The Lockdown

Help Me

I can hear a helicopter outside.... Man... This is gettin worse by the minute! I bet there are dozens of police cars surrounded outside the school right now, waiting to make their move. The thought of that freaks me out even more.

"I know this sounds crazy but I don't want the police to shoot Asher," I quietly confide in Tiffany. She looks at me with understanding eyes. "I know he killed two people but...... Maybe I can stop this before it gets worse," I tell her with false hope in my voice. We both know that this situation is already bad. No matter what, we can't bring Gregg and Ryan back. They're gone.... Forever.

Tiffany immediately shakes her head. "That's what you NOT gon do, Kevin. I know Asher is ya boy but his mind is not right at the moment.... And plus," Tiffany looks around and then lowers her voice even more. "Asher is a white boy, so the police might go easy on him," she says, giving me a knowing glance. Tiffany kinda has a point, even though she sounds a bit crazy right now. It's just so hard to.... Bang!!!!

Another gunshot... Ugh, Asher man, what are you doing? I wish I could go back in time... "He got bullied alot in school," I tell Tiff. She looks up at me in surprise. Judging by her facial expression, I'm guessing she didn't know about that. She shakes her head in disgust.

"Wow, so that's what this is..... by who?... Wait, let me guess.." She says and looks out by the door where Ryan's body is. I nod my head to confirm her guess. "Unbelievable," she mutters under her breath.

"Yup, Gregg and Ryan... Ever since elementary school. Asher must have been holdin in so much crap.. I wish I did more to help him," I confide in her, trying to hold back my emotions. I put my head down in my hands. I just can't believe all this is happenin. Tiffany lifts my head up so that I have no choice but to look her in her eyes.

"You can't control what other stupid idiots do.. But you been there for ya homeboy and that makes a heck of a difference," she said, grabbing my hand. "You guys had alot of good times. You always make him laugh.. Yall was always goofy," she says, tryna make me feel a little bit better.

I have a sudden memory of one time when me and Gregg went to the mall....

We thought we were so tight cuz we had just bought new clothes and shoes. "I'm about to get a girl today," Asher said, poppin his imaginary collar. He was rockin a brand new Laker Jersey and some Jordans.

"Weak," I said, as we walked into the mall. I ain't gon lie; I was feelin myself in my outfit. I had on a brand new white tee, blue denim jeans, and the classics: white Airforce Ones. You couldn't tell me nothin.

"Broo, don't hate cuz I have more game than you do," he said, with a smirk on his face. We had both just gotten haircuts too. Today was gonna be a good day. I had plans to buy Kendrick Lamar's new cd.

I gave Asher a dead look. "Ash, the only game you have is Mario Kart.. and you suck at that too," I say and start crackin up. He rolls his eyes at me as we walk through the food court. I Noticed how he didn't deny it though.

"Anyways, we'll see about that cuz.... Oh snap!" Asher yelled. I looked over and seen him on the ground. Out of habit, I reached down and helped him get up. He wiped off his jersey and checked the bottom of his shoes.. Then he looked around the food court to see how many people saw him slip.

"Ash, what the heck happened?" I asked him, as I looked around in confusion. Then at that moment, We both looked down and saw a chicken bone laying on the ground.... This fool really just slipped on a chicken bone?!!!!! I start dyin laughin!! I'm never letting him live this one down... This gon get tucked away in my mind for future jokes. Our kids gon hear about this one.

Asher looked around and noticed a table of girls our age, laughin at him. "Of all people, why did that have to happen to ME?!!!" Asher said but he started laughin too. That's one of the things I like about Asher; he know how to laugh at himself sometimes instead of being embarrassed.

BANG!!!!

Another shot..... That's four people so far... I don't know what is going through Asher's mind right now. This is not the dude I grew up with. It's like he's snapped or something. Gregg was right: this is like Columbine 2.0..... This day is gonna change forever for every worker, student, parent, and teacher. Nothing will ever be the same again.

All of a sudden, I know what I have to do. I look over at Tiffany and all the students and teacher in the room... I look down at my hand in Tiffany's... "Tiffany, I love you," I tell her and kiss her. She looks shocked but as I get up, she realizes what's about to happen. She gets up with me and before the teacher can stop us, we both make a run for the door.

I have to stop Asher....