Chapter I: Arrival

Assignment X: Silence

Loki

There are a lot of things that frighten me. There are the trivial fears, like spiders and thunder. Then there are more serious things like getting lost in the snow, and getting shot.

Surprisingly though, one thing that I've never been afraid of, is death itself. I'm afraid of the things that lead up to it, but death has never scared me. It just fills me with an overwhelming sadness that consumes my heart.

I should back up. I kinda wanted to get that part about death out of the way early, but the thing is, it won't make sense unless I back it up. This section will probably take a lot out of me, so it won't be very long. I don't even remember much after I found out. Except the sadness, and the rage. Anyway…

Saturday 9/13/2014 8:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Sasquatch and I woke up to the sound of a furious pounding on our door. I opened the door. It was one of the nerds, Darth Winter.

You mother fucker!" he shouted, and he popped open a switchblade and swung at me, crazed.

"What the fuck?" Sasquatch yelled. Darth swung again and I barely avoided it. Sasquatch threw me mine, and I popped it open and used it to block his third stab.

I countered with a punch to his stomach, and when he dropped his knife in shock, I held mine to his throat.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?" I screamed

"IT'S YOUR FAULT! IT'S YOUR FAULT SHE'S…She's Sh…" He broke down sobbing

"Why did you have to lead her on?" he mumbled.

"Where is she?" I cried.

"Room 13, girls dorm, just, just go" he sobbed.

Sasquatch and I sped down the sidewalk, nearly slamming into the head prefect, Russel Northrop as we went.

"You want to eat FIST?" He screamed.

We rushed into the girls' dorm and saw the crowd of girls and boys alike surrounding room 13.

I shoved through the crowd and there she was. Juliet Philips was on her bed, with a pained expression on her face, and used needles by her arm. She was barely fourteen years old when she died of an intentional heroin overdose. She had left a suicide note.

"Dear Noah. I regret that it had to come to this. But I've always been a loser. I was planning on killing myself anyway if I hadn't gotten a date to the dance. But when you asked me, I finally started to believe that God loved me after all. But I couldn't protect you from them. The one thing in this life I've ever truly loved, and I couldn't protect it. When I fell for you, I promised you'd never get hurt while I was around. I failed, like I always do. You are my Romeo, now and forever.

Darth, I should have taken your advice, I should've dated within the clique. Maybe then I wouldn't have fallen so hard. I'll miss you. You always were an amazing friend. You have my thanks.

Keen, you were a brilliant man, and I hope you continue to be in my absence. Lead the group with a rod of Iron. My prayer is that you make a certain clique pay for their bullying ways, so that beautiful people like you and Noah never suffer again.

Pedro. Ah Pedro. You are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. When you fought that no good Bully Scott Murphy, your win was not luck. It was skill. Fight for the Nerds and make us proud.

Gloria. My sister (not in blood of course) I will miss you so much. Don't let those mean boys tell you that you're not beautiful. You're one of the most beautiful girls in the academy.

Sheldon. I'm sorry this had to come so soon after you lost Crabblesnitch.

Carter and Gradin, I'll miss your witty remarks toward those snobby bastards.

Carl, you're brilliant little man, keep up your awesome chess and make this school proud.

Alice. Big sis, I'm so sorry. I love you more than words can express.

Mom. I wish I'd gotten a little of the beauty that Alice got. I know it's not your fault though, and I love you anyway. I really do.

Goodbye everyone.

I'll miss you. Hopefully wherever I end up is better than this rat infested hellhole.

Juliet Philips

At lunch, the cafeteria was almost silent. I dug my nails into my hand to the point where I drew blood. I knew what we had to do. I rose to my feet. I was about half way to August's table, when a voice sounded over the intercom.

"Every student and staff member is to report to the auditorium immediately for a mandatory assembly. Those who are not in attendance will be expelled. Thank you".

It was the principal, Mr. Kowalski. I was shaking with rage. It took everything I had not to pull out my knife and stab August when he walked by.

The assembly was packed. There were at least two hundred students, and quite a few staff members. It was then that I realized that the cliques were only a portion of the student body. It was my guess that only about one in every four students was actually in a distinguishable clique.

Mr. Kowalski was at the stand, and Mr. Galloway was comforting a crying Deirdre Philips. Alice Philips sat next to them, silently shaking.

As the last few students piled in, some had to stand in the back. Sasquatch, Harley and I sat alone. The room was silent.

"…We have lost a family member today" Mr. Kowalski began. "Juliet Philips was a smart girl, but she had no self-esteem. And you took advantage of that, to make yourselves feel better. Even those of you in no particular clique felt the need to vent your frustrations on her. She had her fourteenth birthday less than a week ago. She died, because many of you are without compassion. From this point on, any student bullying anyone will be severely punished…"

I tuned out the rest of his speech. My throat was tight, and my face red with fury.

On the way out, I saw Beale Harrington laughing. I tapped him on the shoulder. As he turned around, my fist slammed into the side of his head. He slumped to the ground.

"What's the big idea?" Nigel Waterford yelled. He was limping from the fight the night before.

I decked him, and he crashed to the floor.

They were out. Then I ran. I don't remember for how long, but I ran and ran. Out of the school gates and into Bullworth town. Out of that cold uncaring place.

I could see people talking and laughing, as if nothing had happened.

But all I heard was silence.

END CHAPTER I…