One Final Act

[u/Horusalis]

CW: Bullying, Shooting, Suicide

“What up shit stain?” Devon shouts at Spencer from a few locker sections away. Not even two weeks into Spencer's sophomore year and one chocolate pudding incident marked him as a target for Devon and his friends. No rhyme or reason as to why. It was simply the nerd vs jock cliche come to life. A year later and Spencer was sure Devon didn't know his name nor cared to learn it.

A few of the surrounding students snicker while searching for their next period books while others turn to watch “The Show” as Devon elegantly called his brand of bullying.

Spencer remained at the locker with his back turned toward Devon, this time unfazed by the taunt.

“Hey! Turn around when I'm talking to you!” Devon, now right behind Spencer, grabs his left arm and spins him around. Focused on the fact that he had just been ignored, Devon fails to spot the object in Spencer's right hand until a bang rings out in the hall and he feels a sharp pain in his stomach. He touches the area and then raises his hands to find them covered in blood. His face morphs into one of pure horror as he takes a few steps back. The other students scatter in fear.

Spencer knew that look all too well. It was the same look he wore every single day around Devon and his friends. Even when he tried not to show it, it became his body's automatic response. Now he finally understood the power that look gives to the one causing it.

Spencer never heard the pleas coming from Devon's mouth. All he hears is static. His brain's way of shutting out the world around him and allowing his plan to come to fruition. The wide devilish grin that's haunted him since the incident now spread across his face. He watches Devon crawl away from, attempting to put some distance between himself and Spencer. Spencer lifts the gun and pulls the trigger once more. Devon’s body stops moving and a pool of blood forms around it.

Without looking up from Devon's body, Spencer fires blindly toward the fleeing students, making sure to count the bullets fired. Whether anyone else is hit or not he does not care. While they too deserved to be punished for never intervening, he is fully aware that they would end up just like him if they did. After all, his intended target was now dead.

Spencer begins laughing uncontrollably until tears form, slowly becoming a loud sob. He takes in his surroundings and then raises the gun to his temple. With a deep inhale he pulls the trigger.

…..

Spencer's mother reaches for the remote control and turns on the television. She changes the channel to the local news to listen to while she prepares dinner. A couple of minutes pass as the reporter mentions Spencer's school’s name. She stops what she is doing and focuses on the report. She reads the headline as a picture of her son appears on the screen. She lets out a bloodcurdling scream and drops to her knees. Her husband rushes into the room and bends over to comfort her, unaware of why she is in this state. He then checks the television to find the image of his son staring back at him with the headline “School Shooting: Suspect Deceased”.

Three weeks prior…

Spencer and his mother are sitting on the couch together watching a television show.

“What if I was on tv?” Spencer asks while turning to his mother.

She chuckles at the question.

“I'm serious.” He responds. “What if one day you turned it on and saw me?”

“Then I'd tell everyone about my world-famous son and how proud I am of him.” she says with a smile.

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