I'll Live

I'm no one important. I don't cause any trouble and I don't bother anyone. I'm just here. A high school student. I don't expect much out of life. But then a being of death stared straight at me. "Oh butter biscuits." And Danny—and all that surrounded him—entrenched into my life.

The sight of the school after hours never scared me. If it had, it'd been ages ago. Even when I wasn't staying for volleyball or a play, I lingered. The detention kids were used to seeing me join them after hours. Sure, they called me weird, but it was okay. Everyone was a bit weird, a bit of a dork, and all a bit crazy.

A new school year, the same old me.

I tugged at my shirt, not able to tell how badly it could smell. Practice had let out a bit late today. So I skipped a shower for later. If he had a problem with it, he'd have to put up with it. We had a project to start up. I was supposed to meet him right after his detention, which was when volleyball was supposed to finish up.

He was sweet, but always seemed stressed out about something or another. I'd never really asked why he was a detention kid. Secretly, I thought he wasn't sent there either as he usually was doing homework as fast as he could, like he wouldn't be able to get to it when not there. He got really fidgety and flighty on the days he appeared more stressed. I hoped he was still waiting when I got there.

I sighed. The detention room was shut and no one stood outside the door. Shit.

Maybe he hadn't left yet. I quickly turned around and jogged toward the area of the school where our class's lockers were. Unfortunately, he wasn't in any of those hallways. Looks like I really did miss him.

We'd have to try some other time to meet up, which was going to be a little difficult. The team was far enough in the season that nearly every weeknight was a game. Never too late on Friday, because football ruled the roost then. At least tonight I was guaranteed some extra time and he'd lit up, saying today should be good for him too. I had games straight through Monday to Thursday next week. Right after the weekend tournament that we were holding here. That's what the coach had kept us late for tonight.

It wasn't as though the partner project was due any time soon, but it worried me that the only good times for me for the following week would be Sunday and after practice Friday. I didn't have his number to call, so I hoped looking up the family one in the phone book would pan out. With luck, he'd be free on Sunday too.

"Hey Ashley."

Great. What did he think he wanted this time? I turned to see him grinning at me from beside the water fountain. The rest of the football team lingered behind, nudging each other as they watched.

"So, Cody is wondering if you'd be willing to go with him to Homecoming," he stated with far too much glee. "What do you think?"

Pull the other leg. Anything this kid said or did all through middle and high school was total crap to give crap. "That doesn't sound very convincing," I informed him. "Find someone else to embarrass over the dance Dash."

Several of the football players snickered and he swaggered closer. "I didn't say it's to embarrass you, I swear." The look on his face didn't agree. I think his smile just grew. "Cody is the guy wondering."

"Wondering, not asking, and not asking for himself. Why isn't he asking me himself?"

"Because he wanted me to ask for him. Really."

"Right. I think I would be okay with him asking, Cody is nice enough, but I'm pretty sure Cody hates school dances." He blinked in surprise. One of the guys behind him burst into laughter. "And anyone who actually has you ask me out for them isn't sincere."

I left quickly before Dash tried any else related to a bad high school movie. Sometimes, I missed the days when all he did was steal and break my pencils. He was still an annoyance, but it was a different kind of annoyance. His verbal assaults the past few weeks were over the upcoming dance. Pestering if I could even find a guy, if I'd finally wear makeup, if I'd look like a girl, if I was a terrible dancer, if I'd drink the punch and loosen up.

Until middle school, I'd never met a person who reminded me so much of the outrageous characters of bad high school movies. I don't think Dash even realized it when he did stuff like that.

Well, I had time. Stepping into the school restroom for a minute, I splashed some water on my face. By now the football players would be out on the field for warm ups. The school hallways were empty and free for me to take my time.

Maybe I'd stop by the game for a while. Bonnie would be a bit busy cheering, but Kyla would be in the stands screaming to her heart's delight with her posters. Brandon, Tyler, and Spike were usually entertaining to listen to over by the band section. Most the volleyball girls went to all the home games, I could sit there like the last one. None of them minded me joining much. It could be fun.

Better than going home by myself. And I had a half hour to kill before the varsity game began, a half hour to finish homework other than the partner project.

But maybe that could wait until Sunday. I dashed down the hallway, my footsteps echoing in with the sounds of the loud crashbang. Where did it come from?

"Hello," I called out.

A door slammed in response and I spun around to see if I could spot anyone. A faint voice sounded irritated. I called out again, but it'd gone quiet. Somebody probably wasn't in trouble. More likely, they were the trouble. I should probably find out what they broke and tell one of the teachers at the game. Whoever the troublemaker was, I doubt they were sticking around to get caught.

Taking a chance, I grabbed at the classroom doors as I went. Each doorknob rattled. I peeked in through the dark window at each locked door. The fourth one down caused me to stop though. It'd been cracked, dented out like someone had tried shooting a cannonball at it from inside. It'd been a strong enough force to leave the indent of the doorknob in the wall. I looked back to the door. The doorknob didn't fit properly in its spot anymore.

The door opened easily, but scrapped harshly against the floor. The inside of the door didn't have anything there to show what it was that hit so hard into it. Just the huge, cracked dent bowing it out. Some of the desks were overturned in front of the door. Whatever it had been to cause it, it'd gone all the way across the classroom.

There were strange things and then there were stranger. I'd say it was like a ghost came through the classroom wall, but it wouldn't explain the desks and door. But I didn't see any device across the classroom that could have done that damage. Besides, ghosts were actually very chatty. It was silent.

I noticed a lab stool near the back tilted from the lab station and leaning against the glass cabinet. The teacher would never allow the stools to be put up on the stations like that. Frowning, I headed over to the lab station to take a closer look. Thankfully the cabinet and the beakers inside were fine. So the only real damage to inform a teacher would be about the classroom door.

As I turned to leave, I noticed the tip of a shoe around the lab station.

This kid was still here? Shit.

Trying to be quiet and sneak a peek around the corner left me shaking. If they did this, I didn't really want to cross paths. Slowly, I peered over the lab station. Messy black hair. The kid was laying down between the station and wall, facing away from me. A little braver, I stepped closer. White t-shirt and blue jeans didn't really narrow the kid down after all.

I forgot about the shoe sticking out and caught myself before I fell, spinning to the hiding boy.

Who weirdly, didn't move? Sleeping? Did he seriously sleep through whatever had happened?

I nudged at the boy's red shoe with my foot and looked back up to see if he was waking. Nothing. I crouched down, shaking at his shoulders. His head flopped to the side.

Surprised, I stared at Danny's face. He hadn't left school after all. What was he doing here? If he'd wanted a nap before we started working, he could have just done so outside of the detention room.

A long tube protruded by the other side of his neck, the fuzzy pink thing poking out of his messy black hair. It sent alarms through me. Why did Danny have what looked to be a tranquilizer dark straight out of television? Who did this? And where were they?

I stood up, spinning around quickly. Red glowing eyes went wide in surprise on a blue face.

"Oh butter biscuits."

Light pink light seared across my eyes.