I sit back on the hood of my 1980's Volvo in the parking lot across from the high school and take my paper cup of black coffee from Tyler who joins me.
"So what do you think they used to start it?" I ask, using my coffee to keep my hands warm.
"Well, it couldn't have been something that original. I mean the dumb fucks actually did it, I doubt they put much thought into 'how'."
I snort. He was right. They weren't that bright.
"So what do you think is going to happen now?" He asks. I shrug.
"Well, they did a damn good job. They're going to have to rebuild it all. We'll probably be sent to the community center in a week or so, hold classes there until they can clean this all up and get portables or something. It'll give us a nice few weeks off though." I mused. Tyler nodded in agreement. Both of us lounged in the early morning light. Seeing as it was hardly past 7am the sun hadn't yet fully broken through the clouds, the air crisp and cool.
We continued to stare across the street at the lot upon which, until recently, our high school campus has stood. A few fire trucks were still spraying the charred remains but for no other reason than ensuring every tiny ember was doused. Some time early this morning, before even the earliest bird has began to stir a group of senior boys has doused our entire high school campus in accelerant and started the blaze, which consumed every building and bush before 3:15 in the morning. At least this was the general story I had pieced together from both the 5am news and the fact that these senior boys, being friends of mine, informed me via text. I correct myself. They informed me early this morning via video message.
I woke at 2:50 to a 30 second clip of Woodland High School engulfed by bright flames and black smoke, as three silhouetted figures stood by watching. Toby and David stood in the parking lot and looked on in awe as Ryan recorded it on his cheap cell phone before sending it to me. Two hours later I received a second text from Ryan, a grade school friend of mine, informing that they had all fled the Northern California Valley. Piled into his car, they were now headed for Oregon. Perhaps they had gotten there already.
The reality they were creating for themselves were of the stuff I can only day dream about.
Friday morning, three days later, I walk into the kitchen around nine in the morning. I grab a slice of left over pizza before I realize there is a letter laying on the counter addressed to me. It bears the Woodland High School insignia. The first thing that goes through my mind is 'Didn't all their fucking stationary go up in flame?' I notice that its unopened, which figures since my mother always leaves for work in a hurry. I'm actually surprised the letter made it out of the mailbox this early. I tear open the side of it and pull out the letter and unfold its few pages. The top most page is a letter which reads:
Dear Woodland High School Students and Parents,
Since the recent tragedy that has befallen our school, the Eureka Union School District has been working non stop to solve the educational problem our children are now faced with. Thankfully our neighboring school districts have been more than a little helpful in our reaching a solution. As of Monday September 17th our students will be able to return to their classes at different schools. We have divided all students and enrolled them in classes at the high school that is most geographically convenient. Due to the large number of students and the late enrollment, priority of class schedule has been given in decending order beginning with the Seniors. We would like to formally thank East Ridge High School, Mountain View High School and Eldorado Hills High School for their support in our time of need.
Richard Farr
Principal, Woodland High School
I stare in disbelief at the paper. They figured something out. To be honest I knew they would, but this quickly? September 17th? This Monday? That means I would have to go back to school in two days. Dropping the top letter I look at the second page. Its a school assignment.
To Kate Coleman and Parents,
As per the situation of the Eureka Union School District, your education, for the time being, will continue at Eldorado Hills High School. All students must report to their assigned school by 7 am Monday morning. Your class schedule is enclosed. Registration has done its best to provide you with the necessary classes. Placement at this high school is only temporary. We will keep you updated on the progress of the clean up and construction of Woodland High School.
Dropping this page onto the counter with the first, I look at the last page. Its my class schedule. Hip Hip Hooray. It looks like they were able to get me into the same classes at Eldorado Hills that I had been taking at Woodland pre-bonfire. The semester had only just started a few weeks before so I guess it wouldn't be too difficult to catch up.
I frown at the untouched cold pizza sitting on the counter. I'm suddenly not that hungry. Picking up the letters I throw the pizza back into the fridge and go back to my room. Leaving the letters in a crumpled pile on my severely neat and organized desk, I pull my curtains shut and hide back under my covers. Best to get as much sleep as possible before the grind starts over on Monday.
Not more than an hour later I wake up to a buzzing sensation around my midsection. I was sleeping on my phone and it was now ringing. Fishing it out from under my stomach I held it up to my face
"Hello" I mumbled into it, but it continued to vibrate. Then I came to the conclusion that it would be beneficial to actually answer the call. Pressing the call button I again mumbled "Hello?"
"You're seriously still sleeping aren't you."
"Fuck you" I mumble back. Tyler can be such a bitch sometimes.
"As if you could, listen I'll let Sleeping Beauty get back to her business, I just wanted to tell you, you better pick my ass up for the party tonight. My tires are still flat"
"Well maybe if you weren't such a bitch Shelby wouldn't have knifed them"
"Eight o'clock Princess"
"Ya ok"
I press the end button and stare up at my blank ceiling. A glance at my bedside clock tells me its 10:12. I decide its about time I got up and did something. On weekends I normally sleep this late, but it feels strange to still be in bed on a Friday. Swinging myself out of bed I mess my short hair around. Padding to the bathroom I wake myself up with cold water to the face before going through my whole morning routine.
I may be on the androgynous side but that doesn't mean I can't take care of myself. I'm a bit of a product whore, having my own bathroom comes with the privilege of cupboards and cupboards of room for every wash, treatment, scrub, mask, moisturizer and sunblock known to human kind. That's not even counting all of my hair products. I change into running shorts, tee shirt and running shoes. Hair too short to be pulled into any type of effective pony tail, I pin my bangs and and loose hair back with bobby pins and head out the front door. Its only 10:30 but its already nearly 80 degrees outside. I normally don't run during the day, at least during the warmer months, for that particular reason but I haven't for a while. I choose to bite the bullet and start off down the street.
I wasn't particularly excited for the party tonight. Any other night and I would be excited for something to do on a Friday night, but not today. Not when she might show up at the party.
My break up with my girlfriend of only a month hadn't been a pretty one. It was a type of whim breaking up with her, leaping before looking you could say. Its not that I feared I would regret leaving her because I would miss her, oh no. I would regret it because, as the past few days have proven, she would be a larger pain in my ass as an ex-girlfriend than she had been as an actual girlfriend. She is two years younger than I am and goes to some other high school, I don't even remember which one. We had met two months ago at the Back Bar, a local venue where some small bands play. An all ages place but with a restricted section for 21+ complete with bar. It wasn't a bad place to spend the night.
She had cozyed up to me in between sets, batting her lashes and flaunting her pride necklace, ring, arm band, belt and shoelaces. She was what I like to call a 'Gay For Show'. Because how do you become more individual in a crowd of practiced individuals than that? She was cute, yea, kind of funny. She did that whole 'put her number in my phone' thing, but apparently had texted herself at the same time because not a day later she began calling me. I'm not really sure how we got together officially, but once we did it went from bad to worse.
Clingy doesn't even begin to describe it. The last month of my life has been nothing but pain. Seeing my high school up in flames on Tuesday though, it gave me hope. Fuck the establishment, or rather Fuck Peyton. Actually, it was more of a 'don't fuck Peyton and fight for freedom' type of thing. So while I sat on my car with Tyler watching the ashed of Woodland High School smolder, I gave her a call. I'm not sure where she was really, honestly I never really knew where she was. I never really knew much about her at all, other than she found my boyish looks and 'alternative' sexuality to be a novelty she wanted to take part in. She picked up as she always did 'Hey Pookie!'. That was the straw that broke this camels back.
Around a minute later I had to hang up mt phone for fear of her breaking its speaker. Needless to say I didn't get much time to explain why I was breaking up with her, not that it was any skin off my nose. For the past few days I've gotten upwards of a dozen phone calls from her, which is why my phone is now permanently on vibrate. I have yet to talk to her and I sincerely hope that tonight doesn't break that trend.
Rounding a corner I push harder. My legs are burning and my chest is tight. I'm not sure what time it is, but the sun is considerably higher in the sky and I'm not completely certain where I am. There is a park a block up on my left so I make for for. Pushing, I fall onto the grass under a tree and try to catch my breath. Soaked in sweat I close my eyes, absorbing the suns heat. I feel like i'm on fire.
Its just past 2pm when I fall onto the floor of my room. I'm still soaked, and I know I probably smell but i don't care at the moment. The carpet is soft, unlike the pavement I've been pounding for the past few hours.
The house is quiet. My parents are gone, both at work. My little sister is at school, seeing as the middle school didn't burn down as well. Quiet is something I seldom get to enjoy. I lay on my stomach and listen to the sound of my own heart beat as it slows and returns to normal, as my breathing steadies.
I feel alone and I revel in the feeling.
A/N: So now that you've spent your time reading it, take another minute to review! Thanks!