Chapter 41

Chapter 10 "I guess the teacher isn't here yet," Belle said as we walked into biology. Grayson wasn't there, so I assumed he was taking the day off because of the whole Devon being back at school thing. I couldn't believe that Devon tried getting me to apologize to Grayson for him. Was he really sorry about it all? Grayson wasn't the only one Devon planned on apologizing to. He was constantly apologizing to Belle, who was his ex-girlfriend, saying that it was his cousin who was causing him to act that way. Belle ignored him, however. "He probably had to print off worksheets, or something," I said. "He's usually prepared, though." Belle shrugged as she sat at her desk. As soon as I sat at mine, the bell to start class rang. Tony still wasn't here, but he was probably going to show up soon. He better because when our class was left on our own, it got crazy, especially because of one of Devon's friends, Jace. He was a huge hooligan. Two minutes passed and Tony still wasn't here. I was planning on texting him to see where he was, but the school's PA system suddenly went on. "The school is on a level 2 lockdown. Repeat, the school is in a level 2 lockdown." When that was announced, Belle and Thalia walked over to me. "I wonder what's happening," Belle said. "Nothing too bad, I guess," I said. "It's something outside the school. But I'm wondering why Tony isn't here yet." I pulled out my phone and texted him, asking him where he was. I got a message back almost immediately. Tony: outside. something's happening. stay in class. "He's outside," I said. "He said something's happening, obviously. He didn't give any details." "I hope it's nothing dangerous," Thalia said. "It wouldn't be dangerous if it's a level 2," Belle pointed out. "Maybe there was an injury and the school needs everyone to stay inside so they won't be in the way." "I hope you're right," Thalia said. "I mean, I hope nobody got injured, but I hope it's not dangerous." Devon walked up to us with a hopeful look. "Belle, can we talk?" Belle corssed her arms and looked away. "Did you two hear anything, because I didn't." "Come on, Belle," Devon said. "I said I'm sorry. It wasn't my fault!" Belle turned to him. "No? So when Grayson got shot, you were there because you're cousin forced you to?" "No, but..." "My point exactly," Belle said. "Please," he said, his voice begging. I found it a bit weird because he smirked at me when he first got here, but the begging was genuine. Like he needed Belle to listen to him. "Belle?" I asked. "Just give him a chance." Belle looked at me with a raised eyebrow. However, she sighed and grabbed Devon's wrist, pulling him to the other side of the room. I noticed that by the door, a few students were gathered there. They looked worried as if there was a serial killer inside the school. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door after trying to open it. One of the students must have locked it. "Go away!" Jace said. "I'm too young to die!" "Jace, open the door," Tony said. "The killer knows my name!" Jace said. I didn't know if he was joking or not. "It's Mr. McCormick," Tony said. "Open the door, I need my sister." I walked to the door, but Jace blocked it. "It's a trap," he said. "He doesn't have a sister." "Tony, what's going on?" I asked, ignoring Jace. "Why is the school on lockdown?" "There's something going on," Tony said. No, really? "You need to come out here." I furrowed my eyebrows. "But isn't it a lockdown?" "Poppy, I swear if you don't get out here, I will get Mom and Dad to ground you," he said. Once he said that, I knew it was urgent. He hated when people got grounded, especially me. He normally prevented Mom and Dad from grounding me. I gently moved Jace out of the way, unlocking the door and opening it. Tony was there, looking very distressed. "You," he pointed at me, "follow me. Everyone else, stay in class until you're given the all clear. If I found out that anyone left, the whole class will get detention and trust me, I'll have my way of knowing." I followed him down the hallway, noticing how fast he was moving. "What's going on?" I asked. He didn't answer as we walked outside. The principal was there, a few teachers, the police, the paramedics, and Grayson's mom. There were all looking up, so I followed their gaze, my heart stopping at the sight. Grayson was standing on the roof, passed the railing. He was holding on with two hands, facing forward. The depression was getting to him. A few of the teachers placed a ladder climbing up to the roof, hoping that if Grayson changes his mind, he will climb down. "Don't do it," Mrs. Goth, the principal, said through a megaphone. "You have so much to live for." "I have nothing!" Grayson yelled so we could hear him, letting go of the railing with one hand. He was barely holding on. Without asking, I took the megaphone from Mrs. Goth. "Nothing?" I repeated into it. "Grayson, you have so much to live for. Your sisters. Your mom. Your cousin. Me. Don't let your depression get to you." "You don't know what it's like!" he said. "You don't know!" "Of course I don't," I said. "But I do know that you can get the help you need." One of the policemen walked up to Mrs. Goth. "Ma'am, we're going to have to go up there if he refuses to climb down." Mrs. Goth nodded, but Tony stopped them. "No, don't. I know him, he's stubborn. Going up there will make it worse." "We can't risk him..." "We won't," Tony said. "He only listens to one person. She can do it." "Grayson, please climb down," I said. "I read about the anti-depressant you're on and it increases suicidal thoughts and behavior. It's a side effect. It's not you." "It is me," Grayson said. "I can't... I can't take it." I had to try a new stragedy. "Remember the time you stood up for me? You protected me from everyone else. You made sure nobody ever hurt me. If you jump, it won't only kill you, it will kill me inside." He didn't reply. He wasn't objecting. "Please," I begged, tears staining my cheeks. "I can't lose you. I need you in my life. Yesterday you told me that all I could do for you was be there. I will be there for you. I'm always there for you." "You're going to... You have to move on," he said. "It's for the best." My hope was fading as I saw Grayson loosen his grip on the railing. But my determination was strong. "No," I said. "No, I refuse to. If you climb down, I promise you'll get the help. Please, Grayson. I need you. Climb down. For me." For the longest time, he didn't do anything. His eyes were closed and his head was down so I couldn't see what he was thinking. "Flower," Grayson said. The hope grew once he said my nickname. "Promise you won't yell." "Why would I yell?" "Just promise." "I promise." I didn't know why he was promising me not to yell. I was so afraid he was going to go through with it. That he was going to jump. Grayson reached behind him with his free hand as I gave the megaphone back to Mrs. Goth. He grabbed the railing with both hands, then slowly moved to the ladder before climbing down. I ran to him once he was safely on the ground, hugging him tightly as I buried my face in his chest and cried. I was shaken up. Grayson tried committing suicide. I almost lost the boy I love. Grayson buried his face in my neck, tears coming from him as well. I had never seen, or even heard, Grayson cry before, which cause me to cry more. "Grayson," Gertrude said from behind us. Grayson and I pulled away, looking at her. Her cheeks were stained with tears, which made Grayson hug his mom. "I'm so sorry, Mom," he said. "I'm sorry..." "It's not your fault," she assured. "It's the anti-depressants. They warned us that it might increase suicidal thought and behavior." "But I scared you," he said. "I wanted to jump, Mom. I wanted to end everything." "You need to tell her," Gertrude said. "You frightened her!" "I know," Grayson said. "I will." Grayson put his arm around me, giving me a side hug as I wrapped my arms around his waist. Mrs. Goth and Tony walked up to us. "Grayson, take the week off of school," Mrs. Goth said. "I'll have your teachers omit any work for you." Grayson nodded. "Thanks." "Poppy, you could take the day off as well," Mrs. Goth said. "Thank you for stopping Grayson." "Yes, thank you," Grayson said, hugging me tighter. "I'm so sorry I frightened you." "It's fine," I said. "You're safe and that's all that matters. I'll come over to your house. I just need to get my things from class." "I'll wait in my car," Grayson said. I nodded, then followed Tony to class. The PA system announced that the school was in the all clear so the biology class door was unlocked. "Sorry, class," Tony said as I packed up my supplied. "There was a very serious incident that had to be handled, but everything turned out fine." Thalia raised his hand. "Mr. McCormick, what exactly happened?" "I can't say," Tony said. "It was between certain people and it was resolved. If any rumors go around, don't listen to any because only two students know what happened and I know they won't tell anyone." When my bag was packed, I walked to the front of the class where Tony was. "Can you be the one to tell Mom and Dad what happened?" I asked. "I don't want to talk about it." "Yeah, of course," Tony said. "You can leave now." Since Belle was sitting in the front of the class, she stopped me before I left by grabbing my wrist. "Are you okay?" she asked. I nodded, wiping the remainder of tears away. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little shooken up. I'll see you tomorrow." I walked out of the school and to Grayson's car. He was waiting inside, so I climbed in before he drove to his house. When we got there, we went to his bedroom and cuddled on his bed. After what happened, I just wanted to be in Grayson's arms. I felt safe. Grayson ran his hand up and down my arm, sighing deeply. "There's something I have to tell you," he said. "I lied about why I couldn't sleep. It's not a side effect." "I already knew that," I said. "Yeah, I kind of figured you did," Grayson said. "Well, the reason I can't sleep is because of these nightmares I've been having. Over and over again, memories of my dad and brother beating me have been playing. I could almost feel the pain again. Sometimes, the nightmare extends so that I end up in the hospital, but other times it stops. I just... I can't sleep because of it. It haunts me." He covered his face with the arm that wasn't around me. "You could have called me," I said. "Even if it was two in the morning, I would have listened." "I didn't want you to worry," he said. "But you're probably going to worry about me all the time after what happened today. I can't believe... I was so close to actually killing myself. I've been thinking about it a lot, lately. Just seeing Devon again was the last straw." "He's been wanting to apologize to you," I decided to tell him. "Apparently, his cousin was manipulating him." Grayson scoffed. "That's farfetched." "Well," I said slowly. "I actually believe him. He wanted to apologize to Belle as well and he seemed genuine. I think he's truly sorry about what happened." "He better prove it to me," Grayson muttered. We didn't say anything else. Instead, we fell asleep in each other's arms.