People Shooter #4

           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.

Officer Tracy put the mic up near her mouth but then lowered it. “You act alone here?”

“I what?” McShuster looked up.

             The scene is fluid and stress is present. This can cause mistakes.