Writers Note: This journey began on April 15, 2017, when the idea of a drama series lit up in my head. That was the day I started to plan everything and to everyone's surprise, it led us here. My inspiration was drawn from spectacular shows such as 13 Reason's Why and How To Get Away With Murder because they had much of what I wanted this show to be about. Everything was planned in my head and had been in my head for a least a handful of weeks before it was ever written down. This was the first time I really worked on a story so hard and I hope you guys can see it through my writing. To be honest, this story was not supposed to get this far. I honestly don't know how it did. Like this story almost made the one year mark, that is so unbelievable to me. So thank you so very much and I can't wait for you to finish this chapter.
Disclaimer: There will be some foul language, violence, and minor descriptions of sex throughout the chapter.
...
Junior Year
LOCKDOWN | Feb 1, 2018
1:46 pm
Josh was on his way to class when the announcement started. He had never heard that sound before which made him realize how serious this was. Plenty of people had gathered in front of his teachers class because he was quietly letting them in. Upon entering, the teacher advised them all to hide under the desks.
He knew this was serious but he was unable to understand how scared he should be. It wasn't until a few minutes after that a gunshot was fired. That's when everybody began to comprehend the seriousness of it.
Whispers and screams were heard all throughout the room. Some began to text their parents and seek safety in their friends, praying they would make it out alive.
Josh couldn't recognize the last time he was scared. He couldn't remember the last time a school lockdown was a serious thing. He laid on the carpet and stared at the ceiling. His finger was tapping against the chair he was under and he was slowly counting the long and slow minutes.
58, 59, 60, 1, 2, 3...
"Stop," Farkle whispered to him because he was laying down next to him. "It's getting annoying."
"We've been in here for a long time."
"Four minutes," he answered. "The lockdown started four minutes ago."
"Doesn't matter. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5..."
Farkle returned his attention towards the ceiling wall and closed his eyes. He should've expected something like this to happen. Something terrible always happened in this town. "I'm at a point in life where I am convinced this town is cursed."
"Aren't we all?" Josh agreed.
"I'm sorry about Missy. Ever since she's gone missing it's clear that you are sad and you want to find her. And I've been pressuring you into giving me that photo you took of her because Isadora was it in when I should've asked you if you are okay."
"It's cool."
"And I know the police are on it but it's still not enough."
"It's not," Josh agreed. "It really isn't. The last time I saw her she looked sad. It was obvious she was trying to hide it but I didn't ask her about it. I feel like she wanted to tell me something - I just wish I would've asked."
A silence lengthened and Farkle got to thinking, he started to remember that Missy and Josh were once a happy couple. Even though that was ages ago, feelings like that don't truly go away. They become platonic and the feeling will always be there. "I'm so sorry about Missy. She disappeared into thin air and she can't be found. Just don't give up. Keep the photo, tell everyone. Isadora will just have to understand."
"Thank you, Farkle. You've always been a good friend to me, to all of us."
"It's who I am."
Josh smiled at him and then pulled out the photo of Missy from his pocket. The night he took this photo was the day she went missing. They were talking at Geb's party and she asked to see him. The last time he saw her, she was leading Geb up the stairs because she had something to tell him.
When Geb came down, Josh asked him where Missy went and he told her that she had left a few minutes ago.
He never heard of her after.
–
1:48 pm
Matías examined his sweating teacher who typed away nervously on his computer from three desks behind. He watched as he occasionally wiped his forehead and looked at the students around him. It was clear he did not know what he was doing, he kept asking for help through the computer and waited for teachers responses.
Matías pulled out his phone and started to text his brother who he was sure would know what to do.
Adriel (1):
We got the notice. Officer Parker initiated the lockdown. There should be some units responding soon.
He read the message and furrowed his brows before formulating his own response:
Parker? As in Melissa Parker? Your girlfriend?
Adriel (1):
Yeah. Apparently, the person with the gun killed their dad before heading to the school. It's why they think he's dangerous.
Matías began to type but stopped when he noticed that Seth has taken a seat beside him. He looked at him for a few seconds before looking away.
"Do you have a minute?" Seth asked. He was overwhelmed with guilt and he had been ever since he intentionally tried to make his life bad.
"A minute for what?" he felt like he knew what Seth was trying to do but a part of him though otherwise. They last time they talked was a really longed time ago, maybe when he and Maya were still dating.
Seth looked at him. He had been feeling different these past weeks and felt like he could do more. Like he could turn over a new leaf and become a different, better version of himself. "I wanted to say I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" Matías questioned. "What for?"
"For being an asshole to you and Anthony," he confessed. "I'm not sure you know but I tried to ruin your guys' friendship. I was the one who made show you the video of Anthony hitting Ruben." he stayed silent for a few seconds, this was mostly due to the fact that Seth was running out of things to say, "When I heard you got in a car accident that same night I felt like shit. I really am sorry."
Hearing this felt strange.
He had been through so much and been put through so much by so many people that hearing someone finally apologize for it made him realize just how much he needed to hear that word. "It's okay." As Seth began to crawl away, Matías stopped him. "Thank you." He returned his attention to his phone and saw that Riley texted him at 1:43 pm. He responded to her message by telling her that he was safe.
–
1:49 pm
Isadora looked at the classroom window and saw as a police officer spoke to a group of concerned parents. She hoped that this lockdown wasn't as serious as it seemed and that they were safe.
"We'll be okay," Anthony informed her the second he noticed that she was scared. He had been watching her from where he sat and it was obvious that she was trying to contain herself.
"I'm sorry, I'm just really nervous." Her phone chimed and she immediately read the message and started to send a reply. "It's just Farkle. He's checking up on me."
"You love him," Anthony assumed. He could see it in her eyes. "Every time you get a text from him your eyes light up."
Her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, "Believe it or not I'm supposed to be mad at him," this, for some strange reason, made her smile. "But I suppose that doesn't matter anymore given the circumstance we're in."
As the talked, she noticed that Anthony checked his phone and then quickly set it down, she realized he hadn't gotten a text message. "Wherever she is, I am sure she's okay. Is it your girlfriend?"
"Errrr," he scratched the back of his head and debated whether he should correct her or not. But something about her character made him realize that he could tell her anything. "Boyfriend, actually."
Isadora was surprised. "Really? I'm sorry. I should've - "
"No, it's okay. So...um..." He let out a faint smile and played with his phone. "Just worried about him."
"Who's your boyfriend and why isn't he letting you know he's okay?"
"Pfft," this showed how much he knew; which wasn't much. "I don't know. I just can't help but think that something has happened to him."
She placed his hand over his shoulder for reassurance, "I bet he's okay. Just try again."
He picked up his phone and formed another text. While doing so, he spoke to Isadora. "You know you're the first person I've come out to."
She was surprised, "Really?"
"Yeah. I think it's time I want people to know."
As they continued to speak, his phone chimed and Matías texted him back. This let him know that he was okay and away from danger.
–
1:56 pm
"Josh and Isadora are both okay. And so is Anthony, Matías and umm, Farkle. I just haven't gotten word from Maya...I really hope she's safe." Riley stared at Lucas as she spoke. He was sitting opposite from her in the janitors closet and tossing a rolled up towel up and down. Riley thought that he would spend this time comforting her but he had distanced himself and acted like he didn't care anymore.
"She'll be fine, Riley. It's Maya."
As they waited again, Riley set her phone down knowing that most of her friends were safe and in a classroom. She looked around the room and saw a vent, that was the only way out but, unfortunately, they were too big enough to fit through it. If they were to leave this closet it would be through the front door.
She continued to stare at the room in search of something that could maybe help them but then she stopped when she saw Lucas.
"Lucas?" she spoke and waited for his eyes to meet hers, "You're not okay and I know it. I know that there's something you've been hiding. There's something you know that I don't and I can't help you if you don't tell me."
His eyes didn't meet hers.
"Can you please tell me?" she pressured him. "Don't you think I have the right to know if something is bugging you or not?"
He didn't answer.
"If I was in your shoes and you were in mine, wouldn't you want to know?"
"No, because I'd understand that when I face a problem it's best to solve it on my own."
"Oh, but when it's my problem you would do anything to help me?" Riley countered. "That's not right."
"Riley, please. Drop it," he deadpanned.
"No. I- I won't. Not until you tell me."
"Why do you have to be so difficult?" he asked. "It's not even that big of a deal."
"Bullshit. If it wasn't a big deal you would tell me. So tell me. I deserve to know."
He ignored her. He started to do the same thing she was initially doing and that was looking around the room, but this time he was avoiding her gaze. He wished they could go back to the times where they were free of worry and were just dating without having to worry about something terrible happening. He truly missed it.
"Okay, fine," Riley gave up. "If you don't want to tell me that's completely up to you. But enjoy Winter Formal by yourself."
"C'mon," he complained.
"Then tell me," she pressured. "Please."
Lucas rubbed his nose and then clenched his jaw. "I've been lying to you."
"About?" she froze. She really hoped that she wouldn't end up knowing something that would surely hurt her feelings or make her think that he cheated on her.
"I'm going back to Texas to finish high school. I leave by the end of the week."
She thought he was joking at first. She was prepared to laugh but by the look on his face, she was sure it was the truth. "I thought they were okay with you staying. You told me - "
"I wanted you to feel good. I didn't want you to worry."
"Well, you failed. And I'm sure that after today they will want you gone by tomorrow."
"This is exactly why I didn't want to tell you. You'd get upset with me and then you would be sad."
"At least I know the truth," she argued. They remained quiet and they didn't look at each other. She was so mad at him for lying to her and that he was leaving so soon, but she couldn't stay mad. She had to look around this because they were in a bigger situation at the moment. She extended her hand and he crawled to her, embracing her. Riley's back leaning against his chest. "Just hold me," she told him and he kissed her temple, "We'll work through this. I know we will."
–
1:49 pm
Melissa Parker was a police officer. She had been for the last five years.
This lockdown was the biggest thing that has happened in her career as of late. She thought that the threat would end when she found the mans body a few minutes ago in the apartment, but it didn't. Instead, they learned that the killer was in the school, placing hundreds of lives in danger. She waited outside the school like the other police officers and waited for the SWAT team to arrive.
As she spoke to officer Blu, she noticed that parents were starting to park their cars in the school parking lot and approach the school.
"Officer," one mother called out to her. "I got one of those robocalls over the phone telling me the school was on lockdown. Is that true?"
"Yes, ma'am. It is. We advise that you meet in the designated meeting area so that you aren't to close to the school. We have people coming in that will handle this situation we just need you to be patient."
"Please, I just want my daughter. She's in there, please."
"I know. I know what it's like but you need to understand that you can't be near the school. I have a kid in there that is like my son and I am scared to. But we need to be patient. Please. This will be handled."
The mother began to take a step back and as she did, Melissa began to notice that news reporters were walking in. They were in vans and a helicopter was flying over the school.
"All students will come out of this school, I can promise you that."
–
1:55 pm
Matías couldn't take seeing his teacher not know what he was doing. Despite the laughter and annoyance it was causing him. He decided that enough was enough and he began to approach them. "Do you need help?"
"Uhh," he turned to him, sweat on his forehead and on his armpits. "Please?"
Matías took the computer from his teacher and placed it on his lap. The first thing he did was check the attendance list. If the shooter was a student enrolled in this school their name could be narrowed down in the absent list because they wouldn't be in class. He scrolled down to the list which was towards the bottom of the site, he was surprised to see the few names. Some of which he knew.
Students missing:
Aaron Beckerman, Andrea Leslie, Geb Carter, Lucas Friar, Maya Hart, Missy Bradford, Riley Matthews, Tori Capaldi and seven others.
Among the fifteen missing, only six of them were unexcused, and Riley, Lucas, and Maya were some of them.
"Seth," he called to him. He was on his phone sitting across the classroom but as soon as he heard his name, he turned to him. "Both Geb and Maya aren't in class. Can you try texting them?"
Seth nodded.
Matías returned his attention to the computer and began to text Riley.
Where are you?
She was quick to respond.
Riley Matthews (1):
We didn't make it to a classroom on time so we're stuck in a janitors closet.
Seth stared at the blue text messages he had sent Maya. None were answered and he was growing worried. He began to form another lengthy text but was stopped when he saw that Geb had texted him. The notification read:
Help Me!
Seth:
Are you okay? Are you hurt?
Geb:
Yes. Bad.
Seth:
I'll get help. Where are you?
Geb:
No. You need to come alone. Please! I'm still bleeding and I don't want him to get upset.
Seth:
Okay. But tell me where you are.
As soon as he sent the message, he turned to look at Matías who was typing on the teacher's computer and then texting on his phone. He couldn't risk telling him. His immediate response would be to let the teachers know.
Seth's gaze trailed the room and he stopped when he saw the door. He can see the door was opened by the way the doorknob was turned. He realized that the teacher had forgotten to lock the door from the inside as well which meant he could leave. And if he was careful, no one would see.
And that's exactly what he did.
–
1:58 pm
"Riley?" Lucas asked. They were still wrapped in each other's arms, thinking and for the most part talking about past memories they shared. They talked about the moment they first met - and had trouble deciding who bumped into who and who was the clumsiest in that scenario. They talked about the time they first realized they had feelings for each other, their first kiss, and favorite date. While they talked, Lucas remembered something he never had the courage to talk to Riley about. He knew that she was hiding something as well and the fact that she kept this secret hidden from him, led him to believe many things. "Why didn't you tell me that Geb was texting you? I could've handled it."
She turned to look at him, "How did you know? Did you go through my phone?"
He licked his lips, "Do you have feelings for him? Is that it?"
"What?" she looked at him as if he had said the dumbest thing - which he had. "God, no."
"Then why keep it a secret?"
"Now is not the time to talk about it," she tried to derail the subject but Lucas was too stubborn to let it change.
"It's the perfect time to talk about it if you ask me."
"Why does it concern you when he texts me so much? You know that I love you, but I guess saying it all the time doesn't mean anything to you."
"Becuase he's crazy for you. I read the messages, there's a tone of them. He's obsessed - "
"Messages," she said as if she had just realized something big. "Oh my God, the texts." Riley picked up her phone at lightning speed and pressed a few buttons before showing Lucas all the messages Geb sent her. "The last message he ever sent me was this: You'll never be happy. Just watch."
Lucas sat upright, "I should've known. It's been obvious this entire time." He showed her his phone, "Geb sent this to me yesterday. At first, I couldn't tell what it was, but if you look closely, if you pay attention to it, you see that it's a - "
"A gun," she finished. "It's him. It's Geb. He's the one with the gun!"
Fear set in and they realized that they had to tell people. "We need to tell the others."
–
2:00 pm
It was him. It was Geb who brought the gun.
Matías stared at the text message Riley sent him. He couldn't believe he wasn't the one to make that conclusion. Now that he knew, he felt like it was one of the most obvious things he could have easily solved. The night before as soon as he had finished talking to Anthony on the phone, Geb texted him as well. His message read:
Fear doesn't just come in the shape of a car
He turned around to tell Seth but he was gone. He couldn't see him anywhere.
Matías crawled towards where Seth was normally sitting, he thought that he had moved to talk to someone else but he was nowhere in the room.
"Are you looking for Seth?" a girl he talked to once asked.
"Yeah," he answered. "Do you know where he went?"
"He left."
"What do you mean he left?" Matías asked. Seth wouldn't be that dumb to just leave and risk his life.
"He just walked out the door," she pointed and he followed her finger.
As soon as he did this, another gunshot was fired. Everyone in the class grew scared and Matías hid under the desk with the girl he was talking to. He pulled out his phone and started to text Seth:
Come back to class. You're not safe out there.
He waited for a few seconds and looked at everyone, they were all scared but no one was injured. He took a deep breath and looked at his phone, most importantly, he looked at the words he was going to type.
I'm coming for you. Tell me where you are and I'll find you.
"Jasmine, right?" he asked the girl who was beside him. She nodded. "Jasmine my name is Matías Reyes. Geb Carter is the student who brought the gun, okay? Tell everybody...text everybody you know and let them know that it's him."
She nodded endlessly through the tears in her eyes. When Matías was sure that she would do just that, he took a deep breath, formed a prayer in his head, and ran out the classroom door.
–
2:03 pm
Geb stared at the messages on Seth's phone. He could see that Matías was going to go look for him.
He rubbed his head disappointedly and cursed.
If Matías was going to go look for him, then it meant that he possibly knew. His intelligence always rubbed Geb off in the wrong way and he hated him for it. It didn't just start randomly.
Towards the ending of their Sophomore year when they were wrapped in the Nina incident, Matías was the one who helped Anthony get out of it. He covered evidence for him but left Seth and Geb out in the cold. He didn't even give them a thought.
Ever since then he didn't like him.
His gaze traveled from Seth's phone to his ailing body, blood staining the hallway floor as he crawled away from him. Geb towered over him, grabbed his finger and used it to unlock his phone so that he could respond to Matías.
His text read:
Bio hallway Class A-8
Matías Reyes:
Do you think you can wait? I feel like I should let the staff know.
Seth:
Come here first. There's something you should take a look at first.
He slid Seth's phone into his pocket and then approached him. He flipped his body towards him and watched as the blood ran from his chest to his neck. The fear in his eyes, the struggle to speak in his voice, it made him feel in control.
"You don't have to do this," Seth tried to talk to him but his voice came out flat. Even though he had been shot, he still felt like he could reason with him and somehow survive this. "No one will have to know."
Geb listened but at the same time ignored him. He ripped out a piece of his shirt and then shoved it into his mouth, pinching his nose in the process so that he wouldn't be able to breathe.
He tried to fight and stop him. But Geb placed his knee on Seth's wound and that caused him to cry and scream. His eyes pleaded for him to stop, to understand that he was his friend and that he always had been. But it was impossible to tell him because he could speak. He was being suffocated. After a few seconds of this, Seth was gone.
He was dead.
–
2:04 pm
"I need to see him," Riley told Lucas. She had been thinking of many ways she could put an end to this and the only one that sounded realistic to her was by talking to him. There was no other way and it was obvious she wouldn't be able to stop him by staying away from him.
If she was capable of stopping him.
Riley clung onto the idea that Geb loved her because if he did, then she could be certain she wouldn't get hurt. This was part of the reason she was motivated to see him. And it was beginning to get to a point where she felt like this was her fault.
A while ago, he confessed to her that she was the only one that could bring him out of his melancholy state, she was clinging to the fact that maybe that was still true.
There was a reason and if she talked to him then maybe she could stop him.
"No way," Lucas told her. "You're not leaving this room."
"He already fired the gun twice," she informed, "That means two people could be dead. He could kill more and the police aren't fast enough. C'mon, Lucas, please? Think."
"If he sees us, he will kill us," he exclaimed. He couldn't believe he had to explain how dangerous this was. "We can't go out there."
"Lucas, I'm going alone," she took a deep breath. Seeing his reaction told her that he was scared and hated the idea even more. "I can do this alone."
"You're crazy if you think I'm gonna let you walk out of here."
"There's no other way," she yelled. "He will kill everybody if he has the chance. You don't know what he's capable of - "
"That's exactly why you're not leaving. I can't let you, Riley."
"Lucas," she wiped the tears from his eyes, "Do you think I'll be able to live with myself if I wait here and do nothing? Two people could be dead. What if there is a third gunshot? What do we do then? Hide while someone else gets murdered?"
"I can't let you leave," he nearly cried.
"You have to," she kissed his forehead. "I promise you, I will be back."
He nodded eventually and Riley reached for her phone. She went to his contact and called him. The waiting was excruciating, but he finally picked up.
"Riley?"
"Geb."
–
1:39 pm
Officer Parker walked into the school office and looked at the lady at the front desk. "Is Geb Carter in class?" she asked the lady.
The lady looked at the officer and raised a brow, "Is something wrong?" she asked.
"We have reason to believe that a student of yours is armed with a gun. We need to know if he's in this school."
The lady was hesitant before knowing this but she obliged, "Geb Carter, right? Is that correct?"
"Yes."
She typed his name onto the computer and it showed that he was in class before they went to lunch. This meant that he was returning. "Yes. The attendance list shows that he was in class."
She sighed, "Geb Carter is in this school, for all we know he is armed. We need you to put this school into lockdown."
–
2:07 pm
"So you guys haven't like...gone there?" Isadora asked Anthony. She was curious about his relationship with this mystery guy he would not tell her about. She knew she should give it a rest, but she refused to.
He allowed her to guess because it was someone from their school and she nearly squealed from excitement.
"Well, there are only like three openly gay guys in our school so it shouldn't be hard, right?" Isadora looked at him and he shrugged letting her know that he would not be helping her. "Steven?"
He shook his head no, "He's not my type." Steven was a goth, wearing dark clothes and cutting type of guy. He liked listening to heavy music and wore strong eyeliner which made him look scary. That wasn't something Anthony looked in for a guy.
"Charlie?"
"The one Riley dated back in middle school?" Anthony questioned.
"No. The other one. The gay one."
Isadora was wrong again. He knew she would never guess it was Matías which was why he allowed her to guess in the first place. And even if she did guess right, he would lie about it. "I think Charlie had a crush on me a few years ago." It was true. During their freshman year, Anthony noticed that Charlie would stare at him in the locker room. He was weirded out at the time because he didn't know he was gay too but it was obvious with Charlie. "Who knows? He still might."
She chuckled, "So if it's not him then that leaves Sammy?"
"It's not him either."
"What?" she asked. "If I didn't know any better I would've guessed Matías - "
As soon as she said that, everybody's phone in the classroom chimed. He wondered why they all went off at the same time but when he looked at his phone he saw why. The text message read:
Geb Carter is the active shooter. Matías Reyes told me to get the word out.
"Everybody phones off," their teacher spoke.
"Says that he left class to find Seth Carrion," Isadora finished reading the message. "Isn't he your friend? You should be - "
"I need to go," he went to stand up but she pulled him down.
"What? Go where?"
"I need to go find him before he gets killed," Anthony informed. "I'll be back."
"You can't go you'll get hurt." She didn't think she had to tell him this but she did anyway. When she saw that he was still determined, she looked into his eyes and that was when she realized something. "Wait," he stopped moving, It's him, isn't it?" a smile grew on her lips, "Matías is the one."
Anthony didn't answer her. He just ran out of the classroom, ignoring his teachers screams telling him to stay put.
He didn't know where to go. He just ran and ran, took many turns, ran back a few steps, double checked halls but found nothing. He really hoped that he wouldn't stumble across a body and the good thing was that he didn't. As he got tired of running and started to walk, he noticed that he could hear footsteps approaching him. He backed himself against a corner and prepared to come in to contact with whomever it was. If it was Geb, he was ready to strike.
As soon as the person crossed him, he noticed that it wasn't Geb nor Matías, it was Lucas. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "Get your ass to class."
"Why are you here?" he questioned as well. "You should be in class too."
"I ran out when I saw that Matías had done the same. He's out there somewhere and I need to find him."
"Wherever he is I'm sure he's safe. I'm trying to look for Riley," he confirmed. When Geb agreed to meet with her, he was scared. He was confident that he wants to do something to her and he can't let that happen. He thought that they were going together but she told him to stay in the janitors closet because she couldn't risk his safety. He waited for a few minutes but then came to the conclusion that he shouldn't listen to her so he walked out in hopes that he could find her. "She's with him right now in the old newspaper room, the one Riley used to work in. She's trying to reason with him so that he could stop."
"Do you think that was a smart idea?"
"If I did I wouldn't be looking for her." He bit his lip and looked around the empty school, "Matías is safe. Riley is the one with Geb. Do you think you can help me?"
"What do you mean help?"
He looked at Anthony, the only guy who he has considered his true friend in New York. "Just follow me."
–
2:09 pm
Leaving Lucas in that room was one of the hardest things she has ever had to do. It was so hard for her because it felt like a permanent goodbye. It felt like a part of her was leaving something behind and it hurt her.
She thought the hard part was over but it wasn't. It had just begun. The walk to the old newspaper room she and Maya used to work in every day was scary. It was scary because she knew the man that waited inside it was dangerous. When she reached the door, she couldn't find the strength within her to enter. She felt like this was it. This was how she was going to die.
Dozens and dozens of memories with Lucas, Maya, and Matías came to her and she remembered that she wasn't here just for her own safety, but for the safety of hundreds of students. Sure she was scared, but thinking of others gave her the confidence to open the door.
As soon as she did, she gasped. Standing inside the room was Geb, aiming a gun at Matías' head.
"Hey, princess," he spoke.
She couldn't understand why Matías was with him. He told her he was safe. "Don't hurt him," she pleaded. She could see a red mark on his cheek and she began to understand that he already had. "Just put the gun down."
He didn't listen.
"Why are you doing this?" she finally asked. It had been something she wanted to know. It was the million dollar question and he hesitated to answer. "Geb."
"Because you hurt me," he almost yelled. "I tried to apologize for everything I did. I was ready to change for you and you didn't even care." As he spoke, he waved the gun around, if he accidentally fired it the bullet would be unpredictable. "You were too busy spending time with Lucas."
"I'm sorry," she was sincere and tried to be as calming as she could. With each word, she spoke she tried to get closer to him.
"I was sorry for everything," he cried, "For knowing about Nina's killer, for letting Kayla try to kill your friends, for trying to ruin your reputation, and for intentionally ruining Matías' and Anthony's friendship...everything. But you just wouldn't listen."
"I should've," she comprehended. She hated him so much and she was wrong for disregarding his feelings. "But this won't change anything. None of it matters anymore. Just please put it down."
"Take another step and I'll shoot," he warned the gun on Matías' head. "I will shoot."
"Geb," he tried to speak but it was hard to when a gun was aimed at his temple. "Listen, man, you don't have to do this. Don't shoot - "
"Shut the fuck up," he yelled. "Shut the fuck up!"
"Calm down, please," Riley begged.
"Don't tell me to calm down! You never cared about me so don't start now - "
"You're gonna hurt someone - "
"I already have," he interrupted. His glaring eyes staring maliciously into hers. "I loved you! I knew you were mad at me but I didn't think you would ignore me like this. To completely forget about me. About what we had."
"I didn't, okay. I still remember. I remember everything, but this won't change anything. Geb, there are police outside, you can get yourself killed so please put the gun down."
He sighed frustrated because he knew about the police. He barely got the change to hide from a woman who was looking through the school as soon as the lockdown started. "You," he aimed the gun at a window. "Get the hell out."
When Riley turned to look at where he was pointing, she saw both Anthony and Lucas standing there. She sighed because they weren't supposed to be in there. Now there were more people in danger than before.
"Get in here," he yelled at them. They were left with no choice but to enter the same room she was in. "Lock the door."
Anthony wanted to hit him. To grab Matías and get out of there but that was too dangerous to even think about it. He listened to what he was told and made sure the door was locked.
"I should kill you," he shifted the gun towards Lucas, but Riley got in front of him. Lucas tried to move her, to protect her but Geb didn't allow it. "He didn't do anything. He never tried to hurt you."
"But he did," Geb returned his attention to Matías and Anthony grew tense. He could feel his own fists ball.
"Don't touch him," he warned. When he realized he had said something that Geb would surely act on, he sighed.
"Like this?" Geb asked before slapping Matías.
"Please - "
"Only because you said it," he stood back up and walked back towards Riley. "I was the one who gave you the polaroids," he admitted. "Did you know that?"
"That was you?" she asked. The polaroids played a big part in arresting Hyde and she couldn't believe she didn't question where they came from. "How? How did you get them?"
"My dad and Hyde are best friends. I would go to his house every day when I was younger. A week after Maya and Missy found Lauren's body, he confessed and told me he killed her. I ransacked his place and found the box. I didn't give them to you until I was sure he was messing with you guys. I tried to help you, I was there for you and I was going to tell you but you ignored me. "Why do you think he showed up at my place the day he escaped?" he began to approach her but Lucas stepped in.
"You really wanna get shot, don't you?" he exclaimed while shoving him.
"Just stop. No one needs to get hurt."
Geb looked at Riley, she was breathing hard because she was both nervous and scared. She wanted to be as far away from him as possible and he noticed. "I did something good, for you. Because when I saw the video and then Matías getting into that accident...I knew I had to do the right thing, but look at how that turned out."
"What video?" Riley asked. She didn't know if she should speak or not but Geb made it seem like he would be referencing the video a lot.
"You don't know?" he turned to Anthony, "They don't know? Neither of you told them?"
She turned her attention to Anthony who was beside her, hoping that he would explain it to her but he didn't, he just looked away.
"Remember a while back when Ruben stopped coming to school?" Geb asked and waited for Riley and Lucas to nod. "Anthony here is the one to blame. Do you want to know why?" There was a silence, "Because Anthony nearly beat him to death. Even when we told him to stop."
"Here I'll show you how it went," he started to walk towards Matías and Anthony yelled at him to stop. He knew what he was about to do and he wanted to stop it. When Geb noticed that he took a step towards him, he pulled the gun on him and that caused him to stay put.
"Don't hurt him. Please."
"You chose the wrong day to come back," he nearly spat into Matías' face. "For those of you who missed it, the video went something like this," Geb hit him in the face with the gun and then continued to punch him. Matías tried to shield his head and his stomach but Geb didn't let him. He kicked his stomach, his back, his chest, his face, he kicked everything in his body and the beating continued for more than it should have.
Anthony didn't know for how long he would have to wait. He was seconds away from getting angry but Riley stopped him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and shook her head no. He had to stay in his place. By this time Matías was barely conscious. He wasn't moving and his eyes were struggling to stay open. Geb's eyes turned to Anthony in order to see his reaction. He smiled when he saw that he was in tears, but his hands were balled as if he was ready to hit someone. "Seth and I always knew you had a temper. Can you control it when his life is hanging by a thread?"
"Why didn't you tell me about the polaroids?" Riley tried to advert the topic. He was focusing too much attention on Anthony and Matías and she couldn't see either of them get hurt.
"I tried, but you just wouldn't respond to my goddamn texts. This is your fault," he aimed the gun at her. "If you were to just talk to me maybe this wouldn't have happened."
He stepped closer to her and pressed the gun to her head, "You're a dead bitch now."
"Geb," Anthony spoke seeing that Matías was struggling to breathe. "Please just let me see him. I wanna check if he's okay. He will die if I don't - "
"Good. He can join Seth."
The silence in the room was scarier than the fear they felt. "What?" Riley asked.
"Did you kill him?" Lucas asked. The look on his face scared him. Now that the rest knew he was capable of actually killing someone, everything was a hundred times worse. "Did you kill him?"
Geb ignored his questions and turned to look at Riley, pressing the gun on her face. She grimaced because it was starting to hurt and that was when she heard it.
He had fired the gun but she didn't feel anything. She looked around her and saw that everyone was okay. Even though their faces were surprised, they were all okay.
Geb's gun had jammed.
As soon as they realized this, they all made a run for it. The first thing Lucas did was tackle him and try and wrestle the gun out of his hand. Anthony ran towards Matías and lifted him so that he could sit upright. This allowed Matías to throw up the blood that had gathered in his throat which prevented him from breathing.
Riley watched Lucas and Geb. She didn't know what to do or how she could help but as soon as the gun left Geb's hand, she picked it up and aimed it at him.
"Get up!" she yelled. "Get up now!"
He obeyed and raised his arms in defense, "Kill me and you'll never find Missy."
Her eyes widened. She thought she didn't hear right but she did. So had Lucas, "She's missing. She has been for the past two weeks."
"She's has. But I know where she's at. Only I do."
"Then tell me," she spoke, her voice was firm and the tears in her eyes were starting to dry. "Tell me or I'll shoot you."
"You won't - " He was cut off the second he felt the bullet pierce through his knee. "God. Fuck," he pressed his hand against the wound and cried, "Riley, stop - "
She shot his other knee, "Where the hell is she?"
"My pool house. In my cabin, up on the mountain," he confessed. "Please, stop. Don't shoot, don't shoot."
Riley set the gun down on the table beside her and sighed. She wished she could feel remorse for what she had done, but she didn't. Not one goddamn bit.
–
2:15 pm
Riley and Lucas were outside the school now. The SWAT team entered their room and immediately ran to Geb, the others were told to place their arms behind their head and were lead to a safe spot to hide in front of the school. It was protected by police cars and ambulances.
Anthony waited until the paramedics helped Matías. He was too weak to move, too weak to stand and seeing him like this hurt him bad. He couldn't help but think of his car crash. It made him feel like this was somewhat similar.
Matías was onto a gurney now, hooked up to a nasogastric tube and IV. They wouldn't let Anthony get into the ambulance with him because he wasn't related to him, so he had to wait outside. "I'll be at the hospital as soon as you get there. I promise."
The ambulance left and he joined Riley. They were all there. All his friends.
"They still haven't found Maya," she told them, a dried up trail of tears was clear on her cheek. "I hope she's alive. Please let her be alive."
"Will Matías be okay?" Melissa Parker spoke with Anthony the second she joined them. She was concerned for him because Matías' brother was her boyfriend.
"They're taking him to the hospital," he answered. "But he'll be okay. I think they said that his lung collapsed."
"You're an officer, right? Riley asked, staring at the taller brunette.
"Yes. I am," she answered.
"Missy Bradford, she's a student who goes to this school and she has been missing for the past two weeks. Geb Carter confessed to being her kidnapper. She's on Melcrove Mountain. There's a cabin in there that belonged to his father. She's in the pool house."
The sudden information caught of her off guard but she thanked her before running off.
As soon as Riley turned her attention to the school's front gate, she saw something she so desperately needed. It was Maya. Alive and well. "Where were you?" she asked her friend the second she joined them. "I texted and texted, I thought you were dead."
"I couldn't make it to a class so I hid in the bathroom. My phone fell in the toilet the second I got there," she hugged her friend and wiped her tears. "I heard, is it true? Is Seth really dead?"
Riley was about to answer her when she noticed that Josh joined them. He pulled Maya to the side so they could talk. She knew she would feel better if he told her.
"Here he comes," Lucas informed as he stared at Geb. He was in handcuffs and the SWAT team walked him off. Staring at him felt like staring at the devil himself. He was scary and evil just like him.
The police car drove away with him in it, leaving them behind with fear and pain to remember him bye.
Even though they were wrapped underneath all this chaos, they felt like they were stronger. Like they had survived something no teenager should ever have to go through. "I want you to know that wherever you go, whether it's back to Texas or across the world, my love for you will remain just as strong," Riley told Lucas. "I will always love you."
He wiped the tears on his eyes and kissed her like it was the last time. He was sure that after today, his aunt and uncle would want him to go back to Texas immediately and it hurt him. He didn't want to leave Riley. "When I come back I'm coming for you, okay. I will always love you too."
No matter what happened, Riley and Lucas would stay together. Despite it all, they were in love and that was forever.
9 Months Later
November 22, 2018
Seven teenagers have come a long way.
They've seen and been through it all. And they've changed.
Thanksgiving was the time of year when things all around us become different. The leaves change colors, the air gets colder, the days get darker, it all changes.
For Maya, this change was the best because this holiday was the first holiday Josh was able to come home for. Maya just couldn't believe that the day finally came. She would actually be able to touch him and feel him instead of staring at him through a computer screen. As she waited for him to arrive, she sat on a couch with Riley and Lucas by her side, she watched as the parents prepared the food and set the dinner table which was covered in food preparations and decor. She couldn't help but grow even more anxious.
"Maya, are you okay?" Riley asked the blonde whose palms were so red she could physically see the sweat coming from them. "You don't look good."
"I'm fine - I'm like so good," she lied. "We talk almost every day so I feel normal. It's not like nothing has really changed between us. Other than the fact that we are now a 'thing' but we don't call each other a 'thing' but we know we're a 'thing,' does that make sense? I feel like it does but I also feel like it doesn't." Lucas and Riley stared at each other before they started to smile.
"She's really nervous," Lucas concluded.
"Am I really that obvious?" They both nodded. "He's been away for a while. I'm sure you'd be nervous too had you actually left New York."
A few months back, when things were still crazy, Lucas' aunt was convinced that this town was a horrible place. She was so scared that she wanted Lucas to move back to Texas so that he could be safe, but in the end, Lucas was able to reason with them and he got the chance to stay. Maya wished she was that lucky. But the luck Riley and Lucas had was some kind of magic when it came to relationships.
"I'm sure he's nervous too."
She shrugged, "I wouldn't know. I've never seen him get nervous. He's always been the one to keep me calm."
There was a knock on the door.
Maya stood on her feet in a blink of an eye and ran to the window to see whom it was that knocked. "It can't be him. It's too early. He wouldn't knock either because he's with Shawn - it's Missy. Thank God it's Missy."
When she opened the door she gave her a huge hug and then welcomed her in.
Missy was found that same day Geb was arrested. She had gone at least three days without sleep and food, she was in such a bad shape that she had to be carried out by the police because she couldn't walk.
"How's your baby girl?" Riley asked. Missy was pregnant around the same time she went missing. "She's really quiet for a newborn which is - not going to lie - the best thing has happened to me this month."
"...besides your daughter being born," Maya added and then shared a laugh with her.
A wave of silence fell on them. Geb was the father of Missy's baby.
"Has...he tried to contact you," Riley asked. She didn't know whether or not she should say his name so she figured it would be best if she didn't.
Missy ran a hand through her hair and tucked it behind her ear, "He has. But, it won't be any time soon before he gets a chance to see her. I don't think I want him to."
No one disagreed with her. Geb was a bad guy and that was the last thing Missy needed for her daughter. "Where are Anthony and Matías? Haven't spoken to them in the longest time. I hear they're dating now."
"Yeah," they all confirmed. They were shocked by the news too but happy at the same time. Nothing goes better than the two together.
"How did you guys find out?"
"Instagram," Lucas answered.
"Instagram," Maya followed.
"Anthony," Riley spoke. They all turned to her and raised a brow.
It was true. She knew before everybody else did and she didn't say anything because it wasn't her place to do so. It was such a cute moment because Anthony expressed how much he loved him and that he would give him the world. Her heart filled with warmth hearing him talk about Matías like that.
"Did he really?"
"Yeah," she confirmed. "The day before they posted about it, he came to me and told me. I helped revive their friendship and he wanted to thank me for that."
As if on cue, they walked inside the house and they immediately dropped the topic. "Told you they were talking about us," Anthony smiled and set the pie he had in his hands on the table.
"Sorry, we didn't mean - "
"We're not mad. It's just funny that's all."
"Hey, kids," Riley's mom called out. "Dinner will be ready soon."
The door opened and once again, Maya was the first to turn in the direction of it. When she saw that Shawn walked in and stood by the door, she furrowed her brows. "Where's - ?"
"Josh said he wants to talk to you before he comes in."
"He's here?"
Shawn nodded. "Yes. And he wants to speak with you."
She looked at her friends before she took a deep breath, stood up, and patted her dress so that it was clean and wrinkle-free. When she walked out the door, she saw him standing on the porch. He looked the same yet so different.
"Josh," she heard herself say. He turned around so that he could get a look at her. The smile he gave her made her feel powerful.
"Maya...you look, amazing."
She walked closer to him. "You do too."
For a moment there was a silence between them. Maya could see his hands from the corner of her eyes and she didn't know if he would grab her hand or not. "How's California?"
"It's very beautiful, very hot," he explained. He was beginning to catch her scent and that was when their eyes met.
"I see," she responded and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
There was another long-lasting silence and it wasn't until Josh spoke where things really began to change. "I just need a few more years, Maya. And then I'm coming back...to you."
She turned to look at him, "Josh I know. You don't need to feel like you owe me anything, I know you're coming back. That's why I am happy to see you. Because I know you'll keep your word."
He stepped closer to her, "I missed you, a lot."
Their eyes were locked on each other and she gulped, "You make me happy, I hope you know that."
He smiled and pressed his forehead against hers, "You've made me the happiest I've ever been." When their eyes locked again, Josh knew he had to take the perfect moment and kiss her.
And he did.
"I love you, Maya." He confessed to her. She stared at him for a few seconds longer, this time she studied not only the way he looked, but their future together. They had kept a promise for a few months now, that they are each others. And the more Maya realized, the more she fell in love with him.
"I love you too, Josh."
–
"Why are you in this room?" Anthony asked when he found Matías. He had left the living room and walked into a private room without letting anyone know. "Everyone's out there." Staring at him now made him feel so much better because a few months ago he was all bruised up. He had to stay in the hospital and it broke Anthony's heart to see him like that again. He had grown protective of him ever since.
"I needed time," he informed before he closed a photo album and set it on the table in front of him. "Come, sit with me."
Anthony was still standing by the door when he said this. He furrowed his brows and watched him before finally joining him. "What's up?"
"I have to ask you something," he said and then stopped to look at his reaction. "It's nothing serious so don't freak out."
"What is it?"
"When did you fall in love with me..." Matías asked.
"Hmm," Anthony said and then began to think. When he remembered, his face dropped but he continued to speak. "You were in a hospital bed."
Matías heart grew heavy. He could only imagine the fear Anthony felt and he knew that it couldn't compare to the fear they've felt. "I realized I was in love with you when we kissed for the first time. I couldn't understand why I cared about you so much, and then out of the nowhere, I realized it. I couldn't stop smiling."
"It's funny, you know," he took a deep breath and turned to him, "It took a life-threatening car accident to make me realize it."
He leaned his head against his and closed his eyes, "Car accident or not, you loved me. It doesn't need to be said on some huge romantic date."
They took advantage of this little moment. It had been a while since they've really talked like this because they've been so centered on the idea of having fun. When you're so close to death for the billionth time it holds you back when you're away from it - you feel free. "Why did you ask?" Anthony questioned. He thought it was weird for him to just bring up this conversation especially on this day.
"I don't know, it's just...still weird to me, you know. And weird isn't the word but I just can't believe that you're in my life. You've made it so much better."
He took his hand and kissed the front of it. "You make my life better too."
The both of them stayed like this for a few moments. It always felt great to be able to hold him and smell him like always, he radiated this warmth and confidence that Matías couldn't live without. "I remember the first day we spoke to each other."
"Yeah. So do I. I was into some trouble back then, but you helped me out of it."
"That's behind us now."
They looked into each other's eyes and shared a kiss. "I'm most grateful for you. I hope you know that."
"I always will."
–
"I'm really glad Missy is okay," Riley said as she turned to Lucas. Missy had gone to help Topanga set the table and judging from the laughter, she was getting along with them well. "She could've been dead."
"You could've too," Lucas told her. He reminded her constantly of the fear she caused him the day she decided to meet Geb when he was armed. It still scared him when he thought about it.
Riley shifted herself so that she could see him better, "Had I not done that someone could've died."
Lucas never knew what to say when Riley responded with this. He knew he didn't like her decision but he accepted the fact that she was just trying to do something right, and she saved so many lives because of it. "You're okay, that's all that matters."
Riley went to grab his hand, "I love that you are so protective of me."
He gave her a faint smile before talking again, "Do you want to come to Texas with me for New Years," he asked and watched as she lit up. "I'm only going for five days and then I'm coming back. It would mean a lot to me if you could come."
"You know I do," she kissed him. "I've never been. And then I can meet your friends from there, meet the rest of your family. I would love that so much."
Lucas loved that she was so happy to want to go with him.
"But, Christmas with my family this time."
"I agree," he smiled.
The topic changed after this. They began to talk about their life now and how news outlets finally stopped calling them and stopped with the interviews and it finally allowed them to breathe for a while. Riley always wanted to live a normal life where she had to worry about passing an exam over her friends dying. When a silence grew between her and Lucas, she looked out the window and thought.
"What do you think Josh and Maya are talking about?" she asked. "They haven't stepped in."
"Let's take a look," Lucas suggested and they both got off the couch. When they approached the window, they moved the curtain just a slight bit so that they couldn't be seen. But that wouldn't matter because as soon as they were able to realize what was going on, they saw that Maya and Josh were kissing.
"They're so cute," Riley chimed. She closed the curtain and they turned to each other.
"That was us when we first started kissing," Lucas said. When they first became boyfriend and girlfriend, kissing was all they could do.
"What do you mean? We're still like that."
"Till we're gray and old."
The door beside them opened and Maya and Josh walked in. As if on cue, Topanga walked into the living room and told them that the dinner was ready.
They all gathered around the table which was in a different room, a much bigger and better room. There was a wave of joy that washed over Riley because it seemed like for once all of her friends were safe and okay.
"Who wants to do the honors - ?"
"I do," Riley interrupted. Once she realized she was being too loud, she took a deep breath and spoke again. "I would like to."
"Okay," Shawn laughed. "Go ahead."
"For starters, I am grateful for being a survivor, I think that all of my friends can relate to that. We've been through so much yet we're here, and we've broke passed the tears and pain and even though we were broken, we've fixed ourselves. Alone." As she spoke, she looked around the room and stopped when her eyes landed on Maya. Maya used to be scared for her life because she knew someone was using her for their personal advantage. Her eyes moved to Missy, who had been kidnapped by her baby's father and starved for a few days. "We've been hunted and discarded like we were nothing for problems that others couldn't seem to fix," she said this because of Anthony and Matías. They were caught in a mistake over an innocent problem and because of it, Kayla tried to kill them. "We've tried to protect each other and even though we couldn't, we didn't stop," Lucas and Josh were perfect examples of that. They always felt like they needed to be this type of friend because safety was a big concern for them. They never wanted their friends to get hurt. "And lastly, we were just kids. But," she wiped the tears off her cheeks. "Like I said we are survivors and that's why we've become better people. In the end, good always wins."
She looked at her friends and smiled because she never really expressed to them how much she loved them. She was glad that they knew that now and that their friendship could go on for many more years. And that her relationship with Lucas could live just as long.
The End
Writers Note: So that wraps A Bullet in Time. The day I write this it is June 15, 2018 but you guys should be reading this sometime in October. I have to admit, I feel free. This story was tough to get through but it is one of my best works. Like I have never put so much thought into a story until this project came along. I am so proud of its outcome and I hope that you love it and that you learn that things happen in schools such as shootings which must be prevented. I don't just want you to love this story for the relationships but for the message.
So thank you so much for this opportunity. For the readers and the reviewers, I definitely wouldn't do it without you and I truly mean that. You are my source of inspiration which is why I do what I do.
For the last time on this journey,
Follow, Favorite, and Review
Goodbye...