The news has been playing on Terrell’s TV since I woke up this morning.
Terrell is seated on the floor, drinking coffee next to a sleepy-looking Devon. They’re both watching in silence as the screen shows the remains of Niveus, as well as footage from last night’s fire.
They report that a faulty electrical circuit caused it, that it was an inevitable tragedy.
It all feels like a really messed-up dream, but it really happened.
Our school burned down.
I sit now, with my own cup of coffee made by my new friend, Terrell, watching the news with them.
I feel a lot of relief seeing that building go up in flames. It feels like the perfect ending to this saga.
Niveus Academy reduced to ashes.
Bold graphics flash frantically up on the screen.
CASUALTIES CONFIRMED AS THE BODIES OF THREE STUDENTS FOUND AT THE SCENE
People died?
That news makes me feel a little sick. People at Niveus were all part of this racist machine, but I knew them. It’s hard to not feel a little sad for people you knew and interacted with for years.
The first face pops up, a photo from the school yearbook. I feel a punch in my gut.
“CeCe…,” I say quietly.
“You knew her?” Terrell asks.
I nod.
“She was a popular girl at school,” Devon adds.
A popular girl.
“I wasn’t that close to her. Honestly, she was kind of a bitch to me,” I say. Though it’s not like I was ever that nice to her either, and it doesn’t make me feel any less sick to my stomach.
CeCe and I were one and the same. Both smart, willing to do a lot to protect our titles, wanting to be on top.
And now she’s dead, forever resigned to beinga popular girl at schooland nothing more.
Another face pops up, and it’s someone else I’ve seen around.
I feel sick.
“Did you know him?” Terrell asks.
I shake my head.
“He was in my music class,” Devon says.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
We sit in more silence, waiting for the third face. I feel anxious all of a sudden. I’m not sure why. These people wanted to ruin my life—our lives. They didn’t care about us, whether we lived or died.
So why do I feel so bad?
“Another guy,” Terrell says as the third graphic goes up.
