Code Red >> l.h. au

first period ; 8:15

Rule #2 of a Code Red:

Cover the door window with one or more of three colors

Red = intruder

Yellow = missing students

Green = All students accounted for

-

When I say all hell broke loose, I mean it through and through. The girl I went to elementary school with, Evelyn, started rocking back and forth in her seat. Her brother volunteers in the courtyard for 45 minutes of first period. They're twins and each other's best friend. Not to many people talk to either of them. Chelsea started crying immediately. Luke's face went pale. Everyone has a different reaction to hearing shots fired in the main office of their school.

For me, I froze. My mind went to Ashton, who would have to check in the office if he got here before the Code Red. What if he was in the office? Then it went to Michael. Frenks' room is in the hallway right next to the office. What if the shooter went to that hallway next? What if there was another shooter already there. It went to Calum, who had left to go to the bathroom moments before the Code Yellow happened. Lastly I thought of Chelsea's brother, Aaron. Aaron was a year older than us; Ashton's age. He and I had a thing last year towards the end of the year. We were still close, but Aaron was in college so it was complicated. He was coming to school today to get Chels and I for lunch. What is he going to think when he pulls up to his old school to find that his little sister and ex-girlfriend are stuck inside. I was snapped out of my trance by a hand on my shoulder.

"Quinn. You need to get under the table with Luke while I figure out a better hiding spot." Ms. Grover whispered. I nodded my head and climbed under next to Luke. He looked at me with scared eyes, but put on a brave face.

"It's going to be ok, Quinn. It's going to be ok." He choked out and motioned for me to scoot closer to him. Complying, I moved so we were sitting shoulder to shoulder. "Shitty situation we're in, right?" he laughed bitterly.

"Maximum shittyness has been achieved." I mumbled and rolled my eyes. Of all the times I would want to be pressed to Luke Hemmings, this one is not what I would expect, or want. He chuckled and I raised my eyebrow in question.

"It's just... of all the times I would want to be in close quarters with Quinn Evans, a school Code Red is not one of them."

"Ironic. I was just thinking the same thing."

"Not ironic." He corrected. "That's not an irony; it's just coincidence. Irony is seeing schools that get on the news and thinking 'that could never be my school'." He looked down at me and noticed my shocked expression. "Sorry. This whole thing just makes me really angry."

"Don't worry. I'm pretty sure that if we took a class poll, anger would be a widely mutual felling."

"Widely mutual?" he asked and I nodded. "Why not completely?"

"Well... Not everyone is brave or bold enough to feel the anger." I said slowly, making sure I phrased everything correctly. "Some people are shocked." I said and pointed to a kid on Luke's team, Ian, who was sitting under his table with an utterly bewildered expression on his face. "Some people are crushed." I continued, motioning to Chelsea, who was still sobbing. "And some people... some people are just numb." I finished, looking back at him.

"Which category do you fall into, Quinn?" he asks quietly.

"I'm angry. I'm numb. I'm shocked. I'm crushed. I'm a mix of all 4." I replied and started picking at the threads of my jeans. It wasn't for any particular reason, it was just a distraction.

-

I stopped picking at the threads and looked at the clock. 7:50. In twenty five minutes, I was supposed to be going to my second period, where myself and the gang would meet up with Michael. I got choked up at the thought of Michael. He was probably scared to death right now. He pretended to be this big and tough "punk rock" (his words, not mine) guy, but he's really just a big softy. We've known each other since birth. Our parents have lived next door to each other for about 20 years and have been best friends ever since, so naturally Michael and I followed in their footsteps. Calum and Michael went to the same Pre-K and were fast friends. My parents opted out of me going to Pre-K, and instead took to their own methods of teaching me. My family would travel to places like Kenya or Brazil so I could learn about the culture. I spent a lot of time with relatives as well; my mother believed in strong family bonds.

In elementary school, I was reunited with Michael and introduced to Calum. We became the Three Musketeers, and everyone knew that where one of us went, the other two were soon to follow. In 5th grade, I was in a different class than Michael in Calum. That was ok though, because that was the year I met Chelsea. Chelsea became the 4th member of our little "gang", and I found another best friend. Mid way through the year, our class got a new kid. Luke Hemmings was a short and awkward boy from Australia, but for some reason, I liked that. He was never loud or obnoxious like the rest of my friends, and that was a welcome change. Luke and I were good friends, but somewhere between 5th and 6th grade, we just... stopped talking.

Then, in the middle of 7th grade, my 4th period class got switched from Pottery to Team Sports. That day we were on the fields, which meant I would be playing soccer. Half of the boys and a few girls went to play football. Majority of the girls and a small grouping of guys decided to walk the perimiter of the fields, and the rest of us went to play soccer. There were two captains, Ian and Luke. Luke had grown about a lot and was now about 3 inches taller than me. And when Luke picked me second for his team, I realized he hadn't forgot about me. I also realized I liked Luke. I liked Luke. I guess I have ever since.

"Ahem. Is this thing on? Oh goody." A voice said over the intercom. Luke pulled me into his side and grabbed my hand with his other, looking at me. "Well. I'm someone you don't know. You don't know my name, don't know my face. So don't bother trying to figure out who I am. If you must have a name for me, refer to me as The Orchestrator. I have set up a little... game... for some students of the school. Students who hate this concrete building and its inhabitants. There are three others. Six hallways. Each of my people will get one classroom per hallway, two hallways per person. They will walk into the room and shoot one student. Doesn't matter if they die or not. If there are no students, whoever is in the classroom at the time will be shot. If we do not fill our quota of 18 students, the bombs that are set through out the school will go off. I suggest picking your volunteer now. Good day." The voice clicked off and was replaced by a tin-sounding version of Pumped Up Kicks. Luke and I looked around the classroom as the song played. As it ended, I realized that today might be the last day for 18 people I know. And one of them could be in this classroom.

The bell finally rang. 8:15.

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chapter song : pumped up kicks

ok I'm sorry for the boring parts and the slow update but finals are happening and yeah.

the concept of the shooting is so bad how the hell do I come up with this stuff?

ok. this sucked and is unedited don't hate me. hope y'all like you, you sick people.

just kidding I love you guys ok I'm done.