Nissadra

The First Day of the Rest of my Life

Ugh, today is finals. As I walk in, everything is surprisingly quiet, wait- ah there he is. I wave "Hi Alex" Alex turns around and smiles
"Hi babe! What's up?" He walks up to me and I answer. "Well, currently there's a lightbulb, and then beige drywall, then-"
He laughs
" Yeah, yeah, I deserve that" he kisses my cheek and I continue to talk
"Anyways, I have some homework to finish, will you help me?"
  He nods, "Sure".
We always come early, so we have time to be together before the crowds come, but it is rarely this empty, there wasn't a single person there except us.
    We find a table in the lunch room, where students are supposed to go if they are early. I do my English homework, with help from Alex, who is much better than I am. As we are figuring out whether we should go to the movies or the high school football game for our next date, the bell rings. Students start shuffling in, some with bloodshot eyes, and some wide awake. Others neither, but grudgingly walking into another day of class.
    The official bell for the start of school hasn't started yet, but these are kids who come early for some particular reason, most now regretting it. Alex and I continue to talk, and decide to go to the movies after school. A few minutes pass and the final bell rings, we kiss and then go to our lockers and get everything we need for class. After I get everything I go to first hour, ugh, English.
As Mr. Vega talks about whatever it is he talks about in this class, I daydream. The bell rings and I'm brought back to reality. I get up and rush to be the first one out the door. The day goes pretty smoothly from 2nd, 3rd, and 4th hours, and then comes the hour I've been dreading, math.
Today is finals, the biggest test of the year in our school. I sit down, take out my #2 pencil that is used specially for tests and sigh. Today is the day my 18 year old life is going to end. The bell rings, signifying my impending doom as class starts. "Good afternoon everyone " Mrs. Jacobs announces "Does everyone know what time it is?" She asks, with uncanny enthusiasm. The class groans. Someone in the back sarcastically asks "Is it time for our inevitable demise?"  The class laughs, but Mrs. Jacobs is not amused.
"Simon, I want to see you after class"
The class became silent and Mrs.Jacobs resumes. "Well then, no, it is not time for our inevitable death, it's FINALS DAY! WhooHoo!" She shouts, as if happy that we will suffer. "Okay then, the tests aren't going to start themselves. You have one hour to finish, starting..." she pauses for dramatic effect, but only furthers our stress "Now!"
The students take it in for a moment, then look down at their tests. As for me, I open it and start scribbling down answers.
About a half hour later, we all stop, outside the door we hear scuffling, like a fight is happening.
I look at Alex "What's going on?" I whisper.
" I dont know, doesn't sound good" he says.
" No it doesn't "
Likewise, the class starts to murmur. Mrs. Jacobs addresses the class. " Students, stay here and work on your tests, I'm going to see what the commotion is"
The class stares as she walks over to the door, she opens it, then closes it and she's gone. As expected, the class immediately starts talking. Alex turns to me " What do you think is going on?"
"I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about this"
What feels like hours go by, some kids resume their tests, my eyes remain fixed on the door. As I'm just about to continue my test, we hear a scream, the door is broken open, and we see a man with a sword in his hand look across the room  "All of you, come with me".