𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬?

C⃓⃓h⃓⃓a⃓⃓p⃓⃓t⃓⃓e⃓⃓r⃓⃓ ⃓0⃓⃓

                                  Cody

I wonder if the twilight zone is real, cause sitting here in math class feels like it's century, but it's probably only been 45 minutes. Some people might not agree, like Nathan, who has been paying attention, just like he does every single day. He says it's because he 'loves learning math' but I think he's just lost his mind. Kai and Dash are either sleeping or acting as if they were wild animals, ignoring the fact that the teacher is right there. Why couldn't class just end already?

"Cody, why don't you answer the question on the board." The teacher says, seemingly aware I have no clue as to what we're even learning.

"Sure, it's.. uhm-" I look at Nathan with a pleading expression, and he reacts by giving me a disappointed look while mouthing the answer to me. "..y=1/3x-7?"

"That's.. correct. Good job." She gave me a look that was a mix between stern and confused. She turned back to the board. "Please pay attention students."

I mouthed my thanks to Nathan, who rolled his eyes with a small smirk, and gave me a thumbs up. Dash turned around to look at me.

"You barely got it huh?" He laughed, knowing I never know what's happening in this class.

"Shut up bro." I sneered jokingly and lightly punched him in the shoulder.

Class finally ended, thank god, and we walked to the cafeteria, but before we reached it, we heard probably the worst thing you can.. a gun shot sounded from the front of the school we all look at each other and start running, trying to find somewhere we can hide. In the midst of the panic, we got separated; Dash and Kai were together somewhere while Nathan and I were in a random room that was hidden, where we decided our best bet was hiding under a desk. We stayed there, not making a sound, while we heard distant gun shots. I was shaking and could feel myself losing touch with the present, the gun shots ringing out sending me right back to the worst day of my life.

[Flashback]

(From my understanding of flashbacks, there's multiple ways they can happen, the type shown is when the victim sees everything happen from an omnipresent view, kinda like watching a movie of the worst moment of your life)

I was 6, my so called "father" was an abusive and alcoholic bastard who didn't deserve to be called my dad. My sister came home with a B on her report card, and god forbid she wasn't perfect. He hit her before she could even get a word in, fueled by cheap beer and unbridled rage.

Before I could even react, it was seemingly over. He stopped, and walked to his room. I went over to my sister, trying to stop crying and shaking. There was probably more of her blood on the ground than in her body. She was barely conscious, but she was staring right at me. I gently grabbed her hand and tried to tell her everything would be okay. She smiled at me, even through all her pain she smiled..

"Cody, promise me something?"

I could hear his footsteps coming back down the hall. "Anything Em!" I sobbed, pulling away a bit to prepare to hide from him.

"You'll do your best, always?"

"Always." I hid behind the couch, but I could see him now, his hands that dripped Emily's blood on the hardwood floor held his old .45, and before I knew it he aimed at her and pulled the trigger, the bullet lodged itself somewhere in her stomach, she was dead before the paramedics arrived.

[End of Flashback]

I feel my sleeve being tugged on, and hear a familiar voice.

"Hey, snap out of it." Nathan says, still tugging on my sleeve. "You good? You're shaking."