Midnight Meeting

In 7th Grade, when Mrs. Kurdy was on pregnancy leave and our class had a lazy sub who couldn’t care less about what we did, we watched different episodes of The Magic School Bus on the fuzzy box tv. One always caught my attention: Mrs. Frizzle and the gang were going through a tunnel, and, when trying to stay quiet, used the bus to get through without making a sound. I wish I had a noise-canceling, flying school bus right about now. 

The hall I was carefully tip-toeing down was wide and empty, and the red lockers that lined the wall glinted in the moonlight. I stopped every now and then, straining my ears to hear for the rolling clicks of the night janitors or the squeak of an opening door. Every classroom I passed by was locked, so even if someone came by to check on who was not-so-stealthily making her way to the library, there would be no place to hide or duck into. In short, I was like a turtle crossing a highway. 

I rounded two more corners, hit my knee on the side of a trashcan, and dropped my hefty purse- which made the loudest noise I have ever heard -before I finally saw the poster covered doors. I scrambled for its refuge, my footsteps echoing all the way, and yanked open the door. Quickly sliding inside, I let the door shut behind me and took a second to calm my nervous breath. Never in a million years would I ever think I would sneak in anywhere, but here I was, in the school’s library with my heart beating so wildly I thought it would get me caught. 

My reason for breaking in- one of the outside doors was unlocked, so I technically didn’t break in -came back to mind. A steady drone picked up, and rain began to shower down onto the roof, just like the forecast predicted. I hurried to the farthest back shelves to tuck my purse in its usual spot by the book cart and decided to get to work. 

~~~ 

My wet shoes squelched with each step I took down the hall, so I hurriedly took them off and shoved them into the duffel bag. Rain had started lightly when I first ran for the outside doors, but by the time I had found the unlocked door that James told me about, it quickly decided to pour down on me. Dripping wet, I tried to wring out some of the water from my shirt and figure out which way to go. The crude map James had drawn of his school ripped apart in my hands when I tried to pull it out of the damp jean pocket, so I was stranded in an empty hallway of a school I don’t even go to.  

I bit my nail, now dreading the bet I was once so excited to do that I promised to sell my PlayStation if I didn’t complete it.  

My feet faintly slapped against the smooth floors. I shuffled through the halls, jiggling door knob after door knob. Every single one I tried was locked. A buzz came from the duffel bag, my phone resting on top of all the cans. I stopped, setting the bag down by a trashcan, and checked my messages.  

It was a simple text that read “30 minutes left”, plain and unassuming, but it was enough to kick it into gear. Jamming the phone into my pocket, I randomly grabbed a can from the bag and shook it. The sound of the small metal ball inside bounced down the hall, reverberating into the dark. I slowed the shaking, it just occurring to me that there could be security lurking around the school, watching out for people just like me.  

I paused again.  

“F—k it,” I laughed, and uncapped the spray paint. Inching over, I centered myself in front of the broad, cement-block wall and got to work. I only had three colors; a deep blue, a blinding candy red, and a black to outline it all. It started as a vague blob, the blue sculpting the base of its body, red spots decorating it’s back, and a thick, black lines to frame and embolden the animal’s shape. 

In messy, scrawled writing I completed the graffitied picture with, “Carrol High’s Newts was here.” Tossing the near empty cans into the duffel bag, I stepped back to admire the work. It was a cartoon newt, the dark blue for its body and the red for its warning spots. It was perfect, almost exactly like my school’s real mascot, Newton. 

“Hey!” a gruff voice echoed down the hall. I froze, fear holding me in place. I stood there, still and silent, afraid to even let out a puffed sigh. The person must’ve stood still as well, straining their ear to listen for me. The quiet suspense lasted seconds, but it felt like years had passed. Finally, I heard the squeak of a wet shoe, and tapping footsteps slowly recede.  

My pocket buzzed loudly. The footsteps stopped. “Sh-t,” I mumbled, fumbling for my phone. A quick glance told me it was James, the moron who was about to get me caught down the creek with a mean sounding security guard. I heard their shoes squeak again, like they pivoted to find the source of the noise.  

Without a second thought, I snatched the duffel bag and ran. I could hear the guard chasing after me, each squeak closer than the last. The blood rushed through me so much I could hear it while I ran. I rounded a few corners before hearing the sound of what would save my butt; a final, intense squeak of the shoe, a surprised gasp, and loud thwap, followed by groans of pain. I knew this would be a chance to hide until I could go past the guard to get out. I jogged, trying handle after handle, until I came across a large wood door covered in school flyers. I tried it, and it swung open. I darted inside, and gently shut it again to not give away my position.  

“Who are you!?” A female voice rang out, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I whipped my head round to see the owner of the voice. She was rather tall and lanky, with black hair, brown skin, with a pair of scissors in one hand and a roll of streamers in the other.  

~~~ 

A boy stood at the library doors, looking slightly damp and out of breath. I tensed up as he quickly inched from the door, then darted behind the bookshelves.  

“Come here, I think the security guy is coming!” He motioned for me to go hide with him. I side-eyed all the party supplies I had laid out perfectly onto one of the library’s tables. It was for Ms. Jenne, our librarian, who was turning 50 but had no one to celebrate with. I had originally planned to surprise her by setting up overnight, but this sudden intruder apparently had other plans.  

“Do you even go here?” I still gripped the scissors, stepping over to him confidently. “No, but-” 

The library door swung open wide, slamming onto the wall behind it. The guy yanked my arm, and I fell to the floor next to him. “I-” He cut me off with a quick shush motion and leaned back to keep an eye out. 

I ignored the warning. “What in the world did you do to get Mr. Waters all the way to the school at midnight?” I whispered angrily.  

“I had to spray paint your school so I wouldn’t lose a bet,” he barely whispers back. 

“Sweet cheese,” I buried my hands deep in my hair, “when he finds us, he’s gonna kill us.” 

“What about you?” 

“What?” 

“Why are you here so late?” He turns to face me. Freckled dot his whole face. 

“Why would I tell you?” I snarked back. 

“Ok, yeah, this situation sucks, but promise to tell over coffee later?” He held out his hand. 

I don’t know what compelled me, but I took his hand.