Faults, Scars, and Guitar Strings

Chapter 21

Note: Kind of a short chapter. Sorry about that, but what do you think of this version of the story so far? What other changes do you think will happen?

Chapter 21

We all stood there staring at the gun in Zane's hand. We were frozen. I held onto Dylan's hand tighter, not knowing how to respond. If I tried to talk I would only make Zane angrier. Our only change is calming him down, but I don't think anybody has the power to do that. I saw Dylan slowly pull out his phone when he noticed Zane looking away from him. He was too concentrated on Anastasia to notice what Dylan was doing. He dialed 911. The principal looked over at us and Dylan tilted his phone so she could see. She slowly nodded and started talking to Zane while Dylan slowly slid his phone in his back pocket. He made sure the person on the other line could hear everything. Maybe we did have a chance. I was too scared and too injured to realize secretly calling the police was an option. He did have a reason to be confident after all. Suddenly something changed and it happened so fast nobody had time to react.

"Zane, please? Put the gun down. You don't want to hurt anybody at this school, especially your sister," the principal said. "We can figure this out together. Nobody has to get hurt."

"Shut up!" he yelled at her. "You don't know anything!"

"You can't just shoot her," I finally spoke, "she didn't do anything."

"You don't get to talk!" he yelled at me, "and you all need to leave! Everyone one of you! This is about you! Happy, principal? I'm letting some go." The nurse started to move to get me out, but Zane yelled back, "No. Kayla stays. So does my sister."

"I don't think so," Dylan said immediately.

"Who the hell are you?" Zane asked, "Leave with everyone else or I'll shoot you too!"

"Dylan!" I whispered, "Don't. It's okay."

"No," Dylan replied. I wasn't sure, but I think he was talking to both of us at the same time. I don't think Zane realized that nobody took any initiative in actually leaving. Everyone is still too scared to move an inch, but Dylan sure as hell wasn't leaving me alone in here with Zane.

"Leave!" he yelled.

"That's not going to happen," Dylan said, "You don't even remember me do you?" Something changed again. It was the way Dylan asked Zane the question that made me realize our little group were the first people Dylan told his secret to. I knew he was friends with Zane, but pretending to be the mystery guy wasn't all about me after all. Dylan is just as scared of Zane as we are, but I finally made the connection that Dylan also knows a lot more about Zane than any of us. He may know just as much as Anastasia. They were best friends.

"You're the mystery guy," he said, "I don't need to remember you. All I need to know is that all of you need to leave except Kayla and Annie."

I had no idea Dylan was going to reveal himself. I don't think he had it planned; none of this was planned. He took his hoodie off first and then his sunglasses. I heard everybody in the room gasped. Zane's eyes got big upon realizing the mystery guy was his best friend in disguise. Please let Dylan convince him to put the gun down. At least let Dylan stall him until the police get here.

"N-no. No," Zane stuttered, "it can't be. You moved away!"

"No," Dylan said, "You only thought I did."

"You stayed for her didn't you?" Zane asked, "Even after I picked on you about it, you still stayed for her. You're pathetic."

"Of course I did," he replied, "Now Zane, you don't have to do this. It isn't right. I know your family has their problems, but you can't shoot your sister. You can't shoot anyone here."

"Why not?" Zane asked.

Zane actually seemed to be calming down slightly. I saw them around school last year once and while, but I didn't know they were so close. I didn't know Zane had the potential to trust anybody, but I think Dylan got to him. It seemed weird, but Dylan was starting to get to him again.

"Because it's not going to solve anything; I've been telling you for years: you need to get help. Go see someone or talk to someone. There are people out there who can help you," Dylan said. "I will help you too. I told you that."

"No there's not!" Zane yelled, "I wish there was, but there isn't."

"Just try," Dylan said, "For me, your best friend. Please, just try. I know you thought I left, but I've been here the whole time."

"Try?" Zane asked, curiously.

"Yes," Dylan said, "just try."

Zane looked around at everyone in the room. He looked like he was deciding whether to put the gun down or not. He started to lower it, but then raised it again... this time at me. My eyes got really big and so did Dylan's. Dylan turned the attention away from Anastasia, but redirected it at me.

"You did this to me," Zane said, "you're the reason this all started! It's your fault! You manipulated Dylan! You got him to like you! You took everything too personally! You took him away from me and now you're trying to take my sister! I always knew you were a loser."

"She didn't do this!" Dylan argued, "She never manipulated any of us! Don't you see what you're doing to everyone? You're the one pushing people away! You're the one in the wrong here. You cannot hurt her."

"Why not?" He laughed, "It would show you wouldn't it? It would show all of you, but it would really show you. You would never be able to live without her. You would be miserable. It would serve you right after what you've done to me. I knew I could never trust anybody. I knew they would always screw me over."

"We can talk about our problems later," Dylan said, "But do not hurt her."

He smiled, "You didn't say I was wrong though Dylan. If I pulled this trigger, you wouldn't be able to handle it. Then I would get back at you for leaving, I would get back at my sister for betraying me, and I would get back at this school. This movement started with her after all. I have to get rid of the problem."

"Zane, N-"

Before Dylan could finish what he was saying, the trigger was pulled. Dylan stepped in front of me, but at the same time the trigger was being pulled Anastasia dove and knocked down Zane. It only lasted a few seconds, but it seemed like a lifetime. Everybody in the room went in different directions to avoid the bullet. I couldn't do anything though. Dylan and the nurses were pulling me out of the way and none of us knew where the bullet was. I yelled at them to stop pushing me and we all looked around. Anastasia stayed on top of Zane while the principal took the gun away from him. Some were running towards the doors.

The police busted through the doors as I stopped. They found the principal first and she told the police who had the gun. The police arrested all of the bullies involved in the situation. Sadly, that included Anastasia. When the bullies were cleared out of the room we all looked around and noticed only one person still on the floor. I don't know how we missed it. The chaos got to so many of us that there was one person we didn't notice; one other person who ran towards the bullet instead of against it. I screamed and stood up, attempting to run towards her, but the pain in my stomach won. Dylan immediately grabbed me and pulled me back. I couldn't stop crying. Maria was lying on the ground with blood pouring out of her side. Maria took the bullet for me. Dylan stood in front of me and tried to pull me away from the bullet and Maria succeeded in taking the bullet for me. The two people who stood up for me first now stood up for me to make sure I didn't get shot too. They're never afraid to risk their lives for me. What did I do to deserve these kinds of people?