Teens with guns (Short Story)

Hour 2

   It was the second hour of the school day. That's when it happened. Achilles was doodling in Pre Algebra, and daydreaming about Patroclus. Now, if anyone had said that directly, he would have punched them in the face, then moved to Canada.

   He was just concerned about his boy- nope, best friend. Achilles had tried to mask his extremely prominent urge to strangle Pats' father. He wanted nothing more for Pat than for him to be happy, and that wouldn't ever be possible with his abusive asshat of a father in the picture.

   He also couldn't deny (but he certainly would deny anyone who asked him) that he definitely had a massive, big, gay crush on a probably not gay person named Patroclus. He didn't want to ruin their friendship by confessing his most likely one sided feelings. Achilles didn't want to look a gift best friend in the mouth.

   As he was perfecting his 3D cube sketches, the PA system crackled to life,"ATTENTION! ALL STUDENTS! THERE IS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IN THE BUILDING. I REPEAT, THERE IS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IN THE BUILDING. DO NOT ENGAGE, DO NOT MAKE NOISE, AND DO NOT LEAVE THE CLASSROOM!"

   So of course Achilles left the classroom. While everybody else was wailing and trying to call the police, Achilles sprinted for the door and shoved aside the frantic teacher who tried to stop him. He had to get to Patroclus. Pat was the only thing that mattered. He raced down the hallway, trying to remember what room Pat was in. He didn't even know what he would do when he got there, no way he would be let inside the classroom. But he would figure it out when he got there.

   He passed the boys restroom, but backtracked until he was standing in front of the door. Achilles thought he might as well check to see if Patroclus was in there, hoping beyond all hope that he was. He opened the heavy door quietly, and walked inside.

   He heard someone trying to mask heavy breathing, and eyed the only closed stall in the bathroom."Pat, are you there?" He called. He heard the catch of breath from the stall. The door opened slightly, and he saw dark curly hair framing a familiar face.

   "Achilles! Thank god!" He flew out of the stall and into the arms of an extremely relieved Achilles, who held onto him tightly."Patroclus, are you okay?" The other boy nodded vigorously."I was in the hallway when it happened, I ducked in here to take cover." Pat looked at the other boy critically,"You as well?"

   Achilles smiled sheepishly and refused to meet his eyes."No, I was in class." Patroclus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in between his thumb and forefinger."Prince charming. Now, what do we do?" Achilles sighed and ran his hands through his hair, sitting down on the tile."I don't know."

   Pat sat down next to him, leaning his head on his shoulder."Hey Achilles?" The boy in question looked up."Hmm?" Patroclus fidgeted and looked at Achilles. Achilles was shocked at the raw emotion in his eyes, the honesty that threatened to open up and swallow him whole."If I don't... get out of here... I want you to know..." Tears were welling up in his eyes now,"I've always loved you. Since we were little. I just... just needed you to know."

Achilles was stunned. His mouth opened, and then closed."Hey, Hey," he whispered wiping the tears off of his cheeks, where they were rolling freely over the purple blotch."I love you too." Patroclus look up at him and blinked through wet lashes."You do?" Achilles smiled and nodded, wiping away his own tears now.

He leaned forward and kissed him, a thousand bees going frenzied in his stomach."We need to get out of here." With everything, he had almost forgotten about the active shooter with a gun. Gripping his hand tight, Achilles rose and headed towards the door.