Chapter 13

Aftermath Part 2

First, and foremost, thank everyone who has been reading and following this story, even if you haven't been leaving reviews. I appreciate it. I've also realized that two months has been too long for an update, and I still have the first one to finish, which only has two chapters left, in which, I will update very soon. (I hope!). No, I'm not quitting on this story, though, if I do end up finishing MR by the end of the year, in which, I hope to do, I'm thinking of starting another SYOC, with Daz and Hero in the story, and working at McKinley. Another thing, I'm also doing is, I'm not going with the plot line of The Following, but I am keeping Mike in the story. This decision comes from the conversation that was near the end of the episode, and I find it more fitting to work with this story.

This chapter, will be told from the ones inside the school. Then one more part, which will be the assembly the next day at school. Yes, I know, they probably wouldn't have school, but that's why this is being broken into three parts.

[McKinley Radio]

[Corey]

I was just coming out of the bathroom when I heard the first shot. I thought it was a sound effect, but what student would have a gunshot effect at a dance? I cautiously leave the bathroom, making sure that no one was in the hallway. I didn't see anyone. I didn't hear anyone. I slowly make my way to the gym. I wanted to ready, in case, whoever it was, decided he wanted to shoot. Not that, I would have a chance of survival.

If it was a shooter, I knew, that they would want everyone's attention, and I knew that there would no chance of survival. Never being in this situation, I wasn't sure as to what to do, and I knew one rule of life was: Don't be the Hero.

I knew Violet had gone outside, or so I had hoped, and sent a text message to my best friend.

V, I'm fine. I don't know about anyone else. Hope to see you soon.- Dinger.

It was then, that I had decided to head towards the gym's balcony, and since, I knew there wasn't a door that would give me away, I get on my stomach, and military crawled to where I could see what was happening. I didn't know if Hero was alright, but I hoped that she was.

Then I realized, I had seen Tayson, limping, but walking around. What was he doing?

From what I can see, Tayson is fine, but he's limping. I text Violet, and then hit send. Violet needed to know. Then in a distance, I heard a faint echo of another gunshot. If I was going to help get survivors, I'd have to be up here for a while.

[McKinley Radio]

[Hero]

Where the hell was Corey? He was supposed to meet up with us as soon as he got done in the bathroom. Then I started to worry. Maybe he was shot in the bathroom. Violet had left, so I had hoped that she knew what was going on.\

I turn attention back to the student holding us hostage.

I look around, and see that others students are holding other students, trying to comfort them, though, they knew it wouldn't do any good, but being good friends about it.

I look over, and see that Natalie had been shot, and she was bleeding bad, if she didn't get out of here soon, she'd be dead in minutes, maybe even seconds. No one was going to be the same after this. How do you even get back from a school shooting, when there is no outside communication? Did my mother, back in Maine, know about this yet? Probably. If I made out of this, I would have to call her. Tell her I'm safe, even though, I may need a trip to the shrink to talk about this.

"Put down the gun, we can work this out," we hear a boy announce. I had no idea who he was. I assumed he must have gone here. He looked about sixteen, was thin and athletic, and from what I could tell he weighed about one hundred and twenty pounds. His hair was spiked, as though, he wanted it to look like that before all of this happened.

"No Zachary, we can't. Our parents have always unquestioned you. The Golden Boy, the straight kid, who would go on and marry the next girl you slept with, but me, they wouldn't accept me, because I'm gay," the boy announced to Zachary, who was obviously, the other boys brother.

"Quinton, we can work through it. You and I can make mom and dad understand that you're still the same person, and being gay, doesn't change who you are. You can graduate, and go to Boston College, just like you want, and start over," Zachary begs his brother. I could tell he was scared, just like all of us. Then it dawned on me. I knew where I had recognized Zachary.

He was a senior, as was Corey, Violet, Tayson, and I. Quinton was his year and a half younger brother, and had a class with Natalie. I remembered now that she had mentioned him before. I felt bad for what Zachary must have been through at the moment. Silently I say a little prayer. I still wondered where Corey was.

Then out of nowhere, Tayson had showed up. I hoped that Violet had known that he was alive, but why was he limping? How long had he been there? The thing was, he didn't seem scared. I wondered why.

"Quinn, listen, put down the gun. I've been where you are, and it's not fun," he states so the entire gymnasium can hear him. I wasn't sure he was telling the truth, but all I had to do was believe him. Vi wasn't in here to verify anything. I hoped that everyone was safe. I look over, and see that Nat has lost consciousness. If she officially didn't get anyone out soon, she would be dead. This girl has been through enough, and I wasn't about to watch her die. She was my friend. She's been in ND since last year, and she was excited when she saw Boston for the first time last year. Then, Zachary must have noticed.

"Quinn, this is just between us. At least let everyone else go," Zachary pleads with his brother again. I hoped he would listen.

"No! They need to know what this has done to me!" Quinton announces, as he sways the gun around. No one was saying anything, they knew better. Any word, and any one of could be shot next. We already had two people shot. I was one of them.

"Quinn, listen to me. These students have friends, families, boyfriends, girlfriends that are outside worrying about them, and any moment, the Feds will be in here to get everyone out. You have students that are shot, how do you think that will make them feel?" Tayson tries to bargain with him.

"They never gave a shit about me!" Quinton protests.

"Do you think this will make everything change?" Zachary tries, as he looks at Tayson.

"It will now!" Quinton answers, as he cocks the trigger, and it clicks.

"Quinn, we're going to walk out of here alive. We can both transfer, and we can get you the help you need," Zach tries again, and we could all tell that he was loosing hope. We watched as, Quinton never let go of the gun, and brushed some of his ginger hair out of the way. His brown eyes meeting Zachary's.

Quinton wasn't giving up anytime soon. Then I had realized that I wasn't sure if Abby was here tonight or not. I thought, I had seen her, but I wasn't sure. I was too choked up with fear, that I had forgotten who was here, and who wasn't.

"Quinn, I have something to tell you," Zachary tries again, as he looks at his brother.

"I don't want to hear it," Quinton tells his brother. He was past the point of wanting to listen anyways.

"It will change everything. I promise," Zachary tries again. You could tell that at any minute, he feared that his brother could kill him at any moment.

"No. There is no coming back from this. None of it," Quinton insists.

"It will, because, I'm also gay. I haven't told either mom or dad yet, and if you put down the gun, and walk away, without anyone else getting hurt, we can go through this together," Zachary tells his brother with hopes that this will change his mind.

"No. We won't, and you're not gay. I would've known before now," Quinton announces angrily. We all knew at this point, what he was thinking, and he wanted all of us to witness it. I hoped he let us go before he did it.

"I am. I've known for years, so why don't we let these other students go? This is between the both of us, and we're walking out of here alive," Zachary tells him, as he looks at Tayson, and then at us.

"Whether you like it or not, Tayson, here is going to help these students outside. Starting with the injured," Zachary adds. He knew what was coming. We all did. A couple of moments later, Tayson heads over in my direction, and looks at Natalie.

"We're going to get her out first," he tells me. "How bad is she?" he adds wonderingly.

"She's shot in the thigh, and I can see that there is severe blood loss," I tell her. I don't even know if she can talk, but we lift her up, as slowly, and gently as we can, and head towards the gymnasium exit. I was out. I was alive. I was in a lot of pain.

"Where's Desi?" I hear her faintly whisper.

"We'll find her. Just remain quiet, we're heading outside to get you to a rescue, and onto the hospital," Tayson tells her in a quiet voice. That was when we met up with Andy, Violet and Gwen.

"I don't have time to say hello's, get these two outside immediately. They need hospital care, especially Natalie," Tayson announces, and heads back inside.

[McKinley Radio]

[Desi]

I was lost in the crowd outside when I saw them bringing some more survivors out. When I saw Hero, I was glad to see someone I knew come out. Immediately I started worrying about Natalie. I knew she had had another fight with her parents about her brother. She was my best friend, and I worried about her.

It was now, that I had a chance to find out who had come out. I had to find out. I couldn't ask Hero, because they rushed her into an ambulance, and like the other girl, sent her to the hospital. Violet wasn't anywhere in sight, and that was when I spotted Jordan. He was the only other person I had known.

"Jordan!" I yelled, and approached him.

"Desi," he greets, as he gives me a hug. A worried hug, but it was something. Something that had given me hope.

"Who came out, do you know?" I ask worried, and try not to cry.

"Hero, and it looked like Natalie, but I can't be sure," he tells me. Then I started to cry. I couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Has Corey showed up yet?" I ask in between tears. My boyfriend was still in there, and I needed to know if he was okay.

"I haven't seen him. Do you want to text him, to see if he's okay?" Jordan wonders, as he shows me his phone, so I could text Corey.

"Yes, thank you," I tell him, and begin to text Corey.

[McKinley Radio]

[Abby]

Puck had to have been inside. I didn't see him outside, and that worried me. I needed my older half brother, especially now, since Jake and I weren't getting along at the moment. I wish this wasn't real. I worried about Andy. I needed to tell him just how I felt. Even, if we weren't in a relationship at the moment, we could just be friends.

Finally, I had to sing something. It was all I had.

Feeling my way through the darkness

Guided by a beating heart

I can't tell where the journey will end

But I know where to start

They tell me I'm too young to understand

They say I'm caught up in a dream

Well life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes

Well that's fine by me

So wake me up when it's all over

When I'm wiser and I'm older

All this time I was finding myself

And I didn't know I was lost

I tried carrying the weight of the world

But I only have two hands

Hope I get the chance to travel the world

But I don't have any plans

Wish that I could stay forever this young

Not afraid to close my eyes

Life's a game made for everyone

And love is the prize

So wake me up when it's all over

When I'm wiser and I'm older

All this time I was finding myself

And I didn't know I was lost

Didn't know I was lost

I didn't know I was lost

I didn't know I was lost

I didn't know

When I finished, I started to cry. I needed to know where Puck was. I needed to know if he was okay, and being that fact that, he was a strong person, I knew he was. Just then, my cell phone vibrated.

Abster – Puck is fine. He's trying to help with the situation – Andy.

I had to text him back. I had to know if anyone else was okay so far. I wanted to hear the good news, and not the bad. I wanted to know what everyone else wanted to know.

It seemed like forever when I got an answer back.

[McKinley Radio]

[Tayson]

All whatever number of the students left in the gym, were almost out. I don't know when Puck came in, but somehow he had. He had a younger sister to worry about, and he was trying to play the hero. Then again, so wasn't I.

In my head, this reminded me of that Flyleaf song Cassie, the famous song about the girl that was killed in Columbine, for saying to believing in God, after one of the shooters asked her if she did. I never thought, I would be left in that situation. I hoped that we all could walk out of here alive. I hoped that if I was killed right here, right now, Violet would know that she was the coolest twin sister, and that Gwen knew how I felt about her, especially, since I wanted to ask her to prom. I had so many thoughts racing through my head.

"Look man, all of us, are here to help you," I try again, as I zoom back into reality.

"I have one last bullet left," Quinton points out, and looks at all of us.

"Quinn, you're not dying on me," Zachary tells his brother, though, all of us knew what he had planned. Especially since he came out to the entire school. He had it planned for a while.

"You don't get it do you, Zach? Mom and dad know nothing about you. They adore you, and they never had to blink. Me, I had to do this, to get their attention," Quinton announces to his brother, and acting like neither one of us, Puck, or I were there.

"Quinton, think about this. We have a game next week, and you won't be benched," Puck tries.

"I don't give a crap about that. They won't let me play after this anyways," Quinton tells Puck.

"We both know that isn't truthful," Zachary tries again. One thing was, Zachary, wasn't about to give up anytime soon, and I liked that about the two brothers.

I looked around, and noticed that there was only four of us left. Just us four. Andy, Violet, and Gwen helped everyone get outside. I was thankful for that.

"Puck, we have this. Go outside to Abby, let her know what is going on, and that you're safe. We need an adult out there," I speak up. I didn't know if he would go or not, but if I could get him to go outside, at least, McKinley would still have a sports coach left.

"Go Coach, we can handle it from here," Zachary agrees, as though he doubted it, but figured it was worth a shot. We stood there, until Puck headed outside with the rest of the worried people, and we hoped that it would give them some hope, on knowing that there was only a few students left inside, in which, I now found out would be a stupid idea, but it was too late to call him back now.

"I would have kept him in here, but that's just me," Quinton tells us coldly. "I may have used my last bullet on him," he adds, as he coldly smiles at his brother, and then me.

"You're not wasting your last bullet," Zachary tells his brother, as we knew it was either him, or I that would get it. I already had one in me, and I doubted that his brother would get the bullet, but I wasn't going to push the issue.

"You're right, Zach, I'm not wasting it on you, and I already have one in him, so we all know who that leaves it for," Quinton tells us. "Don't worry though, you won't get to watch. I would advise though, that you should leave, that way, you won't have any side effects," Quinton tells us. Neither one of us move.

"Have it your way then," he tells us, as he puts the gun to his head.

"Tayson, please leave," Zachary begs me, as he knows how serious this is. I wasn't about to watch his brother commit suicide. He was going to have to live with the guilt, as was I, and who knew how many more students, but I couldn't let him watch his brother die.

"Zachary, I know, he's your brother, but if he wants to go out that way, than there is nothing we can do about it. I can't have you watch, as he does this to you. It's what he wants, but not what I want," I plead with Zachary, who obviously was going to stay behind.

"You have to live with it either way," Quinton tells his brother, as their eyes meet.

"Yeah, I'll live with the memory of my brother, who was a coward, and didn't want to face his fears. Tomorrow, when people ask, I'll try to remember the good times, and think of how you wanted so badly to be on the snowboarding team, and be in the Olympics, as your idol, Seth Wescott, but since you want to go and do this, I can't stop you. So I'm leaving it at I tried to talk you out of it," Zachary tells his brother, and grabs a hold of my hand, and we exit the gym, with the echo of a gun shot. Then the tears of Zachary finally come out.

As soon as we entered outside, and Violet, and Gwen, and came over to us, so did the media. I should have known that they wouldn't leave.

"Are you?" (Please, no questions at this time. You can see we are alive.)

"Did you know" (Know what exactly? The shooter? He was planning this?)

"Was it?" (A hate crime. Not exactly.)

"Since there is school tomorrow?" (are you planning to attend? Maybe)

"Are you two?" (In a relationship? No. We're twins. She helped us through this.)

I don't exactly know when the questions, and media attention stopped, but one thing, I did know was that tomorrow was going to be one hell of a day, and I hoped that we had an assembly tomorrow. Then it hit me.

"Zachary, call your parents, tell them everything, because, tonight, and tomorrow, you're staying at my place, and you're not going to school tomorrow either," I tell him, as I hand him my cell phone.

Officially next chapter, is the assembly, so there will be no Part 3, and the chapter will hopefully be longer.

"I'm coming with you," I hear Gwen announce, as we head towards my car, and she kisses me for the first time since we came out of the school.