps down to the students lining the wall. I heard the click of a gun as he loaded it. The boots then strode over to where everyone hid. Whimpers and cries came out from some of those trying so desperately to stay covered. I clenched my eyes shut, hoping that it was all just a crazy, insane, nightmare. I heard one-two-three-four-five-six-seven shots fire. Screams pierced my ear drums along with the moans of pain.
The man then started in the opposite direction. His boots got closer and closer until I could see every scuff and scratch etched into them. I looked up, my eyes meeting his face. This is it. It all ends now. He lifted his weapon and tilt it, aiming it at my forehead. This is it. Suddenly, he then dropped his aim and stopped to listen. The sound of shoes running through the hallways entered the classroom.
“Exit the building, you are surrounded,” called a male voice from outside on a megaphone. The shooter then suddenly bolted to the door and left the classroom.
We all stayed in our positions, frozen. After what seemed like a decade, some began to slowly rise up. I pushed myself up, my legs still shaking uncontrollably. My stomach dropped as I looked to see eight people laying on the floor. One, Mrs. Wakefield, who had a bullet hole in her chest. My eyes fell then to Justin Anderson, who was slumped up against a wall, his blood staining his white shirt. There were others, people I had known for years, collapsed on the floor like dolls.. Oh my god. Oh my god. My thoughts turned into a panic inside my mind. I felt sick as I came face to face with the reality of it all. I was almost one of them. There would have been nine. I thought.
Then, I saw the thing that had feared me most: Penny laid unmoving underneath Amelia. “No,” I managed to say, barely above a whisper. A shiver ran down my spine as my head started spinning. I steadied myself against the file cabinet. This can’t be real. I’m dreaming. I told myself. Except, it all was. It was too real.
A police officer’s buzz-cut head appeared in the doorway. I shifted to look at him. “Stay calm, we have it all under control,” he told us in a reassuring but firm tone. “You may exit the building shortly. Please remain quiet for now. You will all be alright.”
I turned to where the other dozen or so of my classmates were standing. Almost all had runnels of salty water on their cheeks and reddened eyes. Muffled cries could be heard along with uneasy breathing.
“Are they all just...just...” Theresa mumbled, “...are they dead?” I watched as she cracked and broke down in tears She buried her face in her hands and leaned against the wall.
“Dom? Dominic?” Ricky Peabody quietly called from the corner of the room, frantically looking in all directions.I saw him as his eyes came in contact with Dominic, who was laying on the ground in a pool of red. “Oh my god.” Ricky choked.
Everyone in the class soon started to take account of who had fallen. The cries became more prominent and grew in volume. I don’t know why I didn’t cry. I watched as everyone in the room fell to pieces while I remained a statue. Penny was all I could think of. She couldn’t be gone, she couldn’t leave-not like this. I couldn’t bear bringing my glance to her, in fear of breaking down just like everyone else already had.
“Hey kids, I can take you out now. Everyone form a single file line and we can get you all out of here as soon as possible.” The policeman interjected through the door. Everyone rushed to where he stood and began to form a line. I couldn’t move, my feet stayed cemented into the ground. The line started to flow out the door, but I continued to stay still. “You need to leave.” the policeman said.
I slowly made my way to the doorway, but then stopped. Something was holding me back. I turned back to look at Penny.
“We gotta go, c’mon!” the officer said slightly annoyed.
Just then, I saw the unthinkable. My jaw dropped as I saw Penny stir, beneath her friend. “P-P-Penny?” I asked, moving in the opposite direction of the door.
“Amelia,” I heard her mumble.
Thank god. I thought. I quickly rushed over to where she laid., pushing a chair out of the way. “Penny? Are you alright?” I questioned, lowering myself to her level.
“Thomas?” she inquired, a confused look painted on her delicate face. Her green eyes looked petrified.
“Do you know what happened?” I asked.
“I think so. All I remember is hiding, then I got startled and hit my head. But my leg-” she pointed to her left calf and winced. A single shot pierced through her leg. “and, and Amelia.” Her friend still laid their next to her. “Is she alright? I can’t move to check.”
My eyes widened as I looked at Amelia. A shot had gone clean through her midsection. Her eyes were cloudy and void. Amelia was gone. I looked back to Penny and shook my head sorrowfully.
“What-oh my-Amelia,” she said, choking on the sobs held in her throat. She started to cry quietly then she started shaking with her cries. “Amelia-she-she saved me. She-she-blocked the-the shot.”
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. The sight of her in so much pain all at once made me tense. She didn’t deserve this-no one did. “We have to get out of here. You need help.” I said, gesturing to her wound. She had lost a lot of blood and couldn’t risk losing much more.
She sniffled, trying to contain her sobs, “I-I think I can get up.” She tried to steady herself to get to her feet, when her left leg completely gave out beneath her, making her crumple to the floor. “I can’t do it. I’m ok, they’ll get me later, you should go.” She said through teeth clenched in pain.
“I can’t just leave you here,” I replied. I thought of what I could do. I could yell, maybe someone would come, but they might not hear. The policeman at the door! He could help! I thought eagerly. I turned to the doorway, where no police man stood. What a great cop. I thought. I would just have to bring her out of here myself. “Here, grab my hand.” I offered Penny my hand and she examined it, hesitant to take hold of it. She then wrapped her palm around mine. I hoisted her up to standing level. “Lean on me.” I said. She shifted her weight onto my shoulder as her arm wrapped around it. Oh my god. Penny Newton has her arm around me. I thought. Stop it, you have to get her out of here. I scolded myself in my head. “Ready?” I asked her.
Penny, who had been looking down at Amelia, swallowed hard then looked me in the eye and nodded her head confidently. “Yes,” she replied.
We started down the to the door into the hallway. We walked at a snail’s pace down the hall, trying not make it too difficult for her. We made it almost all the way to the staircase, leading to the main level of the building when she stopped. “You okay?” I asked.
“Mhm,” she smiled, trying to hide her obvious discomfort. She looked as white as a ghost. I looked down to her leg and saw she was losing blood at an even faster rate than before.
“Is your leg ok?”
She looked down at her injured leg and started to say “Ye-” when she began to collapse to the floor. I quickly caught her before she came in contact with the cold floor. Her eyes were closed and she had lost consciousness.
“Oh no,” I said under my breath. Using all my strength, I scooped her up like a baby and started walking quickly down the hall. Penny’s arms dangled at my side as I went down the staircase. I made it to the main floor when I then began running toward the door. “Come on Penny, we’re almost there, stay with me,” I said to her. As I approached the glass door, I saw a sea of people, some in police uniforms, some students and faculty members, and I even saw some in FBI attire. “HELP!” I shouted from inside.
Mr. Roberts, my band teacher, came running to the door from outside. HE swung open the door and said, “Thomas! You’re supposed to be-” he stopped when he saw Penny in my arms. His face grew solemn and he continued on “Go to that ambulance over there to the right. That’s where everyone is being taken.”
I continued to the door to ambulance positioned in the parking lot. “She needs help, now,” I announced to and EMT.
She looked at Penny, studying her gunshot and said, “Put her here,” pointing to a white gurney. I cautiously placed Penny on her back. The EMT immediately went to work and started giving her oxygen.
I turned away from the ambulance and turned to look at the scene unfolding around me. All of Scarlet Lake High School was scattered throughout the parking lot in front if the school. Dozens were in tears, some just stared blankly. I saw people being questioned, and others being tended to by the many of the medical professionals there. I saw some parents reuniting with their children, and saw other parents being delivered the news they never wanted to hear. I stood and stared at everything going on around me for what felt like hours. Who knows how long I actually stood there, just gazing out in complete silence. I talked to Penny today. I held her, too. I almost died today. Justin died today. So did Amelia and Mrs. Wakefield. Mrs. Wakefield also had two small kids. How were they going to tell them what happened? How are they going to tell Amelia’s and Justin’s parents? What if Penny lost too much blood and never wakes up? My thoughts went crazy and bobbed about in my head. Stop. Stop thinking. I told myself.
Suddenly, a female’s voice interrupted the storm in my brain. “Hey, hey kid.” I swirled around to see the EMT. “She’s gonna be alright. It’s a great thing you got her out when you did. You saved her life.”
“Really? That’s-that’s great!” I exclaimed. “Is she awake?”
“Yeah, she’s awake. You can go talk to her if you want.” The EMT told me.
I started toward Penny, who looked slightly better. “You okay?” I asked.
Unexpectedly, she grabbed my hand. “Thomas. Thank you.” She looked me dead in the eye. I could feel my cheeks getting hot and prayed I wasn’t blushing too bad.
“It’s no big deal, honestly,” I replied, smiling slightly.
“You saved my life. That’s sorta a huge deal.” Penny said. She dropped my hand and leaned back. “I have to go to the hospital, they’re gonna do some sort of surgery there. She said she thinks I’ll be in the hospital for a week at least.”
“I’ll come visit you.” I said rapidly. I was somewhat shocked at what I had just said. “Well, I will if that’s ok with you.”
“I would really like that Thomas,” she smiled at me. Even after being shot, she still looked beautiful.
“We gotta go.” The EMT announced, climbing into the ambulance.
“Bye.” I called out to Penny as the gurney was loaded into the vehicle.
Penny waved to me as the doors closed. The ambulance then rolled off out of the parking lot and down the road. The lake in front of the school as the midday sun shone onto it. I took my glasses off and wiped them on my shirt. I then put my glasses on, looked out over the lake, and my life as never the same again.