CJ was finding it hard to sleep. Tomorrow was Halloween which she loved and the plan for the 'big' prank was ready. Before going to bed she had taken some tissue paper from the bin in the basement and she had paid attention to Mr. Graham's schedule. The best time to set it up would be when she first got to the school in the morning.
Ziva noticed that her daughter was a little jumpy but knowing that Halloween was CJ's favourite time of year she chalked it up to excitement. CJ consumed her freshly squeezed orange juice and oatmeal quickly and rushed off to meet Steven to walk to school. CJ had decided that it would best if Steven didn't know what was going on… he wasn't very good at keeping secrets and she didn't want him to get into trouble if they happened to get caught.
Once they arrived to school CJ made and excuse that she needed to use the restroom and quickly ran into the school through the side door. Swiftly CJ scouted the hall, it was empty and the only noises could be heard from the woodworking shop, Mr. K. was in there working. CJ slipped past the open door and making sure she wasn't noticed sneaking into the lab. She filled the sink half full with water. Then CJ took out the potassium metal and wrapped it in only one layer of tissue paper with a small tear, she tied the top with ribbon and tied the package to the tap above the sink and ran quickly out of the room. Returning to the school yard she met up with Steven. She had been quick enough that Steven didn't question the length of time it took her to use the restroom.
The explosion could be heard through the entire middle school wing, in the office and in the play yard. It scared CJ; she hadn't expected it to be that loud. Since classes hadn't yet begun the students approached from the yard and the teachers ran from the staff lounge to find the sink in the middle of the classroom torn apart and shrapnel spread around the room. CJ made sure she wasn't one of the first at the window but when she finally had a turn to peer into the cracked pane she almost vomited. She hadn't realized that the explosion would be THAT 'big'. The bell rang and the kids all filed into the school as usual, but with increased hype. Everyone was discussing who had pulled such a prank. The teachers all tried to escort their students into their classes and settle things down. CJ still couldn't breathe. She sat in her desk, numb.
As soon as the initial commotion settled down the principal made an announcement over the PA system for all grade 7 and 8 teachers to escort their classes to the gymnasium for an impromptu assembly. Steven stayed at CJ's side rambling on; she couldn't even tell him to shut up. She walked within the flow of kids on their way to the gym. Mr. Thompson, the principle, stood on the stage at the front of the gym and waited until the congregation became completely silent. Mr. Thompson addressed the silent crowd. CJ heard almost none of it. She couldn't figure out what she was going to do. And then Mr. Thompson concluded his speech by saying "The people or person who is responsible for this serious occurrence have until lunch time today to come forward before I contact the authorities".
As the kids filed out of the gym Steven started his rambling again. It wasn't until they were most of the way back to homeroom before he noticed CJ's stone faced expression and robotic gait. Steven had known CJ long enough to realize she knew something about the 'serious occurrence' from that morning. Steven stopped dead in his tracks "CJ what did you do?" now he started to be unable to breathe.
"Shut up Steven… I need time to think"
"Think… think… there is nothing to think about CJ… you need to turn yourself in… you don't want them calling anyone about this… 'cause if you think you're in trouble now … if the police get involved you're more than dead…" Steven's voice was getting louder and more shrill.
CJ snapped out of the trance she'd been in since she'd heard the explosion. She grabbed Steven's arm and pulled him into the girls' restroom. Sputtering he tried to fight her but decided it was better if she wasn't alone. He stood leaning against the sink while CJ paced back and forth.
Uncharacteristically Steven was the calmer of the two kids. He tried in vain to talk CJ down, but since this was new territory for him he was unfamiliar with what was appropriate to say. He recalled a time last year when he was panicking about being in trouble and CJ had grabbed his shoulders and shook him. He placed himself in her path and took hold of her shirt with both hands, she had been moving so quickly that she almost knocked him over; he had to brace himself to keep from toppling to the floor. She stopped moving and he saw tears in her eyes and blood coming out of the side of her mouth where she had been chewing her lip so badly it had begun to bleed.
Steven pushed CJ back towards the wall and helped her to sit down leaning against the radiator. He turned and sat beside her, wrapped his arm around her shoulders that heaved as she cried. Steven had NEVER seen her cry, NEVER. He had nothing to do with this mess but felt scared none the less. His fear prompted anger he didn't know he had him. "CJ, knock it off, crying isn't going to help you right NOW… what are you going to do now?" Utterly surprised by Steven's forcefulness CJ stopped crying and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Thanks Steven, could you go get Mr. Richardson please?" He looked at her quizzically, but stood to go look for their current math teacher and last year's classroom teacher.
CJ knew as soon as she heard the blast that she would need to come forward but until Steven had brought her back to reality she wasn't sure how to do that. As she sat in the bathroom panicking she realized that she needed someone on her side. The only teacher who she had ever trusted or respected was Mr. Richardson. He would be furious, but would appreciate her turning herself in and would be able to help guide her through the next few hours of 'unpleasantness'. She kept her head down resting on her knees until she heard footsteps in front of her. Slowly she looked through the top of her eyes to see Mr. Richardson crouched down in front of her and Steven standing by the door.
"Thank you Mr. Arnott, I can take it from here, please return to your class."
William Richardson turned and sat mirroring CJ's position beside her. He sat quietly watching her stare off into a nonexistent horizon. He already knew why he was here; he was just waiting for CJ to admit she had been responsible for the science lab prank gone bad. He'd spent all last year trying to understand this unusual kid and hadn't really come to any big conclusions. She was bright and had a flare for getting herself into trouble was all he had decided. Although this particular prank was well above her usual tactics, her hiding in the lavatory frightened suggests it went further than she had expected.
After several minutes of silence CJ shifted to turn towards her teacher meeting his gaze. His eyes although serious were not furious as she had expected them to be. "I did it" she whispered so quietly he only realized what she said by reading her lips.
"Hummm" he responded without moving or dropping his gaze.
She dropped her head back down on her arms that were wrapped around her legs.
Mr. Richardson realizing that CJ was not going to be any more forthcoming with information decided he needed to get some before taking her to the principal's office.
"How did you blow up the lab CJ?" his tone was neither angry nor demanding yet it left no question that he intended it to be answered immediately and truthfully.
Slowly and quietly CJ recounted the planning and execution of the prank. He didn't want to be but he was impressed with how methodical her planning and understanding of the science behind the idea. Her only 'mistake' was her miscalculation of how much potassium metal was needed to get a reasonable bang for a prank versus the amount she used that created an explosion.
"C'mon CJ we need to go to Mr. Thompson's office he's waiting for us" he was surprised by the look she gave him. CJ was beyond a doubt scared. Mr. Richardson thought that CJ didn't even know how to portray that particular emotion. Her tough exterior had never been cracked until now. He stood and extended a hand to CJ and helped her stand. He placed a hand on her shoulder and physically directed her towards the door and down the hall to the office. Mr. Richardson knocked on the principal's door and walked in without waiting for an answer. CJ put on the breaks. She had finally calmed down enough to start to register just how much trouble she was in. Her fear until now was about 'what could have happened'… now it was what was going to happen to her.