Austin's POV:
I walk into school at 7:15 AM, as usual. Greeting some of my peers on the way to my locker, and giving my girlfriend a quick hug and a peck on the lips before heading to homeroom.
It's safe to say that I love school just as much as the stereotypical nerd. I'm usually always the first to class, I finish my work before the bell, I always have spare time on my hands for any extra credit, and I complete my homework right away so that I can do whatever I'd like to for the rest of the day. Call me a perfectionist, or a geek, if you'd like; it's not going to offend me. I'd actually take it as a compliment.
My girlfriend, Ally, is the same. School has always been her best subject, if you count school–all together–as a subject (because it technically is). She enjoys the exams, always participates in reading aloud, never hesitates to include herself in all discussions, and truly takes in what she's taught. I admire that about her, as not many people are as fond about school as she is. I guess it's the same with me, but her specifically. She's so smart, it's incredible.
You know what, I'm just gonna stop while I'm ahead. I could go on and on about her; I'll probably only end up frustrating myself because of lost focus.
Taking out the paraphernalia needed for the first 10 minutes of the day, which was really only a planner and a pencil, I sighed. I'm the only one in the room, and I'm early... So why do I bother, anyway? Oh, right, because I'm a nerd. I forgot.
I'm not going to lie and say that I'd never been teased for enjoying school. In junior high, I was actually bullied every day just for being myself; a kid who loved learning. Why is that a crime? The most successful people in the world were educated, and I want to be successful, hence why I want to be educated. It's not only that, sure—I loved telling my parents what I had learned after school everyday—but that doesn't give kids the right to be judgmental about it. If they had actual goals set for themselves, then they wouldn't be talking.
Just saying.
My thoughts were interrupted by the bell and a sea of students rushing through the hall, and into the classroom. I coughed inwardly, trying to maintain my natural state, before looking down at my planner and trying to blend in. Ok, yes, I'm a little shy...deal with it.
Soon, everyone is in their seats, and our homeroom teacher begins taking attendance.
"Bailee," he calls out in a monotone, slowly pacing back and forth at the front of the classroom. "Here," my classmate says, nonchalantly. "Drake B.," he carries out, continuing his pace. "Here," my peer sighs. I look out the window, just thinking, as our homeroom teacher keeps calling out names for, what seems like, eternity.
When he says my name, I just blankly call out, "Here!" before retreating to my train of thought.
I don't know why, but all of a sudden, I have this paranoia that's eating me up. I just can't shake the feeling of something bad happening, and it only makes me fear the rest of the day, which I've–honestly–hardly ever done before. I have a great family, good grades, a lovely girlfriend, a good reputation, just an amazing life... No health, or mental health, issues have taken place and I definitely do not have any learning disabilities, or just any disabilities at all.
I'm really lucky. So why am I feeling like something terrible is going to happen?
"Now," the teacher brings me back to reality, "we will be having a school dance in the next week or so. I expect all of the school lovebirds to be there; it's always fun teasing you guys," he adds, giving me and a few other students a glance. I swear my cheeks turned a crimson red as I slightly slump down in my seat from embarrassment. I love my homeroom teacher, but honestly...he can get super nosy sometimes.
It makes sense, though. He's a 40 year old man and he's still single. No wonder he teases us.
"The only thing left to say is that all us teachers are trying to get the government to understand that the older you guys get, the more responsibilities outside of school you have, so you all won't have enough time to fit in more exams and extra worksheets, which are honestly just reviewing what you have already learned in middle school. We keep trying to tell them that no, more work will only stress you all out more, but they're not listening. So we've decided, as a whole, that we will reduce lunch time down 15 minutes so that we can add in a study hall and get more time in for missing or late assignments. That way, no time is added onto the day, and we can still get in work when we're jammed with it. Sound good?" He explains, nearly out of breath by the end of his announcement.
We all nod and give little chirps of excitement, disappointment, just whatever we're feeling about everything he had just told us.
"Now, turn to the date–wait, hold on," he starts, turning around, setting his paper back on his desk and grabbing a piece of chalk from the chalkboard. He then begins writing a date as we all open our planners.
When he's done, he turns to us and smiles, setting his chalk down and continuing.
"Turn to this date in your planners," he points to what he's written on the board. He gives us a moment to open our planners and find that day. 9-20-01. I lay my finger on the exact day, which is next Friday, and wait for further instructions. "Note that there will be an incentive, the school dance, that day, and then put away your planners. We have 3 minutes left and we still gotta do the pledge, so we better get moving!" he instructs. I nod, doing as he says. Other students follow his instructions as well.
When we finish writing down the date, we put everything away and stand up, facing the flag. The teacher starts saying the pledge and we all follow with our hand on our hearts.
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
The bell rings and everyone but me scatters out of the classroom, as I always take my time because it causes less stress. Don't get me wrong; I do really enjoy school, but that doesn't mean it isn't stressful. I go way too hard on myself sometimes, and I know that it only makes you lose your focus even more. I always try to remember the little saying that our parents tell us when we were younger:
Slow and steady wins the race.
Yes, I know, it's from The Tortoise and The Hare, a children's fable, but that doesn't make it inferior. It's very true. For me at least.
I sling my backpack over my shoulder and walk to my first period class, mostly looking forward to seeing my beautiful girlfriend, who I wasn't really acting nice to this morning. All I did was give her a hug and a little peck on the lips while she asked how I was doing. I totally ignored her, and I didn't mean to, I just...I guess I'm not really feeling it today. I'm going to apologize. What I did was rude.
When I walk into first period, the first person who catches my eye is Ally. I take a deep breath and walk over to her, going over what I'm going to say next, as if I'm asking her out for the first time. Which–just by the way–was merely a year ago. I don't want to have a fight only 2 months until our year anniversary! I want to anticipate the day, not dread it..
"Hey, babe," I mumble, taking the seat next to her, even though I know it isn't mine. She stops reading her book to look at me, and then she smiles. "Hey, you didn't say much this morning. You okay?" She asks.
Wow. I completely ignore her and all she cares about is if I'm doing okay. I don't deserve her sweetness.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm really sorry for ignoring you this morning. I've been in a different state of mind ever since I woke up... I feel fine, though, I'm just not really feeling it. Get me?" I explain and she nods in understanding. "Don't apologize, we all have those days. Now I'd get in your seat before Ms. Carter yells at you," she replies with a smile.
I freeze in my seat for a second. I never change seats when not instructed. I'm really not at my A-game today, am I?
I shoot out of the seat I was in and head to my assigned seat just in time, as the teacher, Ms. Carter, walks in and starts erasing all of yesterday's lesson off of the board. I assume it was for another class because we haven't gone over what was up there yet.
Oh wow, I'm captain obvious.
I inwardly grunt, getting frustrated with how unfocused I am, and just wish for something—ANYTHING—that would distract the teacher from going on with the lesson. Trying to learn and do work is not anything good when you're not feeling up to it; it only makes you more stressed, which causes even more complications than there already is.
I look over to the clock on the wall and mentally groan. It's only 7:30...I still have about 8 hours and 15 minutes until school ends. I just wanna get some sleep. That may be the reason I'm not feeling up to much today. I need it and honestly, I like it.
"Turn to page 50 in your books and take out a piece of note paper. We will be talking about Latitude, the Sun and Solar Energy tomorrow, so I will give you all 10 minutes to write down all the vocabulary words on the paper, and maybe 5 extra minutes if you're all quiet and behave. The rest of the day will just be for makeup work, not that any of you have any; you're all advanced! Got it?" She explains and we all give her some sign of approval, taking out our stuff and starting our work.
7 minutes in, I'm already finished, as well as Ally. I sigh silently, not knowing what else to do, so I stand up and walk over to Ms. Carter, who just looks up to me with an interested smile. "I don't know what to do because I'm all caught up..." I whisper and she shakes her head. "I know you don't have any, so if you'd like to pick a book from the shelf, then go ahead!" She says quietly, yet with zealous. I lightly smile at her before turning around and walking to the back of the class to look at the science books on the large shelf, trying to make my decision.
Hm...I guess since we're learning about the sun, then maybe I should grab an astronomy book. Better not distract myself anymore, right?
I finally choose the specific astronomy book that I'm going to read. It's 50 facts about the sun, moon, and Earth. It's pretty simple for someone who's in the advanced placement program (I'm in 10th grade, but I'm taking 12th grade courses), but it's still a good way to get information. No one ever said that books for lower grades are any less useful than the ones in our grade; they're all helpful in the sense that we learn something from it, anyway.
The class goes by quicker than I thought it would. It's around 8:30 and I'm already at my locker, exchanging my first period books with my second period. Luckily, Ms. Carter gave no homework. Yay. That's the last thing I need today.
"Hey, Austin," Ally says, coming up next to me and intertwining our hands together. I smile and kiss her head before closing my locker and carefully slinging my backpack behind my back. "Hey, Alls," I greet as we start walking to our second period, which is history. The only classes we don't have together are homeroom, 4th period, and 6th.
"So, did your homeroom teacher tell you about the school dance?" I say flirtatiously, wiggling my eyebrows playfully. She giggles, squeezing my hand a little tighter and leaning into me. "Yeah. I'm so happy! It's the first dance of the semester and I already have someone to go with!" She exclaims. I giggle quietly and shush her as we enter the classroom, where the history teacher, Ms. Sera, is already sitting at her desk, seemingly making a worksheet for us on her computer.
We separate our hands and set our backpacks on the desk before sitting down and continuing our conversation.
"We've been together for almost a year, you can't still be excited," I tease in a hushed tone as a few more students pile in. "Of course I can, I'm a dedicated girlfriend. Unlike you..." she argues in the same hushed tone and sticks her tongue out at me. "I'm dedicated, I just have my priorities straight. Why would I wanna go to a dance when I could stay home and read, or sleep? Because of you!" I say and copy her actions. "We are the most annoying couple ever," she responds and I nod in agreement, trying to hold back a laugh.
Once everyone is inside the classroom, well, everyone that's present, the teacher stands up and sighs.
"We're just going to watch a short–like about 40 minutes long–documentary about the evolution of humans. This is just a review, so if you have any questions, then write them down on a piece of paper and we will discuss it for the last 20 minutes of class. Sound good?" Ms. Sera says and puts up two thumbs with a bright smile before walking over to the TV in the corner of the room and turning it on.
Ally, a few other students, and I take out some note paper and a pencil while other students just talk among each other, all while Ms. Sera is hooking up the cords from the TV to the wall.
Once she's finished with that, she gets the tape and puts it in the VCR, pressing the buttons on the bottom of the screen to get the right input. I'm pretty smart, but I'll admit that this technology is too complicated now days. It's 2001...the electronics in the 1980's were way less advanced. It confuses me, I don't know how even older people understand it..
Boom.
A loud crash makes the whole class jump and the TV turn off rapidly, and then the lights. My heart starts beating out of my chest, and I swear I can almost hear everyone else's heart too.
"Okay, guys. Don't freak out, it's probably just some stupid people firing guns at a power line. It's nothing to worry about," Ms. Sera says, trying to be reassuring, but failing miserably. She then walks over to the light switch and turns it on. I look over to the clock unconsciously and see that it's 8:45.
Yeah, that's not important right now.
"Don't freak out?!" A classmate of mine yells. "Guns?! Nothing to worry about?! Ms. Sera, that was definitely NOT guns, okay?! I've heard guns and even a few together and it does not sound like that!" "Yeah, that sounded more like a plane crashing into a building!" One girl says.
"Guys, just calm down. You're right, it's super close and way too loud for it to be any guns. But that's besides the point. Just try to remember that we will know when and if anything happens," she says, still trying to sound reassuring.
Sorry to break it to you, Ms. Sera, but you're not doing a very good job.
I gulp and stand up from my seat with shaky legs, grabbing Ally's hand and carefully pulling her up. Then I sit down at my seat again and gently pull her onto my lap, trying to calm both of us down, as the class struggles to find a way to relax, themselves. Ms. Sera is just typing in a number on the phone, waiting patiently for anyone to answer.
When it seems like nobody does, she hangs up, just in time for the overhead to be heard.
"Attention all students and faculty, we have been informed that there was a hijacked plane that crashed into the north Twin Tower, not even 5 miles away. So we will be keeping you all here until your parents come and pick you up, just to be safe. Therefore, class will be continued, but we will be locking all doors and windows. Stay safe and listen to your instructors," the lady on the overhead speaks.
I immediately tense up, and Ally notices, so she squeezes my hand tightly. I just shake my head and bounce my leg up and down, trying to refrain myself from saying anything inappropriate, but I couldn't stop it.
"Ms. Sera," I grab her attention. "Yes, Mr. Moon?" I let out a shaky sigh before responding. "My dad works at the north twin tower...and it's bring your family to work day," I say and bite my bottom lip. A look of concern crosses her face and she just looks around frantically before finally grabbing the remote and turning on the TV.
The news channel comes up on the screen, grabbing everyone's attention.
"—a live video from the streets of Manhattan, where a plane crashing into the north twin tower has made the streets very backed up from ambulances, police cars, fire trucks, and pedestrians. The video footage also shows some paramedics, firefighters, and policemen who are off duty, going on-duty just for this tragedy. We all hope and pray that..." I stop listening. I can't take this.
I nervously stuff my head in the crook of Ally's neck, trying to calm myself down. She kisses the top of my head and rubs my hand, soothingly. I sigh as I feel her run her hands through my hair.
No. Just no. A plane didn't freaking crash into the place where my dad works, and where my family is visiting. I won't believe it, I choose not to believe it.
Tears brim in my eyes and I blink, trying to keep them back, but they fall anyway.
I feel Ally shift in my lap and gently take my head out of the crook of her neck. She then grabs my hands and slips off of me, then pulls me up and walks us over to Ms. Sera, who just looks at us questionably.
"Can he just take a breather? And can I go with him?" Ally asks her. The teacher's eyes flicker from Ally to me a few times before nodding. "Just stay right outside the door, don't go anywhere," she instructs. We nod, turning to the door and walking towards it.
Ally closes the door and I immediately slide down the wall, tears already making their way down my cheeks. She copies my position and wraps an arm around me securely, letting me lean my head onto her shoulder and just cry.
I know I'm upset already and I don't even know if my family's okay or not...but that video already tells me enough.
My dad works near the top..and that's where the plane hit. And let me tell you, it wasn't pretty. Hopefully they're okay. I'm just so so worried.
"Shh, babe, it's gonna be okay," Ally whispers into my ear as she plays with my hair. I sniffle and sit up, shaking my head. "What if they're not? Ally, I'm so worried, I can't–" "I know you are, but the more you freak out, the chances of you having a panic attack is pretty high and I know neither of us want that. Just try to stay calm, okay Aus?" She says softly. I sniff and wipe my tears with my palm of my hands, shaking my head. "I don't know if I can. Did you even see that video?! My dad's at the top, it's not okay!" I freak out, only to end up sobbing once again. "Shh," Ally pulls me into her arms again.
A few minutes later and the door pushes us forward a little bit, making us look up to who had opened it. Ms. Sera...figures.
"Hey, I know you're taking this time to calm down but I really don't want to get in trouble for having you guys out here. Let's go back inside, alright? I'll give you a box of tissues and you guys can stay in the corner if you'd like?" She suggests. I sniff and look over to Ally, who just nods and stands up. Ms. Sera keeps the door open for us as I grab onto Ally's hand and pull myself up.
This is the reason for my paranoia, wasn't it? Ugh.