But when I realized it was Ryan who’d been shot, some of my courage wavered. How would I win this without my wingman? When I saw all that blood, I panicked. I couldn’t lose Ryan now. Not now. Not after everything we’d been through. I knew I shouldn’t have left Chloe, but in that moment I knew I had to get to Ryan. If there was any chance he could live, I had to take it. So I hurried over to him. However, the minute I dropped next to him I knew he was gone. He was too still. There was too much blood. That didn’t stop me from trying though. I shook him, I cried out his name. And I willed him to open his damn eyes.
“Say something!” I goaded him. But no sound came out of his mouth. And when I touched his neck, I didn’t feel a pulse. Stunned, the walls closed in around me and I had to fight to keep my fear in check. It didn’t seem real. How could this truly be happening? Who did this?
God, I’d been so focused on Ryan I hadn’t even looked for whoever shot him. Sawyer stood beside me, shaking, blood peppering his skin and clothes. He was white as a sheet.
“Sawyer, what the hell happened?”
“I-i-it was Preston, man. He just came in here, put the gun to Ryan’s head and…” Sawyer swallowed hard, his neck swelling with the effort. His whole body trembled. “He pulled the trigger. It all happened so fast. I called 911, but…” His gaze flickered to Ryan, unmoving. “I-I think it’s too late, man.”
My stomach tightened. It was Preston? I thought about the way he looked at Chloe, like she belonged to him. It had always bothered me, but I thought it was jealousy rearing its ugly head. However, deep down I knew that wasn’t it. Chloe wasn’t interested in him, that much was clear. But he wasn’t right in the head. And if he thought he had a shot with her, then my relationship with her would most likely set him off.
A hush fell over the room, fear thick in the air. Glancing around, I spotted Chloe and heaved a sigh of relief. She was all right. But before I could relax I noticed what I missed at first. She was talking to Preston. He stood facing her, pointing a gun in her direction. I prayed that a SWAT team member would walk in the door any minute and tackle the son of a bitch. Where was the police anyway?
Sometimes our principal made the rounds during lunch, but I hadn’t seen him today. And the lunch ladies looked like they’d already crapped their pants. No way would they be any help. We were alone in here. Alone and vulnerable.
That’s when it hit me.
I wasn’t alone. There were hundreds of students in here, and only one shooter. Not only that, but Preston wasn’t a big kid. He was small, scrawny even. So then why was Chloe the only person trying to do something? Everyone else was cowering or hiding under a table. And why the hell was Chloe talking to him? Cleary the guy was a nutjob. There was no way he’d listen to reason at this point. Then again, that was how Chloe was. She saw the good in people, and she always wanted to help. I just worried that this time it would get her killed.
I stood, blood covering my palms. Before I could reach Chloe another guy rushed Preston, clearly having the same idea as me. Preston swung his arm in the guy’s direction. It all happened so fast, it was shocking. A bang went off and the guy slumped to the floor, blood spraying the area around him. My body went rigid. Shrieks of horror filled the room.
I couldn’t stop staring at the boy lying on the ground, unmoving. Hot and cold flashes ripped up and down my spine. It felt unreal, like a nightmare. No way was this really happening. It was too awful. The only person in the room who seemed unfazed was Preston. When he swept his arm through the room, students gasped.
“Everyone stay away!” He yelled. “Don’t think I won’t shoot every last one of you. Nobody here is my friend. Look at all of you cowering and scared. Whimpering and praying I won’t take your life. You want to know how many times I was scared? How many times you made my life a living hell? Well, now it’s your turn!”
I swallowed hard when his aim returned to Chloe. Why was he intent on her? She was speaking softly and I couldn’t hear what she said, but I knew she was still trying to talk him down. And I knew she wouldn’t be successful. Dude was out of his freaking mind.
My body buzzed, heating up. After seeing him shoot that boy without any hesitation, I was certain he’d shoot Chloe. And I couldn’t let that happen. I had to get that gun away from him. Sure I may have been stronger than him, but that wouldn’t stop a bullet from tearing through me. I wasn’t made of steel. But I sure as hell wished I was when I went running toward Chloe
“You chose your side, Chloe.” Preston’s tone was chilling, and a shudder ran through me.