A/N This is a trigger warning for everyone before reading. This story is going to deal with a lot of mature themes and will be violent and sad, with some major character death in a very real and horrifying situation that is happening world wide. I just want to preface this saying that I'm not glorifying this act at all. If you are sensitive to content regarding school shootings, please don't ready this A/N

Chapter 1

Monday after Homecoming

October 8th, 2007

The day started out normal as Kim parked in the senior parking lot with her boyfriend, Ron, in the passenger seat going on about the Broncos game yesterday.

"I'm telling you Kim," Ron said. "This loss to the Chargers is just embarrassing to the entire is gonna get fired if he keeps it up like this."

"Ron," Kim said with a smile, shutting off the car. "I mean this in the nicest way possible, I really do, but I could care less about the NFL."

Ron looked over at her and smiled as well.

"I suppose you're right," Ron said. "Just been more into football since this season is going so well. Starting to get some college letters about a possible scholarship. Colorado, Kansas State, Nebraska. These are big steps since my lack of letters at the start of the year."

"And I'm so proud of you for that," Kim said, getting out of the car after grabbing her bag. "Those schools have also offered me, so we can take some visits together and see if any of them are a good fit."

"And you're still good about the whole Homecoming thing?" Ron asked, coming around the front of her car as well. "And Bonnie."

"So not the drama," Kim said, going over to him and pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Bonnie had her moment in the sun and I had the feeling she needed it. Now she's got Junior and should stay out of our way for the rest of the year."

"Still an odd fit in my mind," Ron said. "But I suppose I would feel that way when we would find out about any of the villains we battle getting in a dating type relationship."

"Now that we can agree on," Kim said, grabbing Ron's hand as they headed inside the school.

The walk through the parking lot was as normal as any walk was. Ron and Kim were idly chatting about random things. Kim glanced over to her right at one point and saw Ron Reiger sitting in his car by himself, loud music coming from his car even though all of his doors and windows were shut. She hadn't spoken to him since the whole Homecoming incident where Bonnie tricked him into rigging the system, and really didn't see him at school all that much the week after the announcement before the dance. He had his head down on the steering wheel and wasn't looking up, and Kim just shook it off. Her Ron had always said Reiger was online playing Zombie Slayer a lot, having double or triple the hours in the game that both Ron and Felix had combined. She just figured he stayed up too late and was getting a nap in before the bell rang.

Entering the school, the Homecoming banners were starting to be taken down and the next set of decorations were being prepared, being football and volleyball banners as both of the teams were in good position to be a high seed in their respective District tournaments and a good chance of making State. Kim knew that she had volunteered to help as well, so that's where she would be headed after stopping at her locker.

Kim and Ron both reached her locker and Ron leaned on the side as Kim opened it up and started putting her books away.

"Kim," a voice called and she turned and saw Monique walking up.

"Hey Mon," Kim said, smiling. "What's up?"

"Oh just getting ready to start another fantastic week at the glorious place that is Middleton High School," Monique said. "You guys dipped a little early Friday night after the dance."

Kim and Ron both blushed at that point, Kim turning to look into her locker and Ron glancing up at the ceiling.

"I'm guessing those diverted looks that my assumptions are correct in your evening activities that day," Monique said, a devilish smirk on her face.

"I gotta go to a football meeting," Ron said, wanting nothing more than to avoid this conversation with Monique and quickly hightailed it away, Rufus laughing in his pocket.

Monique's gaze went from Ron back over to Kim, who peeked over at her and sighed.

"You can't tell anyone," Kim said after a second. "Okay? If my dad finds out, I'm going to be grounded for the rest of my life and Ron is going to end up on a rocket headed towards the nearest black hole."

"DWAI," Monique said, and Kim looked at her with a slightly blank stare. "Don't worry about it. I won't tell anyone anything, but you have to give me some details."

"Like what?" Kim asked, leaning on her own locker at this point, knowing she wasn't getting out of this conversation.

"First of all," Monique said. "How was it?"

"Well I really have nothing to compare it to," Kim said. "It was both our first time after all. There were awkward parts to be sure, on both of our ends. But it was also the most amazing I've ever felt."

"That's because you two aren't just doing it to have sex," Monique said. "You two love each other, it makes it so much different."

"You haven't done anything like that," Kim asked. "Have you?"

"Girl it's okay for you to say 'have sex' around me," Monique said. "We're 18 after all, and not at the dinner table with your parents."

"Sorry," Kim said. 'Force of habit. Have you had sex?"

"Never all the way," Monique said. "Got close with a couple guys but didn't feel right enough to take that step."

"I'm sure you'll get there," Kim said.

"Girl I'm in no rush," Monique said. "I could get it whenever I wanted to, but I want something like you and Ron have."

Kim chuckled and then grabbed her books and closed her locker.

"You gonna help me take down the homecoming decorations?" Kim asked. "I volunteered for the gym."

"Only if you keep giving me details," Monique said.

"I'll do my best," Kim said, and the two of them headed to the gym.

Monique asked a lot of questions and Kim answered the best she could, only blushing a few different times when some of the questions got a little more personal than they were already dealing with.

As they walked into the gym, a large group was already in there, laughing and talking, drinking their morning coffee and other drinks, and working on the decorations. Their school Deputy, Thomas, was casually watching and chatting with another teacher.

"Good morning Deputy Thomas," Kim said politely, always having a good relationship with the school's security officer assigned to them by the Sheriff's department. "How was your weekend? The kids have a good time at the football game?"

"That they did," Thomas said. "My little boy has now decided that he is gonna be Ron for Halloween and little Val has been insistent on getting an outfit just like yours to be yours so she can be yours."

"I'll get in touch with my designer," Kim said. "Just let me know her measurements and I'll have one sent over."

"Oh Kim you really don't have to do that," Thomas said.

"It's no big," Kim said. "I love those little ones and anything we can do to help make their lives more fun I will gladly do. It's crazy to think that they're already in first grade."

"Crazier to think you're graduating this year," Thomas said.

"Just don't remind my mom," Kim said with a chuckle. "I think she doesn't like the reminder more than anyone."

"You're the best Kim," Thomas said.

"Once again, no big," Kim said, heading with Monique to the other side of the gym where they would start on their own part to take down those decorations. After they were done with those, the replacement banners were already sectioned off and would be put in the same spots.

Kim and Monique settled into their own work, chatting and chuckling idly as they worked and lost focus on the rest of the room, as most people had.

This was evident when Ron Reiger walked into the gym from the outside, an automatic rifle in his hands and a hard look on his face.

A/N

There it is, Chapter 1 of this challenge I'm going for. Recently, I've been looking to challenge myself in my writing by tackling the very real and hard issues that our world is going through, and to express the feelings of all parties and provide an accurate descriptions of a very scary situation from every party. The next chapters are going to be tough and it might be a long time between uploads as I make sure to get everything right.

Again, I want to state that I am not glorifying this awful act.

A/N