"And I think that's everything."
"Gabby, uh -"
"The graffiti in the toilets? Told Miss Price."
"And what about - "
"The soccer team? They've been chosen."
Everyone fell silent, devoid of problems to pile upon Gabby. Fourteen years old, head of the Beecham Middle School Student Council, and clearly having the time of her life. It wasn't that they simply wanted to offload their problems - although some certainly did - it was that she was one of those people who relished the oppurtunity to help, almost to the point of obsession.
"In that case, I think we're all done. See you next meeting!" And as Gabby Dryden slipped outside into the empty hallway, the meeting was abruptly and undeniably over.
Standing outside, Gabby took a deep breath and let out a silent sob. Every time... Could they not solve their problems for themselves? Was it really so hard? It wasn't enough that she had tests left, right and centre to revise for. It wasn't enough that she had to move to high school in a couple of months. It wasn't enough that she was the only thing standing between her mom and eviction from the apartment she called home. No, she had to solve every problem this godforsaken school faced, because nobody else would do it.
After another couple of deep breaths, Gabby started to set off down the corridor, before hesitating. Should she spend what was left of her lunch break revising for that afternoon's Chemistry test, or would she be hassling reception for any more crackers to give mum? No contest. She could face failing an exam. She wasn't quite so sure about letting mom go hungry again.
As Gabby set off down the corridor, she looked around her. You never know when these things might come in useful. Today, the Student Council had been held in the Art Department, so the walls were adorned with pictures of robots or views from windows or still lives or...
Gabby stopped at the end. The sixth-graders project. Make a collage based on a scene from Greek Mythology. Gabby had never really given it much thought, but now... She could have sworn... That rumbling, couldn't be... No. As it turns out, Gabby was right. It wasn't from the collage. It fact she probably wished it had been for at that moment, the tornado arrived.
Of course, Gabby had heard of it. Little else had been on the news for the last few months. But why was it here? It was supposed to be in Colorado right now, so why had it come all the way to Montana? As chunks of plaster and long-forgotten projects swirled around, the air thick with wind and thrown-up dust. And was that... A face? Did the tornado actually have a face?
"I don't understand, why's it here -"
"Quiet, Mitchell , don't let anything slip."
And at that moment, the two newcomers noticed Gabby crouched in a corner.
"Of course," the girl muttered. "Stupid, stupid Katie! You, there, if you want to live, come with us!"
Gabby never really remembered much about what happened next, but she knew the lightning bolt happened very quickly indeed.