Trouble | Billy Tepper -Toy Soldiers-

Fourteen

After dinner and head count they were allowed out into the quad. Billy's cuts started bleeding again so they got a cloth and Joey dabbed at the wounds as Billy sat on the water fountain. Then the headmaster walked over to them.

"How are you feeling?" He asked Billy.

"Ok" Billy replied.

The headmaster paused then turned to Joey.
"Come to my office will you, Mr. Trotta? They want to see you." He said.

"Why?" Joey asked.

"I don't think they mean you any harm. I'll go with you." He reassured Joey.

They all started to feel uneasy and worried. Shmem could feel her anxiety rising. She had a feeling that something bad was about to happen. Joey looked at Billy then Shmem. "Alright" he said and followed the headmaster inside.

"Why do they want to see Joey?" Hank asked.

"I don't know." Billy said.

Billy bent down and took a drink from the fountain.

"God, I hope they don't do anything to him." Shmem said.

After a few minutes , the front doors to the school swung open. Joey looked furious and he was holding a gun.

Oh my God! What the fuck!

A couple of terrorist ran over to him and Joey starting shooting at them.

"Joey!" Billy yelled. He tried to run towards Joey, but Hank grabbed onto him and held him tight.

"Joey! No! Joey!" Shmem yelled.
But Joey wouldn't stop. He had had enough.

The terrorist started firing at Joey.
"Joey!" Billy yelled. He was struggling, trying to get free, but Hank was using everything in him to hold him back.

Shmem tried to run to Joey too, but Ricardo grabbed her. She fell to her knees and started sobbing. Ricardo fell with her and held her in his arms. She hung on to him tightly and buried her face into his shirt. She didn't want to see what was happening. She wanted to stop it, but she knew she wouldn't be able to.

The shooting stopped and she heard Luis yell something in Spanish.

"You FUCKER!" Billy yelled.

Ricardo stood up and helped Shmem to her feet. "Is Joey alright?" She asked him with tears in her eyes.

Ricardo didn't say anything.

She was afraid to turn around. She didn't want to see what she was imagining in her head.

She turned around slowly and her heart shattered.

"JOEY!" she yelled as she ran to him.

He was lying on the steps and had bullet holes in his chest.

She got down, grabbed his hand, and stroked his hair. "Joey...I'm so sorry" she said with tears running down her face.

She leaned close and kissed his cheek, then pressed her forehead against his.

"I love you, Joey...I love you so much."

More tears ran down her face. She cried into Joey's neck.

Billy broke free of Hank's grip and ran over to Joey. He was checking Joey over as if he was in disbelief by what just happened.

A terrorist grabbed Shmem by the arm. She smacked it away.

"DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME!" She screamed.

Ricardo rushed over and pulled her away from Joey. Then Hank grabbed Billy.

"Joey!" she cried.

😭😭😭😭