He thought, Sheesh, in just a half-day or so, they'd all be free from the damn shackles of tests, quizzes, annoying teachers, asshole seniors, crappy cafeteria food, and run wild for the next two months until late August when the sophomores, juniors and newly-minted freshman would come back to put those damn shackles on once again.
No, there was concern on a few faces. Maybe confusion. The school main hallway was still typically loud but in an oddly subdued way. A few girls were whispering. A few others were huddled together. Teachers walked about with a kind of serious purpose. Gillie felt almost as if he was stepping out of his body and simply watching what was going on. What could it be? he thought. What in the world had happened?
"Did ya hear?" he heard. Then he felt a tug on his shirt. "Did ya hear what they're saying?"
Gillie snapped back. "Huh?" He turned.
Billy Giffries leaned in. "It's crazy in here."
"What's going on?"
"A girl is missing," he said, looking about as if someone might hear him.
"What girl?" Gillie said.
"That senior."
"Which?"
"The really pretty one," Billy said. "Kimberly... oh what's her last name?"
"Not sure."
"Blonde. Long hair. Pretty."
"Kimberly Fitzsimmons?"
"Yeah, that's her."
"Missing?"
"That's what I heard."
"Who told ya?"
"Everyone."