To Fall Apart

Day 1: 2:42 (Ally)

  Back in the school, I don't see David again. Just two boys who announce themselves as my escourts. I ask to be taken to Ryan and they silently lead the way. We walk into the nurse's office, Ms.Wang sits at her desk with her hands folded with her hands in her lap. Her left cheek is a bright pink like she's been slapped. In the far corner of the room is a raise cot, just wide enough to accomidate 1 person. And on the cot lies a boy that I recognize as Ryan. 

  I rush to him and my escourts stay by the door, not paying any particular attention to me. Ryan hasn't heard me yet, and lies down with his eyes closed. He was fair skinned, with a dash of little freckles across his nose and cheek bones. His hair was a medium brown with highlights from being under the sun so much. It was long enough to cover his ears and have to flick it to the side when it fell into his eyes. His eyes were sometimes so dark, I could barely tell where the iris ends and the color begins. Other times it was dark brown and a brilliant green. The bridge of his nose was long and narrow. His lips were soft pink and thin, and when they parted they revealed the smile I fell for.

  I brushed some loose strands of hair from his face, his forehead is burning up. His eyes opened slowly, "Ally," I press the back of my hand to his forehead. "You have a fever, Ryan." He offers a small laugh. "I was hoping to see a smile, not worry lines."

 I realize, he's shot and still trying to keep my spirits up. All the while, I'm pointing out that he's getting worse. "Sorry." I say a little sheepishly. "You know how in the movies, when the good guy gets shot, he becomes even more brave and heroic?" I nod, recalling all the thousands of action movies I've seen. "Well, their lying little shits. This sucks." I laugh and feel myself relax.

  Just to tense up again as one of my escourts gets impatient by the door. I lean down by Ryan's ear, "I think I can get us outta here. You just have to sit tight for now." He whispers back, the warm air tickling my ear, "So, what's the plan?" I feel myself, knowing just how close we are right now. "Sit tight and wait." "That's the plan?" I pull back enough to look him in the eyes, "Fine, sit back, wait, and pretend it's a plan." He smiles and I feel my heart pound a little harder. I pull away.

  I look to the EMT, standing by the guards,"Can you fix him?" The woman walks over. She has light brown skin and even darker pixie cut hair. She undoes Ryan's make shift bandages and he winces in pain. "It doesn't look like the bullet hit anything important. Small calliber bullet, should be an easy removal." My insides curl into a tight knot. Should? She injects Ryan with some pain killers and hooks him onto an IV.

 She washes her hands, puts on gloves and gets to work once he's unconsious. She turns to me, a scapel primed, "Are you sure you want to watch?" I nod my head. I stand and watch the entire bloodly process. Almost as if I believe my careful eye will keep anything from going wrong. Once finished, she rewraps the wound and throws the bullet in the sink.

  "He'll be fine given a few days rest without ripping the stitches. Keeping him on the pain meds and changing his bandages. He should walk, if some what stiffly, in about 5 days. The stitches will dissolve in 6-7." I nod, taking it all in. "Thank you. You can leave if you'd like." I'm giving her an out. Free to leave. "No, that's quite alright." I offer a smile that she returns. She is brave to stay, knowing how dangerous it is. 

  One of the two escourts is handed a piece of paper from a boy that had run down the hallway and now stands a little breathless. The escourt reads the note, "Ms.Mitchell, come with us." I look at the nurse, "Go, Ryan will be just fine. I promise." I nod and allow myself to be lead away. I'm taken to the Agriculture Department. It's a stretch of land with a 1 mile radius where students learn a more indepth knowledge of farming. 

  I see David walking in our student grown garden, inspecting our autumn roses. "Brave enough to stand out in the open?" I notice my escourts have left me to walk on my own. David and I are alone.

  "This clearing is surrounded by large trees, obsuring the polices view. And if they did try to get a better view by gaining ground, they'd find some nasty surprises. And I've been informed that they're going to try something right about now." Not even seconds go by before I see an explosion and hear the boom. It wasn't large, but the effect was. I hear shouts and a siren wail. 

  "Found one!" David seems almost cheerful. "You buried landmines?" My stomach drops. My heart leaps into my throat. David has become even more dangerous than I expected. "Yes. Do you see how far my power in this place expands? And those I work for are even bigger." I turn to him, as tears spill over onto my cheeks. "You do know this makes you a terrorist, right? You are now a target, they won't hesitate to kill you now. You will die. No other outcome." 

  He smiles a small, sad smile, "Who said I planned on living?"