SEVEN SCHOOLS IN SEVEN STATES By Brandi Ajay@lvcta.com Jason had recently moved with his father to Vegas from Dallas, Texas. His mother would have come but she had just killed herself. Jason's dad had blown a library up in Texas. Jason's mom had walked inside 2 minutes before Big Bud blew it up. She waved at Jason, then.... boom. Jason was thinking this while walking to Hubert Humphrey High. He hated this high school. He hated everything about it. He had no friends - nobody here seemed to like him. He looked at the ground and noticed his shoe was untied. He bent down to tie it and his glasses fell off. He noticed a girl dressed in a long black dress and combat boots pick them up for him. "Here you go" she said, smiling. "Thanks" said Jason as he ran into the school. He's cute, thought Nora as she followed him inside. She sat down in her creative writing class and saw Jason sitting behind her, fidgeting. "Anything wrong?" she asked. Jason slumped in his chair. "No" he said softly. Then the teacher came in, Nora turned around to Jason and said, "you'll like Mrs. Emerson, she's pretty funky". Jason didn't say anything. Mrs. Emerson walked to her desk. "Class, we have a new student - Jason Dean, would you like to introduce yourself?" Nora started clapping. "Whoo! Go JD!" she yelled. JD looked at the floor. "My name is Jason Dean and I just moved here from Dallas" he mumbled, then quickly sat down. Nora didn't look at him for the rest of the period. At lunch she found him sitting on a stairwell reading a book so sat down next to him. "Hi" she said quietly, "my name's Nora". "JD, I guess", said JD. "Would you like to skip 4th period and go have a cigarette with me?" Nora asked. "No, sorry, I have to go" JD said as he got up from the stairs and walked off. After school, Nora found JD and followed him. "Aren't you wondering why I'm following you?" she asked. "No" JD said. "Well you're fun to talk to! Nora said sarcastically. " I was just wondering do you like it here?" Nora asked. JD started rubbing his neck. "Not really" he said. "That's cool, you know I don't really like it here either, it's a bad school." Nora said. JD turned to her. "Look, I don't mean to be rude, but could you leave me alone?" JD asked. "Sure, but can I come over for dinner?" Nora asked. JD ran away. "I guess not." Nora said as she walked to her house. The following day Nora was talking to her friend Janie when JD showed up. He started walking to the door when Nora walked over to him and said hi. JD didn't say anything and Nora went back to her friend. "What was that about?" Janie asked. Nora didn't say anything. Janie pushed her. "Tramp". Nora pushed Janie, "Bitch". That night Nora went inside JD's window. JD was reading a book. Nora put her hands on JD's shoulders "Hi" she said. JD stood up and looked at her. "Hi", he said quietly. "So, how you been?" Nora asked. JD looked at her like he might cry. "I can't." JD said. "You can't what?" Nora asked. "I can't talk." JD said. "Sure you can talk, say something, say anything, open your mouth and say get the hell out of here bitch!" Nora yelled. "I can't talk to you." JD said quietly. Nora was about to say something but JD's dad Big Bud Dean came in with a beer in his hand. Nora walked over to him and stuck out her hand. "Hi I'm Nora...Deniro, I hope you don't mind me being here." Nora said. Nah, dad needs some friends. Big Bud Dean said. Then he put the beer in Nora's hand and left. JD looked at Nora like he wanted to say something. "Don't bother." Nora said then she popped the beer and chugged it. "See you later." She said then she climbed out of JD's window. "Yeah see ya." JD said then he went back to his book. The next day at school JD walked over to Nora who was waiting for him. "Hi." He said. "Hi." Nora said. "Nora listen about last night...its just that well I like you and I didn't know how to handle it so I freaked." JD said. Nora smiled. Forget about it, I like you too ya know." An awkward pause filled the air. Then JD tried to kiss her, but someone came walking by. Then she tried to kiss him but he had turned around. Then JD looked at her and smiled. And then finally he kissed her. After the kiss ended and Nora was getting ready to go to class JD grabbed her arm pulling her back. "I'm sorry Nora." JD said. "Sorry for what, the kiss wasn't bad." Nora asked. JD laughed. "No, I'm sorry I acted like such a jerk before...it's just that...well I never liked a girl before." JD said. "That's okay Jason, I never liked a guy before...that was until I met you." Nora said. JD kissed her again. Then he held her hand. "Come on, we gotta go to class." So now cupid finally struck these two lovebirds and all was well. JD and Nora were together all the time now. Everything was going great for these two, but then something terrible happened. JD crawled into Nora's window. "Hi." He said sadly. "JD is something wrong?" Nora asked concerned. "Yeah Nora, something big is wrong." JD said sitting Nora on her bed. "Jason what is it, tell me!" Nora yelled. JD held her hand. "Nora we have to move away, Big Bud's stupid job has us moving to Sherwood Ohio." JD said. Nora started crying. JD hugged her. "Nora I'm sorry." He said. Then he started crying himself. "Look at me, crying like a big fucking baby." He said chuckling. Nora walked over to her dresser. She picked up a red scarf and a framed picture of her and JD and brought it over to him. "Take the scarf to dry your tears, take the picture to remember us by." Nora said crying some more. JD started crying again. He took off his glasses and wiped his eyes with the scarf. Then he put his glasses back on and put the scarf in his pocket. He turned to Nora and hugged her. "I'll come back for you ya know." JD said. "Jason can't I just come with you?" Nora asked. JD looked at her. "I'm sorry Nora but you can't." JD said. Nora got off the bed. She was angry now. "Why the hell not?" She demanded. "Because I don't have any money, my dumb dad won't lend me any money, and I don't want you living with us...he's to crazy. JD said. Nora put her head on JD's lap. She was still crying. JD stroked her hair. They sat like this for 10 minutes. The silence in Nora's room was deafening. Then she sat up. "I wish you didn't have to go." She said softly." JD started crying again. "Nora I wish it wasn't this way, I really do." JD said. Hugging her once more. He didn't want to let her go, he felt as if he was losing her forever. He then dug in his pockets and pulled out his silver Zippo lighter with a gold eagle on it and placed it in her palm. "Don't you need it?" Nora asked. JD pulled out another lighter and a pack of cigarettes. He handed one to Nora and kept one for himself. "Would you like to skip 4th period and have a cigarette with me?" He asked. Nora chuckled. "Yeah." She said. JD lit her cigarette, then he lit his. They were once again silent. Then he hugged her. "You take care now." He said choking back tears. "Yeah, you too." Nora said waving at him. JD waved back then went out her window. Nora ran downstairs and out the door. She was just in time to see JD get in the car and close his door. She dropped her cigarette on the ground and crushed it with her combat boot. Bye Jason. She said sadly then turned and went back into the house. JD held his hand up to the window. "Bye Nora." He said sadly. Big Bud Dean looked at JD. "Uh Jason, I know you feel bad about Nora, tell you what...when we get to Sherwood I'll buy you a Harley." Big Bud Dean said. "Great, beautiful, perfecto, how about you just drive?" JD snapped. He didn't speak for the rest of the trip PART 2 WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH YOUR LIFE? JD was now in Sherwood Ohio and was going to Westerburg High School. He hated this school even more than he hated Hubert Humphrey High. Here he really didn't have any friends. Worst of all he didn't have Nora. He got the Harley his dad promised him, but he didn't ride it around much. What he wanted to do was ride it back to Vegas, pick up Nora and high tail it out of there. But he couldn't do that because he didn't have any money. He didn't have any money cause he didn't have a job. He didn't have a job cause nobody would hire him. The image of him and Nora stuck in his head. So he tried to change his image. He went from geek to rebel. He now wore a black gunslinger coat everywhere, he wore rock tee- shirts and he lost the glasses. But the image of Nora was still there. He was sitting in the back of the cafeteria looking at his picture of him and Nora, remembering happier times when he noticed a brunette smiling at him. He lit up a cigarette and tried to ignore her best he could, but she started walking over to him. "Great, beautiful, perfecto, this is just what I need." He grumbled. The girl was now at his table still smiling. I'm Veronica Sawyer. She said cheerfully. JD rolled his eyes. "Greetings and Salutations; I'm Jason Dean, call me JD. He said. "Okay, hi JD." Veronica said cheerfully. JD wanted to run away. He did not want to talk to this girl; he wanted his Nora back, not Veronica Sawyer. Then he looked over at the girls she was hanging out with. They were all glaring at Veronica. The apparent leader [who was dressed in red] looked like she wanted to shoot her. "Yeesh." JD said. "What?" Veronica asked. "Uh...nothing, you want a cigarette? JD asked. Veronica sat by him. "Yes, but we can't smoke in here." Veronica said. JD smiled at her. "Don't give me that, you look resourceful, think of an excuse." JD said. Veronica smiled back. " Okay give me one then." She told him. JD handed her a cigarette. Veronica put it in her mouth. JD was about to light it for her when Heather Chandler stomped over to them. She slammed her books on the table and glared at Veronica. Veronica's color drained. She immediately stood up. She quickly took the cigarette out of her mouth and shoved it in her purse while Heather dragged her away. After school Veronica was at her locker when she spotted the Heathers. "Shit!" She said then she spotted JD smoking a cigarette by the drinking fountain. "Come on!" He yelled. "What?" Veronica asked. She hadn't heard him. JD walked over to her and held her hand. "Come with me." He said cheerfully as they both ran out to his Harley. JD hopped on it and Veronica did the same. "Where are we going?" She asked. JD turned his head. "I thought we'd get a slushie, you up for it?" He asked. Veronica noticed the Heathers. They were running after her. "FLOOR IT!" She yelled. "Hold on tight then, this could be a bumpy ride." JD said as he jumped his Harley off the curb and they zoomed over to the Snappy Snack Shack. When they got there Veronica wanted to know where JD was from. "Vegas." He mumbled while looking at the floor. "What was that?" Veronica asked. JD looked at her. She was almost as cute as Nora. Almost. "Vegas...uh listen I don't really want to talk about my past, that slate has been wiped clean, can we talk about the future?" JD said sadly. "Yeah I guess, am I in it?" Veronica asked hopeful. JD put his arm around her. "Yep." He said then they went outside. When they got outside Veronica wanted to know where JD got his bike. JD sighed. "My dad gave it to me...a present to make up for Nora." JD said sadly. "Who's Nora?" Veronica asked. JD took the picture of him and Nora out of his pocket. He pointed to Nora. "This is Nora, she was perfecto....but...well, that's done now, Nora's gone." JD looked sadly at the picture then put it in his pocket again. That was the end of the discussion. Now despite JD's attitude him and Veronica made an okay couple and JD was starting to like Ronnie [as he called her] as much as Nora. But all good things must come to an end. By accident Heather Chandler was now dead because she downed a mug of Hull Clean and smashed into her glass coffee table. Then Kurt and Ram were shot and killed by JD and Veronica cause they spread perverted rumors about Veronica. Then the fights started. It seemed like all JD and Veronica did was fight anymore. JD feared that they would soon break up and he would be alone once again. So JD planned a romantic weekend. He invited Veronica over to his house so she could meet his dad. He didn't like this idea; she really wanted too though so JD said okay. He also planned on making Ronnie's favorite dinner. Spaghetti with lot's of Oregano. Everything was set up; everything was supposed to be fine. But then the fit hit the shan. [As JD put it.] JD had just pulled into his house on his Harley. Veronica was already at his house cause she walked over. JD walked inside and Big Bud Dean got in his way. Jason you have a visitor. JD looked at him weird. The only other time he had called him Jason was when he had lost Nora. Then it hit him. Nora was here. "Where is she dad?" JD asked. "In your room, she brought bags; she could be staying a while." Big Bud Dean said. JD smiled. "That's great!" Wait...no it isn't...Ronnie's up there, shit this isn't good!" JD yelled. Big Bud Dean got out of JD's way and JD ran up to meet Nora. When he got upstairs Veronica and Nora were yelling at each other. Then Nora turned to JD. "Hi honey!" She said then she ran over and hugged him. Veronica looked pissed. "Explain now JD!" She yelled. JD held Nora's hand. This is Nora. He said. Veronica looked confused. "But you told me she was dead." Veronica said. Nora yanked her hand away from JD and crossed her arms. "Nora, I didn't tell her that, she's confused...I....I told her you were gone." JD said. Nora smiled again and held JD's hand. "Some romantic weekend." Veronica hissed. "Ronnie you're being a baby." JD snarled. "I am not!" Veronica yelled. "You are too!" JD yelled. "I am not!" Veronica yelled back. "You are too, God Damn it woman; I swear if you aren't nagging at me you're bitching!" JD yelled. That hurt. Veronica flipped him off. " JD you know what?" Veronica asked. "I don't care, you nag to much." JD said. Nora laughed. "Screw you both then!" Veronica yelled then she stormed out of JD's door. Nora smiled at JD. " I missed you Jason I really did." Nora said happily. JD smiled back. "I missed you too..I...I'm sorry I didn't come and get you though." JD said. Nora put her head on JD's lap. JD stroked her hair. "That's okay honey, what's with the rebel look though?" Nora asked. "Clean slate I guess, I do look kind of silly though." JD said. Suddenly Nora sat up. "Yeah, you kind of do." Nora said, then she hit him with a pillow. "Oh you're gonna get it now!" JD laughed as he hit her with a pillow. This started a full-fledged pillow fight. When they were done feathers were everywhere and JD and Nora were on the floor laughing. Then suddenly JD got up off the floor and went to his dresser. He opened it up, got his glasses and put them on. Then he turned to Nora. "Better?" He asked. "Yeah, but lose the coat." Nora said. JD did and smiled at her. Then he ran over to her picked her up and kissed her. Suddenly Veronica came in JD's window holding a bomb. "Whoa, Veronica what do you plan on doing with that?" JD asked. Veronica had a crazed look in her eyes. "Blowing up the school tommorow, sweet dreams you two." Veronica said. Then she laughed hysterically as she climbed out of the window. Nora looked at JD confused. "She's not serious, is she Jason?" Nora asked. JD looked at her sympathetically. "Unfortunately yes, Veronica's as crazy as they come." JD said. "What'll we do?" Nora asked. She was worried now. JD looked over at his desk. A tin box was sitting on it; he walked over to get it. He set the box on his bed and opened it. Inside were two handguns. "Here." He said handing one to Nora. "We aren't going to kill her are we?" Nora asked. JD looked at her. "I sure hope not." He said. The couple didn't get a wink of sleep that night. When 8:00a.m. hit they both hurried off to school to find Veronica. She was already at school. She had a gym bag that contained the bombs and she headed off to plant them around the school. She taped some in the bathroom stalls, and then she moved on to the bleachers. Her last stop was at the boiler room. This was where she met up with JD and Nora. She was getting ready to get the main bomb out when JD and Nora came walking down the stairs, their guns were pointed at her. "Can we see your hall pass?" Nora asked. Veronica smiled at them. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Bonnie and Clyde." She said laughing. "Put the bomb down on the ground psycho!" JD yelled. Veronica looked at her gym bag, which contained her bomb. It was already on the ground. She smiled at JD and crossed her arms. "Put your hands on your head!" JD yelled. Veronica walked over to JD and kicked him in the groin. "Shove it!" She yelled. Then she grabbed her bag and ran off. Nora looked at JD sympathetically. "Are you okay Jason?" She asked. Jason was bent over. "I'm....fine" JD said out of breath. Nora grabbed JD's hand. "Come on, let's nuke the bitch." Nora said. Soon they came upon Veronica. She had just taped the main bomb to a pipe and set it for 2 minutes. She had a switchblade in her hand. She flicked it and pointed it at them. "You think just because you started this thing you can end it?" She yelled. "What?" Nora and JD asked her. "Look at yourselves, you're both geeks, outcast, you should be happy I'm blowing up the school." She yelled. JD pointed his gun at her. "I'll kill you, I'll fucking kill you I swear to god!" He yelled. Veronica looked at him. "JD you know I'm right, think about it. The only place different social types can generally get along is in..." "Blah, blah, blah." JD interrupted. "How do I turn off the God damn bomb you stupid bitch?" JD asked. "Fuck you!" Veronica yelled flipping JD off. JD shot off Veronica's middle finger. Blood gushed from it. "Shit!" She yelled then she dove for the ground and tied a rag around her finger. "JD we could have roasted marshmallows together." Veronica said out of breath. "It's all over Veronica help me stop it." JD yelled. "People are going to look at the ashes of Westerburg and say now there is a school that self destructed..." "He doesn't want a speech, he wants to know what button turns off the damn bomb off!" Nora interrupted. "Let me finish! A school that self destructed not because.." "Which button Veronica?" Nora yelled. "Damn it Nora, the red one alright!" [the buttons are all red] "Seriously though they'll say now there is a school that self destructed not because society didn't care, but because the school was society! That's pretty deep huh?" Veronica said looking at JD. "Which red button Ronnie?" JD yelled. Veronica sighed. "Press the middle one to turn it off that's what you really want." Veronica said. "You know what I want babe?" JD asked. "WHAT?" Veronica yelled lunging at JD with the switchblade. Nora shot her. Veronica stuck the knife in the bomb stopping it. This time JD shot her and Veronica fell to the ground. "Crazy girls like you out of my life." He said then him and Nora walked wearily outside. About 2 seconds later Veronica followed them out. She walked towards to the steps and turned to them. "Color me impressed." "You...you guys fucked me up pretty bad." Then she opened up her coat revealing the bomb that was taped to her chest. "Slate is clean." She said walking down the stairs. JD's eyes filled with tears. A part of him still cared for Veronica. Nora started crying too. She didn't really know or like Veronica, but she didn't think she deserved to kill herself. Veronica walked down the stairs. When she got to the bottom she set the bomb for 45 seconds. Then she looked at JD and Nora. "Pretend I did blow up the school, all the schools. Now that you're dead, what are you gonna do with your life?" Veronica asked. JD pulled out two cigarettes from his pocket. He put one in his mouth and gave the other one two Nora. She put hers in her mouth then they both crossed their arms and smiled. Veronica chuckled, then she threw her arms in the air. That's when the bomb stopped. "Oops, hold on a second." Veronica said then she tapped the bomb. It started up again. Veronica looked up at the sky then threw her arms in the air again. JD and Nora held hands and then....BOOM! JD and Nora smiled at each other. Their cigarettes were lit. They each took a puff , and then they threw them onto the ground and crushed them with their combat boots. Then hand in hand they walked inside. Heather Duke was the first person to spot them. "You two look like hell." She said. "Yeah well we just got back." Nora said then she spun Heather Duke around took her red scrunchie out of Heathers hair and put it in her own hair. "What do you think you're doing?" Heather yelled. JD kissed Heather on the cheek. It left a sooty smudge. "Heather my love, things are going to be different around here." He said. Then JD took Nora by the hand and they continued walking down the hall.