Page 61 of #Lovestrong
Lena
Oh my gosh, the muscles in my thighs burn five times more than they do after a soccer game. I don't think I've ever danced this much in my life. Declan is amazing. The four of us have been in our own little world tonight, and it's been the best night of my life. Well, second best night because mine and Declan's first date is still top of my list. He hasn't left me alone, not even for a minute. And I had no idea he danced so well. The boy has rhythm though.
God, I love him.
About one-third of the students left within the last hour, so it's a little less crowded, but there's still an hour left before the DJ shuts down and officially ends the dance. As exhausted as I am, I'm ready to spend this last hour with my friends and finish off this night full steam ahead. Jackson mentioned getting food after this, and I'm looking forward to it. All this dancing has me hungrier than a hippo.
The DJ calls for a five-minute break, so we head over to the refreshment table. Sipping on a soda, I try to catch my breath. I'm almost certain my mascara is running considering all four of us are sweating our butts off, but I don't even care. Declan has spent most of the night keeping my body against his, kissing me, and whispering how beautiful I am. He honestly makes me feel alive and so wanted.
A series of pops ring out from somewhere in the gym and my heart stops. Screams erupts throughout the space and I grab Declan, pulling him down to the floor and trying to cover as much of my body as I can. Wrapping my arms around him, flashes of Cameron hit me like a ton of bricks. All I can think about is not losing Declan too. The screaming stops just as quickly as it started and the acrid smell of burning hits my nostrils.
"Baby? Baby, are you okay? Lena, look at me." Declan's voice registers in my brain, but he sounds a million miles away.
I stare around the room and see people huddled together on the floor, girls clutching their chests. My eyes fall on Darcy and Myra huddled behind the wall leading to the hallway, laughing. Several teachers are heading that way and I look at their hands and the floor in front of them.
Fireworks.
It dawns on me that my entire body is shaking violently. Declan says something, but I don't hear him. His arms let me go and are replaced by Candice's, and Jackson lays his hand on my leg before tucking some of my hair behind my ear.
I can't stop staring at Darcy. The two teachers, principal, and school resource officer reach her and Myra a few seconds before I do. Neither of them looks the least bit sorry as Declan pushes past the teachers and gets in his sister’s face. His neck is red, so I know he's yelling, but somehow I don't actually hear anything.
Other teachers start helping students to the exits and Candice pulls on my arm. She wants me to get up, but my butt is glued to the floor. The school resource officer takes Darcy by the bicep and escorts her from the gym. She looks right at me before turning the corner and rolls her eyes. Myra is yelling about something as the principal does the same with her.
After they’re gone, I stare straight ahead at the gym floor. Squeezing my eyes shut, I try to stop the screams echoing in my ears, but the harder I squeeze them closed, the louder they get. In the darkness behind my eyelids, there's blood on white tile. Blue eyes glossed over. Camilla's brown hair stuck together and hanging over a white bench.
Someone touches my arm and I clamp my hands over my ears, bringing my knees up to my chest. "Stop, stop, stop, stop."
"Lena. Lena, listen to my voice. It's Mrs. Hallstetter. Lena, you're okay. Everyone is okay. Just breathe and listen to my voice."
I rock back and forth, and a light hand covers my own, bringing me back to reality. She shushes me, and it isn't until this moment, I realize I'm crying. As I try to slow the rocking, the hands move from my ears to my shoulders. After a few minutes, I let go of the sides of my head and wrap my arms around my knees.
"Declan, why don't you and the others head to the office. I'll bring Lena up as soon as she's calmed down. I'm betting your parents will be here any minute."
I don't know how long I sit like this, but when I look up, the gym is empty except for me and Mrs. Hallstetter. She's sitting in front of me, so quiet it's like she isn't even here.
"I'm so sorry," I say, my voice cracking as I wipe under my eyes.
"You have nothing to apologize for. Do you want to go to the bathroom and then head up to meet Declan?"
"Can I just call my grandparents? I want to go home."
"Yeah, yeah. We can do that."
Reaching into my dress top, I pull my cell phone out and scroll through my contacts until I find Grandpa's name. He picks up on the second ring, but my words stick in my mouth. After the third time he says my name, Mrs. Hallstetter gently takes my cell phone, starts explaining what happened, and asks him to come get me.
After she hangs up, she helps me to my feet. My body feels like lead, and as hard as I'm trying, I can't seem to process anything. "I told them to meet us in the side parking lot. We can go out the side doors and wait for them."
I feel like a robot as I walk, slowly, with my coach's arms around my shoulders, guiding me to the exit. I really thought I was over the pain, the devastation. But now, even with my eyes open, standing on a sidewalk with nothing but darkness and crickets around me, I still see the blood on the cafeteria floor and hear my dead friends’ screams echoing in my ears.