Overcast | ✓

Life

Our positions haven't changed since we reached the room. Maeve is holding Victoria against a wall, Ruby is standing beside me as we watch, the rest are in the corner of the room. After a beat, Maeve glances at the boy whose name I don't remember and gives him a very menacing stare, because the nozzle that was limp in his hands before is now pointing directly at her. It's only now that I see it's screwed onto a hose.

"Oh my god," Maeve breathes out before tossing her head back and laughing. "This is the grand finale? Really? Absolutely pathetic! What are you planning on doing, Victoria? Flooding the school with a garden hose?"

But Victoria let's out a laugh at this and points to the open door. "While you and Sunny fought us in here, the other members were taking care of the hallways. I'll have you know that the flood is actually going quite well."

"Maeve," I say, and she finally looks at me. "This is useless. Look at the floor."

She pauses before tightening her hold on Victoria. "What are you doing, then? What's with the water and the spray nozzle?"

"Well, since you asked so nicely," she replies. "We figured water should damage most of the textbooks and posters and what not. Sam even learned how to pick the locks on lockers, so we can get in those, too."

"What, you're just going to ruin school property?"

"Of course you don't get it," she sighs before grinning. "Our aim is to show students how little school matters, you know? So, we'll drench every book, every exam. Every computer and art project and journal. It'll take weeks for the school to deal with, and it'll show that all of this shit? It doesn't actually matter at all."

"This is so idiotic," Ruby says. "Some of the stuff here... In classrooms and hallways, the students worked really hard on it. I-" Right then, she goes very pale and glances out the hallway. "I store my camera here."

I can almost see her mind whipping through options as she watches out the door. Abandoning Maeve and I in pursuit of a camera, or abandoning the only thing that makes her happy to help take down her own creation. I wouldn't blame her for leaving, but she doesnt. Ruby shakes away her thoughts and looks back at Victoria.

"What are you trying to get out of all this anyway? What does hurting the school do for you?"

She chuckles and gives a shrug. "This is enlightening students, Rue. Isn't that what you want?"

I'm angry. I'm angry at Ruby for starting this and lying about it all. At Victoria for taking things this far. At Sam H. and the mystery boy and everyone else for helping it along. I'm angry at Maeve, but I don't remember why. I'm angry at myself above all, because I forgot why I'm here, and when I remember, it's too late. I hurry into the hall, leaving the other four to fight it out amongst themselves. Everything is soaking wet. Each locker has been flung open and inside- the textbooks, the laptops, the bags- have been sprayed with water. I glance into classrooms as I run to find that each bookshelf and computer is ruined, too. I continue towards the sound of water and land on, not a person, but a bathroom. They have found a way to break every pipe, and the water is spewing out with vigor.

I go to the next floor, and its the same sight. Water, water, water. Bolting past the art block, I see Ruby's photos dripping and broken. They look so sad all slick like this, like they're melting before me. I go up more stairs and find myself at the same roof I went yesterday. The same view down from 4th floor and a new feeling of absolute hopelessness.

I have failed to do anything. My plans and evidence are reduced to this; Water, slowly flooding the school. Shattering everything under its weight. I have failed, and there is nothing I can do to change it. This is what I deserve, isn't it? I allowed Elio to be taken by the hospital, I allowed my eyes to close when he needed me, I allowed Marcos Smith to be beaten. I kissed Ruby years ago ignored her because of it and sucked Maeve down into my mess. Faye Edgell is asleep, and her mother is sharpening her hatred downstairs because I haven't done anything about that, either. With immeasurable force, I shoved the people who cared about me away, and this is the universe punishing me. Maybe the water led me to the roof for a reason. Maybe the universe knew me better than I knew myself.