But, like usual, there’s no one to confide in about it. I’m left to deal with my own guilt, not sure if I was the cause or not. And to make matters worse, people have started to point theirfinger in Axl’s direction, blaming him when there’s no evidence he was even in the building, much less set it onfire.
No, I’m pretty sure I did that. I don’t know how or why, but I can feel in my bones that I was the cause. I’m stepping around more broken glass than usual with the rest of the town, trying to stay out of anyone’s sight, but it’s getting harder by the day. Which is why I’m glad graduation is finally happening this Saturday.
I’m so ready for high school to be over. Like the rest of my peers, I’ll probably go to Greenwood University, but I’m hoping things will be a little different. Maybe I can finally start letting a little bit of my real self out, stop hiding behind the false reputation I’ve cultivated over the years. The idea of pulling the curtain back is daunting, but so is the idea of staying put behind it. I’m ready to get out, to finallybreathe, even if it shakes me to my core.
I’ve spent the last few days helping Nolan, this year’s valedictorian, with the ceremony. It’s not enough that he has to write a speech and finish everything with classes, but the administration also wanted him in charge of graduation. He’s finicky and a bit on the shyer side, so I felt obligated to help. And, of course, that made my “friends” want to help too.
The stage is slightly off-center when I get to the football field, but it’s tall and beautiful as I imagine how Saturday will go. I can already see the principals and teachers lined up in their chairs on the stage, apart from the one chair designated for Nolan. The microphone and podium stand tall at the center. There’s a huge banner with “Class of 2000” in white letters popping on a green background. When I step closer, I notice Gabby bossing a few guys as they line up the chairs in front of the stage, but there’s another body standing close to her, yelling just as loud. I roll my eyes, not wanting to deal with Will’s shit today.
“Stacey!” he exclaims a bit too excitedly when he sees me. “It’s about time you showed up. We have so much to do.”
I arch a brow at him. “It looks like everything is almost set. But why are you already putting the chairs out? Shouldn’t we do that Saturday morning?”
Will laughs. “We’re just seeing how everything is going to go. You know, simulating how smooth the plan is.”
Gabby hits him in the shoulder like he said too much. I narrow my eyes at them, crossing my arms and waiting for them to explain.
“Is something going on?” I ask.
“No,” Gabby immediately says, but Will gives her a look. “Ugh, fine. I guess you can know. We’re going to get that arsonist freak back.”
For a second, I’m not sure what her words mean. Arsonist freak? Then the meaning slides over me.
“Axl?” I ask.
She shushes me, looking side to side, before turning back to me with a lowered voice. “Yes. He deserves what’s coming to him. So, we’re going to plan a little surprise for him at graduation.”
“Pig’s blood,” Will injects, his face lit up with excitement. “We’re going to dump pig’s blood on him.”
“You’re going to mimic that scene from Carrie?”
His brows scrunch in. “From what?”
“The horror movie—” At the look on his blank face, I sigh. “Nevermind. You don’t even know if Axl is the one who set the old gym on fire.”
“So?Even if it wasn’t him, he’s bound to do something criminal sooner or later. We might as well strike first, let him know who he’s messing with.”
I neutralize my face, but my insides are boiling. Their delusions are so real to them, and I’m realizing there is nothing thatcan be said to put their heads on straight. To them, Axl really is a criminal. He’s someone to taunt and pester because they deem him a real threat.
He is, technically, but not in any violent way. He is a threat to this town, to the way things work, to their traditions. He makes them afraid just by existing, and that thought makes something behind my eyes sting.
“Okay, so how are we doing this?” I ask, disgust roiling in my stomach as the words fall out. They respond with arrogant smiles curling onto their faces, and something in my stomach curdles.
I don’t know how things are going to go for me, but I do know one thing. I cannot let this happen, no matter how much I have to stick my neck out to stop it.
Friday night,the school is vacant and dark. It’s almost eerie, and I can’t believe I have to spend my last night of high school doing this. My insides boil with anger the more I think about Gabby and Will’s plan, how idiotic and mean-spirited it is to devise something of this multitude.
I pass the old gym and a shiver runs over my body. Everyone has hated Axl for simply existing, so now they have a real reason to believe he is the criminal they think he is, they are ready to strike. I sigh as I move past the building and head down to the football stadium. I doubt they’d do this if they knew who was really behind the fire, but then again, maybe they would.
I stand idly by the shed to the side of the field where they normally keep the sports equipment for practice, waiting for the one person I know who has a key to the building. I’m hoping Gabby and Will trusted me with the real location of the bucket and it’s actually behind this door. If it’s not, I don’t know whatI’ll do. Tell the administration? That seems like way too much heat on my back, but I can’t let this happen. The idea of it is absolutely horrible.
A hand touches my shoulder and I flinch, jumping nearly a foot in the air. “It’s just me!” Nolan tugs off his beanie, showing me his blond hair, and puts his hands up in surrender. I put my hand to my chest, working overtime to get my heart beating regularly once more.
“Shit, Nolan. I knew you were coming, but you still scared me.”
“Oof, sorry,” he responds, lowering his arms. “I thought you heard me walk up. Or smelled me.”
I must have been too lost in my thoughts to hear the leaves crunching under his sneakers or the subtle hint of snowdrops in the air. He looks like he’s in full stealth mode: head-to-toe black clothing, black beanie in hand, and long sleeves to his wrists. He even has black gloves on to blend in. “Wow, you really look ready for a mission.”
