CHAPTER 103

IT WAS THE WORST DAY OF PANCAKE’S LIFE. Normally he felt trapped when he was inside the school. Now he felt trapped outside. He stood with hundreds of other kids, watching the building. Waiting for some kind of word. Hoping that somehow this whole thing was a mistake . . . that everything would be okay. But he knew better.

Somehow word had swept through the student body that Hudson and Maggie were still inside. That they’d deliberately fought their way back inside to save Giovanna —the girl who’d been their enemy.

Pancake looked at both texts from Hudson again.

Maggie is sure Giovanna plans suicide —not a massacre. Going back to stop her.

Tell cops not to shoot us. Think she’s going to art room —heading there now.

But they’d miscalculated. Something had gone wrong. The three gunshots came within a minute of getting that last message.

And they were definitely pistol shots —not the assault rifles the SWAT team ran in with. He didn’t have to be Einstein to know why Hudson hadn’t sent a new text or why he and Maggie hadn’t come out. They were never coming out. They’d found Giovanna —and she was waiting for them.

He looked around. Everybody knew what the gunshots meant. Apparently Giovanna didn’t want to go alone. She’d taken out Maggie and Hudson before turning the gun on herself.

Police paced along the perimeter of the school —especially at the doors. They looked antsy. Like they wanted to be inside.

News crews were filming from a safe distance. Reporters stood with microphones in hand —likely giving details they couldn’t possibly know.

Paramedic and fire vehicles were parked on the sidewalk and the lawn. The lot was full. Why didn’t the paramedics charge in? What if Hudson was still alive —but bleeding out on the floor somewhere?

“Pancake?”

He turned —and faced Wolfe. The leader of the pack looked dazed.

“Hudson warned me.”

Suddenly Hudson wasn’t Freak Show anymore. A little late.

“I didn’t see Giovanna coming. She could have put a slug between my eyes. He should have run and saved himself. Hudson was like, my enemy —and that’s how I treated him. What kind of guy warns his enemy like that?”

Tears welled up in Pancake’s eyes, but he didn’t bother hiding them. “Somebody who really cares. A guy who really wanted change —and was starting with himself.”

Wolfe stood there, staring at the school. He didn’t seem nearly as intimidating as he always had before. “I never said thanks.”

Mr. Cutter cleared his throat. “I’m sure you’ll get the chance.”

Was he sure? Was he really? Because Pancake wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

Cutter let go of Pancake’s arm, like he knew it was too late for anyone to rush inside to help anyway. “I saw you pull the alarm. That was quick thinking.”

Pancake shrugged. “Hudson’s brainchild.”

“Do you have any idea how many lives you may have saved?”

Pancake shook his head. “I can’t get past the ones I lost.”

Cutter put his hand on Pancake’s shoulder. “We don’t know that.”

But Mr. Cutter was worried. Anybody could see that on his face.

Wolfe lowered his head and melted back into the crowd.

The student body was deathly quiet. It was unnatural —like they were attending a funeral. Funeral . . . not that. Please . . . not that. They huddled together in groups to comfort each other, or maybe they were just trying to stay warm.

Pancake was sure he’d never feel warm again.

Mrs. Jackson and Mr. Mann still hadn’t come back. That couldn’t be good.

Suddenly a gasp rippled through the crowd. Pancake stretched for a better view. SWAT members filed out of the front doors —with Principal Jackson and Mr. Mann right behind them. Mr. Mann held the door open —and he was smiling.

Hudson and Maggie walked out —with Giovanna between them. All of them linked at the elbows like an unbreakable chain.

The crowd exploded. Cheers. Whistles. The boys in blue fired up sirens and every fire engine and paramedic van had somebody inside pumping the horns. News crews were already in position, capturing it all on film. Amazing.

Hudson, Maggie, and Giovanna stopped —as if stunned. Giovanna and Maggie hugged each other. Both of them looked like they were crying their eyes out. They weren’t the only ones.

Hudson stood there —looking totally out of place. He jammed his hands into his pockets and scanned the crowd. His eyes met Pancake’s —and he motioned him over.

Cutter clapped Pancake on the back. “Your friend needs you. Go on.”

Pancake sprinted toward Hudson, and they slammed together. Man-hugs were usually an awkward thing —but not now.

Pancake lifted Hudson off the ground —spun him around —and faced the crowd. “This is Hudson,” he shouted. “My best friend!”

The crowd clapped, cheered, whistled.

“Put me down,” Hudson said. “Before you squeeze your best friend to death.”

Pancake dropped him and the two of them laughed hysterically.

Suddenly Wolfe was there —directly in front of them. He was breathing heavily. He thrust his hand out to Hudson. “I’m Zach Wolfe.”

“Hudson Sutton.” He gripped Wolfe’s hand. “Fresh start?”

Wolfe pumped Hudson’s hand and grinned. “Totally.”

Cutter put a hand on their shoulders. “You boys just made history today. Don’t ever forget that.”

“We won’t,” Hudson said. “Those who forget history are forced to repeat it . . . and I have no intention of repeating a day like this.” He smiled. “Ever.”