One Stupid Thing

You Can't Kill A Pogue

Getting ready for school this morning was rough. It doesn't feel like the first day of school. I left my hair naturally wavy, barely put on any makeup, and didn't bother to put together a nice outfit. It was only when I saw the school from the back window of Kie's SUV that it truly hit me.

Unlike Sarah, Rafe, and Wheezie who all attend the Kook Academy on Figure Eight, I have gone to Kildare High since 6th grade. After multiple incidents of bullying in my primary years, and with the help of the guidance counselor at the Academy, I convinced Dad to let me transfer.

Kie parked out front and we hopped out with our backpacks in tow. JJ tossed his over his shoulder aggressively.

"Hey, chill out," Kie tells him.

"If I black out, just don't remind me," JJ jokes in reply. I walk around the back of the car to join them.

"That's not funny," Kie remarks. As the four of us make our way to the front of the school, it feels like we are walking into a courtroom on trial for some ungodly crime. Everyone stares at us and whispers to the closest person they can find. It's torture. The large rock that serves as a sign usually adorns our school name, but now it has been repainted a happy shade of yellow and John B's name is painted across it. People have surrounded the rock with pictures and memorabilia in memory of him. My friends and I approach it and stand before it in silence.

"I feel like people are staring at us," Kie says. She lifts her chin up high and looks around suspiciously. We all glance up and sure enough, we are met with prying eyes.

"Oh, yeah," JJ agrees.

"Guys, I can't be late," Pope mumbles and he begins to walk off, but Kie stops him.

"Hey. Hey. We gotta stick together." She holds out her hand and he takes it graciously.

"Stick together. Yeah," JJ says. He and I stand beside Pope and Kie and begin to walk together as a unit. Kie hooks her arm with JJ's. I feel my hand brush JJ's but when I look down he pulls his away. Taking the initiative, I take his hand in mine and rub my thumb against his. He looks at me in confusion, but I just nod and smile warmly. I don't care what people think of me or what they have to say about who I hang around. These guys make me happy and that is all that matters.

"P4L," I whisper encouragingly. We walk into Kildare County High and I already feel burnt out. School seems amateur compared to the adventures I have endured these past weeks.

My first three classes go by painfully slow. All three of my teachers talk about the same things that they do every year about rules and policies inside their classrooms. Do they intend to bore us to death? Because it sure seems like it.

Thankfully, Pope, Kie, JJ, and I all have the same history class fourth period. Of course, that is the one class that makes us write notes all period. As I scribble down the teacher's words, one phone pings, then another, and another, and finally, mine does too.

"Whose phone was that?" the teacher, Mr. Sunn, asks. No response. "Nobody? You will be tested. Now, to recap..."

As soon as the teacher looks back to the chalkboard, I look down at my phone and a notification lights up the screen. An incoming text from an unknown number.

"Did you get it?" I hear Kie whisper from beside me.

"Yeah," I whisper back. Pope, who is sitting close to the two of us, looks over and nods as well. JJ, who sits farther away, sneakily crawls between the desks and pops a squat between ours. Mr. Sunn is completely oblivious. All at once we open the message and hold out our phones. Identical pictures of John B and Sarah are attached.