the students stayed silent.
"ok... zoe how are you doing in school?" mrs. Pitchkin asked.
"uh, fine" Zoe responded plainly.
"fine?" mrs. Pitchkin inquired after a moment. "Just fine?"
"yeah..." Zoe said awkwardly. she looked to jake who shrugged.
"OK, Shawn, how are you feeling?" Mrs.Pitchkin asked turning to Shawn.
"Fine. a bit hungry." he stated.
"but how do you feel about your life?" she prodded leaning forward in her chair.
"great i guess."
"ok then, uh," she sighed and looked around the circle "Kate! how is your mother?"
"Fine. you just saw her."
"ok then..." Mrs. Pitchkin looked up at the ceiling before asking " who hasn't answered a question?"
Dasha and Jake both raised their hands slightly. Dasha looked at Zoe who made a 'i dont know' gesture.
Mrs. Pitchkin looked up, "ok," she thought for a moment before starting, "Daya,
"it's Dasha."
"whatever, do you have any problems with school?" Mrs. Pitchkin finished
"no"
"Ok, well if thats all." She stood up and grabed her clipboard
"Um, Mrs. Pitchkin you didnt ask Jake a question." Dasha said.
Mrs. Pitchkin just rolled her eyes and walked out.
"where's she going" Kate asked after the door closed.
"to eat cereal, and take a nap." jake responded. he then turned to Zoe "that was the fastes ive seen her drop her smiley act yet."
"yeah you're right."

......

Chapter 1

         St.James High, a normal school, for normal kids. With normal teachers, and normal activities. Right?
         It was Saturday, 8:00am to be specific, and a beautiful day. most kids would be teens would be sleeping or outside, enjoying the warm bright sun. most teens would not be at school at 8 in the morning at a counseling session. Inside St.James High School five teens waited for the most painful for hours of their lives. the lobby held these teens, five parents, one councilor, and one secretary. At the desk of the lobby stood a well dressed woman in a grey dress suit whispering quietly and intently to the secretary seated behind the desk. the woman's daughter stood next to her quietly listening to their conversation. at the back of the lobby stood a pair of parents and their child. the father stood over the teen talking in hushed , angered tones. in the middle of the room stood another family, the dad in dust covered jeans hugged his son tightly. "i love you son"  the mother hugged the teen and kissed his head. at the wall opposite the desk sat a teenage girl. she glanced at the family at the back again and again, while figiting with the string bad in her lap. finally at the front by the glass doors sat another female. she stared out into the parking lot clutching her phone.
     A woman walked out of a door at the back of the room and anounced, "Alright, everyone!" all too cheerily. "say your 'i love yous' and give your last kisses because we are about to start!"
       the teens and parents parted with a few wispers. the parents walked out into the parking lot and one by one drove off. inside the building the teenagers turned to the councilor.
     "ok, follow me." she said deflating a bit but still keeping her falsely happy tone.
     they started to walk to the door the woman entered. a string bag was slipped into the hands of the child with an angered father "uh, can i go the the bathroom?"
      "sure" the councilor said without turning back. the group walked down the hall to the auditorium. inside the auditorium was a circle made of chairs. the students seated themselves and the councilor sat at the front. the last teen returned from the bathroom and sat down. "Ok! so I'm Mrs.Pitchkin," she said "some of you know me." Mrs. Pitchkin looked around the circle and then continued, "so lets start by saying our names. lets start on this side," she gestured  to her right. "and go around." she turned to her right.
       "uh, I'm Kate" stated the girl from the counter.
       "I'm Shawn" he dusted his jeans thinking of his father's.
       "I'm Dasha" she said still clutching her phone.
       "I'm Jake"
at this Mrs.Pithkin pursed her lips.
Shawn looked up at Jake. his eyes lingered before he looked away again.
       "and I'm Zoe"
       "OK so I'm going to ask you some questions and i want you to answer truthfully." Mrs.Pitchkin said in a fake tone.
     

...