Brendon Layne's Story

"Just one more lap!" His sister, Katherine, called out to Brendon, a happy smirk on her face. He groaned. He had already been training for an hour and a half, and his body was starting to get tired. He rolled his eyes, pushing his goggles back down over them and pushing fiercely off the wall into the pool. His arms moved quickly, his legs kicking with muscle as he swam quickly in one more lap. As he reached the wall again, he hoped out of the pool, breathing heavily.

"Remind me never to take you training with me again." He said to his sister, catching the towel she threw him. Katherine laughed. "It's not my fault that you brought me. Oh and by the way, you have fifteen minutes to get to school." She said, checking her watch. Brendon groaned loudly and stood up. "Thanks for the warning." He sarcastically yelled over his shoulder, running into the boys changing room. His sister waited outside the door as he changed. "How are you going to get to school?" Brendon called, nearly done changing. "I can walk. It's not too far." Katherine replied.

Brendon sighed, exiting the changing room and grabbing her arm as he started towards the door. "Call Kelly to come pick you up okay?" He asked, seriousness pastered on his face. Katherine gave a slight nod, ushering him out the door. "I'll be fine. Now go! You have ten minutes." Brendon gave her a quick hug and nodded his head, going over to his motor cycle. "Wait!" Katherine called, running over to him. She signalled to the bag she was holding and Brendon reached in, pulling something small and furry out of his bag. He unzipped part of his jacket and slipped it in, giving it enough space to breathe. He turned around and hoped on his harley, reaving the engine and taking off.

He smiled as the wind whipped through his hair, literally. Time wouldn't be an issue at the speed he was going at, and anyways the school wasn't too far from the pool. In a few minutes, he was there. Brendon rode into the parking lot, parking his motorcycle and getting off. His hands were on the front of his jacket, keeping most of it closed and a little open. He looked around for his friends, and saw them. Laura, Xavier and Ellie. He walked over to them, looking into his jacket every few second. "Hello," he said, giving everyone a warm smile.

Ally groans as the alarm clock wakes her up, she'd had a great dream that now was a distant memory. she hits her alarm clock for it to shut up and for once it does as she wants. she glimps at the time, noticing that she has a full hour to get ready until she has to get in the car and drive to school. She gets up and walks towards the bath room, taking a quick shower to wake up. When she gets back into her bedroom she looks at the time and notices that that "quick shower" hadn't been so quick after all. "SHIT!" she rushes to her desk, getting the blowdryer and drying her hair, then almost running to the big pile of clothes by the wardrobe that she hadn't had energy to put away yesterday. she gets a pair of high waisted jeans shorts and a white top with some funny print on it, the sun is shining out and there isn't a cloud in the sky so it seems to be warm, and rushes out of the room and down the stairs, skipping breakfast cause there really isn't any time. " bye mum! bye dad!" she yells as she picks up the large converse bag from the hallway. She hears them mutter something as a goodbye before she's out the door and in the car, speeding down it to be in time for school. She reaches it only minutes before they start and goes to her friends she sees a little further ahead, "hey guys what's up?"

"Don't be such a little girl!" A voice suddenly said behind her. It was no other than Jagger and it made her frown, he always picks on her and never saw her more than a friend while she kept her admiration for him a secret. Sometimes she questions herself whether it was right to continue liking him eventhough he saw her as a friend.

"Whatever," She adjusted her backpack and gave him a glare. And then he focused his attention towards her best friend, Laura, and said, "Is it possible for you not to look pretty?"

OUCH! Her heart felt a grip of jealousy as he openly admired her best friend. It made her look down at her shoes as she played with her balance and bit her lower lip. Of course Laura always got the attention- she's taller, prettier, and has a better lifestyle than her. Who would want to date a girl who's living with two old people and a farm at their backyard?

Then suddenly Jagger changed the topic and asked, "Has anyone else had any problems with their radios?"

Come to think of it, Grandpa wasn't listening to his favorite radio station this morning like he always does.

Alli looks at Ginger, trying to see how she was after Jagger's not so subtle flirting with Laura. That has gotta hurt but Ginger only looked down on the ground and bit her lip, no freaking out. It seemed like Jagger didn't even know that Ginger liked him or he was just playing dumb, which made the whole thing even worse than if he just didn't know.

When the subject gets changed to the radio problem she flinches, so she hadn't been the only one with statics instead of music."so it wasn't just me? thought it was something wrong with my car or something." she looks around their small group, apparantly she hadn't been the only one with radio problems, which didn't seem right, what was going on?

She reaches in to her bag to call her mum and ask her to put some money on her bank card so she could buy lunch. she find the phone and looks at it, no signal. "damnit what is wrong now then? this is the third time this month! hey can I borrow anyones phone mine doesn't have any signal. she dumps her phone back into the bag and feels her stomach rumbling, " and maybe something to eat? I forgot to eat breakfast"

Ellie checked her phone. "Mine's not working either," she muttered. "Hey, is it just me, or is that clock not working? What time is it?" Ally asked. Ellie followed her gaze to the school clock, and then to her phone. "The times are all wrong," Xavier noted. Ellie rolled her eyes. "No shit," she teased. "But...why?" She glanced around at the group. She had a bad feeling...

"We should probably head to class," she added. "Hey, where is everyone else?" Strange...she was sure everyone else had been there just a few minutes ago. They were definitely there when she had arrived, at least, she though they were. "We're late, aren't we?" Brendon said. "I didn't think I was late today but..." Ellie shrugged. "Brendan looked over at Ally, who was approaching Xaviers car, going to get the doughnuts. "Grab me one, eh?" he asked, smile forming on his face. "And me!" Ellie grinned.

Laura listened patiently to her friends conversation, looking at the clocks she gave a slight shrug "Maybe there's been a power cut" she rationalized "i'm sure it's nothing to worry about" she smiled "But your right we should head to class, besides I have History with Jackass Jones" she groaned in frustration walking into the building "And I don't need another tardy on my record" she stated with a small laugh.

---

Danny Parker sped to school that morning, after waking up a mere twenty minutes ago, it was a miracle that he was only running five minutes late. He munched on his toast as he drove, washing it down with a bottle of water, pulling out his phone he tried to send a text to his cousin Laura, telling her that he would be late but upon trying to send it he noticed he had no signal "god damn it" he cursed dropping his phone onto the passengers seat. Hitting a red light at the intersection he groaned in frustration, hitting his steering wheel with some force, when the light turned to green moments later her sped off towards the school. Luckily when he arrived he soon found a car parking space, getting out he spotted Ally over Xavier's car, at least he wasn't going to be the only late one this morning "Hey Al!" he called walking over to his friend "What ya doin?" he asked "Dude are they donuts!?" he asked, his stomach rumbling.

Everything was perfect, curled up in a lavender bed, lying in sweet bliss. Then all of a sudden, a cold shock run up her spine, forcing Ayala to scream and jump out of bed. Panting heavily, she looked at her shirt, freezing with cold water, and looked up to see her mother with crossed arms, holding the glass.

"You're late." She said simply as she pulled the sheets off the bed. Taking the queue, Ayala begrudgingly got up from her bed and glanced at her digital clock, a black only filling the screen. She must have been unplugged it when she was rolling around in bed.
“How are you going to be a doctor if you’re always sleeping in?” She said, turning her wrist, and tapping her watch.
Ayala sighed and looked back up at her mother.
“For the last time, I’m gonna be a computer program-” and cutting off her own sentence as she looked at the time, she jumped up and started to get changed. She knew she was late but she didn’t that she was THAT late!

It only took seconds to change into some blue jeans, white blouse, purple hoodie, and a checkered scarf, even littler time in the bathroom (Deodorant, wash hair, dry, run). Ayala ran to the kitchen, pulled the bread, put into the toaster, and waited. Her impatience told her to run back to her room to grab a couple of memory keys, cell, stuffed them in her pocket and turned around to face her mother.
“You shouldn’t be wasting your time with computers.”
“Love you too mom.” Ayala said, catching her mom in a hug, and retreating to the kitchen to catch the warm toast just as it jumped up.
“Start running!”
“I will!” Aya shouted back, heading straight out the door of their small bungalow, running towards school, but turning around on her heel and running back. Her mother held out her bag with one hand and she grabbed it, threw it around her back, shouted a garbled “thanks”, than started the light jog towards school. She didn’t have a car like some kids but Aya never truly needed it; Sycott was a small town with all the essentials practically in walking distance.

Spotting the school, she cleared through the double doors, and tip-toed around the hallways. Without a doubt, the small cameras at the end of the halls spotted her, but as long as she didn’t turn to face a teacher she was safe. Now was just as good a sign to check her cell and be surprised the bars were gone; along with the wireless. Still in disbelief she looked up and noticed the fluorescent lights didn’t even have the buzz or the light anymore as they were off. In this amazement, she knocked into a teacher and fell to the floor, looking up to see Mrs. Dalton.
“Miss Brice, you shouldn’t be late.” She chided as she helped the girl up with one hand and handed her a ticket with the other. Ayala smiled at Mrs. Dalton as she helped her up, knowing she wouldn’t force the slip on her since she set up her web chat with her younger brother in Iraq and was met with Mrs. Dalton’s smile back.

Having spotted her English homerun, she knocked on the door, and then entered.
“Mr. Jones?” She said as she slipped into class. She knew, all too well about Fredrick Jeffrey Jones -- social security number 573-05-8934, born on September 19th 1969, mother’s maiden name De Costa -- general hardass. They didn’t like each other.

“Ms. Brice, isn’t this the fourth time you’ve been absent?”
“Fifth.” She said, raising Mrs Dalton’s slip like it was a gun in a quick draw duel before Jones could raise his own.
“Very well, then I’ll have to speak with your parents today.”
“Go ahead.” Ayala chimed, knowing her mom and dad wouldn’t care until it started to affect marks.
“Take a seat.”

Ayala took her seat next to Laura, her good friend who introduced her to all her other friends, dug into the bag, pulled out her English binder and laid it atop her desk.
“Hey.” She whispered as Mr. Jones was suddenly sneezing; deciding to take the advantage of the opportunity.
“I think the school installed a jammer and screwed up. Everything is down, the wireless, cell signal, cameras, clock, everything.” Ayala whispered once more as she had an eye on Mr. Jones and another on Laura.

Brendon smirked slightly at Laura. "No. This isn't my normal dog. We sent him to uncles farm. It's a new puppy!" He whispered, a huge grin on his face.

Everyone who knew Brendon knew how protective he was over things he loved, and knew he always needed something to watch out for or he got antsy. He could never sit still for too long. They would all think that getting a new puppy had been his idea, but really it had been his sisters. She had played the, "you never give me anything" card, and had made him feel bad. But it's not like he could refuse. She had already boughten it and hid it in his bed. He almost sat on it. But once he had gotten a good look at it, he wanted to keep it. It was adorable.

Just then the lights had completely shut down, even the sanders and other mechanical instruments had stop working.

"Let me go check what's wrong," Mr. Cannon announced. "Ginger, you're in charge while I go see the custodian. Class, please open the window panes to let natural light in." With that he left the class as whispers grow louder.

"Wonder what caused the shut down," Trey, one of Ginger's wood shop classmate asked as he wiped his hands with a used rag.

"Probably some thing's wrong with the generator," Ginger shrugged and started fixing her wood shop tools. It might take a while before the power comes back on, so she arranged her tools inside her leatherette pouch.

Good thing the weather was cold as it could get uncomfortable without any air.

After a few short minutes Mr. Cannon walked back inside the classroom and announced, "Looks like the power failure is still a mystery. Why don't you all clean up then we will head outside in a short while. The principal has something to say," The teacher then faced his tools and cleaned his own table as the other students did the same.

"Mr. Cannon, may I head to the water fountain for a while? I'm done cleaning my space," Ginger raised her hand and asked for permission.

"Go ahead," The teacher allowed her.

She took her back pack after zipping in her tool pouch inside and went outside. In order to reach the water fountain she has to pass by her friend's classroom, a few student government volunteers has either entered or exited some rooms after bringing the announcement from the principal about the emergency assembly since the power was still out.

Ginger took a peek at Laura and Brendon's room to see the two whispering at each other. Then her attention was caught by the teacher who went to announce the message from the principal.

"Class, I'd like you to fix your things then head outside the school yard for an emergency announcement from the principal, do this in an orderly manner or I'll have you stay for detention and write a hundred word essay."

And when Ginger reached the water fountain, a few other classes has started walking from the rooms and towards the exit going to the school yard. She took a drink and walked back to Laura and Brendon's room to wait for her friends. She knows Mr. Cannon wouldn't mind if she walked with her friends. She stood by the door and waited as she clenched her backpack straps.

Ginger gasped as their principal's head exploded with the gun shot. Too stunned to say or do anything she was surprised to realize that she was already running away as her best friend pulled her arm as they made it to safety. She wasn't so sure how her friends were able to find them as well all she knows was it was a matter of life and death. She saw Xavier and Ally running as well. She called for them before she entered the lobby, Jagger instantly jammed the door way.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," Ginger was shaking as she held her best friend and hugged her. Her head nestled on Laura's shoulder as she sobbed quietly. Everything seems impossible. She wish she would just wake up from this bad dream. "Laura-" She called her best friend's name as she kept on sobbing. Her tears clouded her sight but her ears were as sensitive as ever. She heard Jagger trip and rolled as two stomps of foot steps stopped. She instantly wiped her tears and saw a familiar built. It was Mr. Cannon! "Children, in here!" He called them, he helped Jagger up to his feet then lead them towards a small opening on the floor from the custodian's closet. She never knew the school has a basement.

Ginger held Laura's hand firmly as she followed their teacher into safety. "Where's Ayala and the others?" She looked at her friends who were present.

(OOC: I'll make a character for Mr. Cannon- we can always have a mature character)