Fan Fiction ❯ Terror High ❯ Winston's last goodbye... ( Chapter 11 )

The three of them were sitting on the C wing bench, not wanting to stay but not knowing where to go. They had called 911 as soon as they'd recovered, but there wasn't much they could do. Chloe had given the police the names of who to call, but she'd asked to be interviewed later. They didn't want to let her go just yet, but the cops in this town were easygoing when it came to being a victim. She'd go into the station tomorrow. Chloe didn't want to have to tell the cops what had happened…not yet, anyways.

 

Ella was leaning on Aaron, who, fortunately, had found a shirt after using his to bandage Ella's shoulder. (Chloe was relieved.) She hadn't spoken a word since they'd left the library. Chloe was worried about her, but Aaron had talked her out of it. She was just recovering, he'd said, she was just processing everything. Chloe could only hope he was right.

 

“You're Chloe, right?” came a voice.

 

All three of them looked up to see Brandon Winston looking down on them. Brandon was Rory's older brother, and he had been around for a half an hour, cleaning out Rory's locker and picking up some other stuff.

 

“Yeah…why?” Chloe asked.

 

Brandon handed her a small envelope. “It's got your name on it. I found it in his locker.”

 

Ella perked up a little, looking over and trying to see what it said.

 

“Thanks,” Chloe said.

 

Brandon left.

 

“Can we see it?” Ella asked, her voice coming out quietly.

 

“In a sec,” Chloe said. “I want to read it myself first.”

 

With that, Chloe stood, heading for the one place she knew she could hide in.

 

Mr. Hepner wasn't around when she snuck into the open band room. Most likely he was doing some copying upstairs, so Chloe knew she had time.

 

There were a few chairs that still hadn't been stacked, and Chloe sat down in one of them. It was in almost exactly the same spot that she sat in during band class.

 

She used to sit next to Rory.

 

It seemed like forever, but really it didn't take that long for Chloe to painstakingly open the note and read the words in his slightly messy scrawl.

 

Chloe -

 

I know you know that I'm not much of a letter writer, so I'll try to say this as best I can. Damian warned me this morning that meeting him after school…would probably mean trouble, but I could tell from his face that he was talking more than trouble. He told me that I didn't have to come, that somebody would tell me everything…I don't think he wanted me to come. But I did. I don't know why, exactly…It wasn't that I really needed to know what was going on with the freshman curse. The freshman curse never really interested me. It was there, it affected us…but what could I do about it?

 

The reason that I helped you guys out…is you. And I'm not usually a sap like this, but you know what I mean. I couldn't bear to see you get hurt. Even with all the stuff in band…I couldn't let you go with Damian into danger without even knowing it was there.

 

I think…the reason I went today is because I could do something. I could help you guys, or I could try, and I could try to save you - and maybe me in the process.

 

Well, look how that turned out.

 

Just tell the others…actually, no. Don't tell them anything special. That would make this really sappy. Just go on living. But if I died today…don't forget me. Don't forget this. Because that would hurt me the most, to see you forget.

 

Rory

 

Chloe smiled, tears welling in her eyes.

 

I won't forget, Rory, I won't forget.

 

She folded the letter and put it back in the envelope, heading back to C wing to meet up with the other two.

 

Ella and Aaron met her halfway, and they walked outside in silence. Chloe turned to head to her house, but instead of splitting up there, Ella and Aaron followed.

 

Still nobody said a word. Nobody could. There were no words to say, to describe how they felt.

 

Chloe was glancing up at the grey sky, making a promise to the storm clouds.

 

Just then, it started to snow. A wind blew across the field, crisp and cold. Aaron held Ella tighter, and Chloe slowed down to let them catch up.

 

For a second, the three of them thought they heard Rory's voice, Chase's, Damian's, speaking in no more than whispers…but it was just the wind.