Just Your Typical Monday

   Five days left. That's it, just five days of school and then we're out for the summer.
   It was like any other Monday. Scarlet and I car-pooled with Audrey, Dawn, and Blair, stuffing our mouths with donuts before peeling into the parking lot.
     Dawn sighed, "Just five more days and then we're rid of this shit hole for three glorious months." I threw my backpack over my shoulder and walked to class. I struggled staying awake through first and second period, but after drooling on my algebra quiz I decided that I was going to have to set some new limits for the next school year.
   "Miss your coffee this morning Thatcher?" Kitty slapped me on the back as she glanced over the answers bubbled in on my quiz.
   "I think I'm gonna have to tell Dal sex on weekends only." I said, yawning.
   "Yeah, good luck with that." Kit smirked.
   
     By the time English had begun my brain was already in sleep mode, which was okay since all we were doing was reading "The Great Gatsby". I followed along, taking in 0% of the words that flashed across my vision. Suddenly, a sharp *bang* pierced the air, coming from the hallway. Everyone's heads shot up, looking around in confusion. Then we heard another, and another. I glanced over at Audrey and Jelly, the noise ringing in my ears. The classroom was in an uproar as students stood to their feet, shoving desks to the side and stumbling to the corners of the room. The teacher was in a hushed panic as she locked the door and turned off the lights, hushing us in the process. We were officially in lock down. I was huddled behind a few desks with Audrey and Jels. Audrey reached down and squeezed my hand. I was trying my best to stay calm. My heart was beating a million times a second and I swear I could see it pop in and out of my chest. I began to think of everyone I knew in the school... okay, Pony and Curly are two halls over in math class. Kit, Bree and Maddie should be in gym...Scarlett and Blair are on the other side of the school, and Dawn, Johnny, and Steve should be down the hall in U.S. History. But are they okay? What if they're not? And who the hell is shooting up the school? Tears filled my eyes. Perhaps one of the last horrors I had ever pictured myself in was now alive and taking place before me. I heard the door knob jiggle as every student's head turned and faced that direction. Everyone's breath caught as if time literally had stood still. After a moment, the noise stopped, everyone's shoulders dropped in relief, but the sound of shattering glass broke the haunting silence as someone busted through the narrow window in the door, and in an instant there were three armed guys entering the room. I cupped my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming. The masked men glanced around, until one pair of eyes fell upon us. He started towards us, but was interrupted by a fellow student who threw his fist into the guys stomach. One of the other masked men responded by releasing two bullets into the student's head. His body crumpled to the floor, a pool of blood growing from it. I couldn't move, I couldn't even look away. I was sure my heart had even stopped beating. He then proceeded in approaching us, pointing a gun in our general direction. I had no idea who lay at center target, and I didn't dare look. I stared at the floor as sobs broke from my throat. What would provoke someone to shoot up a school, to send their friends, teachers, and classmates into such a darkness..fighting for their lives? And why us? This couldn't be the end. I couldn't leave Owen with no real family, and leaving Dallas for a week was torture, what would my death do to him? His face flooded my thoughts. Did he know that I loved him? I had never actually said it, but I feel it every day when I am with him, and even when we are apart. A strong authoritative voice filled the room.
     "Put the gun down!"
I looked up to see a policeman pointing a firearm at the armed stranger standing before me. After a moment more of convincing, he eventually lowered his gun. It looked like the entire Tulsa police force was in my English classroom. About half an hour later we were instructed through the intercom to leave the building. I glanced over at Audrey and Jelly, their bodies still shaking. We found ourselves in a group hug that seemed to last forever, yet not long enough.
   I placed my phone and other belongings I was wearing in the plastic bucket before being searched with the metal detector. I glanced around at the faces that crowded the courtyard. Faces of horror, pain, and all out fear wore upon them. People were hugging their friends and parents who had heard of the tragedy. My vision caught on the familiar faces that lined the other side of the police tape at the end of the parking lot. I burst into a sprint, my feet pressing hard against the pavement until I hit him like a brick wall, my arms wrapping around him. I felt the tension in his body release, as a wave of relief came over him.
     "Are you okay?" he asked. I pulled away so I could look at him, something I thought I may never be able to do again.
     I nodded. "I'm fine." I reached over to hug Owen, thankful that I was alive to do so. Audrey and Jelly had reached us, hugging just about everyone they could. They rest of the gang had heard about the incident on the news and the radio, and then they all came running. We turned to watch the front doors, in hope that everyone we knew would appear through them. I cried as each one of them emerged safe and sound. All of the worry had lifted off of me, until Darry spoke up.
     "Where is Ponyboy?"