Stay Calm.

          <3 Hey guys this is my new book I have been writing! Sorry for not updating "Just... Me" in a while, I will be sure to get on to that. Hope you enjoy!

Sitting on the floor of the small room, crowded with empty desks, with my back leaning against the concrete brick wall. I was shivering; teeth chattering with every inhale of breath. The skin of my fore-arms, that were wrapped around my folded knees, touched the soft fabric of the people surrounding my self’s clothes, due to the claustrophobic corner of the room that we have been jammed into like sardines. The frightened whispers of the students begging for a response, or at least an opinion to their unanswered questions were heard around the room. The soft and unsteady breaths my classmates are taking, trying to steady their loud and abnormal heartbeats. Not like it would matter, though, the bass of a rock song would be coherent to the sounds of the fear driven pulses our hearts are producing. Syncing together and traveling through the death-like silence of my school.

    "Hayden..." My best friend, Tyler Hunters, says to me through a whisper. He leans over my shoulder to get as close to my ear as possible so nobody could hear his voice, instead they would only see Tylers lips moving as if he were lip synching to a song.

    "It's okay, we are gonna be okay." His voice sounded distant, almost as if he were trying to reassure himself other than me. At this rate everyone's day has been going I wouldn't doubt it.

    Tyler knew that his statement was less reassuring than he had hoped it to be and silently draped his arm around my trembling figure, bending his wrist around my waist to pull me closer to him. I rested my head on his shoulder trying to soothe my shaking. Violent thoughts of what the next half hour could bring the students and faculty of Lake Mill High school jumbled in my head.

    I, being a sophmore in high school, have grown close to many of the teachers that work in this large building. I guess it doesn't really help to be an office aide, either. I wouldn't wish the worst on any of my teachers or this building. Unlike all the other students in my grade who can't wait until senior year to get out of this Hell Hole, as they call it, I actually like school. I like getting up in the morning, getting to see Tyler and my other friends first thing.

    Tyler and I have known each other since fifth grade when he transferred to my elementary school from New York. We became friends in year six. Ever since we have been inseparable, he knows my secrets and fears, and vise-versa. Without him, high school would be very different.

    A small cry, almost the sound of a baby's wail when hungry, sounded from down the hall towards the office by the entrance, successfully silencing the whispers. My whole body tensed, as did Tyler's. He unraveled his arm from around my waist and reached down for my hand. I gladly accepted the warm and reassuring touch, and intertwined my fingers with his, leaning into him for comfort.

    Our room is square shaped. Currently, we are sitting with our backs on the south wall. The door is also in this wall, but shoved in a small corner, separated from us with foot-wide concrete blocks built into the strong building. It's built so when a person walks through the door, they have to walk through a small enclosure before actually seeing all of the small room. The window of our door faces the north wall, so if an intruded ever comes into the building and looks into the window, he won't see us.

      That small cry, faded as quickly as it came and allowed me to loosen the grip on Tyler's hand. I squinted through the darkness of the room, trying to make out faces, only to come up with black silo wets of students. The whispers started up again, yet this time quieter. I sunk back into Tyler's side which made him whisper somewhat soothing words to me, but I could tell it was only for my sanity of the situation. I knew he didn't believe a word coming out of his own mouth. I looked to the person on the opposite side of me. Lindsay. The only features my dilated eyes could make out were her slightly bowed head, her thin lips moving, saying something inaudible. Her hands where clasped together, grasping a small charm around her neck she always wore. A cross.