one step closer

call.

You know, sometimes you feel like the universe is stopping you from doing something. Like that something is definitely not needed to be done.

That is how I felt when I was interrupted by a freaking call when I was about to tell Dylan about what I heard today.

When I pulled out my phone from my jeans pocket, I saw my step-mother's name on the caller ID. She never calls in school or academy hours. This better be important!

"Allison?" I heard her as I answered the call.

"Hey Sofia, is something wrong?" I asked her in a confused tone as she never calls in academy hours.

"So now I can't even call my daughter without any reason." She sounded pretty hurt.

"It's not that Sofia. It's just that you never call in academy or school timings." I tried to clarify it to her.

"I know, I am sorry. This little thing is constantly tugging my shirt down in the kitchen while I am cooking meal and asking me to call you. Can you please talk to him for a second?" She was refering to Zack, my little brother. He is a little naughty but that is what makes him a real kid.

"Is that even a question to ask Sofia. Obviously I would talk to him. Hand over the phone to him so I can scold him a little." I jokingly said. I totally forgot that Dylan was standing there too. I didn't even notice that the bell rang, and everyone was out of the class.

"Dylan you can put your stuff in your locker. This might take sometime." I told Dylan while eyeing towards phone and smiling.

He just nodded and went in.

"Allison! Allison!" I heard my brother shout on the phone.

"Hey Zack, what's up?" I asked in a cheerful voice.

"How are you Allison? Are you fine?" He sounded worried. My 7 years old brother sounded worried about me, I couldn't get more luckier.

"I am absolutely fine Zack. And why do you sound so worried?" I asked him.

"I don't know. I just wanted to talk to you. Take care. I love you. Bye Allison."

"I love you too. I bought dorritos for you today, so get a movie ready. And please an animated one." I didn't buy dorritos. I was going to buy it on my way back home.

"Yay! Okay I'll put the incredibles on buffering." He responded.

"Okay I gotta go. Bye Zacky!"

"Bye Allison." And he hung up the phone.

Well that was wierd.

As I put my phone in my bag, someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around and saw Phoebe.

"Where's everyone?" She asked while smiling.

"I have no idea. I was talking to Zack, he told me he was worried about me. Phoebe there's definitely something wrong today." I didn't realise I had tears filled in my eyes.

"Calm down Allison. So what if somethings wrong? We can't just run away and leave all the students and teachers behind. Even if we escape and the attack happens, we won't forgive ourselves knowing that there were hundreds of students and teachers that we could save but we chose to run away like cowards" She said while wiping my tears with her thumb. She had a determined look on her face. I needed that kind of bravery in my heart.

"You're right. Let's just pretend I didn't hear anything." I smiled.

"Yeah let's go. We are already late for Calculus. Thank God I have calculus with you guys, I was dying of boredom in history." She tried to joke which worked a little as I giggled.

We walked together to our class. I became friend with Phoebe when, in junior year, I saw her crying in the corner of the lawn. When I got near her, I looked in her eyes which were puffy and red. I sat beside her on the bench. When I asked her what happened, she told me her cat died. That was pretty funny for me as I really don't like animals, but I kept a serious face and cracked a joke.

And after that we hung out like everyday and became best friends.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even realise we had reached our class.

The class was already full. Hailey, Maureen, Dylan and Jacob were coincidently seated in the back row. Hailey and Maureen had already booked our seats. I love them.

I looked at Phoebe, took a deep breath, tried to dry my sweaty hands on my jeans and smiled.

I don't know what sins I had commited in my previous life that I got to sit between Dylan and Jacob.

Right now I was standing between Jacob and Dylan. I waved at each of them and smiled.

"Jacob this is Dylan, my childhood best friend. And Dylan, this is Jacob. He is my friend. He is new here." I tried to make a conversation as I sat on my chair.

The both just nodded at each other and turned their heads in the opposite direction.

5 seconds later my phone beeped. I unlocked my phone and opened the new message from our group.

Foursome

Maureen: You are so screwed Allison :D

Allison: It's so awkward, what do I do?

Maureen: Stick to one at a time ;)

Phoebe: Really Maureen? -_-

Allison: I didn't know that my best friend would return after 10 years. Although I am happy, I am confused at the same time.

Hailey: Calm down Allison. It's not like they're both truly, madly and deeply in love with you.

Allison: Thankyou Hailey. :))))

As I clicked the the send button, Mr. Spencer entered the class. He looked worried, infact not worried, he looked terrified, and did a really poor job at hiding it.

He put his briefcase on teachers table with shaking hands. Luckily nobody noticed it except for us four.

At the same time I felt someone poke my shoulder.
"Allison, I am going to the ladies room. I cannot control it anymore." I heard Hailey say. She was sitting behind me.

"Haha! Alright, do your stuff, and hurry up. I think Mr. Spencer is upto something." I warned her.

"Yeah yeah I'll be quick." And then she headed out.

My phone beeped in my jeans pocket. I pulled it out and saw a message in our group.

Foursome

Maureen: Where did Hailey go? :/

Allison: washroom :D

Phoebe: haha! Okay. XD

Allison: Okay listen, there's definitely something wrong with Mr. Spencer.

Maureen: you're right. His hands won't stop shaking.

Phoebe: I don't know what it is, but it has got him really bad.

Maureen: Guys! He has a gun in his briefcase. You guys missed it.

Allison: WTF?!?

I looked at my left and noticed that Jacob was not present on his seat.

"Dylan did you see where Jacob went?" I asked Dylan.

"Nope, I don't know but he was in a hurry and was sweating." He shrugged his shoulders.

I again looked at Jacob seat suspiciously and took a deep breath.

"Alright students. Now listen to me carefully." Mr. Spencer out of nowhere began.

"There's something you need to know."

His statement made my knees weak. I think I knew what he meant.

The three of us looked at each other with terrified expresssions.