American Idiot

“The flowers were a lovely thought, I have them in a vase. Thanks a ton Eds! Your secret is safe with me! Mrs. Reve won’t be on the war path for you any time soon. I hope you have a good day! Don’t tell anyone where you got the silly string. Try not to stress yourself out.

♡ From, B

It wasn’t possible for Len to stop Eddie from jumping to the stage. It just…wasn’t. Seeing the younger male panicking while seeing his brother dead on sight, Len just didn’t have it in him to try and grab him. He knew if it was Raina on that stage that he wouldn’t have it together. He wasn’t even sure if he said anything that Eddie would hear him. The security team member understood the shock. A shock of that magnitude had to leave Eddie basically untouchable. 

“Eddie…” he started as he approached the younger male. He wasn’t sure whether, to be honest, or to try and sugarcoat things at this moment. He so badly wanted to just tell Eddie that he could help Gunner and that everything would be fine, but Gunner was dead and nothing was fine. Len was sure it wouldn’t be for a while. “We’re going to do what we can,” he told him as he placed his hand on Eddie’s shoulder. “But I need you to let go, okay?” 

Len wasn’t naive, he knew that Eddie understood that Gunner was dead, but he didn’t need to be told that right now. He just needed to be supported and helped. That was something that Len could do. 

Eddie shook his head when Len told him to let go, holding Gunner’s body closer he rocked back and forth slightly. “I can’t let go.” he stammered. “H-he’s my big brother and... he’s a dick, and a jerk, and we didn’t get along a lot of the time but- he was supposed to grow out of it. He’s my brother.. we’re supposed to have each others backs...” closing his eyes, he rolled his lips inwards. “He didn’t deserve this.. a punch in the face maybe but not this...” he whispered, his voice barely audible. 

Leaning against the wall Braelynn carefully peers around the corner. Ignoring the cold nipping at her skin she crouches moving forward ducking under the windows that she moved past. She couldn’t recall doing anything so reckless in the past. She wasn’t sure why her heart was pounding so fast. It could have been a number of things. Her nerves, the aspect of getting caught by security… the thought that she was going against everything they’d been told earlier. They were told to stay together. That there was safety in numbers. Yet here she was mind racing a mile a minute sneaking to the doors of the Armada dorm. Carefully opening the door she slips in slowly shutting the door. 

Looking around the hall she slowly starts to walk down it. She knew Kace’s dorm was on the second floor. And she was fine taking the lecture she would surely receive for this reckless act. Which would confirm that he was… slightly okay. She just needed to get the information of where Eddie’s dorm was from him as well. Braelynn already knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. With a mix of worries about the people she cared about and how they were. And the fact that this would only make her nightmare more creative than Halloween night had, she shakes her head. Moving up the stairs slowly she looks behind her quickly. 

Stepping into the hall she peers down one side before peering down the other. Eyes landing on a figure she flinches. Quickly moving back on the steps she tries calming herself down. Peering back around the corner she lets a small sigh out realizing who it is. Silently thanking the fact she didn’t have to disturb Kace she moves forward “Eddie…”

Eddie was numb. So numb in fact that his fingers were tingling and he couldn’t even feel his legs as they carried him down the hall towards his room. He had been told by staff to go back to his room and shower, which was understandable considered he was covered in blood. He stared down at his scarlet hands, tears pooling in his eyes and clouding his vision. It took him a few seconds to react to Braelynn’s voice, but as soon as his brain registered it he stopped and turned around sharply. “B...” he whispered, his voice cracking as he stumbled forward a step. A huge tear rolled down his cheek as his lip trembled. “I-” he started to say, but no other words would come out.. instead a faint laugh that held no humour whatsoever and a strangled sob fell from his lips. 

Having taken up the station of greeting students as they entered the dance, Len had been enjoying the night. He loved to see the couples that came through and the smiles on everyone’s faces. He had heard so much about all the darkness lingering at Fairfield that he had honestly been scared to walk on the campus the first day he had arrived. Now, he felt like he could be happy here.

All of those thoughts flew out the window as the room went dark. He immediately went into defensive mode, waiting for someone or something to come at him. Instinctively, he knew he had to make his way to the stage, and he hoped Emery was doing so as well. They needed to try and control this situation before it got out of hand. 

Then the lights came back on and controlling the situation was already impossible. Students were scrambling left and right. Nobody knew what to do, but Len had one thought on his mind. He needed to get to the body, stay with Emery, and focus on what he could do at this point. 

“Everyone, everyone, please,” he tried to shout. “I know that this is terrifying for all of us, but I need everyone to stick together. Find your friends and wait for further instruction. Thank you.” 

Eddie had been having a nice night, so nice in fact that for a minute he had almost completely forgotten about the fact that his brother was missing.. that was until his body was dropped on the stage. Edison had been panicking alongside everyone else when the lights turned off, trying to find either Braelynn or Whitney, but seconds before the lights had come back on, he had stopped in an attempt to calm down enough to try find them. It’s because he stopped, that he heard the sickening thud before he saw the body, but the instant his eyes laid on the boy he had grown up with, all colour drained from the younger brothers face.  “Gunner..” he mumbled under his breath. His stomach churned and for a second he was sure he was going to throw up as he had done when he’d opened a box containing the older males finger, but then something else kicked in. Protectiveness. That was his brother laying there, and sure he had been a dick, but he didn’t deserve to be murdered and dumped on a stage in a school gym.  Anger and despair flooded through Eddie as he rushed forward, shoving anyone and everyone away and within seconds he was kneeling beside his brother and pulling his blood soaked body into his lap. “Gunner? Gunner please, come on bro-” he stammered, choking as a sob passed through his lips. His vision was blurred with tears but he could see his brother clearly.. he could see how tortured he had been... how dead he was now. Looking up at the security around him, Eddie searched their faces desperately. “Someone please, help him.” he begged, despite knowing the body in his arms had long passed. 

Standing near the table that had most of the food, Eddie sipped at the punch in his hand as his eyes roamed the room. He hadn’t seen Braelynn yet which more disappointed than worried him, he would have liked to have stolen a dance, and he kept it in mind that he would ask her the second he laid eyes on her. In the meantime he was happy chilling out. He kept an eye on where Whitney was, playing the part of the good big brother rather than the clown he usually was. Security was tight tonight, and he wanted everyone to actually have a good time, himself included. Noticing someone walk up to the table beside him, Eddie spoke first before looking over at them. “The punch is pretty amazing by the way, and I can assure you it’s definitely not spiked. Which kind of sucks but at the same time it’s still good; trust me.” 

“I can tell.” Jonah nodded. Anyone who was brave enough to be shocked and then willingly choose to be drowned had his respect. Jonah knew he wasn’t that strong - he wondered if he ever would be or if he would remain selfish and scared and lost.

“I’ll try. How are you…feeling about it all?” He asked with a raised brow. Eddie was so much closer to Isaac than him and he couldn’t imagine having to drown his very best friend.·“It’s nice to meet you Eddie. I’m Jonah.”·

Eddie tried not to frown as he thought of the right way to respond to Jonah’s question. How _did _he feel about it all? No matter how he tried he couldn’t think of a hopeful answer. Tonight had proven that E was legit, and she was dangerous. The horrors they had all just been through along with the finger that still sat in his and Isaac’s fridge made the blonde think the worst about what could have happened to his brother in the months he had been missing.·“I...” he started, stopping to think for a few more seconds.·“I mean it’s terrible, so many people have been hurt.. I just.. I don’t understand how someone can do this...” he murmured.·“It’s nice to meet you too, Jonah.. I mean it could be on better circumstances but still..” he chuckled faintly.

He flinched feeling the hand touch his shoulder - he still wasn’t sure that no one was going to hurt him. After what had happened…how could he trust anyone in this school? How could he trust himself? Jonah shook his head slowly. “No, I’m not hurt…it’s just…wow, fuckin’ Isaac was shocked and drowned. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to go to sleep hearing his screams…”

Eddie noticed Jonah flinching, but he kept his hand there for a few more seconds just to let him know he wasn’t going to hurt him before he slowly moved his hand back. “I know.. I know he was.. but he’ll be fine. Isaac’s a strong guy.”  Plus Isaac would have Eddie there.. every step of the way whether he wanted it or not, Isaac would have to deal with Eddie doing everything he could to make sure he was okay.  “I know it’s horrible, but try not to beat yourself up. Chat to Isaac tomorrow when you have a minute and work things out. I’m sure it’ll be fine.” he said before realising he hadn’t actually introduced himself. “I’m Eddie by the way, I don’t think we’ve actually met.” 

Slowly moving away from the person she lets a small sigh escape. She didn’t know how to fix all of this. She didn’t even know if she could fix any of it. Most of the people she’d tried speaking with were still in shock. They were trying to work through everything by themselves. With a glance around the hall her eyes land on the familiar figure. Uncertainty clung to her as she glanced at him before looking to the other students. She didn’t know how, or even if she should approach him. There was no way she could process how Whit and Eddie must be feeling. Hesitantly taking a step forward she stops looking to the side. She’d asked the same question so many times already. The answers were the same, with different words. Shaking her head slightly she moved forward. Before she could even get the words out the answer was already given.

Exhaling slightly she looks at the ground, shutting her eyes she runs a hand through her hair. Leaning against the wall she lets the silence settle. After a few minutes pass she glances back at the ground before quietly murmuring. “This all just feels like a bad dream.” Part of her wished it was, that she’d finally managed to sleep and this was just what her mind conjured up. 

Eddie glanced over at Braelynn as she leaned against the wall beside him, usually he would smile and try lighten the mood a little, but his own mind was spiralling and as much as he wanted to jump back into his usual self, he couldn’t quite do that, so instead he lowered his gaze again. He did however lean a little closer to her, letting his arm brush gently against hers.  The silence was nice, but hearing her voice helped that little bit more. He nodded once at her words before pushing the blonde strands that had fallen in his eyes off his face.  Looking up and staring straight ahead, Eddie’s eyes were glazed over slightly as he stared into space. “I think my brother is dead.” he said simply, his voice cracking slightly at the words. This wasn’t something he would dare admit to Whitney or his parents, he had always been one to try give them hope and for him to admit it was a big deal and would probably break his family. Blinking a few times as his eyes watered only slightly he looked over at Braelynn. “I think he’s dead..” he repeated in a broken whisper. 

Jonah remembered Isaac’s scream in his ear - it wouldn’t go away. It made him feel like a monster - a depraved lunatic who didn’t care about anyone. It made him want to throw up. He knew it was the only choice to make - that had he been shocked on full power, he could have died - but what did his brain really care about that? He’d be having panic attacks for months about this.

He stepped carefully to the boy in the red sweatshirt with blonde hair. He hadn’t formally met him, but he knew this was the boy that had drowned Isaac. “Yeah, no…I…” He shrugged. “Isaac’s talking to some girl so I didn’t get to apologize. And I’m just really…struggling. He was my first friend here.”

Eddie had half tuned in as the boy started speaking, but the instant he heard Isaac’s name he looked up. Studying the boy carefully he sighed softly, pushing himself off the wall to stand upright he put a hand on the boys arm.  “Isaac will forgive you, buddy. You’ll get your chance to apologise but just because some lunatic made you do something awful, it doesn’t mean Isaac is going to hate you. Everything will be fine.. are you okay though? Has anyone checked you out yet? You're not hurt right?”