underwater
Thread Topic: underwater
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June trembles beneath the relentless downpour, her legs growing weak and unsteady beneath her. With her eyes and skin flushed a deep crimson, she gasps, struggling to stifle the tide of snot that threatens to spill over her face. In a desperate but futile attempt, she wipes her cheeks with the sleeves of her drenched hoodie. As she listens to the young man speak, June nods quietly, her bottom lip jutting out in a vulnerable pout, feeling small and powerless in the moment. Her thoughts race frantically, searching for a way to offer a sincere apology to this man while still preserving her own dignity. Through her tear-streaked lashes, she catches sight of the young man clutching a bag, a detail that momentarily distracts her from the turmoil swirling within.
"Oh.. are you a student too?" -
"Yeah, I- I go to Lakeshore High," the student replied quickly with a short nod, gripping his bag a little tighter in his hands. "I'm guessing you do, too, by the uh- the sticker on your car," he spoke quietly, gesturing to her car.
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June's eyes widen, a spark igniting in them as understanding washes over her. You can practically see the lightbulb glowing over her head. The tears that had been cascading down her cheeks begin to dry, replaced by the warmth of a tentative smile. Her attention drifts to the familiar sticker plastered on her car, the very one the young man is gesturing towards, not that she needs to. It's still there, alright. With a shiver, she pulls the drawstrings of her hoodie tighter, a makeshift shield against the chilly rain shower. She brushes aside a damp strand of hair from her forehead.
"Oh, yeah. That's right." June sheepishly admits. "Um.. I know this might sound weird, sorry.." The young woman trails off, scratching her cheek with her index finger. "..But since we're both going to be late, um.. maybe I could give you a ride?"
June could feel the heat rising in her cheeks once more, this time from embarrassment. She begins to kick herself in her head, thoughts racing like a runaway train. She had literally just met him, and not under normal circumstances either - right after she nearly transformed him into a hood ornament. Offering him a ride felt impulsive, reckless even, and now embarrassment washed over her like a wave crashing against the shore.
She mentally kicked herself for the ridiculousness of the situation, yet she couldn’t bring herself to back down. The tension in the air was palpable, her anxiety wrapping around her like a tight coil. Her heart thudded in her chest, a barrage of doubts swirling as she awaited his response, praying he wouldn’t think she was a total maniac. -
"Oh-" He spoke softly, his grip on his bag loosening for just a moment as he scanned her face. No look of annoyance or regret of asking her question, so she seemed genuine enough. "I- Are you sure? I uh, wouldn't want to impose or anything," he said with an awkward chuckle, gripping his bag tighter as he held it close to his chest. This could just be some big mistake and maybe this girl can somehow see through him, see through his plan, f--- up everything. But the rain was starting to make him freeze and his legs were killing him, so he might as well.
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Amidst the whirlwind of anxiety and racing thoughts clouding her mind, June seems oblivious to the peculiar behavior of the young man beside her. A wave of relief washes over her when he agrees to her offer for a ride, prompting her to tuck her hands into the pockets of her hoodie and pivot on her heel, eager to escape the relentless downpour. She strides toward the run-down station wagon, its emergency lights still blinking in a desperate plea for attention. The vehicle's exterior is marred by rust, which has devoured much of the original paint, leaving behind a mottled blue hue. The front hood, crumpled and bent, is haphazardly secured with a bright neon green cable. June bites her lip nervously as she takes in the sorry state of her car; it certainly lacks the elegance of a BMW.
With a grimace etched on her face, June wrestles with the car door, forcing it open despite its stubbornness. The rusted hinges emit a loud creak as she finally manages to pry it open, plopping into the driver's seat with a thud. The leather upholstery on both seats shows signs of age, peeling away and revealing a rough texture that feels uncomfortable against any exposed skin. To add to the car's deteriorated state, the radio is for some reason absent, and a number of non-functional buttons are haphazardly covered with thick blue masking tape, giving the interior an even more neglected appearance.
"Sorry.. I know it's not very nice." June quickly glances over to catch the man's reaction. -
"No, you're fine," he said quietly as he walked over to the passenger seat of the car, opening it and climbing in. "Nicer than mine- though I don't have a car, so that might not really seem like much coming from me," he continued, buckling up and keeping his bag held tight in his arms.
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June lets out a soft, nervous laugh, shifting in her seat a bit uncomfortably. She clears her throat, momentarily grappling with the manual transmission before finally managing to shift the gear back into drive. The station wagon emits a slight squeal and lurches forward, reminiscent of a buoy bobbing in the water as it picks up speed, while the windshield wipers continue their rhythmic squeak. Although the rainstorm has begun to ease, it still lingers, and June focuses intently on the road, doing everything she can not to almost hit a second person.
Unbeknownst to her, she starts to hum softly and tap her fingers on the steering wheel, filling the awkward silence with a gentle melody. The two of them remain in this quiet companionship as the car drives along, eventually coming to a stop at a red light near the school. It was at this moment June takes the opportunity to turn towards her passenger with an innocent smile, laced with naivety.
"By the way, I don't think I caught your name," She glances back towards the light to confirm its still red. "I'm Juniper. Well, uh. Nobody calls me that though." She waves a hand, plopping it in her lap. "Call me June instead." -
"Uh, Jared- you can call me Jared," he replied quietly, glancing back at the girl. "I'm pretty sure we uh, share a class or two," he added with an awkward chuckle, watching her for a moment before looking forward and up at the stoplight. He anxiously tapped his thumb against his bag, glancing at his watch as the time slowly ticked by.
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"Oh alright, well it's nice to meet you, Jared." June says softly, watching the stoplight. She casts a glance at him when he brings up their shared classes. She doesn't really question the truth of his statement, as she tends to overlook the identities of her classmates and the various dramas unfolding around the school. Her attention shifts as she sees Jared clutching his bag, just before the sudden honk of a car behind her jolts her back to reality. Turning her gaze to the traffic light, she realizes it has already changed to green.
"Oh, crap." June chuckles nervously, shifting her foot to the accelerator. The remainder of the drive unfolds in a somewhat awkward silence, yet was otherwise uneventful. As the young man pulls into the school parking lot, she quickly realizes that most of the spaces are already occupied. Her brow furrows in concentration, and she bites her bottom lip as she makes several laps around the lot, searching for a place to park. Finally, she spots a singular open space tucked away at the far end. "Well, at least we found a spot." June says reassuringly, a bit relieved herself.
With a swift motion, the teenager leans back to retrieve her backpack from the rear seat. She braces herself against the driver's side door, exerting just enough force to swing it open. Once free, she slings the bag over her shoulder, turning to Jared for a final glance, offering him a subtle yet respectful nod.
"Okay, um, well." She scratches the back of her head. "I really have to go inside now, like, right now, but.. it was nice meeting you. And um, I'm sorry again for almost hitting you this morning. I won't do it again." June sighs with an awkward smile, turning on her heel and speed-walking towards the building. -
"You're good- see you," Jared replied with a short nod, watching her rush off after he shut the door. He stared at the back of her figure for a moment, watching her rush into the school building. Huh. Not how I was expecting my morning to go- He thought for a moment, glancing down at his bag and remembering his plan. His mission. He gripped the bag tighter and tugged his hood back over his head, heading into the school as his heart pounded in his chest.
Tick, tick, tick...
A few hours passed and Jared found himself in the bathroom during lunch period, his hands shaking as he unzipped his bag and pulled out the hand gun. He loaded it with bullets and tugged on his mask, staring at the weapon in his hand. His mind swirled angrily as voices flooded his head, the only thing that made any sense was the anger in his heart. He stepped out of the stall with the gun in hand, hearing a student heading inside. He held the gun up and pointed it at the entrance, firing it as the kid walked in.
Boom- -
(just a heads up a may disappear for a few days, going on vacation and may not have access to gtq!
i'll hopefully be back by friday evening if i don't end up hopping on at any point before lol) -
Amidst the throng of students shuffling through the hallway like a horde of the undead, June trudges toward the cafeteria, her feet heavy with reluctance. The closeness of her peers feels suffocating, and she senses herself becoming smaller, almost invisible in the crowd. She attempts to inhale deeply, but the overwhelming stench of sweat and body odor nearly makes her gag. As the crowd begins to scatter into various corners of the cafeteria, a sense of relief washes over her, allowing her to finally breathe freely. Adjusting the weight of her bag on her shoulder, the teen heads toward the lengthy lunch line. Standing there, she surveys the room, only to realize that most tables have already formed tight-knit groups, leaving her feeling even more isolated in the bustling atmosphere.
June lets out a quiet sigh, though she can't say she's shocked by her situation. Perhaps if she had invested the last four years in building friendships with actual people instead of immersing herself in books, she might have received an invitation to join them for lunch. As she stands in line, it feels like an eternity passes before she finally reaches the front, and when she does, the choices laid out before her are far from enticing. A lukewarm slice of microwaved pizza, a plain bread roll, a small fruit cup, and a carton of chocolate milk await her. She can't help but feel a twinge of frustration. Damn you, American school system. Curling her lip upwards in disgust for a second, June fixes her facial expression and looks up at the lunch lady. "Thank you." She says regardless, taking her tray with her.
Bathroom again? Guess so. The young woman quietly makes her way toward the bathroom, hoping to slip by unnoticed by her peers, when a sudden, jarring bang reverberates through the hallway. The sound stops her mid-step, nearly causing her to lose her grip on her tray. "What was that?" she whispers, her eyes widening in alarm as the noise echoes in her mind. The sound struck her ears with the unmistakable sharpness of a gunshot, sending her heart racing in a frantic rhythm. She fights to calm herself. "Calm down. There's no way it's what you think it is." Yet, rooted in place, she stretches her neck, straining to find the source of the noise, her breaths coming in quick, heavy gasps. Another resounding bang echoes through the corridor, and this time, the tray slips from her fingers, clattering to the ground as her stomach plummets in tandem.
In a moment that felt surreal, June's gaze fell to the floor beside the bathroom, where a dark pool of blood was spreading ominously from the men's room. A wave of panic surged through her, propelling her into a frantic sprint back toward the cafeteria. Her legs trembled beneath her, threatening to buckle under the weight of her fear.
"GUN! THERE'S A GUN!" The young woman's voice echoes through the bustling cafeteria, drawing the attention of her classmates. Initially, a few of them have puzzled expressions, caught off guard and uncertain about the gravity of her claim. However, the urgency in her tone and the terror etched across her face swiftly dispel any doubt. In a frenzy, students erupt into screams, scrambling over one another in a chaotic bid for safety, their hearts racing as they seek an escape from the unfolding nightmare. -
(you're completely fine btw! enjoy your vacation!)
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Jared slunk out of the bathroom and shot at another student rushing by, watching them drop to the ground. His heart pounded in his chest as he aimed for another kid, bullet after bullet firing. He just kept going and going, rushing down the hall and firing at anyone who came into his line of sight.
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June stands paralyzed, her eyes darting around the cafeteria in a desperate search for clarity, but all she finds is a whirlwind of panic enveloping her classmates. The atmosphere is thick with chaos; voices rise in a broken chorus of screams and sobs, while some students frantically attempt to shatter windows in a bid for escape but to no avail. Overwhelmed, her thoughts spiral into confusion, leaving her uncertain of her next move. Suddenly, a fellow student, consumed by fear, collides with her, knocking her to the ground and sending her bag tumbling away. The sharp crack of another gunshot reverberates through the air, causing her to flinch instinctively. In a surge of adrenaline, June scrambles on her hands and knees, hastily hoisting her bag over her head as she crawls beneath a nearby table, seeking refuge from the chaos above.
From her hidden vantage point beneath the table, June observes a flurry of feet darting around her, each pair a blur of movement that heightens her anxiety. Her hands tremble uncontrollably as she steals a moment to glance at her phone, only to be met with the disheartening sight of a mere 1% battery remaining. Panic surges through her veins as she desperately opens a text conversation with her brother, Julian. Typing proves to be a challenge; her fingers fumble repeatedly, but after what feels like an eternity, she finally manages to compose a heartfelt message, "I love you always bub." Just as she prepares to hit send, the screen goes dark, and her heart plummets as she stares at her own frantic reflection in the lifeless black display. Gasping, June presses the power button over and over, but a flashing 'no battery' image appears.
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