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[hider=Kaitlin][img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/af/ac/28/afac2814e4f2bf76dfbb64580042e645.jpg[/img][/hider]

[hider=Mike][img]https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/handsome-dark-haired-male-jacket-12710179.jpg[/img][/hider]

Kaitlin paced another lap around her classroom. She had devoted the better part of her day to organizing the room, and wanted to do a final check before she left for the day. The time had ticked by, and the memorial was slowly creeping closer. She sat down in her chair, and pulled out her her lesson book, making a few notes for her first week of classes. She was stalling, but would never admit it.

Mike had swiftly made his way towards the school. Why? It started with his sister convincing him to go to the memorial. However, it was still hours away. The main reason why he pulled himself up and tore himself away from his chair was because of a text he had gotten from his good friend Kaitlin who seemed to have expected that he was not going to the party. Though it seems she was in trouble or something. So now, here he was, in Edenridge High.

As if old wounds want to make themselves known, the wound that had closed years ago started to ache. His mind relived the memory of being in front of the barrel and the cold feeling creeping up to him. He really thought he had died. He snapped back to focus and found himself in front of his old locker. Huh, his body still knew where it usually goes. But he had a goal right now, to find Kaitlin. She was an English teacher so she was probably in that classroom.

His feet instinctively took him to a classroom that he has been in multiple times in his teenage days. He, indeed, found her inside - head down and hand moving, scribbling something on a book - the lesson plan. Instead of a greeting, he gave her a question.

[color=blue]"What made you assume I wasn't going?"[/color] 

Kaitlin jumped at the sound of a male voice in her doorway. It was one she had heard many times over the years, but had never expected to hear in this particular building again. She looked up, already knowing who she would see in her doorway, but not quite being able to believe it yet.

“[color=deeppink]Mike,”[/color] she breathed out, still recovering from her scare. [color=deeppink]“I figured you wouldn't want to come back here after everything that happened, and don't you have another book coming out soon? What are you doing here?”[/color]

Kaitlin rose from her seat, a wide smile forming now at seeing her friend as she made her way across the few feet that separated them. She took in his appearance, noting the tired, haunted look in his eyes. Even though she knew he may hate it, she reached out to hug him, grateful to have him there on this day, and knowing what it was costing him to be here. 

[color=blue]"That's... behind me now."[/color]The words were obviously hollow. He didn't mean it. Just from stepping inside the school itself made him relive his worst memory. He felt that useless and weak Mike come back. Fear had taken over so quickly when he thought he got over it.

What more if he saw the other people of the school? What else would he relive? But now, he knew he can't run away anymore. Never again. [color=blue]"The book can wait. Won't be until next Saturday till me deadline so it's fine."[/color] He continued with a shrug. It's not like a few hours would be a big enough loss for him to panic. Hey, maybe the experience would give him a kick to the right direction.

He merely let out a grunt of disapproval when her arms wrapped around him but he didn't pry her arms away. Actually, it was quite comforting. It was what he needed right now too. [color=blue]"What were you doing before I came by?"[/color]

Kaitlin giggled a little at his grunt. She had expected the response, as Mike wasn't big on physical contact. He seemed to accept it from her, but sometimes she pushed her limits. That little part of her that remained from her high school days still craved physical contact. The embrace of a hug, the touch of a hand on an arm, it was all comforting to her. 

[color=deeppink]“When you walked in, I was putting some finishing touches on a lesson plan for the first week. Before that I was pacing. Before that I was setting up my classroom, and before that I was having a small meltdown. Keisha is here, apparently she also works at the school. Roddy is roaming the halls around here somewhere, he interrupted our little...reunion.”[/color]

Kaitlin ran her hands through her auburn locks, tugging at her scalp. She began to launch into the story of her morning from nearly walking into Keisha, Keisha's admittance of wanting to hug her, her own dismissal of the girl, and finally Roddy's interruption. 

Mike quietly listened to her story of how her morning went. Keisha? Right, shooter's ex who went on a rampage which caused the death of Ty and many others and the injury of him, Kaitlin and so much more. Roddy was included too if he wasn't mistaken. When she finished the story, he responded with a slow nod. He was unsure if what to say. He was probably the worst person to ask about stuff like this.

[color=blue]"You know fully well that I do not know what to say... considering the facts."[/color] Mike pointed out. He had already expressed this so many times in the duration of their friendship.[color=blue] "However, I honestly think that you would have to talk to her sooner or later. Especially since you are in the same school."[/color]

Kaitlin let out of slow whoosh of breath when Mike finished speaking. It wasn't often that he gave her advice, but he always listened in that steadfast, nonjudgmental way that never failed to put Kaitlin at ease. Her mind (and her mouth) always seemed to be going a mile a minute, and she had a hard time convincing it to slow down.Talking to him made her slow down and revisit the facts, and was often enough on it's own to get her to come to a proper conclusion.

Kaitlin glanced at the clock mounted on the wall. More time had passed while she had been talking to Mike than she anticipated.

[color=deeppink]"I guess we should get ready to head over there."[/color] She said with a sigh. Realistically, she knew the memorial was optional. No one was making her go. Yet somehow, it didn't feel like she could miss it.

There were many moments in her life that felt like turning points. The shooting was one. This memorial and reunion with many other students felt like another. One small moment in time that would take her from her her current course, and move her onto another. Problem was, she liked her current course.

[color=deeppink]"I just need to grab my bag and lock the door."[/color] She said, steeling her spine for what would come next. 

When Kaitlin said that they should head over to the location of the memorial, he couldn't help but also look at the time. Huh, would you look at that. It was already time for the dreaded interactions. Actually, he found himself looking forward to what was going to happen. Ten years of little to no contact with most of the students made him uneasy though.

[color=blue]"Alright. I'll wait for you outside then."[/color] He told her with a nod and then headed outside and then waiting for her to come. Okay, time to see what was going to happen in this event. 

[color=deeppink]"I figured you would say something along those lines,"[/color] she said, moving away to prop herself up on the edge of her desk.[color=deeppink] "I'll talk her. Soon, I promise." [/color] She wrinkled her delicate nose, failing to hide her displeasure at the impending conversation. [color=deeppink]"I just need a little bit of time to readjust. Figure out how I really feel. Speaking of reunions," [/color] she transitioned, not even bothering to make it smooth. She had done all the talking about her own drama that she could handle for the time being. [color=deeppink]"Where is that sister of yours? If you are here, I assume she is to thank for snatching you from the depths of your mind this time around."[/color]

Mike gave her a nod of approval for her decision. However, she made it obvious that she wasn't liking the idea of talking to her again. Again, can't really blame her. If it weren't for her ex shooting up the place, both of them wouldn't have been in the hospital. Mike remembered those days when she had to give birth to Nathan and then the first few succeeding years. Those weren't the best years of her life, that was for sure.

He looked at her blankly when she transitioned to talk to another subject, this time being his sister. [color=blue]"She's still probably at her clinic this time around."[/color] He replied, looking at his watch for the time. He nodded and then looked back at her. [Color=blue] "She did tell me about the memorial. She's probably going to go once she's over with her shift."[/color]