“I SEE EVERYONE ELSE has already left.” Mrs. Kennedy walked into the yearbook room and looked around. “I’m glad you moved the meeting up and that everyone got here on time. I have some gardening I want to get done.”
Diana smiled at Mrs. Kennedy, pretending not to hear the impatience in her voice or notice the way she tapped her gold-sandaled foot. Mrs. Kennedy had been working in her classroom down the hall. Now that the yearbook committee heads were gone, it was clear Mrs. Kennedy wanted to leave.
Diana did too. She glanced at her watch. Time had gotten away from her, but she was still ahead of her schedule for the day. “I can finish the rest on Tuesday if you want.” Diana started to rise, but Mrs. Kennedy waved her back into her seat with a laugh and a shake of her head.
“It’s okay, Diana. I didn’t mean to make you feel guilty. Finish whatever you need to. I love that you take your responsibilities so seriously. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, considering who your father is.”
Trapped by the compliment, Diana settled back into her seat. “It’ll only take me five minutes. I promise,” Diana said. “And I’ll make sure to let my father know that you’re a fan.”
Mrs. Kennedy tilted her head. “I’m a fan of hard work in all forms,” she said. “But I have to admit that the senator’s new education safety plan isn’t something I’m all that fond of. It’s McCarthyism all over again. I still can’t believe these are the kinds of laws we’re seeing proposed these days.”
Diana forced a smile. “My father knows the bill isn’t perfect, and I’m sure he’d love to hear your ideas. With so much going on in the world, he thinks something has to be done to stop the growth of violence.”
“I’m all for the law and order he and the president talk about.” Mrs. Kennedy sighed. “I just don’t think authorizing schools to violate students’ privacy is the way to do it. And when you ask students to police other students, you give them license to use learned biases against one another.” She pursed her lips and shivered. Then she shook her head. “Let’s just say I hope the bill gets voted down and leave it at that.”
Diana nodded, even though she knew her father’s career hung on getting the bill passed. He needed a win, as did the country.
Mrs. Kennedy cleared her throat to break the silence. “Since we both want to get out of here, how about I make the copies while you get the sign-up sheet ready? Divide and conquer.”
“Sure thing.” Diana handed Mrs. Kennedy the schedule with a practiced smile, then looked back at the computer screen as Mrs. Kennedy left for the copier. Thank goodness. Now Diana could finish in peace and quiet. She glanced at her watch again. Yes, it was way past time for her to leave.
She printed the sign-up sheet and picked up the backpack resting near her feet. She then turned off the computer and headed out in search of Mrs. Kennedy to tell her she was finished. Only Mrs. Kennedy was nowhere to be found.
This was just perfect. Diana should have insisted on printing the agendas. Then they would be done by now, and Diana would be on her way down to the media center. Once she made that stop, she’d be able to get out of this place.
She looked at the clock on her phone as she went back to the yearbook room, trying to decide what to do. She had to get going. Maybe she could leave a note . . .
“Here you go,” Mrs. Kennedy said as she strode into the room with her purse slung over her arm. At last.
“Thanks.” Diana took the copies and placed them on the back table in a neat stack under the sign that said TAKE ONE. “And with that, I’m done,” she announced. “Sorry I kept you here so long.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Mrs. Kennedy said with a smile. “Now we can both get on with our day. I don’t know about you, but—”
The desks throughout the room suddenly rattled, and there was a deep rumbling somewhere. Mrs. Kennedy’s eyes narrowed, then widened, and she bolted toward the door.
Diana’s panic spiked as something, somewhere, exploded.
What was—? Diana grabbed the closest desk as everything in the room started to shake.
Fire alarms shrieked.
A ceiling tile crashed next to her as she rushed past the desks with her backpack clutched against her chest.
That’s when everything came apart.
The door frame cracked.
Dust swirled.
The floor shuddered again.
Wood splinters and tiles rained down.
Diana coughed and put her hands over her head as she raced toward the door.
Books fell off shelves.
The computer she’d been working on crashed to the ground.
Metal and brick smashed together in one deafening roar. Something slammed against the back of her head, and Diana dropped to her knees. Desks slid toward her. She screamed for help as the floor shuddered yet again and tilted.
Everything creaked and groaned. Terror clawed at her throat, even as she fought for calm and crawled toward the exit. No one would be able to hear her screams; still she yelled as she fumbled to find the pocket where she’d put her phone. She had to have her phone.
A file cabinet crashed into the desks, sending them flying toward her. She pulled the bag close and screamed one more time. The floor tilted and every—