I'm Not Perfect
Chapter 12
Gerald's eyes were beginning to adjust to the darkness. He could make out the silhouette of Phoebe next to him. A little beyond, some other figures….heads….bodies….gradually….
But where was his best friend?
"Arnold!" he shouted again.
A flash of light suddenly overwhelmed his dilated pupils. Gerald groaned and shielded his eyes.
Mr. Swarski swept the flashlight around the gym. "I'm so sorry, everyone. We can't seem to find the problem. We're calling emergency maintenance. I'm sorry, but we'll have to cut the dance short." He shined the flashlight over a series of teenage faces—some frightened, some angry, some relieved.
"I'm so sorry, everyone." He moved the flashlight to the middle of the gym. "I hope-"
Gasps filled the gym.
Arnold and Helga lay on the floor, unmoving, clasped in each other's arms.
"Arnold!" Gerald shouted, at the same time Phoebe cried, "Helga!", and they tore across the gym floor, collapsing to their knees next to their unconscious friends.
Next door, in the utility room, the two men listened to the chaos in the gym.
"They're not moving!..."
"Can't wake them up…."
"Call an ambulance!"
Fear seized in Justin's chest. He opened the utility room door and peered into the gym. A single light illuminated two blonde figures, lying on the floor, unmoving. What?
"Alex!" he cried. He threw open the utility room door.
"Alex, it's all wrong, they passed out, we have to…"
Alex was gone.
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"Understood. Come on, Justin."
For some reason, while Justin was walking away, he couldn't meet their eyes.
Lila would be so ashamed.
It was no big deal. It was nothing too heavy. Alex had said so himself.
Alex stopped halfway to the car and leaned against the school building. He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket, lit it, and offered one to Justin. Justin shook his head. He peered toward the light that emerged from the gym…
"Alex?"
"Yeah?"
"Are we sure we want to do the rest of the plan? They're…they're gonna be okay, right?"
Alex took a long drag and blew a ring of smoke. He grinned.
"Since when are you worried about their safety?"
"I…"
Alex burst out laughing. He slapped Justin on the back.
"Hey, man, trust me, all right? You trust me?"
Justin relaxed. He had known this guy for three years. Alex always knew what to do. Of course he trusted him. Everything would be fine.
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"She's not breathing!"
"Hurry up!..."
"Does anybody know CPR?..."
Back in the utility room, Justin buried his face in his hands.
"Alex," he whispered. "Alex, goddamnit, you bastard…."
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"Arnold. Arnold." Hands on his face, his arms. Pulling him up, setting him down. Where was she?
"Arnold." A sharp prick, pain in his arm. Lights. Where was she? He couldn't lose her again. He promised…
Grandpa's voice. "Arnold, come on, boy, wake up…" Where?
He opened his eyes, saw her face, white, still. There. Relief coursed through him. He reached out and touched her arm.
I'm here. I'm right here…
We're gonna be okay.
