The day has finally arrived.

Usually, the day of the homecoming game is my favorite day of the school year. Everyone dresses in school colors, we are never assigned homework for the weekend and we have two days of freedom to focus on the game, the dance, and then to recover. Today, however, has me freaking out, and even after endless coats of deodorant, I'm still sweating. Liam left early this morning to go back to his house to quickly get ready. It was weird to have a boy sleep next to me for the couple hours of sleep we managed to get but he stayed above the covers and kept his hands to himself- respecting my wishes to not take things further than kissing. God, I hope I don't die a virgin.

He is supposed to text me when he makes it over to Ian's house, so I keep my phone glued to my hand. I stare at myself in the mirror and curse myself for not working harder to stop this event from happening. I let all the stupid, petty shit get in the way when this is what should have been important. This is what my focus should have been on. Not Harper, Derek, homecoming, Liam or my reputation. I should have shoved it all aside.

I grab my book bag and head downstairs to find my mom already in the kitchen. She hands me a cup of coffee as soon as I sit down.

"Are you okay Ellie? You don't look so well," she says before pressing the back of her hand to my forehead to check for a fever. I know I can't tell her why I am so nervous about today, and it makes me sad to think about all the other parents that are expecting this to be just another Friday. They don't know someone's son is going to bring a gun to school and possibly change the rest of people's lives.

"Yeah, I just don't feel so well. I think my head still hurts from having a football chucked at my nose." She doesn't laugh and I don't know if I'm ready to laugh at my black eyes either. She notices I'm sweating.

"Do you need to stay home today? I know it's a fun day for school, but you don't look so good."

I wish I could stay home. I want to be a coward and avoid everything that could happen today but I know I need to try and prevent anything I can.

"No mom, I wanna go. I'll be fine." She reluctantly grabs her car keys and we get ready to head to school.

When my mom pulls up to the front of the school, I stay in my seat. I watch all the students walk in the same direction into our front entrance and it's the first day of high school that I don't give a shit about the fashion show entrance. I just hope to see every single student walk out the same way at the end of the day.

I surprise my mom by giving her a hug goodbye and I feel tears sit behind my eyes. I tell her I love her before I quickly get out of the car and make my way inside. An idea comes to me when I cross the threshold of the building and instead of walking to biology right away, I walk down to the office. The secretary greets me as I walk up to her desk.

"Hi Mrs. Beasley, do you think I can talk to Mr. Anderson? It will only take a minute."

"Sure Ellie, let me page him and let him know you're here." She ushers me into his small office and I wait for him in the same leather chair Liam sat on a few weeks ago. He rounds the corner with a cup of coffee in his hand and is surprised to see me.

"Ellie Adler, what can I do for you so early in the morning?" He takes a seat at his desk and I scoot forward in my chair.

"Mr. Anderson, yesterday after the powder puff game I heard some kids talking about bringing something dangerous into school today." He looks concerned as puts his coffee down, "What did you hear?"

"I heard Ian might bring a gun to school. He's in my first-period class and I think you should check it out. Maybe call the onsite police officer."

"Ian McKibben? You know Ellie, someone left us a note last week saying they had heard Ian and another student saying the same thing," he says and I'm glad they did take my note seriously. "We brought them and their parents in for questioning and he said it was a big misunderstanding. That he's involved with this after-school group where they act out fake battles and things. Live-action role-playing I guess it's called? He said he has prop guns and someone must have misinterpreted what he was saying." I'm frustrated since I know that was a fake story Marissa fed him so I don't back off.

"No Mr. Anderson, I don't think it was anything fake he was talking about. Please just call the onsite police officer and have him be around today. Please, I'd feel so much better if someone was around." He eyes me and he's wondering if he should take my concern seriously. I try and will him to pick up the damn phone and my panicked demeanor must have swayed him to do so. I watch as he picks up the phone on his desk and I hear him talk to a dispatcher. He asks to send out an officer and I sigh with relief. He hangs up the phone and gives his attention back to me.

"Also, can you walk me to biology? He's in that class so I'd just feel better," I quickly ask. Mr. Anderson nods and he escorts me out of the office and down to the science hall. When we reach my biology class, he follows me in and I immediately notice Ian isn't there yet. The bell is seconds away from ringing but he and Liam are both still absent.

I take my seat next to Harper and she looks at me like I am crazy. Ellie better not think she's sitting next to me. And god she looks like hell today. I'm glad to see she has a nice black eye though. I don't say anything to her but I want to be close in case anything happens.

My heart is racing when Mrs. Hager starts class with a pop quiz over the lab we did earlier in the week. I look to the door of the classroom and it's wide open with a few people lingering in the quiet halls. I focus back to the front and take in everyone that is here today. There's definitely a noticeable amount of students missing today but it's the most ditched day of the year.

I spot Derek in the back row but he doesn't notice me staring. I slide my test in front of me but I can't focus on any of the questions. The room is silent so I hear an abundance of whispers around me, all focused on biology. I hear Harper half focused on her quiz and half focused on the game tonight. I pick up my pencil but I'm unable to write anything, I just bounce the tip of the eraser on my desk.

I decide I want to go check out the hallways to see if I can find Ian or Marissa. I quietly stand up from my desk and walk toward Mrs. Hager, but she denies my request to use the restroom. I quickly deflate when I hear her think that I am a cheater. When I turn around to walk back to my desk, I spot Marissa in the door frame. I freeze and then Mrs. Hagar acknowledges her.

"Can I help you, Marissa?"

Marissa stands still in the door frame and I can see beads of sweat forming in her hairline. She's pale with no color on her lips and her hands are balled into fists. I can tell she's panicking and trying to remain calm. She's not wearing a ski mask though.

I hear Mrs. Hager's chair slide out against the tile but Marissa holds up her hand, stopping any further movement. Some students are now starting to turn around to face Marissa while others stay busy with their quizzes. My heart is racing while I stand frozen. I try and get into her head but the silence allows me to hear everyone's thoughts at once so I'm unable to find hers, Marissa walks further into the classroom pulling the door shut behind her. She drops her backpack, which makes a loud crinkling sound when it hits the ground. Anyone that was focused on their quiz is now focused on Marissa.

"No one move!" Marissa quivers and everyone stays quiet, but their thoughts are so panicked it's hard to focus on my own. Mrs. Hagar tries to speak to her again.

"Marissa what's going on, what-"

"Quiet!!" Marissa yells interrupting her. She reaches for her jacket and starts unzipping the front of it. When it's halfway down, she reaches inside and pulls out something from an inside pocket. Before her hand even makes it out of her jacket, I know what it is.

A handgun.

At once people gasp and climb under the tables including Harper and Derek but I'm standing at the front of the classroom completely exposed. I duck down anyway but I still have a view of her feet at the door. I see a girl try to discreetly pull her phone from her backpack and I hear multiple people wondering what to do. I look to my desk and see I'm way too far to try and grab for anything. I won't have my phone on me if anything happens.

Marissa's voice fills the silent room again.

"Where are Derek and Ellie?" She asks and my stomach flips. "I just need them." I'm shaking as I slowly stand and look to the back of the room where Derek is standing against the wall. We make eye contact but he's too far away from me to hear what he's thinking. My eyes dart back to Marissa and she extends the arm that's holding the gun so it's now pointing directly at Derek.

"Marissa honey..." Mrs. Hagar warns from her desk, but the look she shoots back shows she's not fucking around. The sound of my pounding heartbeat fills my ears and I feel a tear roll down my cheek.  I don't acknowledge it as I try and gain control of the situation.

"What is this about Marissa?" I ask with a shaky voice. She now moves the gun so it's pointed at me. My eyes go back and forth between her and the gun.

"Both of you. Come with me," she demands and she opens the classroom door while continuing to point the gun at me. "No one move! I just need them." I want to pick up my phone but I don't know how to without being obvious. I walk right by my desk and I hear Ben, the kid sitting at the desk behind me, think that he already texted his mom saying there was a gunman in his classroom. I make eye contact with Harper and I see that she is starting to cry. I keep walking with my hands up and I'm now right next to Derek. He grabs my left hand before entering the hallway and I squeeze it back. I hear the door close and right after, I feel something being held against my back.

"Go to the girl's locker room," Marissa demands and we all walk quickly and quietly to the locker room. I look around hoping someone will see us but the hallways and common areas are eerily abandoned. I hear Derek wishing he'll make it out of the locker room alive and listing all the people he loves including me. I don't know why this crazy bitch wants to kill me? I don't even know her. And why Ellie? What's this all about? I am wondering the same thing as I squeeze Derek's hand again. I keep hoping I'll suddenly hear Liam, but it's just us three in the hall. I finally can hear into Marissa's head but it doesn't help me figure out what's going on. Just make it to the locker room. Keep Calm. You have this under control.

We make it to the locker room without anyone finding us and when we walk around the corner, I'm not prepared for what I see.