Hunter
“Hey Hunter,” a soft, shy voice begins at my locker. I whirl around to see Katy. I blush a little. We’ve only talked once the entire school year not counting right now. And she’s starting another conversation. I do like her but I’m just letting her make the moves. “Yeah?” I ask quietly and casually. “I know we don’t really know each other but if it wasn’t already obvious enough, I kind of like you. Like in that way.” She whispers her face turns as pink as raspberry sherbet. “Really? I mean, I know I don’t really talk to you but . . .” I hesitate. I can fight glowing, flying murderers and turn into a tiger at will but I can’t tell a girl that I like her. “I sorta like you too.” I mumble looking at her black boots. We both open our mouths to say something. “Sorry, you first.” I say letting the lady speak first. “No you go.” She insists. I smile and shake my head still looking at the floor. “Alright. Well I was hoping you could . . . uh . . . you know . . .” I choke on the last few words. I take a shaky breath. “Do you wanna be my girlfriend?” I ask nervously. I tense myself preparing for rejection. She throws her arms around me. “Yes.”
Since Katy and I share a study hall I decide to sit with her. At first we exchange awkward hellos and sit in silence. Eventually I start talking. “So this is what a relationship is like.” I joke sarcastically. She giggles a little. “Sorry I’m kinda shy.” She admits. I notice the color in her cheeks. I realize mine feel warm. “Me too.” I confess. “Yeah. Heh. I guess it just comes with being in middle school.” She explains. “What do you mean?” I ask confused. “Well in middle school everyone is pretty self-conscious. At least from what I’ve seen. Some people would rather cut their own hand off than be in a relationship.” She answers. I laugh a little. “Yeah I never really noticed that.” I start realizing now how terrified my friends are when it comes to relationships. Rose and Jake won’t admit they like each other. Krys and Matt are pretty complicated too. Steve and May won’t even talk to each other! “That’s what I like about you.” Katy says softly. “Huh?” I ask. “Well you do what you want and you own up to being a child. But you don’t see any shame in it. Like playing in the water fountain.” She smirks as she speaks. “Hey I wasn’t playing in the water fountain. I was calculating how to get the water.” I joke punching her arm lightly. She laughs putting her hand where I punched her. Then she looks up and kisses me on the cheek and whispers, “I don’t care who sees this.”
In my next class, I’m the happiest middle schooler in the world. I sit next to Steve and pass him notes about Katy. Every time I look at her, I wink at her making her blush. She always winks back. I roll my eyes while our teacher drawls on about the Scientific Method. I’m so zoned out; I fall out of my chair when an ear-splitting alarm went off. The PA clicks on. “There are shooters in the building! The building is under a lockdown!” Students shriek while some remember the lockdown procedure. We all huddle in the back of the room. We squish ourselves against empty cabinets. I think for a second and crawl into one. “Steve,” I hiss. He whirls around with huge eyes. “What?” he mouths to me. I don’t bother mouthing words. I can barely lip-read anyway. “Close this door and lock it. When this is over, unlock it.” I explain in a whisper. He nods and closes the door. I hear it click and I let out a breath and smile a little. There’s no way the shooters will find me now.
I hear the classroom door open. In all the chaos and confusion the teacher must’ve forgotten to lock it. I hold my breath as if the slightest exhalation will summon the shooter. I hear a gunshot followed by a shriek. I squeeze my eyes shut and shudder a little. I hear the classroom door slam shut and the room is dead quiet again. The cabinet door opens and Steve looks at me with pity. “What? What happened?” I ask. “Joe came in. He shot Katy. She’s dead.” He whispers emotionlessly. I look over the crowd of students all crouched over to see my new girlfriend covered in blood. Her eyes shut, her face white and her body lifeless. I can’t stop the tears. I close the cabinet door and cry to myself. Why didn’t I sit with all the other students and hold Katy’s hand. Joe would’ve shot me. Not her.
:'(
