One of the Boys

Chapter 5: Feels like Prison

Do you ever feel like an inmate whenever you're at school? This is how I feel. I feel like I'm in prison. There are so many rules to follow, the food sucks, you're stuck doing the same routine every day, and it feels like everyone is watching your every move.

I was waiting for the bell to ring. I kept checking my watch. Could the time be any slower? This class is so boring. I can already read, write, and speak English. Why do I need to study this?

"Got somewhere to be?" Em whispered to me.

I just shook my head in response to Em's question.

"No talking in my class!" Ms. Hunter yelled.

Em apologized to Ms. Hunter. He slid down his chair and hid his face in shame.

The bell rang. Finally! I can go home! This is the happiest part of my day.

I quickly walked out of the room.

"What's the hurry?" Em asked me.

"I just really want to go home." I replied.

"Oh. Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then." he said then gave me a hug goodbye and walked away.

Thea and Brooke then came and approached me.

"Hey, girl!" Thea said.

"Don't forget. Practice tomorrow after school. Mmm-kay?" Brooke said.

I just nodded. I wasn't in the mood to talk to these girls right now. I just really want to head home. Like right now!

"Mac!" Chiz shouted as he ran towards me and the girls.

"What now? Are these people really against me going home? These delaying tactics are really starting to annoy me?" I thought.

"My mom told me to tell you so you can tell your mom, dinner at our house later. Alright?" Chiz said.

"Alright." I replied.

"Cool. See you later then." he said then gave me a kiss on the cheek and jogged away.

"Aw. You two look so good together. A cheerleader and a jock, perfect match! One of the cutest couples I have ever seen." Brooke said.

"We're not, um, we're not." I said then walked away.

When I got home, I immediately told my mom that we would be having dinner at the Connors' that night. The Connors' house is like an extension of our house. And our house is an extension of theirs. We often have dinner at each other's house like whatever, you know. We're family.

The next morning, it's back to school. Can you hear me screaming? I thought it would just be a regular and boring day at school today but I was wrong.

When I arrived at school there were a couple of police cars at the parking area of our school. What's going on? Remember I said earlier that when I'm at school I feel like I'm in some kind of prison? Well, this is not a feeling anymore. Having the police here, makes us feel more suffocated than ever. I still don't know why they're here.

When I walked through the front doors, it was like going through airport security.

I saw Chiz and asked him what was going on. He said that he heard someone say that someone brought drugs and a gun to school. Others say that there was a bomb threat. Honestly, I don't know what to believe.

The police started going through all our lockers. There were also bomb sniffing dogs everywhere. They checked every single room, even the restrooms and the library. They checked to see if there was anything unusual.

We were on full lockdown! The students and teachers come in but no one can go out.

To be honest, I was actually a bit scared. The drugs thing doesn't scare me. I'm terrified of the gun and bomb, if there really is one. I mean, come on! Who in the right mind would bring those things to school? What were they thinking? Do they think it would make them cool or legends?

Everyone was asked to stay in the gym until matters were resolved.

We were sitting at the bleachers. I was in the middle of Chiz and Em. Alpha and Thea were sitting behind us.

I asked Em where his best friend was. He said Gino was sick.

"How come every time we are asked to gather at the gym he's always not around?" Chiz asked.

Em shrugged.

We have been waiting for half an hour. I was getting bored. Honestly, and I'm surprised about it myself, I wish we could just go to class instead of waiting here.

To fight our boredom we just did stupid things. At first we played the tic-tac-toe using the mini tic-tac-toe keychain. Then we instantly got tired of playing that.

Chiz started playing with my hair. He tried to braid it but failed miserably. I said he won't have a chance in getting a job at a salon if he ever applied. We all laughed about it.

Em asked me if he could rest his head on my hand. I have a small hand and he has a big head. It was really heavy!

Chiz leaned his head on my shoulder and took a nap. He looks so innocent and peaceful when he's sleeping. Can't he just stay like this? I'm kidding! I'm totally kidding. I still like him better when he's awake.

Em took my right hand and gathered my index, middle, and ring fingers together and he separated my thumb and pinky. He did the same with his left hand. And he put his thumb and pinky through the respective gaps in my hand.

I asked him why he did that. He said, "Because I felt like it."

Thea and Alpha were really quiet. At first they were just making out to their hearts' content. But then they stopped. I can feel Thea staring at the back of my head. It was really creepy.

Thea leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Juggling two boys at once? How do you do it?"

I looked at her all puzzled. And then Em said to Thea, "Jealous?" Thea's eyebrows meet and she just slowly backed away.

An hour went by and we were all getting tired of waiting. Finally, Principal Franklin went in and announced that it is safe to go to our respective classes.

We never really knew the real reason for all this. Maybe it's the drugs, maybe it's the gun, or maybe it's the bomb. No one will ever know.