You can't tell a soul....Mike tag Julia

[Mike Spruill]

Mike was walking down the hall of Gould with his friends, Kiki, Tony and Kyle. They were walking the opposite way of the class they should be heading toward. Mike planned to skip the rest of the day. He wanted to go home and get drunk and forget that Silver had to go to Gould for the stupid day. He barely went to Silver and now he had to go to Gould. "Dude I say we skip until Silver goes back...I mean..with all these kids...no one is bound to miss us..." Mike suggested.

And like good followed they were Kiki, Kyle and Tony agreed. They rounded a corner laughing and high fiving, "We we get out...I got my dad's SUV....I say we go to the beach...nothin better then smoking up at the beach." Mike had gotten a good beating last night, so going home was not on his list. He had bruises all over his chest and back. Some old and some new.

Mike continued to walk. Then all the sudden...POP....POP....POP...Mike looked around. "what was that...." He asked as he continued to look. It sounded like a gun shot, but....what was it...then the intercom came on telling everyone they were on a lock down. Mike saw a young woman in front of him when a group of kids with guns rounded the corner.

The one guy pointed his gun right at the young woman and it took Mike only seconds to respond. He ran forward and grabbed the girl as the POP sounded and they tumbled into the room. Mike used his foot to shut the door and reached up to lock it.

Kyle, Tony and Kiki were not so lucky. Tony was spared since he was Hispanic. But Kyle was shot and killed and Kiki was wounded. Mike looked around the empty class room at the female he recognized as Julia Warner. Yes he knew her. However it did not last. Pain shot through Mike as he realized his left shoulder/ upper chest was bleeding.....he had been shot.

[Julia Warner]

Julia skipped down the corridor, not caring if anyone saw her jiving to the music pouring through her headphones. She felt bouncier than she had in ages: She had met a boy who spoke Sindarin and whose knowledge of Arda rivaled her own, and she had actually made it into the school play (the fact that both Haley and Wynn were also cast members did nothing to dampen her ardour) and Connor had told her he had something exciting to tell her at lunch! She wondered what secret he could possibly have; he had been near to bursting with desire to tell her, she could tell, but they'd both had to run off to class.

The intercomm crackled to life, quite unexpectedly. "Hunh?" She slid one earbud from her ear, as though expecting the announcement to be repeated. Oh, drats. She hadn't heard it! What if it were something important?! She stamped one foot in frustration, gazing up at the ceiling as though willing the intercomm to relay it's message once again. "Ohhh, I'll just have to ask someone." She sighed, whirling about on one heel....and finding herself face to face with a gun. Before her mind could process this unusual developement someone grabbed her by the elbow and she was thrust into the open door of the classroom she had been standing in front of. It was at that moment that she finally found her voice, and let out a piercing shriek, which nearly drowned the sound of gunfire that followed them. The boy who had saved her had the presence of mind to slam the door shut, and lock it.

"Tha....thank you...." She panted, the pounding of her heart beginning to slow back to a normal pace as the sounds of feet and guns receded into the distance. She glanced quickly at her rescuer, and blinked in surprise when she realized it was none other than Mike Spruill, one of Jeremy's former friends. But before she could think about this too much her attention was drawn to the wound in his shoulder. "You're bleeding!" She gasped. She attempted to wrench part of her sleeve off, like they did in movies, but found that this was either not possible or she didn't have the strength. "We need to staunch it somehow...!!" She slid her bookbag from her shoulder, rummaging through it for something that might help, but the closest thing to a bandage she could come up with was the history homework she had been planning on finishing during lunch. Deciding that Mike's life was more important than her homework, she wadded it up and pressed it against his shoulder with one hand, and with the other searched for her ever present cellphone, her one link to getting Connor to pick her up after school or gossip late at night. Surely other people had called the police, too, but it never hurt to add another plea for swift help!

"Hold this just a minute," She meant her makeshift bandage, as she had now turned her attention to explaining to the operator, in a very shaky voice, that she was at school and someone had been shot. Yes, Gould. Please hurry. The operator assured her that officers were on their way, and she hung up. She wanted to explain to Mike that the police were on their way, but when she opened her mouth to speak she simply broke down into tears.

[Mike Spruill]

The pain was horrible, but Mike had felt worse if that was possible. He had felt much worse. A gun shot was one one thing, but being beaten multiple times....it kind of numbed you to the pain to be honest. Either way his shoulder began to throb even more when she pressed a bunched up piece of paper against his wound. "Owww...." He huffed out. It hurt, but he gave her a small smirk to show his thanks. "Are...are you hurt..." She did not seem hurt, but then again he had not taken time to notice.

Mike looked up and tried to see something but from his angle it was impossible to see anything. He held the paper when she used her cell to call for help. Then she started to cray and Mike's heart wrenched for her. He hated to see women crying..he hated to see guys crying too...."Shhh its okay...we will be okay." He reached his hand out to touch her cheek lightly. He was trying to be soothing...and not his asshole like self. This girl did not need ass hole she needed charming. Well he could do charming.

Soon the paper was soaked with blood and it was not going to be of much use for longer. "Help me get my sweatshirt off.." He huffed out. "We can use it to...help...for now..." However this meant one thing. All Mike was wearing underneath was a white tank top.

He had gotten use to wearing only his black sweatshirt and a tank top. So no doubt Julia would at least see the bruises on his arms. However even Mike knew that as he lifted the sweat shirt up his undershirt was bound to come up a little. However it was necessary. So with her help he pulled the sweatshirt off. His back showed a little. The bruises evident for anyone in that room to see. He held the sweat shirt. "It's okay...no need to cry.... A pretty girl such as yourself should never be in tears..." He said in a raspy voice.

[Julia Warner]

"I....I....I'm fine," Julia protested, shaking with sobs. She felt so totally useless, not at all like the brave heroines of the tales she read. Faced with real danger she was vulnerable, weak, and she felt ashamed.

She shuffled closer to Mike, eager to assist him remove his shirt as it gave her something to do, something she hoped would take her mind off the fact that outside these very doors people lay wounded or dead. Unfortunately, her hopes dimmed as his shirt slid off, and blood poured unabated from the wound in his shoulder, and she pressed her paper back against it. He was all bruised, too; she winced at the sight. He was an athlete, but she was sure that even they rarely sported quite so many injuries.

"Your back...." She began, but trailed off as blood dripped onto the hand holding her makeshift bandage. She felt rising panic; they had to find some way to halt the bleeding! Oh. Wait, that was why he had asked her to help get his sweatshirt off in the first place. Her panicked mood was not helping her think! She attempted to tie his shirt around his chest, tight, but the blood made her fingers slick, and it was difficult work.

"D...don't worry about m....me." She mumbled, sniffing in an attempt to not break down again.

[Mike Spruill]

Mike felt the pain. He felt the panic. He was not thinking about his friends Kiki, Kyle and Tony...no...his thoughts drifted to Jade. was Jade okay. Was he hurt...safe...and then there was Jeremy...how was he doing...sure Mike was here with Jere's sister, but Jere and Jade were no where to be scene. And that scared Mike. Despite everything and despite how he felt he still had feelings for Jade and Jere had done nothing but try and help and Mike had ruined both relationships.

"Its nothing.." He told her in regards to her back. "Just along story that no one knows about." He said with a smile. She looked so scared as she tried to tie his shirt. Mike held it in place. This had to stop the blood. Or else he might pass out. Mike tried to remember health class and the part on first aid. Talking. Talking was most important.

He had to stay talking...anyone with a head wound or any kind of wound. "And who should I worry about...me...no I am fine..you are the one I need to worry about. I am fine...made of steel...I am the modern day Superman..." Mike said trying to laugh but it hurt. "It hurts to laugh...." He sighed. Mike looked at her serious for a moment. "If I tell you something promise me you wont tell anyone...you can't tell a soul...especially Jade or Jeremy..."

[Julia Warner]

Julia scooted closer to Mike; the presence of another human was comforting, even if that other human was injured. Although his sudden switch in demeanor from serious to joking scared her. When he was attempting to laugh off his injury she could at least be annoyed with him, which was much better than being terrified out of her mind. But when he was serious the gravity of the situation seemed to press upon her, weighing her down with the responsibility of preventing him from bleeding to death.

“I…” She began, but at that moment the sprinklers went off. One hand jumped to her mouth, and she squinted up at the ceiling. The gunmen hadn’t set the school on fire, had they? No, the smoke alarms weren’t going off, it had to just be the sprinklers. She wrapped her arms around her knees, huddling miserably beside her twin’s former friend. Someone had to come rescue them soon, and then they could help Mike. He was going to be okay, he had to be.

“I won’t tell.” She swore, heart hammering. She wondered what Mike could possibly want to tell her that he didn’t want anyone else to know. Why her?

[Mike Spruill]

Mike looked at her as she scooted closer. "Help me hold this..." He said motioning to his wound and his sweatshirt that was against the wound. He was beginning to feel a little weak, but he decided not to say anything. He did not need to freak her out....hell he did not want to freak himself out...but not saying anything that meant it was not real right now.

He took a few deep breaths. "First in case something happens...I mean...I doubt it will...if I die it wont be like this...although dying next to beautiful girl like yourself is not a bad way to go..." Mike said with a smile and a small laugh.

"Tell Jade and Jeremy..I am...I am sorry...i know...I have not been the best...boyfriend....or....friend...I have my...stupid moments....okay i have a lot of them...." Mike said with a another laugh. It made it worse but easier. Laughing made it worse, but easier to deal with. "Now you can't tell anyone this...okay...but...the bruises...." He had forgotten he already made her promise..."I ....I get beat...by...by..my dads...."

[Julia Warner]

Julia wanted to protest that he wasn't going to die, but just in case he really was she decided to be silent and allow him to speak whatever it was he thought so important she couldn't tell anyone. She shook her head when he claimed to be stupid, and a bad friend and boyfriend, blinking back tears. She knew what was said about Mike, she knew his reputation, and had seen how he behaved the few times he had come over to the Warner house years ago, but she felt she couldn't accept his own brutally honest assessment. "No...." She whispered, hunching her shoulders in defense against his words, as though he were impugning her and not himself, "Everyone is stupid sometimes..."

She jerked upright in shock at his final admission. "Your...??!" She gasped. Everyone knew that Mike was adopted by a gay couple, but she had never met them; still, she would never have suspected abuse! She felt positive that this new information not only excused all prior immaturity on his part, but that an adult person ought to be told, someone who could make sure that he wasn't allowed back into a dangerous situation. "No!!" She snapped softly, indignantly. "You can't keep that secret! Mike...!" Brown eyes stared at him imploringly, "something could be done about it."

The door slammed open, and she jumped, dropping his sweatshirt, shrieking, but it was only a pair of police officers. "Hands on your heads!" A squat, dark officer barked, guns directed at them. "Names!"

Julia shakily raised her arms to rest on dark hair. "J...Julia Warner." She squeaked, "P...please....Mike's injured...."


*****

With astonishing alacrity the paramedics arrived, radioed by the two officers who had found Julia and Mike. And as they looked him over, stemming the flow of blood, Julia was ushered from the premise. She vowed that she would call on Mike as soon as she was allowed, to make sure he was okay, and to verify his shocking admission. She had to persuade him to tell someone! And now she was angry at Jade and her brother, for treating Mike with such casual disregard when he was in such pain. Shouldn't they have noticed something was amiss? Weren't they his friends? But she had promised not to tell either of them, a fact that irked her because she couldn't fathom actually breaking her hastily made promise. She would finagle Mike's number out of Jeremy, for sure, though; and if he was at the hospital she would find him. He couldn't be allowed to face his demons alone.

*tags for wrap?*

[Mike Spruill]

Mike might be being over dramatic but he felt like he was dying. He had lost a lot of blood and with each breath he was feeling dizzier and dizzier. Help needed to arrive soon or else. "Your sweet but I have been beyond stupid. Drinking...drugs.....just to numb the pain....I can't go a day without it....it helps....no one understands...." Not Jade or Jeremy. Of course how could they. They had no clue. "I can't tell. I am adopted. I have no where to go if I tell." He said though shallow breaths, "Its okay....I....I can handle it...not so bad....when your high or drunk....doesn't hurt....so much." His words were becoming more drawn out because he could barely make a sentence, "Just tell them...tell Jade.....tell Jeremy...I'm....I'm.....I'm sorry.....for everything....and....I will try....better...I will try..."

Of course there were no guarentees Mike would quit the drugs or drinking, but there was no promise he would live, but that had to be said. Someone had to be told, "I just hate....being alone....I feel like that....like no one understands....like I am alone..." Mike always felt alone. He hung out with people who were not really his friends and the only two people to ever really care about Mike he pushed away by acting like a bastard. "Thank you.....thank you pretty lady...." Mike gave Julia a smile and touched her cheek softly.

After that she was shuffled from the room and the paramedics began working on Mike. Al though his would was bad, it was not serious. All he needed was stitches, some more blood and to be in a sling for a few months. His would while in the upper shoulder and part of the chest, had missed the major arteries and the bone. Mike was lucky and loaded onto the gurney and taken to the hospital.

Wrap