A Different Blue(42)

train. Brandon was in my seventh-hour, European History class in Mr. Wilson's room. I dropped my

books and raced after Manny, screaming.

“Manny! Manny, stop!” I shrieked. Manny didn't even turn his head. He kept walking and

shooting. Three shots and then four. He walked into Wilson's classroom and shut the door behind

him. A shot rang out once more. I flew through the door seconds later, expecting the worst. Mr.

Wilson stood in front of Manny, one hand stretched out toward him. Manny had the gun pointed at

Wilson's forehead and was demanding to know where Brandon was. Kids were crying and huddling

together underneath their desks. I saw no blood, no bodies, and no sign of Brandon Bates. My

relief gave me courage. I was behind Manny, facing Wilson, and though Wilson's eyes never left

Manny's face or the gun pointed at his forehead, his hand motioned me away. I moved toward

Wilson, giving Manny a wide berth so I wouldn't spook him, speaking softly as I did.

“Manny. You don't want to hurt Wilson. You like him, remember? You said he's the best teacher

you've ever had.” Manny's eyes swung wildly to me and then zeroed in on Wilson once more. He

was breathing hard and sweating profusely, and his hands were shaking violently. I was afraid he

would accidentally pull the trigger. At that distance he wouldn't miss Wilson.

“Stay away, Blue! He's protecting Brandon! Everybody get down!” Manny screeched, waving the

gun in every direction. “I'll b-blow his head off, I promise,” he stuttered, the words so at

odds with his young voice that I almost laughed. But it wasnt funny. None of it was funny.

I kept walking, and Wilson shook his head furiously, willing me to stay put. But I kept moving.

My legs felt like they weighed four hundred pounds, and I couldn't feel my hands. I was

completely numb with fear. But I wasn't afraid of Manny. I was terribly afraid for him.

[page]“Manny. Give me the gun, sweetie. None of us are protecting Brandon.” I looked around at

the cowering students, praying Brandon wasn't in the room. Several students lifted their heads,

looking for Brandon too, but nobody spoke.

“He's not here, Manny,” Wilson offered, his voice as calm as if he were just giving another

lecture. “I'm not protecting him. I'm protecting you, do you understand that? Your sister needs

you, and if you shoot Brandon or anyone else, you will go to jail for a very long time.”

“But she's only fourteen! And he sent the pictures to everyone! She thought he liked her. He

told her to send him some pictures and then he sent them to everyone! She tried to kill herself,

and now I'm going to kill him!” Manny cried, bending down to look underneath the desks, certain

we were hiding Brandon.

“And he's going to have to answer for that, Manny,” I soothed, now within an arm's length of

him. Wilson reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me toward him. He tried to push me around

his back but I shrugged out of his grasp, keeping myself between him and Manny. I knew Manny

wouldn't shoot me. Manny had resumed pointing the gun toward Wilson, but I now stood in the way.

“There are picture of you too, Blue! Did you know that? Gabby showed me this morning. The whole

fr-freaking sch-school has seen y-you!” Manny stuttered, his face a shattered mask.

I reassured myself that it couldn't be true, even as stunned humiliation clogged my throat and