A Dagger to the Heart

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

        My first hour class was AP Studio Art. I like art a lot because it always clears my mind from anything else going on around me. I get to be free from the shit going on and all the stress. I looked around the classroom and I knew just about everyone there. I was close enough with a few people to talk to, but other then that, I was on my own. Which was fine with me. I took an art class last year so I had the same teacher. She was really nice and actually liked my art. She put one of my pieces in her art show which was an honor because a lot of people went to the show. She took out her clip board and started taking attendance. Everyone was here. 

"So I was told that you guys have an assembly today next hour, I believe that you go right to the gym after this class." She told the everyone.

        I totally forgot that every year we have an assembly to go over the rules about having a safe year. The guidance counselors just talk the whole time about how important it is to get good grades and they give you tips on how to make them. I never listen because it doesn't matter how many speeches and lectures you give me about grades, I still won't care as much as I should. I never study for tests and I still get acceptable grades. My school goes off of trimesters and each tri my GPA is above a 3.2. Good enough to get into college, then good enough for me too.

"Today we are going to explore with watercolors," the teacher said as she pointed to the cabinet in the back of the room labeled "paints", "Everyone grab four pieces of paper, tape, a brush and paints. 

        Everyone moved from their seats and did as instructed. We all taped our four pieces of paper to the boards and got our paints ready by adding a few drops of water to make them paint and not little blocks of chalk. 

"Just paint whatever you want. Experiment with the colors and try different textures. I have salt, alcohol and Vaseline up here to try out for fun. Sprinkle salt over the wet paint, or spray alcohol and it will give you different textures."

        We all began painting. I put my head phones in because I like to concentrate on my art and not hear the idiotic conversations that go on around me. The Maroon5 playlist was still up from the drive to school, I am totally okay with that. I started painting with the blues and purples because they are my favorite. My music stopped playing for a few seconds and I looked down to see that Carrie texted me. "sit by my at the assembly?" I just replied with "Sure" and I went back to my painting. 

         It felt like hours before I looked up and everyone was leaving the room one by one. I must have missed the bell because my music was too loud. I put my phone and headphones in my bag and started putting my supplies away. Looks like I am going to be a little late for the assembly. The gym fills up fast so I will have to stand by the bleachers. They gym has seating on each side of it and little platforms on the top of each side. You have to go up a lot of stairs to get there, but the bleachers don't hold two thousand so a lot of people end up standing back there. 

        Once all of my supplies were cleaned up, I started walking down to the gym. The halls were pretty much empty so I am guessing everyone is already there. I could hear people cheering and clapping as I opened the doors. The music was so loud I was a little overwhelmed as I stepped into the gym. I was right, everyone was already here. It was packed. I decided that instead of making a fool out of myself looking for Carrie, I would just stand on the side of the bleachers by the door. 

        The gym is split into sections by your class. All the freshman sit together and the sophomores sit together and so on. There is always one person who holds up the sign of the class so everyone knows where to go. Normally the underclass man sit on one side and the upperclassman sit on the other but I guess they changed it up this year because freshman and seniors were both on the same side. The side of the gym has a podium that the principle and counselors talk at. There is also a table on the side where someone sits and runs the music. But other then that, it's pretty boring.

        The principle started with saying how great of a year he thinks it is going to be and how we all need to be on our best behavior when on school grounds. He gives this speech every year and no one actually cares. I guarantee the only reason all these people are here is because we get to skip class, not because we are interested in what anyone talks about. Once the principle stops talking, half the school starts clapping as one of the many guidance counselors steps up to the podium. He clears his throat before he begins talking about the importance of grades and how they will effect your college choices and blah blah blah. 

        All of the sudden a random man barged through the door on the other side of the gym. He was wearing all black and had a mask over his face. He lifted up a gun in his hand and started screaming "EVERYONE DOWN" he shot a few bullets into the air so we knew he wasn't kidding. Everyone fell to the ground trying to shield themselves from what was happening. Panic spread like wildfire across the room. Some people started to run out the door, but just the people close enough to get away. I just stood there in shock. My feet couldn't move. Is this a school shooting?