The broken ones

Count me out

❀

" Bea are you free after school ? " Jody asked as they grabbed their lunch. They both made their way out of the cafeteria and down the hallway to photography club.

Bea thought about it for a second. A part of her wanted to say yes but the other half says the opposite. She wanted to follow along to the hidden room but she had enough with detention already. She isn't willing to risk it. But is she really ?

" Yeah I am. why ? " Bea answers.

" We're going to stroll around town. Want to come ? "

They entered the classroom door and settled down on one of the empty tables. The meeting starts in 20 minutes so not everyone was in yet.
It took a while for Bea to answer since she was still unsure.

" Yeah I'm down. "

Jody nods excitedly and gobbles up her food instantly. Bea reaches for her phone in her bag and once she got it out, a piece of paper falls out too. It's the photo. She grabbed it before Jody could see, but she was busy devouring her food.

Bea takes a look at the photo once again and can't help but think if it was right for her not to tag along. She wanted to follow them but scared to get caught by any teachers.

It's only been half a week hanging out with Jenny and the rest. But part of her feels like she's known them for a long time. Hanging out every morning now, brought them even closer, which is why Bea is hesitant.

" You know what Jody... count me out. " Bea says as she turns to look at her. Jody blankly stares back at Bea with her mouth full of food.
" I have something to do... "

—

When after school came, Bea rushed to the old art room, meeting the others outside the classroom door just in time.

" Bea! What changed your mind ?" Jack said excitedly.

" I felt left out " Bea pouts jokingly as she wraps her arm around Jenny and Edna's shoulder.

When all the hallways were half empty, Jack slides the window open. They tried their best not to look suspicious as each of them climbs in. " Hurry! " Jack whispered loudly as he waited for the others to get in. Once everyone is  inside, Jack shuts the window quickly and head towards the trap door.

Neil unlocks the door and one by one they all went inside, leaving Jack as the last one to get in. He locks the door just in case someone tries to get in too. As they reach the bottom of the stairs, all of them turns on their phone light, making the room a bit brighter.

Edna shivered from the cold air seeping through her skin. " Why is it cold in here ? There's absolutely no AC. " she says, wrapping herself into her arms.

" Right ? " Jenny agreed. She took out her sweater from her bag and put it on.

They look around once again, hoping to find more clues that was left by other students but nothing was found.

" Guess this room is ours. " Jack puts his hands in the air as he beams at them.

" Is it ? " Edna says. She felt a bit iffy. " I mean it just seems so unreal.. "

" Duh.. A basement under a classroom ? " Neil says.

" But no one's been here for a long time now. I guess it can be ours.." Jenny tells them.

Jack looks around one more time. " She's right... that big cabinet in the classroom was blocking the trap door. I don't think anyone knows about this. " He says.

Edna still felt off about it and so was Bea. The both of them felt uneasy and bothered for some reason. They know it's abandoned but they were scared of getting caught if were to come here all the time.

" Come on you girls. Have some guts. No one will find out. " Jenny says trying to convince them.

Edna observes the dusty walls and everything else that surrounds them. " Fine..." She finally gives in. They look at Bea, hoping she'd agree too. But she was still unassertive.

" Don't worry Bea, trust me. Trust us. " Neil says, finally saying something comforting.

" But first... we need to clean this place up. " Jenny tells them. She felt a bit grossed out by all the dust and dirt around.

" How about we decorate the whole place ? " Edna suggested different types of styles they can do for the room but none of them seems to fit right with the others.

" With flowers and hearts ? No way. " Jack says.

" I don't mean those type of decorations. " Edna rolls her eyes in annoyance.

" Friday is half day... we can clean and decorate. Who's down ? " Jenny says, raising her right hand. She waits for the rest to raise their hands but only Edna did.

" I have to watch my little sister. " Jack says.

" I need to watch over my siblings... " Bea tells them.

Jenny and Edna looks at Neil to hear his excuse but he stands there unaware of what to say or think.

" I have some important business to do.." He tells them but they weren't convinced.

" You just don't want to clean..." Edna rolls her eyes again.

" and that too..." Neil smirks.

After a few more talks, they head out before the  school guards could take their afternoon patrol. It's already 5 in the afternoon and the sun will set in an hour. Once they were out the school gates, they still walk together.

It just went that way. If they get out of school together, they'd walk each other home. Edna was the first to get dropped. Then Jack, then Neil, and then Bea.

Jenny was the last to get home. It was better that way.