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It was only as his classmates began shifting and moving as things quieted down outside that Aaron West recognized the agonizing aches of his calf muscles from squatting low behind a table this whole time: never quite sitting, but instead ready to pounce at the first sign of trouble. Aaron lowered his hands down to the ground to shift his weight back into a sitting position for a moment, rubbing out and massaging the pain in his legs as he rested for a moment. He looked down to his hands, faint specks of blood marking his tanned skin like drops of drying paint. He rubbed his hands together, smoothing out the crimson specks until they blended into his natural skin color. He had been near the front when everything had gone down. Something in his head wasn’t letting him dwell farther than that.

It was probably for the best.

Aaron looked up to his surroundings. He faintly recognized the others. He faintly recalled making a pass at Quinn… definitely Hera. He had never really had the follow through for anything serious, attachments were just going to weigh him down. Ethan would have been the closest thing Aaron could call a friend, if he believed in that sort of bullshit. He was competent, at least. Too optimistic and cheery for his taste. Then there was the black-haired girl, she seemed to always be around during the assemblies Aaron never paid attention to. As for the last one… Aaron was drawing a blank. She looked like all the other burnout guys he would knock the books out of the hands of when navigating the halls in-between classes.

[indent][color=FF2B2A]“It’s quiet. Not sure if that’s worse or better.”[/color][/indent]

Aaron slowly raised his knees, placed his hands on them, and slowly rose up to a stand. The pain in his legs had started to subside. [color=00aeef][i]How insightful.[/i][/color]

[center][indent][color=d9b972]"I'd imagine it means that those who got out have managed to hide, 
or that everyone else got ripped apart. And unless we intend to join them, 
we're going to need a way out. Any ideas?"[/color][/indent][/center]

He slid a hand into his pocket, deftly pulling out a stick of gum and sliding it into his mouth. [color=00aeef][i]Ditto, bro.[/i][/color]

[right][indent]"[color=A6FFF2]I think...our best bet would be the doors near administration, I think? 
People don't tend to use them very often, so they might not be too crowded right now. 
Or maybe if we get to roof access we can climb down somehow.[/color]"[/indent][/right]

Aaron nodded as he chewed, his gaze lingering on Shin. [color=00aeef][i]There we go, a fucking nerd.[/i][/color] He gave a nod to the student council president as she finished speaking, before looking towards Ethan, Quinn, and the rest. He shoved the gum into the corner of his mouth, behind his molars for a moment. [color=00aeef]”She’s right. I think I missed my chance to get out of a normal exit, those are probably swarmed now. If I… [sub]err, I mean, uhh…[/sub] we get to the roof, we can get a better idea of what we’re working with.”[/color]