| Section 2 | Section 3 | Section 4 | Section 5 | Section 6 | Section 7 | Section 8 |
| Section 9 | Section 10 | Section 11 | Section 12 | Section 13 | Section 14 | Section 15 |
| Interlude 1 | Chapter 4 | Interlude 2 | Chapter 5 | Epilogue |
Chapter Three
September 3, 1991- February 1, 1992
I.
"Change your shoes."
Micah looked up at Jared. "No. Why should I?"
Jared gestured at them with his peanut butter and pickle sandwich. "Look how old they are. I mean, c'mon, how long have you had those things?"
"About as long as you've been eating peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, so I'll make you a deal. If you stop wth the PBP's, I'll get new shoes. Deal?"
"No. Get rid of the shoes anyway." He looked around. "I don't think Shawna likes them either." Micah jumped back as if stung by something.
"Watch yourself, my friend."
"You won't hurt me. You're incapable of violence on another person. That's what makes you a lover, and not a fighter."
"Yeah well....."
"Oh just get new shoes, will you?"
"I don't really want to. I like these shoes. They're comfortable. They're like... they're like my lucky shoes."
"Lucky shoes? How have things been with those shoes? Lessee... Shawna has basically ignored you everyday since she first came here, she didn't ask you to Sadie Hawkins, she didn't go with you to Homecoming, you've nearly been beaten up by Gutter how many times? and those are lucky shoes?"
"That's not the point. It's the principle of the thing."
Jared grinned. "Go with those feelings, man. Seriously though, are you ever going to change those shoes?"
Micah looked down at them. "Yeah, eventually. When they get really bad. If that ever happens. I mean look at 'em. They're just beginning to show wear and tear, and how long have I had these shoes already, 3 years? 4 years?"
"Something like that."
Micah nodded, and looked down at his shoes again.
"Hey, guys, how's it going?" Marie came over to their table and sat down next to Jared.
"I'm doing alright, Marie. How's by you?"
"I'm okay, Micah. Though, Shawna isn't doing that good. That's why she's not at school today."
Micah jumped as if stung again. "Why? What's wrong with her?"
"Well, you remember how Gutter got suspended last year?"
"Yeah, for the marijuana. I remember that."
"Well, over the summer he was... uhhh... arrested for it."
"He was?" Jared asked incredulously.
"He was. That's why you don't see him here. However... His second in Command, Jonny Levere.. you know him, right?"
The two guys nodded.
"Well, he picked up the mantle of the SkyWriters, and he leads them now. He's also picked up Gutter's quest to take Shawna."
A ball of lead flopped into Micah's stomach and he put down his lunch, feeling ill. "He did?"
"He did. Though he's taking a different route. Gutter just lowered his head and charged into it. Jonny is... well.... he's trying to use charm."
"Is she buying it?"
"Not really, but... I don't know. It's pretty good. For a SKyWriter anyway. She's playing hookey today to keep away from Levere. She doesn't like him anymore then she did Gutter."
Micah didn't remember much of the conversation after that. Levere was trying to get Shawna now? That wasn't good. Levere had always been a better person then Gutter, and if any of the SkyWriters had a chance to steal Shawna, then he did. This was not good news.
Shawna came back to school the next day, and hoped that Jonny would leave her alone.
He didn't.
"Hey there, pretty lady. How are you on this beautiful morning?"
Without turning to look at him, she rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. It was going to be one of those days.
"I'm fine, Jonny. How are you?" Be just polite enough to not sound rude, but not polite enough to encourage conversation, she thought to herself.
"Well, I'm doing much better now that you're here. I missed you yesterday. School without you is like a wallet without ID. It's destined to be bad news sooner or later."
"Very clever, Jonny."
"Thanks. So where were you yesterday?"
"Sick." she gave a sick sounding cough as if to emphasize the fact.
"Awww..." he even sounded sympathetic; or, to Shawna's ears, simply pathetic. "I'm sorry. What did you have?"
SkyWriteritis, she thought. "I just didn't feel good. Felt like throwing up, you know?"
"Yeah, I do. I hate that."
"Me too." She walked on. Jonny followed after.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yes. Quite." Though I'd be feeling better if you would just leave me alone, she thought.
"Well, that's good. Are you feeling up to going to a movie with me tonight?"
Her stomach clenched up, and she turned to him.
"Listen, Jonny, I would go with you."
"I sense a 'But' coming on."
"Good call. BUT, I have a ton of homework to catch up on, and tonight is my night to wash my hair."
"Oh. Okay. So howzabout over the weekend? You doing anything on Friday or Saturday?"
She breathed deeply through her nose. "Well, see, I don't have a life, so me and Marie, and maybe Jared are going to go do something this weekend, which would qualify as having a life."
"Oh. Ummm, okay. Maybe some other time then?"
"Yeah. Definately some other time."
"Alright. I'll talk at ya later then, milady."
He left.
She sighed and walked into the locker room. Jonny was a moron. He had the same goal as Gutter. All he wanted was to sleep with her. She rolled her eyes.
Still, she liked the way he addressed her. "Milady" and "Pretty lady." That was nice. She kind of liked that.
Micah was eating with Marie as he waited for Jared and Shawna to show up.
"Marie, do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"No, go right ahead."
"Okay. It's kind of personal though, so you have to promise not to tell anyone I asked you this. Not even Jared, not even Shawna."
She nodded, suddenly worried about what he was going to ask.
"How uhhhh.... How does Shawna feel about me? Does she like me?"
He watched Marie blink.
"Well... she's your friend."
He nodded.
"She thinks you're a pretty good guy."
He nodded again.
"She... uhh.. she thinks you're cool. That's about all I know. We don't really talk about you a whole lot."
"Oh, I'm no that important to you, huh?"
"No no no... it's not that.. it's just that... we have... other things to talk about."
"Like what? If you don't mind me asking..."
"Girl stuff."
He made an exaggerated nod.
"That's one of those 'You-don't-need-to-know-and-I'm-not-going-to-tell-you-so-quit-asking' replies, isn't it?"
"If you want to see it that way." She smiled ingratiatingly at him.
Tap tap tap.
He glanced to the left, where the tap on his shoulder had come from, but there was no one there.
He looked to his right, in time to see Jared start chuckling at him.
"You're an idiot, Jared."
"You fell for it."
"Shut up."
A moment of silence. Then Jared asking, "Where's Shawna?"
They all looked around. Shawna was nowhere to be seen.
"Hmmm. Wonder where she is," Jared said.
"Got me," Marie added. "Last I heard she was still going to eat with us."
"Well, she'll probably be... doh."
Two heads, one male, one female, turned to look at Jared.
"What was that 'doh' about?" Micah asked.
"I.. uhh, found Shawna."
Micah spun around to see where Jared was looking at.
At a table on the other side of the patio, laughing and smiling, Shawna was eating lunch with the SkyWriters.
Shawna stepped out of the locker room, fully intending to go eat lunch with the rest of her group, and she would have done it. She was planning on it. She had even started walking over to their table, but then something had happened. Even now, she wasn't sure what it was, or how it had happened.
She had gone to her locker, and gotten lunch, and then stepped out of the locker room. Jonny had, of course, fallen right alongside her, and started talking to her. She didn't really want to talk to him, but was polite enough to do so anyway.
Before she had known it, they were eating lunch together; and then the rest of the SkyWriters had gathered around.
One of them told a joke, a particularly funny one, Shawna thought (a man entered a pun contest with ten of his best puns, and he thought for sure that one of them would win. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did), and she laughed at it.
Some of the SkyWriters, that is to say, the ones who didn't want to sleep with her, were okay guys. David Phearson, the newest member of the group was kind of quiet, and easy going, for instance. Nathan Steiger, Jonny's second in command, had a constant scowl on his face, and a rather sad outlook on life, but other then that, there was nothing wrong with him.
You're eating lunch with the SkyWriters! Why are you doing this? The voice was small, but persistant in the back of her head.
I... I don't know. She thought back at the voice.
It's the SkyWriters!
I know!
She looked around at the guys, all of whom had bloodshot eyes, and smelled of beer.
Why am I here?
She didn't know. God help her, she didn't know.
She excused herself, and walked towards the bathroom. What was wrong with her? Why was she eating lunch with the SkyWriters, of all people? Why wasn't she with Marie, and Jared and Micah?
Is it because of how you feel about Jonny? The small voice inquired.
What? No! She didn't feel anything for him.
Did she?
She looked at her face in the mirror.
Did she?
Micah watched her get up and walk into the building. Why was she eating with them? It was insane. It made no sense. There she was though, eating lunch, and-
Wait a sec. She was leaving. he gave a small mental cheer, and watched her walk into the main building of the school. He smiled to himself, confident that when she stepped out of the building, she would be back to normal, and come over to his table and eat with them.
Marie was also watching, he noted, and when Shawna stepped into the buidling, she walked after her, also disappearing into the building.
Jared turned to Micah. "Now, don't worry. I'm sure the fact that she's eating with the SkyWriters means nothing."
"Oh, I know. It's no biggie. In fact, I bet you dollars to donuts that when she steps out of the building, she comes over and finishes lunch with us."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
"If you say so."
"I so say."
Jared nodded solemnly. "You know, it is possible that Jonny is charming his way into her life."
"Dude, do you have to bring up thoughts like that? I don't want to hear things like that. You know how I am. Now I'm going to be up all night wondering. Thanks a lot."
Jared just shrugged.
"It is a possibility you should keep in mind, perhaps distance yourself a little, so that if it does happen, you won't be so hurt."
"You know something I don't, don't you? Marie said something, didn't she? Is Shawna falling for him? Tell me the truth." A caterpillar of dread had crawled into Micah and was now spinning a cocoon, weighing down his stomach.
There was a long pause.
"No. Marie doesn't know anything. I told you that already. Marie doesn't know any more then You or I do. Shawna is playing her cards very close to her vest on this one. I promise you though, that as soon as I get some information, I will let you know."
"You'd better."
"I will."
Micah looked over Jared's shoulder just in time to see Marie and Shawna emerge from the building.
"Shawna?"
"What?" She looked back thorugh the mirror at the approaching figure of Marie.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"No."
"Okay." Marie stepped up behind her and looked in the mirror at Shawna's reflection. "I saw you were eating with Jonny."
"Yeah, so?" Shawna snapped.
Marie was unfazed. "I was just wondering why. I thought you had a thing for Micah."
"I do! But Jonny...I don't know. It's strange. I can't explain it. I don't like him, I don't want to be with him, I don't want to talk to him, but... he... fascinates me."
"Fascinates."
"Yeah. I can't explain it any more then that. Oh God, my head is such a mess. I feel like I'm losing my mind." Marie stood silently behind her, waiting.
"I hate the SkyWriters, I do! But.. I was eating with them! Why the hell was I eating with them?"
"Because you were eating with Jonny."
"Because I was eating with Jonny," she repeated. "But why was I eating with Jonny?"
"I don't know. Are you okay?"
Shawna suddenly rounded on Marie, facing her. "You haven't told Jared how I feel about Micah, have you?"
"What- no! I said I wouldn't and I haven't."
Shawna tucked a lock of hair back behind her ear. "Okay. Sorry. I didn't mean to snap." She sniffed, and wiped her eyes.
"I'm just confused," she said, and then began to weep.
A few seconds later, she got a grip and forced herself to stop. Crying would do no good.
Marie pulled a paper towel out of the dispenser and handed it to her. She wiped her eyes, and threw it out.
"Now," Marie said. "What do you want to happen with you and Micah?"
"I want us to be a couple. I want him to love me."
"Okay. Now, what do you want out of a relationship with Jonny?"
"Nothing. I want him to leave me alone."
"Okay. Now you have a choice. When we step outside of this building, which we will do as soon as you've made your choice, who do you want to finish lunch with, Jonny, or Micah?" Marie thought the choice was obvious, and thought Shawna would immediately jump to the right answer.
There was a long pause.
"Shawna?"
"I DON'T KNOW DAMN IT! Don't you get it? I want to be with Micah, but something about Jonny draws me to him. I hate him, and I want nothing to do with him, but I can't help it!"
Marie sighed.
"Then, c'mon. Let's go eat with Micah and Jared now. You don't need to decide, but let's go back before the guys get worried about us."
She nodded and collected herself, then together, they stepped out into the sunlight.
Micah smiled as Shawna sat down next to Marie, and across from him. She gave a wan smile back, and Micah thought she looked sad about something.
The four friends conversed quietly for a few minutes about nothing in particular. No one seemed to want to start the discussion about the elephant in the room, and so they just ignored it, awkward as that was.
None of them noticed that at a table, a few yards away, a pair of eyes above a jacket that had an emblazoned SW on it, was watching, cataloguing, and targeting.
September passed, and became October. Jared, Micah, Maire, and Shawna all went to a Masquerade party on Halloween, and had fun. Jared and Marie were Han Solo and Princess Leia; Micah went as Dick Tracy (he had just ssen the movie a couple days earlier); and Shawna wore jeans and a white t-shirt on which she had written a huge "P," and as an accessory, she had painted one of her eyes black. She was, of course, a black eyed pea.
October changed to November, and November to December, and Shawna had made no concrete decisions about anything. She still liked Micah very much. More then ever in fact. Jonny however, kept talking to her, and... it made her feel strange. She didn't like him, but she liked the attention he showed her.
The Homecoming announcement for this year had been made, and Micah was determined to ask Shawna this year.
Jared and Marie were already going. It was a given with them. Just before the break started, Jared told Micah that he didn't need to ask since he had asked Marie to Homecoming for their entire high school stretch, and she had enthusiastically agreed.
"So you two are a couple."
"Oh yeah. Have been for some time. we've just been keeping it quiet, you know?"
Micah nodded absently. The Wednesday before break, the half day of school was when he had planned to ask Shawna to Homecoming, so he was a bit pre-occupied.
1.
The Monday before spring break, Jonny asked Shawna to Homecoming.
Shawna was stepping out of the locker room, when Jonny fell right alongside her, almost like clockwork.
She turned to him. "How do you always manage to do that?"
"Do what?"
"Find me just as I'm coming out of the Locker room? Do you wait for me out here? Are you stalking me?"
"No no no, not at all, milady. It's just hard not to notice when you come out, because the day brightens up a little when I see you." he smiled at her and dropped a wink.
She blew a breath out, but felt a little thrill pass through her.
"Well, what do you want this time?"
"Well, I was just wondering, if you don't have a date, if you'd like to go to Homecoming with me."
She stopped in her tracks, surprised at her reaction. Was she considering saying yes? She did some deep down analysis, and.. yep. there was definately some yes consideration there.
Why? Why are you considering saying yes? She didn't have an answer for that one.
She turned to look at him.
"You know Gutter also asked me to Homecoming, numerous times."
He lowered his head. "I was afraid you would bring that up. Gutter is... well, was... an idiot. He was obsessed with one of the rules of being a SkyWriter. Always corrupt the good ones. He saw you as one of the good ones. He was constantly bragging about how he was going to score with you. We were all pretty sick of it."
"You're telling me that you and the rest of the SkyWriters are totally different from Gutter? You're saying that you're not asking me just because you want to sleep with me? You actually want to go with me to Homecoming, and that's all?"
"That's all."
She didn't believe him of course, and wanted to tell him to his face. She wanted to say something so cutting that he would leave her alone forever. She even had it all picked out. She would tell him that she didn't trust his gang, and she would never trust anyone in his gang, especially not the leader. She would say that she would go out with Dan Chhabria, a skinny, short kid with a stutter before she went out with him.
"I'll think about it," was what she said instead, "and let you know later on."
Jonny nodded. "Alright. Thank you for the chance, and I hope you'll give me a chance. I am really a good guy once you get to know me."
She turned on her heel and strode away from him, covering her surprise. Those were the exact words Gutter had used once upon a time.
She didn't trust the SkyWriters. Especially not their leader.
But she was still considering his invitation.
2.
Jonny watched her go.
That went well, he thought to himself, and then another amusing thought occured to him.
Academy members vote now... thank you. And the winner, for most sincerely told lie is... Jonny Levere!
Gutter was an idiot. He was way too direct, thinking he could take her by force. Jonny had hated that approach from the start. He had wanted Gutter to try charm and chivalry.
Gutter though, being the bull headed shitface that Jonny had always seen him as, decided to try the direct route, and it had gotten him nowhere.
Jonny would prevail. He was confident of it. The only problem was that Koch moron. Micah. He obviously had a thing for Shawna too. Anyone with eyes could see that.
Just as long as he didn't do anything that interfered with Jonny's plans, it didn't matter. If he did though...
That was another of Gutter's shortcomings. He was cowed by Shawna. For whatever reason he was afraid she would beat him up. A girl! Beating him up! Jonny wasn't afraid of that. He was confident he could easily, EASILY, beat her down if she tried to hurt him.
Easily.
Wednesday.
Micah took a deep breath during the last few moments of the last class on the last school day of the first year of the last decade of the last century of the second millenium. He was going to ask Shawna to Homecoming as soon as he got the chance.
The bell rang and the class let out a cheer, happy to be free for the next two and half weeks. They flew out of the class, and to freedom.
Micah didn't move as fast as the rest of them. He was walking slowly, trying to keep down his anxiety, and look around for Shawna at the same time.
There she was. Talking to Marie. He stepped over and hung out by them, waiting for Marie to leave so he could ask her. That had always been a problem. He never could ask while anyone was around. He had to be alone with her to do it.
Marie wouldn't leave. The conversation went on and on. He frowned inwardly and left momentarily to get a drink of water from the fountain.
When he came back, Marie was sitting by herself. Shawna was nowhere to be seen.
Crap. He thought to himself. Where'd she go?
He went over to Marie. "Hey, where'd Shawna go?"
"Oh, her mom's here. She's over in the parking lot getting ready to go."
Micah's head jerked up and he looked across the street. Yes, there she was, loading her stuff into her mom's van.
He tossed an "Alright, thanks," over his shoulder and ran to the parking lot. This was it. Whether there were people there or not, he would have to ask her.
He slowed to a walk and took several deep breaths.
He came up behind her.
"Hey Shawna."
She jumped and spun clutching a hand to her breast. "Sheez. You scared me."
Micah grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to."
"It's okay."
"Alright." This was it. He was about to ask. He didn't, however, notice one of Shawna's mom's friends coming over. "Would you like to go to Homecoming with me?" he asked.
"Shawna, did your mom go across the street?" Mrs. Pope's friend asked at the same time.
Shawna looked up momentarily. "Yes," she said simply.
Micah blinked. Yes. She said Yes. Then his mind replayed the last few seconds of life. But was it to me, or to her?
"Oh... uhhh.. I'm sorry, what did you say?"
Shawna looked up at him quite sincerely and said "Sure. I'd love to," and smiled.
He smiled back. "Alright. Cool."
She smiled. He smiled back.
"Well, catch ya later then," he finished lamely.
"Bye."
Finally! He asked me, and I said yes! Yay!
She was thrilled. She finally had a concrete date with Micah. And to Homecoming! That was really great!
Then she remembered Jonny, and her exuberance leveled off. He would be hurt by all this.
No he won't. He's a SkyWriter. He's just being nice to me to sleep with me. There's nothing more to it.
What if he really does like you though? Have you considered that? Maybe he really does like you. People change you know.
Yeah, but no SkyWriter ever will.
Are you sure?
She didn't think she was, but she had already told Micah yes, and so she had to see that through. She would have to tell Jonny that she was going to Homecoming wth someone else. This was life. Life was full of tough choices. She would survive. So would he.
What about Micah? That little voice inquired. What will happen to him when the Head of the SkyWriters finds out that you are going to Homecoming with Micah instead of him?
She hadn't considered that. Would Jonny beat up Micah? Would he stoop to that? Surely he wouldn't, because he would realize that by doing so, he would ruin all chances he had with Shawna.
Micah was safe. She hoped.
Just go tell Jonny, and let nature take it's course.
She walked back across the street to the patio and looked for Jonny. He was not around.
She had no idea where he would be. Unless he was waiting by the locker rooms for her to appear. That was always possible. She walked across the campus to the locker rooms, and sure enough, there he was.
She stepped up ehind and taped him on the shoulder. He rounded with a sour look on his face, but immediately covered it when he recognized who it was.
"Oh hey, there you are. I was looking for you," he said.
"Well, I was looking for you too," she replied evenly. This would not be easy.
"Have you decided about Homecoming yet?"
"Yes, I have actually."
"Oh?"
She nodded. "I won't be going with you. Someone else asked me, and I'm going to go with him." SHe kept her gaze on his, refusing to look down, even though she wanted to. She felt bad about this. But why? Why would she feel bad? It isn't like he was ever a serious consideration. Was he?
He blinked, and then pulled back ever so slightly. "Oh. I see."
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I really am."
"No no no, it's okay. I mean , it's your life right? You can go with whoever you want. I hope you and him have fun. Really, I do. He's a lucky guy."
Inwardly, she sighed. Does he have to make it so hard?
"Thank you," she said. "I hope we do too." She turned to walk back to her mom's car. Behind her, Jonny spoke again.
"Tell Micah he's a good guy, and don't let him treat you wrong."
She froze up then, but only momentarily. Was it that obvious? Did everyone know already?
They couldn't know. Maybe it was in her body language. That must have been it. Besides, who else would ask her to Homecoming?
She looked back at him. "I'll tell him," she said. Though she didn't think she would.
Jonny was definately not pleased as he stormed across the campus that day. People scurried to get out of his way, and he didn't give them a second glance.
That bitch! That cold, conniving bitch! Why the hell would she go to Homecoming with that worthless piece of shit Koch? What was wrong with her?
He slammed open the door of the guys locker room, and walked up to his locker. He opened it up, and then slammed it, very hard. Several heads turned to look at him. He didn't look back. He opened it, and then slammed it again.
And again.
And again.
One of the teachers, hearing the commotion, came over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Now, Mr. Levere-"
Jonny shook it off, and turned to the teacher. He gave him such a pure animal look of hatred and murder that the teacher backed off a step. Jonny stormed right out the door, and didn't look back.
He found the rest of his gang- his gang, no matter what Gutter might still say- and looked them all over solemnly.
"Men," he said, in a quiet tone, "we have a problem."
Nathan Steiger was the first to speak. "We do?"
"Yes. We do. It would appear... that Shawna Pope is going to go to Homecoming with Micah Koch, instead of me. We need to do something about this. Teach someone what it is to mess with the SkyWriters plans."
David Phearson spoke up then. "So... wait a sec... you wanna beat up on Shawna? That doesn't-"
Jonny's punch came so swiftly that by the time the other two SkyWriters registered any movement, David was on the ground moaning.
Jonny clenched his hands behind his back. "No," he said quite calmly. "What I want, is for Micah to suffer."
None of the others said anything, too afraid to incur his wrath.
Jonny spoke again.
"So here's what we'll do..."
Christmas break passed in a rush for Micah. He was thrilled by the prospect of gong to Homecoming with Shawna. This would be it, he knew. This would be the start of their relationship, and it would blossom, and they would be in love, and eveything would be going great, and they would get married.
He smiled as he envisioned the future according to him, and so engrossed in his thoughts was he, that when David Phearson, sporting a new shiner under his left eye, dropped an arm around him, and led him off, he was too surprised to do much of anything.
When the talking started, he only sort of answered. Most of the questions were strange, and he had no idea why he was being asked them. Do you know what you did? Do you know what's going to happen now? Are you sorry?
The pushing started shortly after that. By then, his surprise had faded, and he was merely confused. Was this because of Shawna?
Then the punching began, and he had no more time for questions as disbelief and pain washed through him in equal amounts. He was vaguely aware of falling back, until his back hit the wall and he could fall back no more. He was vaguely aware of trying to turn, to avoid the blows, but to little avail. He was vaguely aware of falling onto his side, and curling up, trying to protect his stomach, and chest.
When the kicking started, he was barely aware of what was going on, and then mercifully, he passed out.
Shocking coldness brought him to, and he opened his eyes, just in time to see something white come charging at him, and hit him. As it did, more coldness assailed his face, and he realized, for whatever reason, there was water rushing at him.
He put his hands on the ground and pushed himself up. Dull throbbing pain in his chest and arms and legs made him stop. God, what had happened to him?
He opened his eyes, and looked down at himself. Where he wasn't wet and muddy- from the falling rain he could now see- He had big nasty yellow-purple bruises.
He put his hands back down, and pushed himself up again, fighting against the pain. After what seemed like an eternity, he got to his knees, and looked around. There was no one anywhere.
He drew himself forward, gritting his teeth against the pain and cold, and slowly, laboriously, worked his way over to one of the building. He couldn't tell which one. He ddn't care. He just needed to get inside, and out of the rain before he caught pneumonia or something like that.
After a million years, he got to the door, and realized in his stooped position he couldn't get to the doorknob.
He looked up at it, and raised himself up, gritting his teeth and moaning against the pain. He got a hand on the knob and turned it.
The door opened inward and he fell inside.
He pulled himself forward another couple of feet, and then collapsed on the floor. His chest felt like it was on fire, and his arms were throbbing bricks of pain. He closed his eyes, and swooned.
When he came to, he was wrapped in several blankets, and on a table. A heater was nearby warming him up, and several students were standing around him. As soon as he opened his eyes, there was a hubbub of activity, and one of the teachers looked at him.
"Welcome back to the land of the living. For a few minutes there, I was afraid I would have to call the doctor, or take you to the hospital. Do you remember what happened?"
Micah focused his eyes on the teacher, and found enough consciousness to make a joke.
"I asked Shawna to Homecoming. That's what happened."
The teacher blinked. "Shawna? Did she do this to you?"
Micah only shook his head.
"Then who?"
"The SkyWriters."
A hush fell over the students gathered around, and they backed off a step. The teacher dabbed at his face with a warm cloth.
Two days later, Micah was back at school, wearing his jacket and long pants to hide the bruises on his arms and legs. His mother had applied makeup to fade the bruises on his face, and he was feeling almost normal again.
The first person he saw was Jared. Jared waved and walked over.
"Wow. You look like death warmed over."
Micah turned and looked at him, giving him a look of death.
Jared grinned at him.
"So, seriously, how are you doing?"
"Better. I'm not up to snuff, and I still have to get hopped up on drugs to make the pain go away, but I'm doing better then I was."
"Well... that's-"
That was when Shawna rushed over, interrupting.
Where is Micah? Is he alright?
For the past two days, Shawna hadn't seen him, and she was beginning to get worried. It wasn't like him to be gone for a long time. He never got sick for very long, at least, not that she could remember; and he never played hookey.
Something had happened to him. She was almost sure of it. She ddn't know for sure how she knew, but she knew. Something happened, and he was hurt.
She stepped off the bus, and looked for Marie, finding her over by the coke machines, blearily buying something with caffeine to wake herself.
"Hey Marie. How're you?"
Marie didn't respond. She simply bent down and pulled up the pepsi she had bought.
"Marie? You alright?" Marie took a long swallow of her pepsi, and then looked at Shawna.
"You know better then to talk to me when I'm still asleep."
"Right, of course, but... have you heard anything about Micah?"
"Micah?"
"Yeah. Like why no one has seen him."
"I've seen him."
"Where?"
"Right behind you."
Shawna spun around, and saw him. He was standing back by the tables talking to Jared. She ran over.
"Micah!" He turned around. "Where have you been?"
"I've been... uhh.. away."
She touched his cheek lightly with her hand, almost before she knew she was doing it. "You look awful. Have you been sick? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine.. I just... had a run in with the SKyWriters."
The SkyWriters? Jonny and his gang? Her face darkened, and she felt anger rising.
"The SKyWriters, huh?" Micah just nodded. "Well, I'll just have to go have a talk with them."
Micah smiled wanly.
Lunch that day.
Shawna stepped out of the locker room, and as expected, Jonny fell right alongside her.
"Hey there, pretty la-"
She rounded on him. "Don't give me that load of crap. What did you do to Micah?"
"Micah? I didn't do anything to Micah! What are you talking about?"
"He says the SkyWriters beat him up." She grabbed his collar and threw him up against the outside wall of the locker room. Several students had stopped to watch this interesting development. The head of the SkyWriters getting it from a girl. Good deal.
Jonny's mouth fell open, and he stared at her.
"So, you think.. that I beat him up? Why the hell would I do that?"
"I don't know. Why would you?" She let go of his shirt and stepped back, folding her arms beneath her breasts. Within a year, she would allow Jonny to be fondling those breasts, all the way up until March 10, 1993, when something very bad happened.
"I wouldn't!" He almost yelled at her.
"Then who THE HELL did?"
"I don't know!"
She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "Then why did he say that the SkyWriters beat him up? What would be the point?"
"I don't know, honest to God, I don't, but I'll tell you what. I'll talk to my guys about it. If I find out any of them did it, without my approval, there will be consequences and repercussions. Is that okay?"
Shawna gave him a steely glare. "No. When you find out what happened, I personally want first dibs on the person responsible. Do you understand that?"
"Yes, I do. I'll arrange that."
"Good." She was on the verge of adding Now leave me alone forever, but didn't. She somehow couldn't bring herself to do that. Instead, she turned on her heel, and strode off.
Jonny never did find out who beat up Micah. At least, didn't report it to Shawna. She knew he was a persuasive fellow, but he was also a SkyWriter. Synonomous wth Untrustworthy, and Liar.
Still, she found herself trusting him, and almost convinced herself to believe that he had been able to find out. There was, however, always that little bit of her that knew that he never really tried.
1.
Micah picked Shawna up for Homecoming at the proper time, and dropped her back off at home at the proper time, and inbetween, was a perfect gentleman the whole time.
He opened the door for her, he held the door for her, he offered her his jacket when she was cold, He held her chair for her as she sat down, he didn't sit until she was seated. In short, Miss Manners' perfect gentleman.
They conversed quietly with Jared and Marie all through dinner. Marie was dressed in a gold and black dress, velvet on top, and satin on the bottom. Shawna had a burgendy and black blouse/skirt combo with a black half jacket on. Micah thought she was the most beautiful person in the world that night.
They smiled and talked all night, though sometimes, Shawna would seem distracted, not quite all there. Micah wondered about this, but didn't make too big a deal out of it. There was a reason for it, and he didn't need to worry about it.
2.
Shawna was having a wonderful evening. Micah was being a perfect gentleman, and he had treated her like a princess all night. She had already decided that, later that night, she would link her arm in his as they walked. She would kep him close to her, and then all thoughts of Jonny would be dispelled, and life would return to normal.
Jonny, however, was weighing heavily on her right now. She kept glancing out of the corner of her eye at the table in one of the darker corners of the room. Jonny was sitting there, with two of the other SkyWriters- David Phearson was missing for some reason- and their dates.
Jonny looked absolutely miserable.
Shawna felt sad for him. After all, she had caused it.
Still, Micah was her date, and she was happy to be with him. Happier to be with him, then she was sad about Jonny.
That evening, she dd take Micah's arm, and they walked arm in arm for the rest of the night. Once, Micah even slid his arm around her waist and held her close to him. She rested her head on his chest for a few seconds then, and all was right with the world.
As she thought, being with Micah, and feeling his arms around her made her forget Jonny.
But only for a season.
The year passed as years will, and Micah and Shawna stayed friends, but never did exhibit the degree of closeness that they did at Homecoming. That probably would have changed by the same time next year, if not, Micah would later think with dark, black, thoughts, for that damned picture.
He would wish that he had been there to stop Jonny, but it had happened, and no one could have foreseen this result. Except Jonny. That was probably why Jonny did it.
Micah wished then, that he was a fighter, and not a lover.
In the present, though, Shawna and Jonny were still acquaintances, though that, like so many more things, would change inside of a year. Change more then once, in fact.
Shawna still ate lunch with Jared, and Marie, and of course Micah; but something was changing in this group. Something subtle, not quite detected, but there nonetheless.
It probably began on the day Carla Wilson asked to eat lunch with them. She just straight out of the blue asked them if she could eat wth them. She had disappeared out of Micah and Jared's social sphere after that day that Micah told her no in regards to Sadie Hawkins, and hadn't been seen since; but now here she was, asking to eat lunch.
They let her. She sat down next to Micah, and for once didn't make any sexual overtures to him. Or Jared. Or anyone. She simply ate, sometimes adding in her own comments about whatever they were talking about.
The next day, she asked again, and ate with them. The day after that, she didn't ask. After that day, she became part of the sphere. A fixture in Micah's life.
That was when things began to change, though no one noticed it then. It would only be three or four years in the future, when Micah looked back at those years (sadly as it turned out), that he would think that was the real time he lost Shawna.
At the end of the year, Micah and Shawna parted company. It wasn't anything gushy, nor was it a long goodbye. On the last day of school, They talked for a while, and when it finally came time to part, he hugged her and held her, and told her he would miss her.
She told him he would miss her too, and then they parted ways for the summer. Micah knew then, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Shawna was the girl he wanted to be with forever. He knew it now, clearly, and as plain as day. he knew as he watched her hair, shining in the June sunlight, bouncing off her shoulders, and her back, letting his gaze trail down and admire the curve of her waist.
In September, he decided, at the beginning of their senior year, he would ask her to be his girlfriend. She would say yes. He was reasonably sure of it. Why wouldn't she? There weren't any other guys in the school with whom she had had more interaction then wth him, and hadn't she said she would "love to" go to Homecoming with him? It was a done deal. No problem there, frends and neighbors. We are right with Eversharp.
He didn't know that the hug he had shared with her just two minutes ago would be their last intimate contact for the next seven years.
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