Chapter Text
Oddly comforting are the closest words Adrian can describe about the whole situation. So far, this past few weeks had a hurdle of unfortunate events coming his way. No matter the cause, he finds himself tangled up in the mess, along with a pair of obnoxiously self-righteous idiots with the ability to make everything 10 times worse.
***
From a distance, Adrian spotted about five police cars being stationed in a nearby parking lot. About 10 of them surrounded the premises, blocking a few vehicles trying to pass, with their sirens disturbing the usual quiet morning on the school grounds, and curiosity growing among the students walking by. Beside them, the Head Chief, William Anderson, was talking to Mr. Nero, the school’s Vice Principal.
“What do you think that’s about?”
Adrian didn’t answer. His mind was preoccupied with the situation across the road. The flashing lights beamed over his eyes with more officers stepping out, sharing the same look of uneasiness, but remaining composed.
“Can you make out what they’re saying?” Vivienne pondered, peering at the situation through the metal gate.
The conversation between the two adults didn’t look too pleasant. Their Vice Principal was babbling about something, and judging from the exaggerated hand gestures, it was heavily important. The officer wrote something on his notepad, but his kept his face furrowed through the interrogation. Adrian can see the students trying to get an earshot of the conversation, a few even bold enough to intervene, as others took out their phones to record.
Last week, the school had an assembly about the importance of safety, and it was the closest they had come to seeing a police officer on campus. So it's not like this something you would expect from a prestigious school and people are eager to find the ‘why’ of it today.
Not Adrian though.
“Hello? Can you hear me?” Vivienne waved her hand in front of his face, snapping him from his thoughts. Adrian mumbled a quick apology before asking her to repeat herself. “I asked who do you think is about to get arrested. I’m betting my money on Micah. What about you?”
He grabbed Vivienne's wrist and pulled her away, moving through a body of students, saying, "Don't know. This is probably nothing. We’re just stressing ourselves out.” Although Adrian is positive it’s definitely something. He’s just too scared to find out.
“Do you think somebody caught us breaking curfew when we had that party near the lake?” Vivienne suggested, eyes forming in panic. They brushed past the security guard inside the main building before maneuvering through their usual cramped spot on the abandoned E floor. She jiggled the keys out of her front pocket before continuing her query. “Who would be dumb enough to do it though?”
Now, Adrian isn't the kind to gossip about others, especially after seeing how harmful it can be from the incident at his previous school. He is gonna imply that the students here aren’t as perfect as they seem. With their energetic behavior and lack of decorum, they drive every teacher, principal, security guard, and even faculty member off the bridge. They can be as trouble making and disobedient as any teenager in today's world- three of his closest friends can prove it- but that doesn’t mean they’re stupid enough to cause trouble without being discreet. Let alone stupid enough to get in trouble by the law.
Instead of reassuring her, he joined the accusation. “Betting my money it’s Lance.”
He closed the door after them and checked to make sure the blinds were down. Vivienne added the padlock on the doorknob and put a couple of chairs to block anyone else from coming in. Ever since the school renovated the entire E wing floor, teachers from this area had to continue their lessons in the Department Building of Science- a newly constructed property that was designed especially for those participating in the field. No one knows what they plan to do with this floor, but kids took this as an opportunity to either smoke pot or make out with their partners before class and during lunch break.
They both went to their usual seat, Adrian sitting on the battered couch as Vivienne flopped onto the beanie bag she brought yesterday. He took out a cigarette as Vivienne pulled out her lighter.
“That’s just petty then,” Vivienne scoffed, lighting the end of Adrian’s cigarette while taking some from his packet. “No way he’s pissed that Eddie took his spot as President of School Council.”
“Eddie didn’t take his spot. He earned it. Lance is too much of a sore loser to accept it. Hell, he never admits he’s wrong.”
“Sounds like someone I know.” Vivienne sneered, her face turning sour. Adrian shook his head while blowing out a smoke; already expecting the complaint from his best friend’s mouth.
“Every day, she feels like she’s always in the right and would constantly be this little know-it-all. Like, please. If I want help, I’ll ask for help. That’s one thing I hate about people. They think you’re so inferior and incapable of doing anything, that you need their help at every chance you get.”
She continued rambling as always, talking about how Grace is the embodiment of a savior trope and unknowingly patronizes others around her, as she fails to realize how shallow and condescending it comes out. Her refusal to accept criticism and direction, especially when it comes from her superiors, is the other. Followed by her arrogant attitude, which makes her feel like the center of the universe. Adrian met Grace once, and while he thought of her as decent, they couldn’t seem to ever get along. Grace is just one of those people who can be quite full of themselves. It’s better to have her as an acquaintance where you barely know much about her personality. He reminds her a lot of Eddie, the only difference is that her behavior is judged while Eddie is being praised. He and Vivienne seemed to be the only ones that don’t like both.
He smirks while nudging her arm. “I think you’re in love, Vi.”
Vivienne gagged, sitting up to glare at him. “How dare you say those things about me. Do I look like I have standards that are at the very bottom of Mariana tech?”
“You spend way too much time talking about someone you hate,” Adrian teased.
“And you spend too much time not talking to someone you like,” she teased back.
He kicked her beanie and let out a dramatic gasp. “How dare you?” Adrian chuckled, feigning offense. “Seriously though. Asking the wrong guy can turn me into an outcast and I’m not in favor of getting hate crime.”
“Impossible. I refuse to believe we’re the only gay kids at this academy. There are bound to be others hiding in the closet. Others as in Jackson from pre-calculus class.”
“You mean the kid that’s known for being an asshole?” Adrian questioned. “No way.”
She sighed. “But anyways, like I was saying about Grace-“
“Do you think she was right?” He interrupted.
Vivienne puffed out a cloud of smoke. “Who?“
“Carol,” Adrian answered.
His best friend snorted. “No way you believe her. She’s crazy, that’s all to know.”
***
The morning had a hurdle of questionable events that grew tension amidths the students in Jefferson Academy. The police cars never left the site and it only prompted students with answers from the Principal. Especially from a certain someone.
“Just because he is gorging on coffee does not mean it can count as being busy!”
Principal Zermon sighed at the ruckus he heard from outside his office. Today marks the 7th week Caroline Davis has barged in, demanding a negotiation to cancel the Field Trip at Saint. Mary’s Hospital for the AP Psychology class.
“Ms. Davis, you need to leave-”
“Just call her in,” Principal Zermon instructed, perring his head from the doorway. “This better be worth telling Caroline.”
“Oh, trust me, it is.”
Principal Zermon went back to his seat, just in time for Caroline to slam the door behind her. She tossed the papers on his desk with a triumphant look that set a nerve towards the old man. “I have been researching and stating my sources to prove these claims, and even containing information from the local library and the police station which was granted permission by the Head Chief, so you better not dismiss this as blasphemy. And yes, I did look up that word. Fuck you.”
“Sit down, please,” The principal gestured, nonchalant at the outburst he had witnessed for 49 days. Caroline did so, the color on her cheeks matching the redness from her hair. “Now, tell me why you barged in the office and proceeded to scare the life out of my assistants?”
“Maybe if you hadn’t been ignoring my emails that I’ve been sending over the weekend, I wouldn't need to!”
“Fair point,” said the principal, putting his hand up in defense. “But I am busy. Drinking coffee is the only solution that keeps me sane. Can you imagine the horrors you’ll witness if I suddenly broke the window and jumped?"
“We’re on the first floor. You’ll likely get a sprained ankle.”
He sighed. “Alright, let’s actually discuss why you-”
“As I said before!” Her voice bellowed. “The killer is back!”
***
Eddie hummed to himself as he walked down the hall. His 2nd hour teacher decided to give the class free period due to everyone getting a 100 on their test yesterday. The students were thankful to relax and not worry about additional assignments to keep them up at night. Although Eddie didn’t see any pleasure from waiting 30 minutes until the next class, especially when the phone that used to entertain him was taken away last period. So when the teacher asked for any volunteers to take the papers to the principal, he jumped out of his seat to accept it. The young boy was willing to ease his boredom from sitting in that classroom all day.
Before entering the office, he took a sneak peek to see if the cars had disappeared. Much to his disappointment, they were stationed in the same spot, the officers not moving a muscle, as the Head Chief was talking to someone in his walkie.
He can recall driving his car around, waiting for them to leave so he could park in his designated area. Unfortunately, he was informed of their long stay, but Eddie had hoped they’ll be gone during the afternoon.
He watched for a good amount of 30 seconds before arriving inside the office. He can already hear the loud noises from Caroline Davis as he enters. With one glance to their direction, Principal Zermon looked close to quitting his job.
“Still at it again?” He asked the superintendent. The woman who looked to be in her 50s gestured to the young boy to place the papers on her desk as she typed on the keyboard
“You might as well cancel the field trip if the killer is back,” he offered sarcastically. To his dismay, the superintendent didn’t recognize the joke in his tone.
“Either get back to class or I’ll have you written up.”
Eddie raised his hands in defense. “Jeez. i was only-”
The superintendent glared at him and Eddie took that as his cue to leave. “Still not a bad idea though. DIdn’t he blow up a bus in the 70s?”
“Get out!”
And out the door he went, but waited in the hallway until a storming cloud was marching towards his direction.
He smirked at Caroline’s angering state that seemed to be a volcano forming its eruption. “Quite a performance there, Carol.”
“I’m in no need of your derision,” she snapped, passing by him to press the elevator button.
“I’m not making fun of you. Really, it was an interesting sight,” Eddie tried to reassure.
Caroline glared at him. “Did you enjoy it then? Seeing me lose my mind as that bald idiot kept ignoring me?"
"More like it was interesting to see you not give up. I would have."