Only in Highschool

Chapter 1: Cheyenne

There was probably nothing sadder than staying late after school. Your friends had already left and there was genuinely nothing fun about being there anymore. But Cheyenne’s mom was at work and would probably end up staying late to finish working on a case and his dad's bank didn't close until six. Both of his sisters were already in college, so no rides from them. And, despite his love of driving—because he usually loved anything he was good at—his parents refused to buy him a car. Despite living in such a wealthy area, they didn't want to spoil him.

So, he had to stay late after school in the library until he was forced to leave or someone came and got him. It was usually always the former. But Cheyenne (very secretly) didn’t mind too much. It was quiet and he usually got to people-watch.

This time was no different. He was pretty sure he knew nobody in that room, so he guessed they were probably all underclassmen. Well, that was a lie. He recognized another senior, Johnny Thompson, but they weren’t friends, and with the slight crush Cheyenne had on the other boy, he avoided sitting by him. But other than him, the other kids all looked short, and nobody stuck out, except for one girl with shockingly bright red hair. Cheyenne chuckled to himself thinking, “Yeah, that’s definitely natural.” But soon he picked out a seat for himself away from all the other kids. He had a bad habit of tapping things that didn’t bode well for him in a quiet setting like the one he was in now, so he usually secluded himself when he was doing school-work. 
After getting comfortable he pulled out the calculus homework he had been assigned that night and started to do the numbers assigned, because even though he wasn’t great at school, he didn’t hate math. So he sat and plugged and chugged.

Though Cheyenne’s generation is notorious for missing things that are right in front of them due to “always being on those damned phones,” he didn’t miss the feel of the ground shake slightly. It felt like the rattle of a house when the washer is too full of clothes, but he knew something was up. He started to pack up his homework so he could see what was happening. Michigan wasn’t a state prone to natural disasters. So he started to sit up again when he looked around the room. The other kids seemed unfazed, but there was one face he had passed up on at first. The only adult in the room: the librarian. He looked to see her dark brown hair pulled up in a messy bun and her green eyes wide behind her red glasses. Something was wrong.
Cheyenne checked his phone. It was 3:50. The library would close in ten minutes. His eyes darted between the woman and his phone’s clock. Her eyes scanned the room. Her mouth opened like she was going to say something, but it closed quickly when she made eye-contact with Cheyenne. She looked down. Her phone must have buzzed because she picked it up and went into an office door that was located behind the long desk she sat at. Cheyenne watched as the woman spoke on the phone, as even with her back to him he could see her raise her arm to her face, maybe to bite her nails as she paced. Cheyenne started to tap faster as his eyes went around the room. Nobody else seemed too bothered. The other kids just packed their bags. Cheyenne checked his phone. 3:58. When he looked back up the librarian was back from the room. Her eyes were red and puffy looking, even from where he sat. 

“Hey kids…?” Her voice dropped at the end, but everyone looked up, except for one girl with a blonde pixie cut whose headphones were in. Cheyenne went to tap the girl on the shoulder but upon his approach she took out her earbuds and turned to ask him what he wanted when the librarian spoke again. “Hey guys. I-uh- I know you want to go home, and I know it’s closing time anyway, but I think we should stay for a few more-” she took a deep breath ”a few more minutes.” 

Cheyenne wasn’t prone to social anxiety. He didn’t like big crowds or being surrounded by people, but neither made him nervous or anxious. But right now, he wanted to be home. Even with his parents in a rough patch in their marriage and his sisters being at college, he wanted to be in bed and avoid the bad news he knew was coming. He drafted a text to his mom and dad: “Librarian asked me and some other kids to stay late. I’ll see you guys later.” He hit send and paused before looking up and seeing the older woman chew on her nails again. He sent a follow up text: “I love you guys.”