For Worse or For Better (Shawn Mendes)

The Storm of the Century

Keep you sheltered from this storm that's raging on.
-Ed Sheeran

"Yea, Zac, I'll be right out, I'm just getting my Earth Science textbook. I have a test on Wednesday, so I have today and tomorrow to study." I said, holding my phone to my ear with my shoulder.

Shawn had shown my around all day, and he seemed a little mellow. He had, of course, made some harshly sarcastic comments, but not as many as usual.

And his heart just didn't seem in it.

Like he was forcing himself to be a jerk.

I didn't bring up our three second conversation at Tooty Fruity, and neither did he. Neither one of us wanted to talk about it.

I had forgotten my homework, and Zac had driven me back to pick it up.

"Hurry up," Zac says, "the wind is string extremely strong."

"Yep, be right out." I pull my book out of my locker and lock it closed.

Suddenly, a sickening crack fills the hallway.

It is obnoxiously loud and it makes the entire building shake.

"Oh my god, Skylar, get out of there right now!" Zac yells into my ear.

My heart racing, I sprint down the hallway. "What? Why? Zac, what's going on?!" I scream.

"The school just got hit by lightning! And the power lines just got knocked over by a tree! This storm is getting way ton forceful. You need to hurry up and et back here! We need to get home safely!"

"I'm going as fast as possible!"

But in reality, I have no idea where the hell I was.

All the hallways look the same.

Classrooms.

Doorways.

Lockers.

Water fountains.

Bathrooms.

Bulletin boards.

"Zac, I'm lost. I don't know my way around yet!"

"I'm coming in to look for you!" Zac informs me.

"No! Just stay where you are. I'll find a way out."

I turn a corner and look around frantically.

Where am I?!

"Skylar, you need to-" and then the phone buzzes and cracks. "-can't do it!"

"What?! Zac, you're cutting out! I can't hear you!"

"-get-school-now!"

"What?! Zac, I can't-"

And then the phone sputters and the line gets cut off.

"Zac! Zac?"

But there's no response.

Frustrated, I stuff my phone in my back pocket and try to aim my heart beat.

I close my eyes, picturing Shawn showing me around.

He gave me a tour of most of the school, but it was so much to take in.

I don't remember much of it at all.

I can't-

And then another crack fills the silence, followed by a loud rumble of thunder.

I jump a little, keeping my eyes closed and focusing on the task at hand.

Getting out of here.

But before I can concentrate, a door to a classroom ahead of me bursts open and everything comes flying out.

Branches.

Leaves.

Wind.

Pieces of wood.

Chairs.

I scream, trying to shield my face from the flying objects.

And just as I look up, a chair comes flying at me.

But I just stand there.

And as if everything is in slow motion, I can see the chair coming closer and closer, shooting straight at my head.

And then everything zooms back in.

The sounds of the storm.

My surroundings.

And then a body slams me into the lockers as the chair flies past the spot where I had stood seconds ago.

The person, who I can't see, shields my body from the zooming objects, their arms wrapped around my trembling body.

I can hear the person's heart beat, and I can feel it pounding in my ears.

And then the person slams the door shut with their foot and everything silences.

I slowly open my eyes as I feel the person back away from me.

"Shawn? What are you doing here?"