I looked back into the crowd and saw that Stacks was smiling, but she wasn’t coming toward us. She was talking with this guy who I’d have to classify as a stud. Not that I am into checking out guys; I’m just saying… well you know what I am trying to say here. I’m not even sure she was ever coming over; I think I might have imagined that happening.
“Are you okay?” Fish asked me with a soft elbow to my ribs.
“I-I think I am going to be sick!” I mumbled.
“What?” BB asked and I guess he didn’t understand me and I didn’t bother repeating myself.
I jumped to my feet, leapfrogged over BB and knocked a bunch of others out of my way before hitting the wooden floor running. In the movies, the guy or girl that is running away always looks back, but I didn’t. All I knew was I had to get out of that gymnasium before my head exploded. Fish and BB were probably shouting after me, but I have no idea if they did or not. It’s probably safe to say that I freaked them out and that they were giving chase.
I had no idea where I was going or for that matter why; I was altogether in flight mode and nothing shy of a concrete wall could stop me.
Larry, who was sitting alone near the door, looked right at me as I blew past him. In less than a nanosecond Larry seemed to express a sense of alarm. I’m not 100% sure, but I think he may have hollered, “What’s the matter?”
I ran out of the gym and right into another crowd of students who were all standing around talking; probably because the music had been too loud inside for any normal conversation. It took some doing, but I pushed my way past everyone until I reached the main corridor. Left would lead me to the boys and girls bathrooms, but I could see that that way was blocked by the throngs of those who were fidgeting while waiting to get into the bathroom.
“Surely that isn’t the only bathrooms the school has allowed the use of during this dance?” I thought to myself.
The way to the front doors was swarming with hallway lurkers too. A funny little voice inside my head said, “Now would be a bad time for a fire drill.”
I looked to my right and saw maybe a dozen other students, two of which seemed to be physically connected at the lips. Beyond those few I could see the metal gate that was keeping anyone from getting into that part of the school. Out of curiosity I looked way down to my left and saw that just past the girls bathroom there was a gate that way too.
“Alvin wait up!” someone shouted behind me, but I didn’t care who it was. I just wanted to be alone for five minutes to think and breathe.
I saw some guy with enormously high spiked dark hair, dressed in black elephant cargos and a black sleeveless t-shirt open up a door down the hall to my right and disappear inside. I’m sure you are wondering why I would remember some random guy with such detail. Well in a minute you will understand why that is.
With no deliberation whatsoever I took off running for that door.
“Hey watch it spazoid!”
I had accidentally bumped into some girl.
“What a jerk!” someone else said.
“Sorry—Sorry!” I shouted without looking back.
I reached the door, pulled on the handle and, “YES!” I cheered as it opened and I jumped in.”
