Beyond the Reasons || JUSTIN FOLEY

One

FLASHBACK
EIGHT MONTHS AGO
THIRD PERSON'S POV

Clay and Imogen Jensen were both in their shared car, Clay driving as they rushed down the street to meet Tony wherever he had taken Tyler. As they drove away, the police were rushing towards the school on the opposite side of the road. Imogen could see the sheer panic over her brother's face, and she sighed.

"Pay attention to the road, Clay. . don't focus on them." Imogen said.

"We have a gun in the backseat." He said, and Imogen turned around to see the gun that Clay had taken from Tyler was laying across the back.

"I know. . so don't get pulled over. If you do, we're screwed." Imogen said, and then her phone started ringing. She looked down and saw the Caller ID was Tony, so she answered and put it on speaker so Clay could hear as well.

"We'll be there in two minutes. We're free and clear, I don't think they even looked at us when they drove by." Imogen explained.

"Okay, and Justin and everyone will talk to them at school, right?" Tony asked.

"Yeah. Justin and those guys are gonna talk to the police. We got a story."

Clay and Imogen made it to the abandoned site that Tony told them about before getting out of the car. Imogen noticed that Tyler no longer had his guns strapped to him and that they were on the ground away from him. Tony approached the twins as they stayed by their car.

"Hey, Tyler. How you doing? Shall we. . get you home?" Clay asked. At the mention of home, Tyler eyes widened, mainly because after tonight, he wasn't expecting that he was going to make it home.

"Oh my god. . My parents. ." He said.

"Tyler. ." Imogen spoke his name softly, because she didn't know what would set him off. "What did you do?"

―

"Okay, Tyler. We're gonna drive you home. We're gonna go inside with you. Whatever happens, it's gonna. .-it's gonna be okay." Tony said to Tyler. The four of them got into Clay and Imogen's car. Imogen driving, Tony riding passenger, Clay and Tyler in the back and Imogen drove them back to Tyler's house.

"I don't have my keys. ." Tyler said as they stood outside of the door on his front stairs.

"Oh right. ." Clay said, reaching into his pockets and taking out Tyler's keys before handing them to him. Tyler unlocked the door, and the four of them all walked inside, where they were immediately were greeted by Tyler's mother.

"Tyler! Oh, Tyler!" His mom exclaimed, wrapping her son in a hug. "You're okay. Oh! We were so worried." She said, as she unwrapped her arms from him, and then she noticed the bruising on his head. "What happened to your head?" She asked.

"Uh. . he uh, fell earlier." Clay said.

"We got the text and then you weren't in your room. We didn't even know you'd gone to the dance." Mrs. Down said, and Imogen raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Down. There was a text?" Imogen asked.

"About the shooter. We got the text that the dance was being evacuated. We couldn't find you. Your father is down there now. Um, do your parents know that you're okay?" Mrs. Down asked looking at Imogen, Clay, and Tony.

"Yes." Tony said, nodding his head.

"I should check in." Clay said, and Imogen laid a hand on his shoulder.

"I'll call mom and dad." She said, and Clay nodded his head, and then Imogen pulled him aside. "Will you be good here, if I just go home? I think you guys can handle Tyler, but if there's a further plan, let me know." Imogen said, and Clay nodded his head.