The Three of You

The afternoon of March 20

Munch munch munch

"...And it's not like I wasn't grateful, I just couldn't understand why he would do that-"

Munch munch

"Hey Cassidy!"

I looked up from my bread to see Cassidy Anderson, the blonde one, and her friend. Why was she here, and talking to me?

"...Hi?" I said shyly.

The two girls giggled a bit.

"Me and Trish wanted to know if you were going to Six Flags this weekend." Cassidy said.

"I don't think so, why?"

"Oh, we just wanted to invite you to hang out with us, since you're usually by yourself." Cassidy said. "But never mind, since you're not going."

The two girls walked away, back to their group of friends I assumed. I was about to go back to eating my bread when-

"Isshegone!?"

"Eeak!"

I slammed a hand over my mouth. I can't believe I just squeaked again! I whipped my head around to see who had startled me.

"Chad!? Why are you hiding in the bushes like a creep?" I demanded.

"Why are you at a picnic table in the middle of the woods all by yourself?" He shrugged his shoulders and looked away. "That seems pretty creepy to me."

"I always sit here. And is who gone?"

"Oh, nobody." Chad said.

I rolled my eyes. Everyone knows Chad has a Crush on Cassidy Anderson. The blonde one.

"Listen just because you're too afraid to ask someone out doesn't mean you can stalk-"

"Chad, what the hell!"

"Eeak!" I squeaked again. I turned to see who had yelled when I saw Chad's stupid friend. "Okay how many of you even are there?" I demanded.

"Braydon, what do you mean!" The two boys ignored me.

"We were in the middle of the game and then you left." Braydon said.

"Yeahhhhh it was kind of important pal." Chad slapped his hand on Braydon's shoulder and started rubbing it.

"Stop that." Braydon was not happy.

"Can you guys leave?" I said. I didn't want them here anymore.

"Alright fine! Fine! We'll go!" Braydon put his hands up and rolled his eyes, then turned to leave. Chad followed behind him.

"Sheesh." I said to no one.

I finally continued to eat my bread.

Maybe, I should go to Six Flags this weekend? I thought. There's only two months left of school and I want to watch everyone's shenanigans before it's too late. Besides, maybe he will be there?

Munch... munch...

I noticed a small squirrel in the distance. It needs this bread more than I do...

I tossed my bread at the baby squirrel to feed it. It looked so feeble and hungry. I wonder if it has no one to take care of it? I will name him Benjamin if he is a boy. And Millie if she is a girl. I hope that this bread makes us form a connection, so that I can gain an animal sidekick and be one step closer to becoming a Magical Girl-!

BONK

The bread hits the baby squirrel on the head.

I freeze.

Oh shoot, I thought. Did I just kill that baby squirrel?

The squirrel was in fact, not moving.

Not wanting to be found at the scene of a murder, I slowly backed away and then took off running. 

When I reached the school yard, I played everything off. I calmly sauntered across the field, no one looked at me as I was passing everyone, one of the best feelings in the world is when you pass a large group of people and no one looks at you. No one is looking... what are they all looking at? Everyone's eyes are glued to their phones which don't get me wrong, that's what usually happens, but something is different this time. Friend groups are usually eagerly showing each other posts and giggling, or texting and talking, or literally doing anything else than staring silently, looks of worry and emotionless horror glues onto their faces.

I want to ask someone what happened but I don't want to be a bother.

Oh shoot I'm staring at them. And when did I stop walking? I better keep going before it's too late and they see me standing here watching them like a creep. Then I'll be in the same category as Chad! And that is a category that I never want to be put in.

I continue to walk. But where will I go?

I should get my phone to see what happened. But I left it at home today! And I don't have any of these people on social media, so how would I even find out?

I decided to go inside the school and get some homework done. But as soon as I step inside I hear the principal and the vice principal speaking to each other.

I dove under the stairwell.

"...Are you sure we should shut the school down?"

"They've all probably heard of it by now. Or if they haven't, they will soon."

Hear of what? What happened!?  I thought. Just say what happened! Why is the school being shut down?

"...If we shut down now, will we ever reopen? If we deny it, then we may still have a chance to keep our reputation-"

"Our reputation is going to decrease anyways! If we shut the school down and tell the press it was an accident, then the students can be back in a week after we "clean" everything up."

"Are you sure about this?"

"It's the best we can do!"

What? What are they talking about? the school's reputation decreasing? What do they have to "clean"?

I decided it was best that I don't hear the rest of the conversation. For my own safety. I just wish I had brought my phone so that I could have recorded the conversation. Something was definitely going on, and as of now, I'm the only one who knows the underlying tea! But what is the underlying tea if I don't even know the main tea? I wonder-

"ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS. WEST BROOKE HIGH WILL BE SHUT DOWN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL DAY DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. PLEASE GATHER YOUR THINGS AND EXIT THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR PARENT OR GUARDIAN TO PICK YOU UP."