A Clown in the Bag

She didn't stop for the bus to come.

Jessica walked past the gates, past the meadow and past the buildings. She held the straps of her bag carefully, like it could tear. The sweat had started to gather on her palms, and her voice was already stuck in her throat. There was a desperateness within her, an unrest.

She looked behind her. The streets were empty. 

At school, she found an empty desk at the far end of the room. A sharp sunlight filtered through the window next to her. The gold caught her eye, but she looked away. She didn't have the courage to look into the sunlight today. The teacher called for her, her voice soft.

"Jessica," she said. "Why don't you introduce yourself?" 

She gulped.

"Hello everyone," she stuttered. "My name is Jessica, and-" her mouth snapped shut and she sat down. 

The class moved on. The teachers gave their lessons, the classrooms filled with chatter and things that nobody saw. Like how the fans stopped creaking. Like how every classroom was almost empty. Like how Jessica's eyes were shadowed.

"I have a proposal," a boy said, his voice fifteen. "Why don't we go to the rooftop and see which one can stand on the ledge longest without loosing their cool?"

Jessica opened her bag.

The gang stumbled onto the rooftop, and they all took their turns. All except for the boy, who then stepped on the ledge.

"Hey losers, looks like I might win," said the boy to his friends.

In class, Jessica sat on her desk, trembling. She knew everything. How could she not? "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I should have stopped you."

The sky was orange. The teachers were teaching. There was chatter on the rooftop. The boy stood on the ledge still, admiring the view. His hands were dusty and his shoes were ruddy. His uniform stuck to him, half swathed in sweat; he looked thankful for the breeze. 

"You've passed the highest timing!" A girl with a stopwatch exclaimed.

The boy laughed. Somewhere along the way, the sky had turned red. 

A rock beneath him tumbled into the creek below.