The Division

25

The following day, I arrived late at school because of a failed alarm clock. The halls were rowdy and packed to the brim with students murmuring amongst themselves near the lockers, others rushed through pushing any innocent passers-by that were in the way. The atmosphere felt tense and panicked matching my mood that morning. Something felt off so I asked Michelle what was going on.

"An emergency assembly has been called, apparently someone died."

My eyes widened in shock as I felt my stomach drop, "What!?"

Jay walked up, interrupting our conversation. I noticed Michelle's eyes become brighter, she fixed her posture and smiled widely at the brown eyed boy in front of us.

"Have you heard?" Asked Jay, slipping his hands into the pockets of his black Nike sweatpants, "Someone died."

I nodded, "Yes. Michelle just told me."

I followed Jay's gaze, and it landed on the blonde in front of us. Immediately, a smile graced his own lips, matching Michelle's.

"How are you?" He asked in a gentle voice, avoiding eye contact. "Good." Michelle shrugged with a huge tomato blush, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

Looking between the pair, I was very confused. Who were these people? What had they done to the always bickering friends of mine?

Maybe the lifeforms I was looking at were actually aliens? I know that is kind of far-fetched but remember, I can see ghosts. I racked my brain for answers until I remembered what had happened the previous day in the wardrobe when we were hiding. Jay and Michelle had confessed their crushes on each other.

How could such a huge detail slip my mind like that?

The two hadn't said a word for a good minute now and I decided to fix that, "So," I began dragging the word like I was about to tell someone their fish died, rocking forward and back on my heels briefly, "How are things between you two?"

"Good." Jay grinned giving Michelle a glance, "We talked on the phone yesterday and figured some things out. We almost forgot about that little scene yesterday. You know, with so much going on."

"Oh- so are you two-like a thing?'

"Oh nooo." Michelle shook her head with a small giggle, "Not yet. We just found out yesterday and want to take things slow cause we've been best friends for so long and all. It'll feel weird rushing in. Besides, we have bigger fish to fry at the moment."

Jay simply nodded in agreement, and I mirrored his action.

I'm happy for them and I think Simone will be too because she has always shipped the pair.

"All students report to the auditorium now please." Mrs. Penn announced over the speakers in her always stern voice, "I've waited long enough. Come to the auditorium now!"

Hearing the announcement, the three of us obeyed and walked to the auditorium in sync. Our backpacks behind our backs, bouncing slightly as we went through the hallway. The auditorium, as expected was full of noisy high school students ranging from the childish ninth graders in the front to the mysterious twelfths who are just waiting for graduation.

The three of us made our way to the tenth-grade rows wedged in between the loud freshmen and depressed juniors. I spotted Simone sitting and laughing with a couple of girls from her reading club.

Michelle just rolled her eyes at her before taking a seat, Jay sat beside her and I stayed beside him.

When everyone was calm, the assembly began with an annoying screech from the speakers, "Good morning students." Principal Easton greeted solemnly with a wrinkled frown, adjusting his waistcoat and small glasses. "Today, we aren't going to waste our time and go straight to the point."