Seth Cohen sat bored in his chair during English class. School had started, his senior year, and everyone had returned form the disastrous summer. It was already November, and the past summer's events did not want to be remembered. Ryan was back, Theresa was still pregnant, and Summer hated Seth's guts. Not that he could blame her. He had left so suddenly, leaving her hurt and confused. Without Seth, and with Marissa moping about Ryan, Summer had relied on the one thing she fully comprehended: Bitchiness. She wouldn't give Seth the light of day, , ignoring him every time he came near. It felt so much like last year, just there was no Anna. Seth had already gotten used to being ignored. He had dealt with it for the first sixteen years of his life.
It was an ordinary day, nothing out of the usual. All four of them, Seth, Ryan, Marissa, Summer, were in different classes: Seth in English, Ryan in history, Marissa in pre-calculus, and Summer in study hall. Things were finally settling down after the summer. No one had really enjoyed the summer, each one losing something. Seth was grounded until Chrismukkah, and that suited him fine. He really had nowhere else to go. Ryan was allowed out, but mostly he hung out with Seth after school and they played video games. Both Marissa and Summer had found new guys, so Ryan and Seth were out on the curb. Seth stared out the window, having finished the writing assignment. He noticed a van pull into in the parking lot, but thought nothing of it.
Last day of the rest of my life
I wish I would've known. . .
Seth passed his paper up when the teacher called for them. He sat in the back of the class, by choice, so no one could see him. At the moment in school, he was called, "The Emo freak who tried to get with Summer Roberts," and he really didn't feel like getting teased. About a quarter of the water polo team was in his class.
Cause I didn't kiss my mama good-bye
I didn't tell her I loved her and how much I care. . .
Seth looked around the classroom. Just about everyone was there. Except for a guy two seats over. Seth didn't know the guy, and personally, didn't really want to know the guy. Seth preferred to keep to himself other than his closest friends. Which was Ryan and Marissa. When Seth came back from his sailing adventure, both him and Marissa apologized to each other about what they had said. It didn't matter.
Or thank my pops for all the talks
And all the wisdom he shared. . .
Seth tried to pay attention, but as hard as he tried, he couldn't focus. Something wasn't right, but he couldn't put his finger on it. But he had to pay attention. It was his last year, his last attempt. He couldn't screw up now. He wanted to go to a good college and everything. Even if he didn't fully know what he wanted to be. As of then, he was Undeclared.
Unaware, I just did what I always so
Everyday, the same routine
Before skating off to school
But who knew that this day wasn't like the rest. . .
Something halted Seth from even attempting to pay attention. It sliced through the air and silenced all talk. Every single person heard it, but doubted it was what it was. Until they heard the scream. The scream after the gunshot. The scream that told everyone to run for their lives. But for a moment, everyone sat frozen in their seats, trying to understand. Seth was one of them, still not getting it. But once they did, then they ran. More screams came from the first floor and Seth was on the third. Harbor high was a big school. Good thing, Seth thought as he joined the crowd racing out of the room, it would be a while until the person got up two flights of crowded stairs. But he was wrong.
Another gunshot rung through the air, this time on the third floor. Part of Seth wanted to run for it, and the other half wanted to hide in the teacher's closet. But the first half won, so he continued to try to get through the crowd. More gunshots went off and the screams increased. Seth could barely comprehend it in his mind what was going on.
Call me blind, but I didn't see it coming
Everybody was running
But I couldn't hear nothing
Except gun blasts, it happened so fast. . .
Finally Seth made it through the door. People were running around in havoc. The stairs were horribly filled and Seth could see a few bodies on the floor, bleeding. He wanted to help, but knew they didn't have much hope. So Seth reluctantly joined the crowded staircase. He would still have another flight after this. He planned on darting to the stairs on the opposite end of the hall. Those were always less crowded.
Seth looked and looked for a familiar face, but found none. He knew Summer was on the ground floor, in the library and he prayed she wasn't victim to one of the gunshots. Seth didn't know what floor Marissa was on, but knew Ryan was on the second. Seth looked around for him as he got off the stairs, but no luck. He bet Ryan was already on the ground floor and Summer and hopefully Marissa were already out of the school by that time.
Maybe this kid was reaching out of love
Or maybe for a moment
He forgot who he was. . .
So many thoughts were racing through Seth's mind. Who was doing this? Who would be so evil to start shooting random people? Yeah, sure, Seth didn't like a lot of these people at his school, but he would never go on a shooting rampage. The second floor was almost to a close for Seth. He wanted to get out. But first find Summer. He knew she still cared for him. After this, they would be fine. She'd forget all about her guy of the week, and they'd walk off into the sunset. That is, if they got out. Seth didn't know if Summer was safe, but he knew he sure wasn't.
The gunshots increased and increased as the screams never stopped. He saw more and more people on the floor and it broke his heart just to leave them there. He didn't know if he would ever see them again. Just because they may have made fun of Seth at a point, it didn't mean they should die. He believed there was good in everyone, no matter what. The only people he didn't know about were these shooters.
Or maybe this kid this kid just wanted to be hugged
Whatever it was
I know it's because
We are, we are, the youth of the nation. . .
One of the shooters came into focus. He was practically hidden amongst the crowd of frantic people. Students and teachers alike just ran past him, not knowing he was the one shooting people. But Seth saw him and Seth was more terrified than ever before. He had never seen something like this before in his life. He might have heard stuff happening like this on the news, but it had never hit this close to home. Literally. But Seth had to get to the stairs. That was his way out. He couldn't go back the other way. So he continued running down the hall watching the shooter out of the corner of his eye.
We are, we are, the youth of the nation. . .
Seth's hearing failed him. He didn't know why or how, but it just stopped. And so had he. He wasn't running anymore, just watching the people run past. Seth wanted to run, to get away, but his legs didn't listen. He urged them forward, but they stood still. And then the delayed pain in his stomach came to him. It hurt like hell, and at first Seth thought it was just a bad stomachache, so he put his hand there to console it. But when he removed his hand, he saw something he hadn't expected.
Blood.
All at once, Seth's legs gave out and he grabbed onto a locker handle to try to keep himself up, but couldn't. Seth fell to the ground and looked around for a few seconds more. Everything was in slow motion, like a movie reel slowing its speed to make the scene more dramatic. Seth tried to scream, but nothing worked anymore. His life flashed in front of his eyes and he thought of Summer. His only love.
And then he shut his eyes.
Summer could hear the first gunshot clear and easy. It was barely a hundred feet away, and she sat alone at a table in the library. She thought she had heard wrong, but when she heard the scream, she knew she had heard right. Her immediate reaction was to run, but the person had to be close. And he was getting closer. She followed in suit as the rest of her class began to get under their table. Summer heard the library door open. She inhaled and vowed not to exhale until the person left. She could hear screams and gunshots from above. If the shooter was a student, Summer was screwed. She had made fun of so many people, and she expected to be one fo the first shots. But she heard gunshots and they didn't hit her. She was okay. And then she heard the guy leave. Summer exhaled. She had survived. But the person under the table next to her hadn't. Summer stared, eyes wide in fear, at the boy. Immediately tears welled in Summer's eyes and she tried to not let them fall, but they did. Someone was dead.
Again, she followed everyone else as they ran for the door. The hall was packed from wall to wall. Summer hadn't noticed there were that many people in the school. She didn't head into the hall, waiting it out in front of the library. She could still hear the gunshots and the screams were deafening. Her thoughts went to Seth and it made her sick. He was on the third floor. Would he be able to get out?
Summer had thought the teachers might try to put some order into getting everyone out, but no. they were in the middle of the crowd, racing to get out. Obviously it was every person for themself. The gunshots were reaching a never-ending level. Summer couldn't take anymore, but she wanted to wait for Seth.
"SUMMER!" She heard a voice scream. She stayed by the library door and looked back. She could see Marissa coming.
"Over here!" Summer yelled and put her arm up so Marissa could se. tears were streaming down Marissa's face, and blood was on her shirt. Summer could immediately tell Marissa had seen some scary stuff. Finally, Marissa reached Summer. They hugged, glad to see each other alive. "Are you okay?"
"Oh God Sum. I watched someone die. We were putting up math problems on the board and the guy came in, and shot. The girl fell on me. And, oh God Summer, it was horrible. We have to get out of here." Marissa stared at Summer seriously and sadly.
"We can't." Summer objected.
"Why not? We have to go!" Marissa pleaded. She couldn't understand why Summer wanted to stay. People were being shot left and right. Why oppose to leaving?
"What about Seth? And Ryan? Are we just gonna leave them here?" It had been the first time Summer mentioned Seth in so long.
"We don't know where they are. We can't get them. We have to get out."
"What if they don't come out?"
"They will."
"I can't leave Seth. How can you leave Ryan?" Summer let more tears fall. She hated herself for being mean and ignoring Seth. It didn't matter anymore.
"Get down!" Marissa yelled as she saw the shooter look in their direction. "Summer, if we don't get out now, we are gonna die." Marissa looked at Summer fearfully. She didn't want to leave Ryan, or even her boyfriend, but she had to. They had to fend for themselves.
"Well, let's just stay here for a bit. Ya know, wait it out." Summer suggested. She wanted to see Seth and Ryan running to them and then they would leave together, and somehow, happiness would come out of this tragedy.
"Fine. We'll wait a bit more, but then we have to get out." Marissa succumbed to Summer's begging. Both looked into the crowded hallway for Ryan or Seth. They had forgotten all about their recent boyfriends, only looking for the ones they cared most for. Their boyfriends had obviously forgotten them too, hopefully, since they didn't see neither of them. The gunshots and screams never stopped, and Summer wondered where the police were. Didn't anyone tip them off? People were dying, wasn't that why there was a police? To stop people from hurting other people?
"Coop, I don't see them!" Summer screamed. Tears were pouring down her face. She looked at Marissa, who was also crying.
"I don't see them either. Maybe we should start to get out." Marissa was really scared. She had never seen anyone die, but now she had. Someone died in her arms. She would never forget those images. They were in her forever.
Who's to blame for the lives that tragedies claim. . .
"No. We have to wait for a bit longer." Summer was so adamant on staying. She wanted to Seth safe so badly.
"Sum, we need to go. They may be outside already!" Marissa couldn't take it anymore. She needed to get out.
"But..." Summer began to object.
"Please Summer. We need to leave." Marissa was about to pull Summer by the arm so she could get out. She did not want to die. And if they stayed in there, they would. "Come on." Marissa urged. Another gunshot went off by them. Marissa stared at Summer fearfully.
"All right." Summer nodded. They got up and joined the crowd. They began running out, just like the rest of the school was. The screams never ceased, but weirdly the gunshots stopped for a moment. But one gunshot started them all up over agin. One that made Summer gasp in surprise. She stopped for a second, but Marissa pulled her on. Little did they know, that shot hit Seth Cohen.
But on they ran, desperately trying to escape from the school . As was the rest of the school, and every so often, someone would fall down.
No matter what you say
It don't take away the pain
That I feel inside, I'm tired of all the lies. . .
They were getting closer and closer. The doors could be seen and they were in clear view. They raced to the door, hoping nothing would happen. But nothing did, and they finally reached the doors. The air smelled so sweet to them. Summer thought she would never see the outside again, but she had. Cop cars and ambulances flooded the front of the school. Summer had never seen so many in one place.
Don't nobody know why
It's the blind leading the blind. . .
"Ryan!" Summer heard Marissa yell from next to her. She looked to where Marissa was
looking. There sat Ryan, on the back of an ambulance, nursing a bruised arm with an ice pack. He looked up and saw Marissa, who right away ran to him. He dropped his ice pack and went to her and they hugged. Summer could see how much they really loved each other. It made Summer want Seth more.
"Marissa....." Ryan whispered into Marissa's ear as they hugged. Marissa immediately fell into his arms. Summer walked nearer to them, growing more awkward with every step she took. Marissa let go of him.
"Ryan, are you okay?" Marissa asked after seeing Ryan's arm.
"I'm fine. How about you? Summer?" He questioned, clearly concerned about the two girls.
"We're fine. But what did you do?" Marissa pointed to his hurt arm.
"Oh, this?" It's nothing. I tried to take on the guys." It was just like Ryan. Always trying to be the hero.
"You could've been killed." Marissa commented sternly.
"But I didn't." Ryan offered as they walked back to the ambulance he had been sitting on. He reapplied the ice pack and they sat down.
I guess that's the way the story goes
Will it ever make sense
Somebody's got to know. . .
"Ryan, have you seen Cohen?" Summer asked. She had used Ryan's real name, for once.
"No. I was hoping he had found you guys. I guess he didn't." Ryan answered sadly.
"Coop, what if he's still in there?" Tears fell down Summer's face. She wanted to see Seth.
"He'll be okay." Marissa reassured her, but it wasn't helping. They stared at the front door, waiting for Seth. But he wasn't coming out. Only panic-stricken students and teachers were. Seth wasn't amongst them. It chilled Summer to the bone, what was happening. Why? Why was this happening? What had they done so horribly wrong to deserve this? All this pain, for what? What had these guys achieved?
Marissa began telling her tale to Ryan, who listened intently. He was afraid. How could this happen? Hadn't they had a sucky enough summer for this not to happen? Obviously not.
"Where the hell is Cohen?" Summer interrupted Marissa. All Summer could think of was Seth.
"What?" Marissa asked, not full hearing Summer.
"Cohen hasn't come out. Why the hell hasn't he come out?" Summer was sick in worry.
"Summer, he'll come out. It'll be okay." Ryan tried his luck at encouraging Summer.
"How? How do you know that?" Ryan didn't have an answer. He was left speechless. There wasn't really any use lying. He didn't know if it would be okay. He didn't know what was gonna come next. No one did.
There's got to be more to life than this
There's got to be more to everything
I thought exists
We are, we are, the youth of the nation. . .
Song: "Youth of the Nation" by P.O.D.
It was an ordinary day, nothing out of the usual. All four of them, Seth, Ryan, Marissa, Summer, were in different classes: Seth in English, Ryan in history, Marissa in pre-calculus, and Summer in study hall. Things were finally settling down after the summer. No one had really enjoyed the summer, each one losing something. Seth was grounded until Chrismukkah, and that suited him fine. He really had nowhere else to go. Ryan was allowed out, but mostly he hung out with Seth after school and they played video games. Both Marissa and Summer had found new guys, so Ryan and Seth were out on the curb. Seth stared out the window, having finished the writing assignment. He noticed a van pull into in the parking lot, but thought nothing of it.
Last day of the rest of my life
I wish I would've known. . .
Seth passed his paper up when the teacher called for them. He sat in the back of the class, by choice, so no one could see him. At the moment in school, he was called, "The Emo freak who tried to get with Summer Roberts," and he really didn't feel like getting teased. About a quarter of the water polo team was in his class.
Cause I didn't kiss my mama good-bye
I didn't tell her I loved her and how much I care. . .
Seth looked around the classroom. Just about everyone was there. Except for a guy two seats over. Seth didn't know the guy, and personally, didn't really want to know the guy. Seth preferred to keep to himself other than his closest friends. Which was Ryan and Marissa. When Seth came back from his sailing adventure, both him and Marissa apologized to each other about what they had said. It didn't matter.
Or thank my pops for all the talks
And all the wisdom he shared. . .
Seth tried to pay attention, but as hard as he tried, he couldn't focus. Something wasn't right, but he couldn't put his finger on it. But he had to pay attention. It was his last year, his last attempt. He couldn't screw up now. He wanted to go to a good college and everything. Even if he didn't fully know what he wanted to be. As of then, he was Undeclared.
Unaware, I just did what I always so
Everyday, the same routine
Before skating off to school
But who knew that this day wasn't like the rest. . .
Something halted Seth from even attempting to pay attention. It sliced through the air and silenced all talk. Every single person heard it, but doubted it was what it was. Until they heard the scream. The scream after the gunshot. The scream that told everyone to run for their lives. But for a moment, everyone sat frozen in their seats, trying to understand. Seth was one of them, still not getting it. But once they did, then they ran. More screams came from the first floor and Seth was on the third. Harbor high was a big school. Good thing, Seth thought as he joined the crowd racing out of the room, it would be a while until the person got up two flights of crowded stairs. But he was wrong.
Another gunshot rung through the air, this time on the third floor. Part of Seth wanted to run for it, and the other half wanted to hide in the teacher's closet. But the first half won, so he continued to try to get through the crowd. More gunshots went off and the screams increased. Seth could barely comprehend it in his mind what was going on.
Call me blind, but I didn't see it coming
Everybody was running
But I couldn't hear nothing
Except gun blasts, it happened so fast. . .
Finally Seth made it through the door. People were running around in havoc. The stairs were horribly filled and Seth could see a few bodies on the floor, bleeding. He wanted to help, but knew they didn't have much hope. So Seth reluctantly joined the crowded staircase. He would still have another flight after this. He planned on darting to the stairs on the opposite end of the hall. Those were always less crowded.
Seth looked and looked for a familiar face, but found none. He knew Summer was on the ground floor, in the library and he prayed she wasn't victim to one of the gunshots. Seth didn't know what floor Marissa was on, but knew Ryan was on the second. Seth looked around for him as he got off the stairs, but no luck. He bet Ryan was already on the ground floor and Summer and hopefully Marissa were already out of the school by that time.
Maybe this kid was reaching out of love
Or maybe for a moment
He forgot who he was. . .
So many thoughts were racing through Seth's mind. Who was doing this? Who would be so evil to start shooting random people? Yeah, sure, Seth didn't like a lot of these people at his school, but he would never go on a shooting rampage. The second floor was almost to a close for Seth. He wanted to get out. But first find Summer. He knew she still cared for him. After this, they would be fine. She'd forget all about her guy of the week, and they'd walk off into the sunset. That is, if they got out. Seth didn't know if Summer was safe, but he knew he sure wasn't.
The gunshots increased and increased as the screams never stopped. He saw more and more people on the floor and it broke his heart just to leave them there. He didn't know if he would ever see them again. Just because they may have made fun of Seth at a point, it didn't mean they should die. He believed there was good in everyone, no matter what. The only people he didn't know about were these shooters.
Or maybe this kid this kid just wanted to be hugged
Whatever it was
I know it's because
We are, we are, the youth of the nation. . .
One of the shooters came into focus. He was practically hidden amongst the crowd of frantic people. Students and teachers alike just ran past him, not knowing he was the one shooting people. But Seth saw him and Seth was more terrified than ever before. He had never seen something like this before in his life. He might have heard stuff happening like this on the news, but it had never hit this close to home. Literally. But Seth had to get to the stairs. That was his way out. He couldn't go back the other way. So he continued running down the hall watching the shooter out of the corner of his eye.
We are, we are, the youth of the nation. . .
Seth's hearing failed him. He didn't know why or how, but it just stopped. And so had he. He wasn't running anymore, just watching the people run past. Seth wanted to run, to get away, but his legs didn't listen. He urged them forward, but they stood still. And then the delayed pain in his stomach came to him. It hurt like hell, and at first Seth thought it was just a bad stomachache, so he put his hand there to console it. But when he removed his hand, he saw something he hadn't expected.
Blood.
All at once, Seth's legs gave out and he grabbed onto a locker handle to try to keep himself up, but couldn't. Seth fell to the ground and looked around for a few seconds more. Everything was in slow motion, like a movie reel slowing its speed to make the scene more dramatic. Seth tried to scream, but nothing worked anymore. His life flashed in front of his eyes and he thought of Summer. His only love.
And then he shut his eyes.
Summer could hear the first gunshot clear and easy. It was barely a hundred feet away, and she sat alone at a table in the library. She thought she had heard wrong, but when she heard the scream, she knew she had heard right. Her immediate reaction was to run, but the person had to be close. And he was getting closer. She followed in suit as the rest of her class began to get under their table. Summer heard the library door open. She inhaled and vowed not to exhale until the person left. She could hear screams and gunshots from above. If the shooter was a student, Summer was screwed. She had made fun of so many people, and she expected to be one fo the first shots. But she heard gunshots and they didn't hit her. She was okay. And then she heard the guy leave. Summer exhaled. She had survived. But the person under the table next to her hadn't. Summer stared, eyes wide in fear, at the boy. Immediately tears welled in Summer's eyes and she tried to not let them fall, but they did. Someone was dead.
Again, she followed everyone else as they ran for the door. The hall was packed from wall to wall. Summer hadn't noticed there were that many people in the school. She didn't head into the hall, waiting it out in front of the library. She could still hear the gunshots and the screams were deafening. Her thoughts went to Seth and it made her sick. He was on the third floor. Would he be able to get out?
Summer had thought the teachers might try to put some order into getting everyone out, but no. they were in the middle of the crowd, racing to get out. Obviously it was every person for themself. The gunshots were reaching a never-ending level. Summer couldn't take anymore, but she wanted to wait for Seth.
"SUMMER!" She heard a voice scream. She stayed by the library door and looked back. She could see Marissa coming.
"Over here!" Summer yelled and put her arm up so Marissa could se. tears were streaming down Marissa's face, and blood was on her shirt. Summer could immediately tell Marissa had seen some scary stuff. Finally, Marissa reached Summer. They hugged, glad to see each other alive. "Are you okay?"
"Oh God Sum. I watched someone die. We were putting up math problems on the board and the guy came in, and shot. The girl fell on me. And, oh God Summer, it was horrible. We have to get out of here." Marissa stared at Summer seriously and sadly.
"We can't." Summer objected.
"Why not? We have to go!" Marissa pleaded. She couldn't understand why Summer wanted to stay. People were being shot left and right. Why oppose to leaving?
"What about Seth? And Ryan? Are we just gonna leave them here?" It had been the first time Summer mentioned Seth in so long.
"We don't know where they are. We can't get them. We have to get out."
"What if they don't come out?"
"They will."
"I can't leave Seth. How can you leave Ryan?" Summer let more tears fall. She hated herself for being mean and ignoring Seth. It didn't matter anymore.
"Get down!" Marissa yelled as she saw the shooter look in their direction. "Summer, if we don't get out now, we are gonna die." Marissa looked at Summer fearfully. She didn't want to leave Ryan, or even her boyfriend, but she had to. They had to fend for themselves.
"Well, let's just stay here for a bit. Ya know, wait it out." Summer suggested. She wanted to see Seth and Ryan running to them and then they would leave together, and somehow, happiness would come out of this tragedy.
"Fine. We'll wait a bit more, but then we have to get out." Marissa succumbed to Summer's begging. Both looked into the crowded hallway for Ryan or Seth. They had forgotten all about their recent boyfriends, only looking for the ones they cared most for. Their boyfriends had obviously forgotten them too, hopefully, since they didn't see neither of them. The gunshots and screams never stopped, and Summer wondered where the police were. Didn't anyone tip them off? People were dying, wasn't that why there was a police? To stop people from hurting other people?
"Coop, I don't see them!" Summer screamed. Tears were pouring down her face. She looked at Marissa, who was also crying.
"I don't see them either. Maybe we should start to get out." Marissa was really scared. She had never seen anyone die, but now she had. Someone died in her arms. She would never forget those images. They were in her forever.
Who's to blame for the lives that tragedies claim. . .
"No. We have to wait for a bit longer." Summer was so adamant on staying. She wanted to Seth safe so badly.
"Sum, we need to go. They may be outside already!" Marissa couldn't take it anymore. She needed to get out.
"But..." Summer began to object.
"Please Summer. We need to leave." Marissa was about to pull Summer by the arm so she could get out. She did not want to die. And if they stayed in there, they would. "Come on." Marissa urged. Another gunshot went off by them. Marissa stared at Summer fearfully.
"All right." Summer nodded. They got up and joined the crowd. They began running out, just like the rest of the school was. The screams never ceased, but weirdly the gunshots stopped for a moment. But one gunshot started them all up over agin. One that made Summer gasp in surprise. She stopped for a second, but Marissa pulled her on. Little did they know, that shot hit Seth Cohen.
But on they ran, desperately trying to escape from the school . As was the rest of the school, and every so often, someone would fall down.
No matter what you say
It don't take away the pain
That I feel inside, I'm tired of all the lies. . .
They were getting closer and closer. The doors could be seen and they were in clear view. They raced to the door, hoping nothing would happen. But nothing did, and they finally reached the doors. The air smelled so sweet to them. Summer thought she would never see the outside again, but she had. Cop cars and ambulances flooded the front of the school. Summer had never seen so many in one place.
Don't nobody know why
It's the blind leading the blind. . .
"Ryan!" Summer heard Marissa yell from next to her. She looked to where Marissa was
looking. There sat Ryan, on the back of an ambulance, nursing a bruised arm with an ice pack. He looked up and saw Marissa, who right away ran to him. He dropped his ice pack and went to her and they hugged. Summer could see how much they really loved each other. It made Summer want Seth more.
"Marissa....." Ryan whispered into Marissa's ear as they hugged. Marissa immediately fell into his arms. Summer walked nearer to them, growing more awkward with every step she took. Marissa let go of him.
"Ryan, are you okay?" Marissa asked after seeing Ryan's arm.
"I'm fine. How about you? Summer?" He questioned, clearly concerned about the two girls.
"We're fine. But what did you do?" Marissa pointed to his hurt arm.
"Oh, this?" It's nothing. I tried to take on the guys." It was just like Ryan. Always trying to be the hero.
"You could've been killed." Marissa commented sternly.
"But I didn't." Ryan offered as they walked back to the ambulance he had been sitting on. He reapplied the ice pack and they sat down.
I guess that's the way the story goes
Will it ever make sense
Somebody's got to know. . .
"Ryan, have you seen Cohen?" Summer asked. She had used Ryan's real name, for once.
"No. I was hoping he had found you guys. I guess he didn't." Ryan answered sadly.
"Coop, what if he's still in there?" Tears fell down Summer's face. She wanted to see Seth.
"He'll be okay." Marissa reassured her, but it wasn't helping. They stared at the front door, waiting for Seth. But he wasn't coming out. Only panic-stricken students and teachers were. Seth wasn't amongst them. It chilled Summer to the bone, what was happening. Why? Why was this happening? What had they done so horribly wrong to deserve this? All this pain, for what? What had these guys achieved?
Marissa began telling her tale to Ryan, who listened intently. He was afraid. How could this happen? Hadn't they had a sucky enough summer for this not to happen? Obviously not.
"Where the hell is Cohen?" Summer interrupted Marissa. All Summer could think of was Seth.
"What?" Marissa asked, not full hearing Summer.
"Cohen hasn't come out. Why the hell hasn't he come out?" Summer was sick in worry.
"Summer, he'll come out. It'll be okay." Ryan tried his luck at encouraging Summer.
"How? How do you know that?" Ryan didn't have an answer. He was left speechless. There wasn't really any use lying. He didn't know if it would be okay. He didn't know what was gonna come next. No one did.
There's got to be more to life than this
There's got to be more to everything
I thought exists
We are, we are, the youth of the nation. . .
Song: "Youth of the Nation" by P.O.D.