Anxiety

Chapter 13: Hurting from Behind the Scenes

First period classes were buzzing. No one knew who had jumped, he was helping the jumper or who was the one trying to get the jumper to jump. It gave me slight relief only people kept asking if I knew or thought anyone. Everyone was highly annoying. S/o wasn't in my first period class which was Art. I had him in English and math though. My other period was my free period which I had right after lunch, which didn't matter today. The bell rang and everyone desperately found their seats. Everyone was prepared when the teacher walked in wanting to know everything that he could tell them.

"Well, this is a surprise. Everyone is already all ready to start class." He laughed. "I am afraid there are no classes today. We have a very long assembly which is going to be held by our town's police. We will be going down to the gym in half an hour." He nodded.

"Mr. Herold? Can you tell us what happened?" Someone questioned. Cassie squeezed my arm lightly for comfort as my stomach flip-flopped.

"Right." He sighed as if hoping no one would ask him that. "Well, I'm guessing you all know yesterday after school hours two students went up onto the roof. One was prepared to jump from the fourth story of the school and the other was encouraging them to jump." He nodded. I sighed as he was keeping everyone private. If he said my name I was dead.

"But who were those people?" Someone asked.

"I thought someone saved them from jumping?" Another said. I was ready to pound my head off the desk in frustration.

"Someone did save the jumper. Who those people are I will let them remain secret unless they feel like saying because I know I wouldn't want to be swarmed with questions, but all I am going to say is I am very proud of the person who helped the jumper to safety. I am sure the trio will be mentioned in the assembly." He nodded.

"Mr. Herold do you know any more you can tell us?" Someone asked.

"I do know more I can tell you yes. I know you are all shocked by what has happened yesterday and I know you all knew there would be no classes today so I am very very pleased to see so many faces around the school today. I know this is because you all care a lot about what happened yesterday and I would like to please ask you to not bother the three people. They are all probably under a lot of stress right now which is why no teachers will be saying who is who. I know the same will be told to every student. Also please do not go and ask them questions like, what did it feel like to stand on the fourth floor wanting to die. That's a personal question. You wouldn't want to be asked that question so don't ask them." He said.

"So should we just ignore them?" Someone asked.

"I'm sure it would be fine to go up and say something simple like, are you alright, I hope you're feeling better, but there is no need to go up and ask personal questions like that." The announcer turned on and the class fell silent.

"Would all classes please report to the gym. The assembly on school safety, personal safety, and others safety will be starting in half an hour. Please make your way down quietly." Our principal said. Even though he had said to be quite the hallways were always rather loud. But it was more of mumbled noise than loud unneeded noise. It surprised me how respectful the school was being until I got to the gym and saw the group of jocks pushing around people asking them questions to see if they knew anything. I sighed and I watched them as they moved closer to S/o who was their favourite target. My breath caught in my throat as he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings. He looked like he normally nervous self.

"I will be right back," I told Cassie. I darted across the room grabbing my hand around his wrist. "Why don't you come with me," I said looking past him. The jocks pointed and started to laugh. S/o caught on looking behind him to see the jocks stop walking towards him.