Infinity

Chapter 3: Mason

As soon as the music began to play, i could feel the grin slowly spreading across my face. 'I can't believe he actually did it' I thought to myself, feeling an odd sense of pride even though i had nothing to do with this accomplishment. After i finshed up the last few lines of what i was writing, i sat up straight in my squeaky desk, and watched as panic slowly spread across the room. This was gonna be hilarious.

"Please turn your television sets to channel 13 for a message from the president."

Classy, right?

I watched as a girl ran up to the teachers desk and took the remote, turning on the TV with a shaking hand. The live footage thay appeared on the screen was of Josh, sitting at the principal's desk with his feet on top of the meticulously organized desk, laptop next to him that was connected to the intercom. I could feel everyone start to relax. What can i say? Josh is a man of the people. But with the anxiety levels lowering, the confusion levels had started to rise considerably, and the classroom went silent.

"Hello Jacksonville High! I believe you all know me as Josh Beaumont, but some may know me as the president of the Activist Club, and a person running for Student Body president. So," he put his feet down on the ground and leaned closer to the camera. "I'm sure you are all wondering why i am in Principal Martin's office, and why i am on TV right now."

"No s*** sherlock" One person replied, sounding peeved.

"Well," Josh said, looking smug, "This is the beginning of a beautiful time of prosperity, achievement, and fun, if you vote for me for Class Body President. In order to gain your votes, i have taken over the principal's office from the vice principal, who was sitting in for today. Today, and today only, if you go onto the instagram and tag a screenshot of your favorite song with the hashtag #Vote4Josh, and I'll play as many of them as possible before someone breaks into this office. So, lets get started my little children!!!" the room erupted in noise as people started whooping and cheering and getting on their phones to request songs. I laughed, as Josh started typing on his laptop.

"This song goes out to my buddy who thinks he's too cool for instagram, but believed i could get famous by doing somethong ridiculously awesome such as this. Thanks bro!"

Pressing a key on his keyboard, Fame by David Bowie came blasting out of the loudspeaker. A few kids got up and started dancing in an odd, jerky way to the beat of the song. Some others sang along, and a lot of kids were still engrossed in their song requests. I had to hand it to him, Josh sure knew what the people loved. I could practically feel the chaos spreading around the school, the kids in my classroom already acting more ridiculous than usual. And we were considered the good class. Imagine the other ones.... the teachers must've been a mess.

After a moment, i turned to Eleanor. From what I could tell, she hated stuff like this. Chaos, crazy music, fun... But suprisingly, though to most people she probably looked like how she always did, to me it seemed like she was into it. She didn't have her phone out or anything, but i could just barely see her mouthing the words of the song to herself, ever so faintly tapping her foot to the beat, and... Was that a smile i could see?

"Like the music?" I asked her quietly. We were the only two in the backrow (it's not a very large class), and my best bet for talking to her seemed to be making sure that no one else heard. Immediately, she stiffened up, looking up at me so fast i swear she should have gotten whiplash.

"What are you talking about..?" She said quietly, avoiding my eyes.

"Its just a question. Do you like the music?"

She turned away from me and went back to scribbling in her notebook, ignoring me. I watched her for a minute. She had thin hands, long fingers that gripped her black pen with a white knuckled grip as she scrawled words down the lines small enough that i couldn't read them from my seat if my life depended on it. She had her face barely a few inches from the paper, her hair covering a lot of it, like a curtain hiding her from the rest of the world.

I'm deep.

Anyway, long story short, we spent about 2 to 3 hours sitting in class doing almost absolutely nothing but listening to music, talking, catching up on work, and acting completely obnoxious. By the time the teachers were able to get Josh out of the principals office (which was a major struggle, and though i won't go into too much detail i will say that one of the security guards is going home with a bloody face) it was around 2:45, and there was no way we going to get any work done, so they let us out early with the promise to pile enough work on us to have us never sleep again.

I snatched up my books from my desk and walked out before anyone else could notice i was gone, not that anyone would. Slipping into the stampede of students barreling down the narrow halls, i maneuvered my way to my locker and put in my combination.

I tossed my books into my worn out swiss army backpack, fraying from years of use, tossing it in cars and lockers and taken on camping trips and to stores. One of my old friends said that it'd be perfect for an adventure. She was probably right.

Suddenly, my phone went off in my back pocket, shocking me into reality. I pulled out and was surprised to find a text from an unknown number.

**Join the Challenge today!! Change your life in just one school year!! Reply "Yes" To continue!**

How the hell did these people get my number? Those automated text things were so friggen weird, hence why i never signed up for them. But in this case... My life could use some changing. Hopefully for the better, as opposed to the downward slide i was on.

**yes**

**Thank you for joining the Challenge! Today's goal is to listen. Listen to your surroundings. Don't be afraid to eavesdrop, or listen into silent places. You may be surprised at what you find**

Really? That was my advice? Listen? I did enough of that. Or at least, i thought i did. Then again, listening and hearing are two different things. While contemplating this, I heard footsteps racing down the hall behind me. Turning around, i almost collided with Eleanor, who was flushed and panicked as she darted past me and through the crowd. Two girls and a guy ran by seconds later. I turned around, locking my locker and melted into the crowd that had filled in the space that Eleanor and the others had created. I wasn't going to get into it, but it was strange to see her being chased like that... No, more unsettling than anything else. Strange day.

I was supposed to go down to the music room to talk to Ms Harper about getting some more sheet music, and possibly violin lessons. But i couldn't concentrate, and I didn't want to go home yet, so instead i begin roaming the halls.

The school has four floors, each with two sides, shaped kind of like an H, the middle part a cross hall between two hallways. I went up to the fourth floor, where the sophomores are and stuck my ear buds in my ears. Home, by Explosions in the Sky played softly in the background of my slow, steady stroll. I thought about the text challenge from earlier. Listen. I walked downstairs to the second floor, and decided to get this challenge out of the way, without taking the risk of getting detention for eavesdropping on a teacher's conversation or something.

Pulling out an ear bud, i walked up to the janitors closet and pressed my ear against the cool, light wood. For a moment, there was silence. Easy challenge, right? But suddenly, i heard a faint noise. A sob? I knocked on the door.

"Is anyone in there?"

No response.

"Hello..? I'm coming in, hide the vodka.."

Slowly, i turned the handle of the door and opened it to see... Eleanor?