drizzle and the suffocating

ked onto the wooden bleachers f

ying shade of gray. The weekend chemotherapy sessio

senior's breakup. Claire couldn't hear a word. Th

Vice Principal Prynne

ice echoing loudly. "I want to address a disc

eds of heads turned toward the

lack hoodie pulled up over his head

ps. He didn't rush. He ignore

crophone. He didn

tal mesh of the micro

reech of feedback blast

red their ear

e caused," Bishop said into the mic. His voi

ront row booed. A group of girls whis

hed the micr

or we will not tolerate!" Prynne yelled.

Claire's hands ball

thought about him saving the boy in the alley. She thought ab

people cheering against h

. Combined with the toxic chemica

blackness rushed i

her ears turn

ward. Her body wen

's shoulders to stop her from tumbl

through the n

Bishop had been t

k eyes frantically scanning the massive wall of wooden bleachers. He saw the sudden commotion, a ripple of panic spreading through t

d terrifying ignit

ed off the side of the stage, land

back here!" P

crowd of standing students. He moved with such vio

en bleacher step

hite face and the cold sweat on her forehea

w out of the wa

assive arm under Claire's knees

ffortlessly aga

through the entire gymnas

She could smell the clean scent of laundr

weakly. She saw the hundre

ered, her voice barely audi

on bands. He looked down at her, his eyes

ered softly. "I'm tak

out the double doors, leaving th