YOSOATYD Chapter 2: The Decision

I quickly grabbed a seat right next to the door of the bus, hoping desperately to delay my choice. I could see Topher rise before the bus driver called out for everyone to sit. The bus stuttered along, just like my heart inside of me. When we arrived at school, I was the first one off the bus, weaving my way through the cliques of people into the school building. I knew I would be safe until lunch—neither Topher nor Chad had classes with me until the afternoon. The classes and lessons blurred by. All too soon, it was time for lunch. As expected, I was cornered immediately.

“Egg!” Topher cried out my name, looking visibly distressed. Chad however, played the situation off more flippantly. He stood in stony expectation and tossed his blond hair across his forehead confidently. They stood as far from each other as possible, while still being close enough to confront me. Their hate towards each other was clearly visible. They’d been at each other’s throats since they’d realized that they had competition

“Enough games,” nodded Chad, flexing his biceps and other arm muscles.

“Yeah!” squeaked Topher. “I’m done being stuck in the same pool as Chad. It can only be one of us!”

Chad narrowed his eyes. “I’m sure as heck not gonna lose to Chris,” he sneered. Topher turned to him in intense silence. There was murder in his eyes.

“What did you just say, punk?”

“Chrrrrriiisssss…” Chad drew out his name with a confrontational air.

“Don’t you dare call me Chris! My name is Topher!” Topher launched himself at Chad with a scream. Chad was anticipating his attack and met Topher with a punch that struck his shoulder. Topher lurched back, but brought a hard kick up to Chad’s knee. By now, a small crowd had gathered, encouraging the fight. Chad screamed “SKEEEAWWW” and landed a punch straight to Topher’s nose. The crowd gasped and Topher staggered back. Topher looked shocked and confused. Everyone held their breath as Topher let out a small, strangled little sneeze. Like a nightmare, Topher collapsed. Everyone had seen the situation multiple times before. There was blood, and some screaming. Most people, however, just accepted the event and watched with a mostly indifferent, but not entirely unaffected attitude. It couldn’t be changed or stopped. Chad looked pale and sick at the sight of Topher on the ground, dead. I was in shock. The only though that came to my mind in that moment was: “I guess I don’t have to choose between them anymore.”