I Woke Up 123 by M.P. Arsent
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I must have gone pale or something because Dean Evans was right there.
"Mr Sawyer! Take it easy young man and breath. Get this through your head Dennis. THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT. Mr Grant is the one who was at fault in this whole situation."
"I hear you sir, but I still can't help feeling to some extent responsible."
"Once again Dennis you are not. I shouldn't even be telling you this, but Mr Grant had significant problems before he ever got to campus according to what has been uncovered. I won't go into particulars, but suffice to say he was deeply disturbed. The press release has gone out and I'm sure it will be all over campus by lunchtime if not sooner. I'd appreciate it if you didn't say anything until at least tomorrow morning."
"Of course not sir. I appreciate the heads up. I'm sure that there will be those who will still think this is my fault. At least I won't be blindsided."
"Anyone who gives you any real trouble over this should be reported to this office."
"Any real trouble will be sir. I'll take the verbal abuse, but anything beyond that I'll report."
"You don't need to even take that Dennis."
"I know sir, but I don't want to tie up the resources of this office for a simple opinion."
"Very well Mr Sawyer. I'll leave it to your judgement what needs to be reported and what doesn't. No get out of here and get ready for that meet in a couple of weeks."
"Yes sir."
With that I shook the Deans hand and left the office. I thought about going over to the rec center to work on that triple dismount but having been there yesterday decided to wait until tomorrow to do that. It would be three days before I got the chance to work on it again after that, and besides my head really wasn't in the right place to be trying things like that.
I decided to just head back to my room and kick back for the afternoon. Not being able to say anything until tomorrow was going to make it a long night as everybody was going to want to know what the meeting had been about.
Sure as death and taxes, Pete was waiting in the room when I got back.
"So?"
"Only thing I can tell you is that I don't have to worry about getting buses for the away meets anymore."
"But there's more isn't there?"
"Yeah, but the Dean would appreciate that I didn't talk about it just yet."
"I guess I'll just have to respect that."
"For a little bit anyway. Are there any plans for tonight?"
"Not for me. Susan has some kind of test tomorrow she wants to study for tonight. You and Karl?"
"Nothing tonight that I know of, other than getting Gordon down to supper. Karl did remind me last night that this is the weekend of the big basketball game and the campus is likely to be very crowded."
"Yeah I've seen a couple of posters around for other things because of that. So you guys going to hang in or take off for a couple of days?"
"Hadn't even thought about it Pete. We'll probably hang here. For the few hours on Saturday that it will really be a pain I can't see taking off."
"Yeah I suppose. So we just waiting on Karl to go to supper?"
"I guess so. I expect he'll be over shortly."
Until Karl arrived about a half hour later, I sat there and tried to get myself ready for any shit that was going to be thrown at me. I thought I was ready for it when Karl got to our door.
Karl walked in and just looked at me. The look on his face told me he had heard already.
"You going to be able to handle this Den?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Handle what Karl?"
"Then you haven't heard. It was indeed Kyle Grant who was the shooter."
"Dennis?"
"Guess that cat's out of the bag. Dean Evans told me the press release had already gone out. Yes it was Kyle and Dean Evans told me that Kyle had significant mental problems before he ever got to campus. That I am certainly not to blame for any of the outcome. He indicated that the statement was worded to the affect that Kyle and only Kyle was responsible. That having been said, I know there's going to be a certain amount of crap come at me. I understand if you want to distance yourself from me Pete."
"Bullshit Denny. I'm not going anywhere, and I doubt your true friends will be heading anywhere either."
"Not my friends I'm worried about. All of those people that got hurt are going to want someone to blame. They can't blame Kyle so here I sit."
"That's stupid Den."
"It may be Pete but it's human nature as well. There always has to be somebody to blame."
"So we heading down to supper or what?"
"Down to supper, but promise me that if there's any shit that you guys won't react."
"You know we aren't going to put up with any trash talking Den."
"Pete, please. Trash talking I can survive and I'm betting that somebody will be quoteing the no harrassment policy before that gets too out of hand."
"Sometimes it doesn't take long for talk to turn to action Den."
"Absolutely and then if push comes to shove I'll defend myself doing as little damage as possible until the campus authorities break it up. I don't expect anymore than that from you guys eihter."
At that point there was a knock on the door. I opened the door expecting Gordon and Aiden. As it was I didn't recognize the person stnading there.
"I'm Bob Watson with the campus paper. Mr Sawyer?"
"I am."
"Sir what is your response to the press release from the public information office?"
"Not having seen this release, I have no response. If you could be a bit more specific?"
"The release says that one Kyle Grant, a former student, was responsible for the recnt shootings. We've learned that after a confrontation with you that he was expelled. Do you feel any responsibility for the shootings?"
Now I was in a bit of a quandry. I knew what Dean Evans had said about Kyles mental state but I had just also suggested that I hadn't read the release and therefore had no idea of Kyles mental state, so I had to respond to this very carefully.
"At present I don't have any information that indicates that I had any thing to do with these shootings. Ultimately Mr Grant is responsible for his actions. Now if you will excuse me."
I shut the door.
"Why do I have the feeling that is just the first?"
"Because it probably is. The local media will probably be all over this."
"Maybe the college will keep them off campus like they did the night of the shootings."
"With the big game this weekend? I'm doubting that. Should we try and sneak out for the weekend?"
"They'd just be waiting at the main gates and probably follow us if we tried. Tomorrow it's classes,cafeteria, room. Hell think we'll be able to jog unmolested?"
"We can only hope love."
"You guys won't be any less the targets just for knowing me. Hell I should probably give the squad a heads up as well."
I got out my phone and sent a quick text to Dana as I knew he was probably working out at this point. I quickly got a text back.
Too late they were already here looking for U.
"Great they've already hit the squad. Which means that Dwayne knows."
"And likely any other of the victims still on campus. This time I promise I won't call you paranoid love."
"Yeah well, let's grab Gordon and Aiden and get down to supper and get this over with."
We went next door and got Gordon and Aiden,but not before I filled them in on what was going on and got their promise not to interfere in anything that might go down.
We got down to the cafeteria without any problem. When we walked in the place got rather quiet. I didn't say anything and simply went to the serving line. We were all served and we found a table.
We sat down and started eating when something hit the back of my head. It was a handful of mashed potatos. I stood and easily found the guy who had flung them standing a couple of tables away, his left arm in a sling.
I walked over to him.
"Feel better?"
"Not a damn sight!"
"You want a shot at me? Take it."
I saw the right cross coming and didn't move. It connected and I found I had a bloody lip.
"Want another?"
Again I saw it coming and didn't move, and again he connected.
"Again?"
And the third blow was struck.
"Feel better yet?"
The hand drew back for a fourth hit but it never came.
I turned around and addressed the hall in general.
"Anybody else want to take a shot?"
There were no takers and by now the campus security was there and was going to take the guy away.
"You want to press charges Mr Sawyer?"
"What for? This was my fault. I hit his fist with my face."
The officer looked at me and at the other guy and shook his head.
"I think I understand. Let's see if we can keep this kind of thing to a minimum Mr Sawyer."
"I'll do my best officer, but sometimes the face wants what the face wants."
They left and the guy just looked kind of sheepish.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it. I'm no head doctor, but if you need an ear, I'm willing to listen."
"I'm already seeing a shrink, but thanks."
He offered me is hand and I shook it.
I then headed back to eat my supper and we were undisturbed.
"You have got to be the craziest person I know Den."
"Maybe Aiden, but it might have just helped that guy and by extension some others as well."
After supper Karl thought it might be a good idea if we didn't take our walk tonight. We ended up on the roof off in a corner. When it came time for our good night kiss, it was on the cheek tonight.
Soon enough it was back to my room and when 11 rolled around so did the usual message and the usual response was sent.
Next morning it was up as usual and downstairs to go jogging, only to be meant by a crowd of people and cameras.