My eyes widen. Iâm a subject? Are my classmates just props, or are they also subjects? What is happening?
âMx. Smith? Mx. Smith?â Why isnât my teacher answering? I thought teachers were supposed to answer your questions?
All my classmates look scared. What have I done? They look terrified for their lives! My best friend, Alli, passes me a note. I grab it, and read it. Are you okay? I nod at her. She looks terrified as well. But no where near as terrified as me.
I pull my hair out of my face. Is it just me, or is it getting hot in here? I quickly weave my hair into a french braid, while I watch Alli write me another note. I snap the elastic into place. Alli looks like sheâs calming down, but she can usually mask here emotions really well, so I have no idea. She places the note into the palm of my hand. Her smooth fingers slide across mine as she slowly pulls back. I shiver.
I open the note and canât believe what Iâm reading. I reread it twice, thrice. I blink a couple times, and try to process my emotions. What the hell is this? My mind whirls. I give her a side glance, but sheâs looking the other way.
I knew this was going to happen, but I didnt know it would be so soon. Iâm sorry I didnât warn you. But you never wouldâve believed me. I love you, Charlotte, but this is the end. I canât be your friend any more. Youâll get hurt, and I can let that happen. From now on, we donât know each other.
And right as I go to protest and ask questions, she walks right out of the classroom. I watch her as she goes, my mouth hanging open, and tears spilling down both our faces. I repeat the letter over in my head.
Why would I get hurt? Why did she have to go? Why is it the end, and of what? Our friendship? Or something else? And how did she know this was going to happen? What even DID happen?
Everyone else in the class is whispering to one another, and glancing at me and the door. I slump down my chair. My stupid teacher is still ignoring the class, and is on the phone with someone. They stare me down, and I stare back. While weâre staring at each other, two police officers walk in, but Iâm too busy staring at me teacher to notice. The whispers around me get louder and louder. The police officers stand on either side of me now. My arms, sitting on my desk in front of me, are covered by my hoodies sleeves, but itâs so hot in here I canât stand it. So I take my hoodie off without breaking eye contact with Mx. Smith. They smirk, and now Iâm really confused. Iâm still unaware of my surroundings as I tie my hoodie around my waist. I go to place my hands back on my desk, when I feel it. The officers each grab one of my arms, and pull me up. I finally take in whatâs happening and scream in my head again. Everyone but the police officers wince. The officer on my left cuffs my hands behind my back, and the officer on the right kneels down and cuffs my ankles. Now I scream out loud. My teacher comes over and talks to officer 1, which I now see on his badge says Collins. Officer 2âs badge says Clawson. Clawson kicks me in the back of my knees, and I fall to the ground. I struggle to get up, but with my cuffs, itâs almost impossible. The two officers pick me up by an arm each and carry me out of the classroom. What is happening?
They carry me outside, and Mx. Smith locks the classroom door behind us. They go back to teaching the class as if nothing happened. When we get outside the building, they drop me on the grass next to their cop car. Iâm speechless, even though there are even more questions going through my head. Officer Clawson opens the back door to the car, and shoves me in. He slams the door behind him, and he gets into the shotgun seat. Officer Collins walks around the car and gets in the front seat. Clawson turns around in his seat with duct tape in his hand. My eyes widen further than they ever have before, and I try to scoot away from him, but I canât move far enough in time. He places a piece over my mouth and turns back around. Normally, I would be able to just take the duct tape off with my mouth or hands, but my hands are awkwardly cuffed behind my back, and the piece of tape is long enough that I canât get it off. Clawson sees me trying though, and places another piece on each end to secure it better. Now I definitely canât get it off.
Itâs a long ride.i start to doze off about 45 minutes in. I fall asleep, and fall against the car door. It makes a thunking noise as I hit it, and Clawson turns around and sees me. Next thing I know Iâm awake, and in excruciating pain. My eyes shoot open, and my whole body is vibrating. After a moment, the vibration stops, but I can still feel the pain. I see Clawson pull away, taser in his hand. He tased me! My leg is the most sore, and thereâs a mark from where the taser was. I glower at him, but heâs already turned back around.
We arrive shortly. The building looks like an abandoned warehouse. The officers get out of the car and come to my door. I try to shrink away, but Collins opens the door and drags me out. I get thrown to the ground, and I smash my face into the ground. I think my nose is bleeding, but I canât tell. The two officers come over and pick me up by my shoulders again. They arenât as careful this time, though. My feet drag along the ground, and I stub my toe on a rock. I wince, but neither of them notice. My shoulders are getting sore from supporting my weight and I sag even more. Now Iâm really dragging on the ground.
Finally we get inside, and I see Alli talking to someone. She perks up when she sees me, but continues talking. It looks like an asylum in here. I get thrown into a holding cell, and I donât even attempt to get up.
Every wall is covered in cushions, but theyâre not very comfortable. After about 10 minutes, someone joins me in my cell. Itâs Alli. I get up at once. Or try to. I end up falling back on my face, and Alli helps me up and hugs me. I can feel the same shivers I feel every time she touches me.
I couldnât hug her back, even if I wanted to. My hands get sweaty. She lets go of me, and I fall to my knees. She slowly but surely removes the tape from my mouth and kisses me. My eyes go wide for the millionth time today, but then they close. Her mouth opens slightly, and I shiver again. But then something falls into my mouth. She pulls away and puts a finger over her lips. She puts the tape back on my mouth, and murmurs âI love you Charlotte. More than you could ever know.â And with that she walks back out.
I use my tongue to try to find out whatâs in my mouth. After a minute I figure out itâs a key. She gave me a key. But why? Was that the only reason she kissed me? I hope not. Iâve been wanting to kiss her since I met her.
