Chapter 12
Aftermath Part 1
Out of all my SYOC's this is the first one that I had ideas for, so this one will be updated first, then back to one of the others. I finally have my songs for Sectionals picked out, and one will be perfect, for being a group number. Anyways, on with the story. I may have already mentioned it, but I also have a story about Finn's step-brother attending McKinley High, called A Year Later if anyone wants to check that out, and leave a review.
Also, I will be updating It Takes a Team very shortly, I want to get my Finchel Wedding story caught up first, and then a couple other stories. Then I'll be back to this one.
The opening POV will be Connor, and a couple other students that weren't there, and Part 2 will be POV's of the students that were there, from there I think until Sectionals, I will be done with one and two parts.
Anyways, onto the story.
-McKinley Radio-
[Connor]
I sat at my laptop, watching Losers Take All when I heard it. Shots fired at McKinley High School. Holy shit! Had I heard right? No one would be dumb enough to shoot the school up, especially since the closest cop station is something like twenty seconds away. Then again, maybe that would be the reason, as to shoot the school up. It would give them the fame that they wanted. If they wanted to commit suicide, then why shoot the school up? Why not do it somewhere that they wouldn't get attention. Then I realized I was asking the questions over and over again. I leave the scene paused where they were about to perform Wasted and immediately get out my cell phone and text Maia.
Did you hear? Text me back – asap.
I was worried, then I remembered she hadn't said anything about going to the dance, but she could have changed her mind. I'll admit, even though, I was bisexual, I had feelings for her, even though, it was obvious, I hadn't said anything to her. I didn't want her to be caught up in this school shooting ordeal. Then my cell phone sings out I Will Wait the song, I had picked out for our ring tone, in which, she didn't know yet. I smiled, but I was still worried.
I heard. Please tell me you're safe, and that you didn't change your mind and go.
Nope. I'm home safe. Promise. I immediately text back.
I feel a little, as I feel comfort in knowing that she was safe. Then I wondered if there would be school tomorrow, and if there was, there had better be teachers, and the school guidance councilor ready to be open to it. Instead of feeling guilty, an idea pops in my head, and head to my laptop to get my broadcast ready.
"Hello, all of my listeners, well, if I have any listeners tonight. For those of you, who haven't heard, a shooting broke out tonight at McKinley's High School dance, and at the moment, no one knows of how many victims there are, if any," I announce, and then take a break, as I scan around my room. I wonder if Blake knew about this. He probably did, even if he was in Boston. Then I continue.
"Tomorrow, since, I'm assuming that there will still be school, I would wish that the teachers offer opportunities to talk about the incident, as well as the guidance councilors. I also have this idea, if anyone, aside myself wants to do it. I ask, that the school wears school colors tomorrow, as well as a ribbon pin, like those Breast Cancer ribbons that you see people wearing," I add. I smile to myself, hoping that I had helped a little, and wondered how many students would be listening. Then I immediately go over, and get my guitar.
"Now, before, I sign off for tonight, I would like to cover one of my favorite songs, in which, would become a big hit, and was written in fifteen minutes. Ladies, and gentlemen, I present to you, my cover of Youth of the Nation," I announce as I begin to strum the first few cords. Then I changed my mind to something else instead.
"Actually, I changed my mind. I have a better song instead," I announce, as I begin to cover Switchfoot's Dare You to Movie.
Welcome to the planet
Welcome to existence
Everyone's here
Everyone's here
Everybody's watching you now
Everybody waits for you now
What happens next
What happens next
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before
Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
Tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be
Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened before
[McKinley Radio]
[Ruby]
I was sitting home, checking out the newest Broadway musicals, when I heard it. Had Connor said it right? (Okay, yes, I confess, I listen to Connor's pod casts.) School shooting? McKinley wouldn't have one. Sue Sylvester would make damn sure of that, sure, Sue could be a psychotic bitch, but deep down inside, I was sure that she cared. Even a little. Even if she never showed it.
Then I remembered that Corey had gone, because, he was a senior, and it was required that the seniors attend for credit. Was he alright? Was he a victim? I had to know, and immediately pull out my cell phone, and text him. I wasn't his girlfriend. That was Destiny. I think.
Are you alright? Connor just announced it on his pod cast. I press send, hoping to get an answer back shortly.
I couldn't think about my Les Miserables audition. I wait for Corey to text me back, and think about how tomorrow would be at school. Then I check my Facebook, and see that the news had already spread, and that they had two shooting victims, and that one of the shooters had taken their own lives. The question wanders in my mind, probably the same question that everyone else would have in their minds: Is the person, I care about Okay, and why would a student want to shoot up the school?
I look at the clock, and see that it had been ten minutes, and Corey hadn't answered me back. Now, I was even more worried.
Finally, an answer back.
Fine. Just shaken. At hospital.
At that, I feel very little comfort, and sit back down on my bed, and stare out the window. Tonight was going to be longer than I had thought.
[McKinley Radio]
[Jordan]
I hold the tickets I had bought for the dance closer, as I think to what I had heard. I wasn't going to ask it. I knew we all had the same questions, and no answers. The news said that they were live, but had very little results.
Whoever wanted the attention, they had it. I sit in my bedroom still in tux, deciding on whether I had wanted to get undressed or not. I sit on my bed and wonder about the twins, Tayson, and Violet. I wonder if they had done. I wonder about Hero, hoping that since she seemed to be one of the coolest girls I had ever met, hoping that she was okay, since I knew she was there. I didn't know about anyone else in the glee club that had gone, or would have been there. Then I remembered that I had candles in my bedroom. I knew that in movies that would do that sort of thing, so I lit it, and placed it in the window, and place a ribbon around it.
Then I take the top half of my tux off, and place it on the bed. I sit down beside it, and try to text Tayson. I hoped he would answer. I hoped that he wasn't a victim.
Tayson are you and everyone alright? Text me back.
I was worried, even though, I wasn't there. Hell, I would walk just to find out what was going on, even if I couldn't get into the building. Why wasn't Tay answering? I wanted a simple answer. Instead of waiting for an answer from Tayson, I head out to my car. I was going to find out what was going on.
I arrive at the school, outside the gym, where the dance was being held, and see that there are police cars, rescues, scared relatives, and no one getting inside. I looked around, and saw that I didn't recognize anyone. I had to find out what was going on. I get outside of the car, and join the crowd of concerned people.
[McKinley Radio]
[Violet]
"YOU DON'T FUCKING UNDERSTAND! MY BROTHER IS IN THERE!" I shout at the officer holding me back from getting inside. I needed to get inside. Dinger was in there. So was Hero, Destiny, and Natalie. Everyone that I actually ever had respect for was in there.
"Ma'am, we're doing the best that we can to make sure everyone is safe. The entire building is in lock down, no one gets in, and no one gets out," he tells me. Was he joking? We had a school shooting, and the only reason, I was outside was because of my fight with Sara, who had left, and headed home. I was glad, I hadn't seen her, because, I would have to worry about her as well.
"Officer, please, he's a diabetic and if he has a reaction, I'm the only one who knows what he'll need to cure it," I lie still not giving up so I could see my twin, hopefully alive.
"I know you're worried as everyone else, but we haven't been granted access to get these kids out yet," he tells me, as though a shooting in Lima was a usual thing.
"Kids? We're teenagers, and my brother could be in diabetic shock, and besides, wouldn't have been smart to get everyone out as soon as possible, so they wouldn't be killed, you just had a goddamned shooting!" I let it all out, hoping that the officer would be sick of me by now, and grant me access to see my twin, and the rest of my friends. I would have to sneak into the building, if I could. The side door by the locker room looked as though it wasn't protected a cop. As I give up for a moment, and then I heard a group of kids singing a song I hadn't heard before. Then again, I wasn't familiar with much of today's much.
I see this life
Like a swinging vine
Swing my heart across the line
In my face is flashing signs
Seek it out and ye shall find
Old, but I'm not that old
Young, but I'm not that bold
And I don't think the world is sold
I'm just doing what we're told
As they came into view, I saw that they held candles, as though it were a ritual. Maybe it was. I couldn't think as to who they were. I didn't bother to try. All I could think about was a way into the school, and finding my brother.
I feel something so right
By doing the wrong thing
And I feel something so wrong
By doing the right thing
I could lie, could lie, could lie
Everything that kills me makes me feel alive
Then I spotted a familiar face. Darrell, aka, Daz, aka only to me, Darry. I couldn't help but smile. I ran up to him, and gave him the biggest hug, I could pull off. Then that was when I knew I could pull it off, me slipping into the school.
"What no welcome back?" he asks, trying to cheer me up, but knowing that he wasn't. "How's Hero?" he asks now sounding worried, as he showed me that he was trying to be strong, and now ignoring the kids who were singing whatever it was that they were singing. They sounded great, I gave them that.
"I haven't gotten threw yet. They aren't letting anyone inside, or out, but I think the door by the locker room is available to get through, no one seems to guarding that one," I point out, as I tell him my idea of how I was going to get in the school.
"Who else is in there, and how did you get out here?" he asks me, as though he had wanted to help me out with my foolish plan.
"Tay, Corey, Hero, basically everyone, and Sara left," I tell him, neglecting that fact about our breakup, and the news crews who had been eating this up since they heard about it were still acting as though something new was going to happen anytime soon.
"I got an idea," he tells me. "Does Tay have a sharpie marker, and paper in his car?" he adds asking, as though it would be obvious, as we walk to his car, and get in, and invade his Jansport backpack, and find a spiral notebook, and a pen.
"Yeah, why? What are you thinking?" I answer, now being confused.
"Because, I am doing something that the news reporters will hate me for. I'm helping the victims out," he tells me. "Starting with Hero," he adds, and writes her name down first, and then beside it, her age, and her grade level. Next was Tayson, then I caught on as to what he was doing.
"You're going to need this," he tells me, as he gives me his cell phone. "You text me anything. Hopefully, this will help them bring everyone out," he adds, as I get out of the car, and head towards the school. I was ready to find my brother. Hopefully alive.
[McKinley Radio]
[Gwen]
I was in the bathroom when I heard the gunshots. What the hell? At first, I thought that it was a sound effect, so I had thought nothing of it, and continued my business. Then I got a text message from Tayson saying something about a shooter in the building. Then I heard the second shot. Then another. I counted four. What was going on?
Tayson what is going on? Please say that you're okay! Then I hit send. Quickly, I wonder if there is a place to hide, in case the shooter decided to come in here. The only place would be the janitor's closet, but that was too far down the hall. All I had was the bathroom. Nowhere was safe. How long had it been since I had sent that text to Tayson? Ten minutes? Half an hour? Time stood still. Then I realized, I hadn't heard shots for a while.
I'm fine. Finally a message from Tayson. I was happy to get a message from him. The one person, I really felt worried about. I look at my watch, and see that it had been forty five minutes since I had messaged Tayson. I wanted to ask where he was, so I could run to him. I open the door a bit, and then scan the hallway. It seemed safe, and that was something I was going to risk. Then suddenly, I ran into someone. I screamed, probably scaring the person.
"Whoa! Shhh! It's me, Violet," I hear her quickly tell me. That didn't comfort me any.
"Sorry. It's just," I tell her, still scared, and I imagined she was as well.
"Is Tay, alright?" she asks me worried, and then our eyes meet, as we show that we're scared for at least one of the same people.
"He sent me a text saying that he was, but I don't know where he is. He didn't say," I tell her, as though that was her next question, and it became our mission to find him.
"I think I know where he might be," I tell him, as the locker room came to mind, since he was in costume, and would need to get undressed to go to the dance. "The locker room," I add, and head down the hall to the locker rooms. She was as worried as I was.
"We'll find him," she assures me, and opens the door to the boys locker room, only find that it was empty. Then we turned, and saw a blood trail. It was then that I had realized that was where one of the shots had been fired, but it didn't go to the boys locker room, it had gone to the girls locker room. Opening the door, that was when we found them.
"DON'T SHOOT!" I hear Andy yell. He was the only one I heard.
"Andy, we're coming in," I announce back to him, as we open the door all the way. That was when we found the first shooting victim, and it was bad.
"What's her name?" Violet asks, sounding worried, and Andy tells her. Violet quickly pulls out a cell phone, and texts someone.
"We have to get her out of here," Andy tells us. "Gwen how are you, at helping me lead her out of here, and getting her to a rescue, and give those new reports something to talk about?" Andy asks, he looks at me, and then Violet.
"They have this place on lock down," Violet protests to the soccer captain.
"We can get around it. Legally, they can't have this place on lock down, so whoever told you that obviously doesn't know the law," he tells us, as he gets up. We notice that Tayson isn't there, but none of say it. We saw Andy, and that girl, Jess, and knew what Tay had done.
"He was shot in the leg, but he can still walk, so he went to help," Andy tells us finally. "Violet, go look for any other victims, and I'll make my way in," Andy tells us. "Come on, Gwen, we have a life to safe," he tells us, as he motions me to come forward, and pick up the other end of the cot that Jess was on.
"Vi, when you find Tayson, tell him, I'll come back for him," I tell Violet. I doubted she needed to her brother what I had said. I figured he would know it already.
"I will," she tells me, and we all head towards the gym, so we could get Jess out, and Andy, even if he didn't want to, would play the hero.
"Were you there when it happened?" I asked Andy curiously. Knowing that he wanted to come in and look for everyone else that he cared about.
"He was in the hallway. I wasn't shot. If it was part of your question, we were in the boys locker room when it happened. Jess was the first victim," he answers us, as we enter the lobby of the gym complex building, and realizing that no one was guarding the door of the entryway.
As we went outside, we saw the crowd, and immediately the news reporters ate us up like we were lunch.
"Are you two alright?" Yes. (Mentally probably not.)
"Did you know the shooter?" No. (They wanted it that way, unless he revealed himself in the gym.)
"Who was the girl you brought out?" No names at this time. (Jess something.)
Then before they could ask anymore, we went back into the building to find Violet, Tayson, and everyone else that mattered to us. We were going to find them. No. Matter. What.
[McKinley Radio]