Remember, all the tidbits dropped in this read are factual. Bullying is discussed in this piece.
He quit listening
and watched them slide Noah into the ambulance. It hurt to have everything end
up like this. Noah shot? Shit happens, but really … Noah? Unreal. Was it all
because Noah hated dogs? Maybe he got bit once or something. He had beaten on Courtney’s
dog with a stick. Not like he had to. It was one of those obnoxious poodles. A
little one. What they called a miniature. Truth was Noah was always thumpin’ on
dogs. Maybe he hated ‘em for a reason. But no way this gave Courtney the right
to toss shade on Noah, telling him he reeked and then smearing dog shit on his
locker. Tonight she had something to worry about besides a mutt.
News Center 3
showed up and parked on the street in front of the school. McShuster watched
his favorite news reporter, Robert Macaday, step out and adjust his tie. A girl
was setting up a camera. McShuster would have loved all the excitement in a
prior life, but not tonight; people getting shot changes things.
Everyone knew Noah
could lose it in no time flat. Messing with him was mostly just supposed to be
fun. But no, sometimes a guy reaches his boiling point. Who wants to look
stupid? He made like being stupid was worse than no girlfriend. Everyone knew
it. He picked up a nick name he didn’t know about. Or, at least Noah never let
on about knowing. No-Ah girl for loser Noah.
The reporter waved
and approached the squad. “Our team called the tip in. Shooting was going to …
start during the game. Can I get a few words on record—” The reporter went mum after
making eye contact with McShuster. “Reporters get shot. Is that the only
shooter around here?” He spun and trotted to the van hollering to the camera
lady. She grabbed a mic and raced Robert to the van before they spun off.
“I was on my way
to work and it dawned on me. It’s like ‘I’d shoot up the school in a second,’ but
you think saying that stuff is a big joke. Sometimes a storm blows in and you drenched
because you didn’t see it in time.” McShuster looked at the growing crowd
across the street. “Can we leave—”
“Ten four, three-fourteen.
I have the perp in custody. Is the school cleared?” Officer Tracy asked.
“Can you check see
how Noah’s doing?” McShuster asked. He couldn’t believe it. Noah was his
shooting buddy. Why’d I shoot him? he wondered.