Silence is Golden

Chapter 35: April 2011

Rain really wanted to go to the Baking Club meeting this lunch. That left me alone my spot that kinda evolved into our spot after the events of Prom. Not that I was complaining. I loved her company.

I was sketching, couldn't really remember what because what happened next scared the shit out of me. The loud speakers suddenly turned on with a loud squeak, jolting me from my daydream.

"This is a Code Red. I repeat this is a Code Red."

I quickly shoved everything into my backpack, running towards the classroom. However, this spot of mine was kinda far from the classrooms for good (and apparently bad) reasons. My heart was thumping from both fear and exhaustion once I reached the first hallway, realizing the doors were all closed. Suddenly, a gunshot rang from the other side of the school. Panicking and almost throwing up my tuna sandwich, I raced into the closest bathroom.

You see, I never really understood what they taught us during a Code Red when you're stuck in a bathroom. They tell you, "Close the door and stand on the toilet." But honestly, if I was the crazy psychopath with a gun, I would go for the door that was freakin closed. Doesn't make sense.

With that covered, I decided to do the next cleverest thing. I ran into the first stall, locking the stall door behind me. I crawled under the wall, locking that door too. Continuing my master plan, I finally reached the handicap stall, locking that door too. My not so genius plan told me that the handicap stall was the only one you can't really see through the cracks in. That was the reason why it was my favorite stall.

I squatted with my feet on the toilet seat and waited.

What seemed like hours passed, a man walked into the bathroom. I gripped tight to the railing on my left, the other hand covering my mouth, trying to control my breath. Something good about being a mute. You won't accidentally let out a frightened squeak of fear and have burning legs that don't like squatting for no reason.

I listened as he made his way down the row of stalls, extremely quiet, as if listening. But he was playing this into my territory. I was the champion at the silent game.

The footsteps stopped right in front of the handicap stall. I sucked in all my breath, refusing to breathe. One minute passed. I stared at the shoes peeking out from under the stall. My lungs were burning but I forced myself from taking another breath.

Finally, the pair of feet left the bathroom, the door slamming shut. Yet I continued to hold my breath, my knuckles white from gripping onto the railing so tight. I was listening for more footsteps incase he was a smart psychopath.

I let out all my breath, relieved to have him gone, I stayed there in my squatted position, wondering what face belonged to the pair of feet. I mean, who wears camouflage pants and a pair of asics to a shooting? Especially being the target of a shooting?

The loudspeaker announced and all clear after another few long hours. It was probably just minutes but who knows? I fell off the toilet, my legs going into an unscheduled nap after a long section of toilet squatting. Then I proceed to exit the bathroom, half crawling on the filthy floor, half limping.

"Aiden!" Rain collided into me, squeezing me with a hug. "I was so scared, I didn't know if you made it to a classroom or not..."

I stopped her, cupping her cheek in my hand and proceeding to kiss her. She pulled back, wiping a tear from her eye, smiling.

"Were you in the bathroom for an hour?"

I nodded, just as the police walked into the hallway that we were standing in.

"Did you two see him?"

I nodded. This seriously didn't look like a policeman to mess with. Clean shaven, you could see every wrinkle on his face, making him look like he was stuck in a permanent scowl.

"Can you please describe him?"

Camouflage pants, red asics. I described. He did not seem impressed.

"Son, you're going to have to talk."

"He can't," Rain tried, only to be shut down.

"Did you see him?" he asked.

"No."

"Then shut up," he scolded, turning back to me. "Let's try this again. What did you see?"

Camouflage pants, red asics. I tried again, a pit forming in my stomach.

"I'm giving you one more try," he warned.

Fine, I signed, sass taking over, I didn't see him from under the bathroom stall.

And that's how I got arrested.