the bus ride to sunnyvale was mostly filled with simon making stupid jokes, random barking, and chants throughout the bus. while kate, simon, and josie decided to sit near one another, deena chose one of the seats toward the back, immediately plugging into the walkman she had.
as they got off the bus, the students of sunnyvale high gave them dirty looks, some trying to hide 'shittyside' under their breath. the three of them stood together, simon at the front near Sunnyvale's mascot. while josie and kate each trying to pay attention to the mayor's words while deena was in her own world, staring off at her ex- sam.
"this isn't how i wanted to be here tonight." the mayor started, a solemn expression residing on his face. "i wanted to be here as a fan. our sunnyvale devils and your shadyside witches, throwing down some good old american football. instead i find myself here as a husband, a father, as a neighbor, and mayor of sunnyvale. and on behalf of all the people in my town.."
"yeah, all the ones forced to come." josie muttered, leaning toward kate who stifled a laugh.
"..i say all sunnyvale mourns with you."
"oh yeah. they all really give a damn." kate added, rolling her eyes at the sunnyvalers.
"our hearts are broken with grief."
as the mayor continued with his crapfest of a speech, deena drifted off, despite the calls of her name coming from josie and kate. soon enough, sheriff nick goode went on the stage, thanking his brother for his 'kind words'.
"my family's been in sunnyvale for generations, and now my brother is mayor and i your sheriff. we've prospered here. and yet, i've seen you, our neighbors in shadyside, suffer tragedy after tragedy." the sheriff spoke, slight sadness somehow present within his voice. "it's easy in times like this to drown in questions of why.. why this happened. but i know too well there are no answers that will provide relief. there's no peace found in the past. we cannot fall to the darkness. we must look to the light."
"ah, yes the burning spotlight casted onto sunnyvale. how could we forget." josie spoke in annoyance, nudging kate on the shoulder.
"well i say we light a fuse and burn down shittyside." peter, known douchebag, and sam's now boyfriend, remarked.
"what'd you say?" damien, a player for shadyside, questioned as he turned to look at peter.
"i said it ain't a tragedy when it happens every week." peter continued. "it's a joke."
most football players began small arguments with players from the opposing team. the others students gathered around, glaring daggers over at the members of the other school.
