Happy endings are stories that haven't ended yet. And no matter how much we'd like to hope there is a such thing as happy endings, we are dead wrong. No pun intended. Fairy tales may have happy endings but it doesn't neccessarily end there; the writer simply ends the story there. It ends once the characters die. Everything dies. Everything has a downfall. It's the way of life. There is never a happy ending.
I see in the reflection on the board, where the sunlight from the outside leaked in through the window, I see the shadow of a young man through the blinds. He paces outside the window, hesitant. The class is either scribbling notes in their books, chattering away, tapping their pencils on the desks, or just trying to find some way to deal with their boredom. The teacher types absently on her laptop, seated quietly at her desk. Everyone is pretty much oblivious to what is about to happen...
I could tell from the sihlouette though that it was Luke standing outside the door. And by the way he was standing, I knew he was up to something. I could tell he was nervous by the way he rubbed the back of his neck while he paced. He ran his hand quickly through his hair and then I saw his shadow inhale, taking in a deep breath of air. Then the door opened.
No one payed attention at first. Why would they anyway? It was only that loser Luke coming back from the restroom. But I turned to face the door and that's when I let out a small gasp. And soon, one by one, the others turned their heads to see what had shocked me.
Luke had a gun. And it was loaded and pointed at us. What nervousness he once had was gone. His expression was hard. His hand held the gun steadily. He scanned the room and that's when his gaze met mine. He saw the terror in my eyes and he almost turned away.
I know he felt a pang of guilt. I just know it.
But he doesn't lower the gun. He just looks away.
"Luke, what the hell do you think you're doing?" The teacher snapped, quickly standing up at her desk. He aims the weapon at her, narrowing his eyes.
"I suggest you keep still, ma'am. I wouldn't want to hurt you." His voice was cold, sharp. There was not a quiver in his voice, nothing to suggest he was bluffing. He was dead serious. He'd shoot if he had to.
She did as she was instructed and kept still. The class was silent, as if everyone held their breath.
But then of course, there's Andrew. "Dude, you need to calm the f*ck down. We all knew you were a freak."
That's when an eerie smirk spread across Luke's face. He then aimed the gun at Andrew, right between his eyes. "I am calm, dude." His voice is mocking. "And you know, it's funny that you mention it, Andrew. I knew you'd say something soon. Well, guess what? You see this gun, this weapon I'm using to threaten your lives? Yeah, this is your fault. You guys were such dicks to me my entire life. And maybe I'm sick of it. Maybe I think it's time I stand up for myself for once." His voice rises in anger. "And maybe it's time you learn your lesson. Yes? What do you say, class?"
That's when Andrew's friend speaks up. Darren is his name. "That's your fault for being a pussy, Luke. Can't take a little teasing? Oh boo-hoo, everyone picks on me, poor little Luke who can't defend myself! Cry me a river."
Luke reacts quickly, shooting the stupid SnapBack off of Darren's head. A couple of screams escape from several girls' mouths. Everyone seems to jump at the sound of a gunshot. But Luke did it on purpose to scare them. It worked. Darren's eyes grow wide and his breathing suddenly becomes heavy. But still he stands his ground.
"Luke, sweetheart," the teacher says, her voice soft but shaky. "Please don't hurt anyone. They don't deserve this..." Her eyes are watering along with several other people.
That's when he lets out a growl. "THEY DON'T DESERVE IT?" He's basically shouting now. "And who's to say I deserved it? That I deserved to be teased my whole life, huh? All these years of HELL I had to go through. I was never safe." He then pulls up his sleeves and shows the scars on his wrists where he once tried to slit his wrists. "You see this? They caused this! They've torn me apart. They've pushed me to the edge. I'm at my breaking point, Mrs. Harrison. And you dare to say they don't deserve it?" His voice cracks at the end of his sentence.
It's obvious he's very upset at this point.
He's shaking now. His eyes are watering.
The class remains silent.
I was Luke's only friend. I'd been with him since middle school. I tried to defend him when he was teased. I was there for him when he'd go home crying. I was all he had. His parents didn't care about him. I'm sure no one cared for him but me. So I stand up and take a step towards him.
"Luke, honey, you don't have to do this. Please. Just put the gun down." I try my hardest to make my voice sound strong, to not show my fear. But he knows me well enough to know I'm terrified. He sees it in my eyes and I see it in his. He lowers his gun but only slightly.
He's got tears streaming down his cheeks now and he takes in a deep breath. I see how he hesitates. How his nerves have gotten the best of him. And I see the way his hand shakes as he slowly raises his gun and points it at his temple. And I know what's coming next. He's going to shoot himself in front of everyone.
He wants them to feel guilty, to have to live with it for the rest of their lives. He wants them to see him take his own life so they can see what they've caused. So that they see just how far they pushed him, how their unkind actions brought him to this point. This is how he'll teach them a lesson.
Everything seems to be happening in slow motion.
"I'm so sorry, Maddie. I'm so sorry." Luke is sobbing now, shaking his head with frustration. "I have to do this. I can't take it anymore. I'm so sorry."
And then the sound of a gunshot fills the classroom. Then a loud thud as his limp body falls to the floor. And the tears come streaming down my face. I fall to my knees onto the floor next to him. And I try to shake him awake. "Luke!" is all I can say, repeating it over and over. His eyelids keep fluttering open and closed. "I love you, Maddie." He whispers softly, his voice barely audible. I see the life leave his body. And once again, his head falls to the floor. His body is still now and I know he's gone forever.
~To Be Continued~
