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  “What are y’all doing? I said y’all have to get out of here!” Cassidy said as she came back to our room. She had gone knocking on other people’s doors. “Y’all have to get out of here.” Her mouth was covered, but we could understand what she was saying.

  “Go ahead, Teddi. I’ll get your box.”

  “Thank you,” she said, crying hysterically. “Thank you, Hailey. How ... how could I have doubted your love for me?”

  The dorm beds were so heavy I needed to think about how I was quickly going to get in and get out. When my mom had come up a week ago, it had taken four of us to move the beds. How am I going to move these by myself now? I thought to myself. Come on, Hailey. Think. Then I figured it out. I could fit under the bed; I would just slide under and grab her box.

  But I was becoming more and more tired. I wasn’t a geek, but I knew the smoke was wearing down on my heart. With as little as I had in me, I decided to give it one last try. She needed the box.

  That was all I could muster. I knew Teddi would never forgive herself if I risked my life for her personal belongings. I didn’t pray often, but at this moment I could use a prayer. So I thought, Lord, I know I’ve been a little angry at You for taking my friend’s parents. I guess if You wouldn’t have, she wouldn’t be in my life. Out of lemons we’re supposed to make lemonade, right? Help me get it, because I need to get out of here.

  I grunted and got the box, exited the room, and went out into the hallway. I could barely see, but I knew which way the stairs were. When I got there, there was more moaning. Screams were filling the clouded air.

  Cassidy said to me, “The door is jammed. We can’t get out. And your friend, Teddi—look!”

  When I looked down, I saw that Teddi had passed out. This moment was so terrifying there weren’t any words to describe it. At this moment the smoke got denser, and I couldn’t even see down to the other end of the hallway. I knew we were through.

  “Help! Help! Oh, my gosh, help!” I screamed out, joining Cassidy and other people from our floor in their cries for help.

  I just started praying to God to help us. I know I don’t come to You often, Lord. But I do care, and I love You.

  I was going on and on until Cassidy shook me. “Come on, don’t give up. Help us yell for help!”

  As we continued yelling, the door we were banging on finally sprang open. Two guys from upstairs who had been heading out had stopped to help us. The air coming in was fresh and couldn’t have come at a better time.

  This guy shouted, “We heard y’all! There was a beam blocking the door! We gotta get out of here! Look at the fire! Help them, Jake!”

  The Jake guy motioned for the other two girls to leave, and they fled fast. “Come on!”

  Cassidy and I pulled Teddi to the stairs, and the other guy slammed the steel door shut behind us to momentarily hold the fire. Cassidy and I tried to move my roommate. Her limp body was not responsive.

  “Cassidy, go!” I shouted. “I got her!”

  “I’m not leaving you guys. You need my help,” Cassidy said as the smoke started to seep under the steel door.

  “Run, girl—I’ll help them,” the stranger said as he shoved Cassidy down the first step.

  I looked closely at the guy who was risking his life. He could’ve kept going, but he’d decided to stop to help us. The smoke made my vision blurry, and it was like I knew him, but I didn’t know him. I was thankful he cared enough to help.

  “Is this Teddi?” he asked as he looked at her face.

  “Yes,” I confirmed as we both tried to lift her. “You know her?”

  “Oh, I gotta help her out of here. They will think I threw the election on purpose,” he uttered as he nodded.

  As we got Teddi off the ground, his last comment made me know where I knew him from ... the posters! This was Covin Randall. He was Teddi’s opponent.

  When his eyes met mine, I buckled a little. “I can’t lift her. She’s too heavy.”

  “You’re weak now. And you need to save your strength to get out of here. I got her. You go ahead,” he said to me, and I headed down.

  The fire was spreading. It was rumbling, almost talking. Safety was just one flight down, but it felt endless.

  As soon as I got outside, a fireman met me. “Miss, are you the last one?”

  “No, I know there are two people left. My roommate passed out. Somebody’s bringing her. Please go help them.”

  He called out to another firefighter, and I was swooped into someone’s arms and taken to safety.

  As the fresh air from outside hit me, I felt like my lungs were screaming for joy. My uncle rushed to my aid, and the firefighter placed me in his arms and gave him instructions to take me to the ambulance for evaluation.

  He hugged me tight, repeatedly saying, “I thought you were gone. I thought you couldn’t get out. My sister would never have forgiven me if something had happened to you on my watch. I thank God.”

  “Sir, we need to check her out and give her some oxygen,” one of the EMS workers said when he would not let me go.

  I kept watching the door. I spotted Cassidy and Jake. Thankfully, they were all right. Then I squinted my eyes as I honed in on Cassidy clutching her hands together like life was not grand. Covin and Teddi hadn’t come out yet. I refused treatment and ran closer to the door. As the tears rolled down my face, I wondered what was happening inside. I prayed, Lord, You helped me out. Please, though, please help them out, too.

  Finally, a firefighter had Teddi in his arms. I was relieved. Then the next second, when I didn’t see Covin, I was terrified again. He’d saved us, so he had to be saved. Why was he nowhere in sight?

  “Where is the guy? I’m certain there was someone else in there!” I screamed, trying to go back myself.

  Jake yelled, “She’s right! My boy Covin is in there!”

  “Yes, he told me to get out of there. You have to get him!” Cassidy cried out, finally breaking down because of the grave circumstances she knew Covin was facing.

  I darted to the blazing door.

  “Another firefighter is on his way in to get him—the smoke was too much. Covin was behind me when I took the girl, but then he tripped over the debris,” the firefighter said, holding me back from going in. “It’s okay, miss. We’re gonna get him out.”

  The EMS worker with Teddi yelled for assistance. “I need help over here—she’s unresponsive!”

  My uncle rushed over to her. My heart felt like it should be in the Olympics, as fast as it was racing. I had been so happy to see Teddi, I’d forgotten she’d been out of it for at least ten minutes before she was pulled from the building. And as I turned back to the dorm, more of it was in flames, and Covin was not out.

  “Oh, my gosh, this is horrible. This is bad. They have to be okay,” I said between my own coughs.

  Another EMS worker came over to me, practically forcing the mask on my face, and said, “I got to be blunt. Breathe into this before you fall over, and we have to cart you away. Hush up. Right now is no time to babble.”

  2

  GRATITUDE

  After taking three deep breaths, I handed the mask to the paramedic and said, “I gotta make sure everyone else is okay. Please trust me, I’m fine.”

  My eyes were watering as I looked at the paramedic. My best friend was laid out on a cot with EMTs working overtime to make sure she was okay. The guy who’d saved me was not even out of the building. How could I concentrate on me? I had to be there for them.

  The paramedic glared back at me. I think he saw I was seriously concerned for the others. He eased up a bit and said, “Okay, okay. Take a few more intakes of oxygen. Let me check your vitals, and then I can release you. I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but you can’t do anyone any good if you’re ill.”

  Looking at his badge, I saw his last name was Grayson. Mr. Grayson, who seemed like he never smiled, had a point. Though I hated taking care of myself, after I breathed more into the mask, I felt ten times better.

 
; When he gave me the all-clear, he proved me wrong and grinned just a tad. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  I thanked him and then rushed over to Teddi’s side. I couldn’t get that close because they were putting her in the ambulance. I hugged my uncle tight.

  He gave me a semi-positive update. “They did get her stable. They’re just making sure she’s completely out of the woods. You need to go sit and rest. Your mom should be here any minute.”

  When I saw Teddi sitting up, I exhaled. Then I was distracted by the commotion coming from near the building. I had been too busy talking to my uncle and getting oxygen to see what had happened. But the building was completely down on one side. People were beside themselves. Uncle Wade started walking toward the bigger group, and I followed. He could not keep me away.

  “That Covin guy saved my life,” I argued when my uncle gave me the mean look to sit down. “I’ve got to make certain he’s okay.”

  My uncle stopped walking, and with an impressed stare said, “Covin Randall made sure you were out?” I nodded. “He’s a super guy. Was on the SGA the last two years. Just another reason I know he’s got the character to make a great class president.”

  Before I could tell my uncle I agreed and that I would probably be letting my best friend down with my new revelation of who’d get my vote, Cassidy dashed up to us. She was out of breath, and I held mine. Would Covin even be around to run for the election?

  “The guy is okay,” Cassidy said, hugging me. “The firefighter got him out just in time.”

  I hugged her back so tightly. I was overjoyed that this guy I didn’t know, but felt connected to, was okay. I quickly went through the crowd to see Covin myself. I had to thank him. I had to hug him. I had to see for myself that he was okay.

  Covin was coughing excessively. So much so, it was scary. The paramedics called for everyone to back up. He fell onto the gurney. When others moved back, I kept walking toward him.

  When I finally got to his ear, I uttered, “Thank you so much. You saved me. You saved my friend. You were so courageous. Thanks for being our hero.”

  Mr. Grayson, my EMS worker friend, came over and said, “Ma’am, we have to make sure you all are okay and get you away from this building. You will have time later to thank him. Let us make sure y’all are safe by getting back. Plus, we need to check your friend out.”

  I looked down at Covin, and he really was out of it. Probably hadn’t heard anything I’d said. He was covered in smut and soot. He yelled out in pain when they touched his leg. The EMS guys said he was probably burned. I knew I had to get back and let them do their work.

  “Oh, my gosh! Hailey! You’re okay!” my mom screamed as she rocked me back and forth, getting my mind off feeling useless.

  My head was pounding a little, and though I had been cleared by the EMS team, I was feeling off. But I was so excited to see my mom. I cried harder than I had in a really long time.

  “I was so scared, Mom, but then I just asked God to take me into Heaven if I didn’t make it out of there. Look at that building!”

  She turned and looked at the bricks and roof on fire. Before we could say too much, there was an explosion that sent shock waves under my feet. And she held me even closer.

  “I love you, Hailey. I know I may compare you to Hayden a lot, and I guess I have to realize you’re your own person. I want you to know I’m proud of you, and I’m glad you’re alive.” She gave me a heartfelt kiss that melted on my head like sweet butter seeps into warm bread.

  “I know, Mom. I’m happy to be breathing, too. That guy saved my life,” I said, rubbing my own heart, as I loved feeling it beating.

  “Which guy, sweetie?” she asked.

  “He’s over there. He’s running for SGA President against Teddi. So it’s a lot.” Her eyebrows raised, feeling the tough place I was in. “Our floor was locked, and we didn’t know how we were gonna get out of there. He stopped and risked his life for us. Then Teddi was unconscious. I—”

  Grabbing my hand, she said, “Okay, okay, calm down.”

  Other people from our building came over to make sure I was fine. With both Teddi and Covin out of that building, I was much better. My mom had me talk to my dad on the phone. He was out of town on military business.

  About ten minutes later, I said, “Mom, the guy who risked his life for ours is awesome.”

  Squinting her eyes at me to make sure I was all right, she said, “Yes, he’s a hero for sure.”

  “I gotta go talk to him. He was pretty out of it when we first came out of the building.”

  “Well, yeah, you go talk to him if he’s able. I’ll go find your uncle, and I want to make sure Teddi is okay. Hailey, please stand back, and don’t get too close.”

  As I walked closer to Covin, he stood up as he saw me coming. “No, no, just relax,” I told him.

  “It’s okay. I’m a little weak, but I’m cool,” he said when I saw his leg bandaged up. “Plus, my leg is stiffening. Before I go to the hospital I needed to stand. Also, I have to stand for a lady.”

  I just trembled. It was the oddest day for feelings I hadn’t felt in a while. I had never been more drawn to a guy before. As I stood before Covin, knowing he had risked his life for mine, the feelings I had for him were overwhelming. Yeah, I’d had boyfriends before and had had deep feelings for them, but these emotions were different. It was weird. My heart couldn’t stop beating fast, and it felt scary to feel connected to someone I barely knew.

  He reached out for my hand, and when we clasped he looked deep into my eyes and said, “I’m glad we came out of that building alive.”

  “I don’t know if you heard me, but I’m glad you risked your life for mine and my best friend.”

  He joked, “Well, when I run against Teddi in the elections next week, I didn’t want her to be too mad at me.”

  “Well, after today you just might have my vote,” I smiled and said without really thinking.

  He smiled, and his teeth were perfect. Not only were they white, but they were superstraight. They were so inviting, just like his juicy lips. They weren’t wet or dry, just naturally moist. I was losing it until he looked at me as if I’d said something wrong.

  “I was just joking. You know I’m gonna vote for my girl,” I said quickly as I snapped out of it.

  “Well, we got a week, and I’m going to do everything I can to change your mind,” he said, squeezing my hand a little tighter.

  I looked over in Teddi’s direction, and she gave me the meanest look. Glad to see she was okay, however, I quickly realized how this looked. She had been unconscious, and to her it seemed like I was consorting with the enemy. But thanks to the enemy, she was breathing.

  I quickly let go of Covin’s hand and said, “Thank you so much.”

  “No thanks necessary. I did what I felt I had to do. After the hospital I know I’m going to crash.”

  I didn’t want to leave his side. I did feel like I owed him, but there was something else connecting the two of us. Though I’d let go of his hand, it seemed like we were still touching. That was a hard feeling to shake, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to let it go. I was alive, and I was glad to care about life. Covin Randall had my thanks, and maybe something else, too. Nah! I was just overly grateful. No way I could really be into him, right?

  Thirty minutes had passed, and we were all still out there. Tears flowing from everywhere. Many in disbelief of the ordeal others had gone through. Attendance was being taken for those who had residency in the dorm building. Ninety of us had lived on three floors. Thankfully, only a third of us were there at the time the blaze lit. And everyone was accounted for. Finally, the terrible crisis was over.

  Then the head custodian of the entire school frantically drove his golf cart over to my uncle. “President Webb! President Webb! My custodian employee, Mayzee King—I haven’t been able to find her. I called her house, and she wasn’t there. She was working in this building.”

  Western Smith had approximately fifteen hundre
d students, and it seemed like double that amount of people were out there. My mother and I were close enough to my uncle to hear what was going on. My heart sank just like a cruise line ripped apart in the ocean. There had to be a rational explanation to where Ms. King was. She had to be alive somewhere in the crowd. The thought of someone perishing in this fire was unbearable.

  Covin and a few of his friends came rushing over. Covin said, “We saw our building’s custodian. She was the one who told us to get out.”

  “Yeah,” said Jake, who was standing behind Covin. “The lady came in my room and said somebody left a hot plate on, and the fabric on the window treatment was on fire. She said we needed to get everybody out of the building. The fire was spreading.”

  Campus security came over at the same time to ask some questions. Officer Hartford said, “So when you guys went to the stairs, you didn’t see which way Ms. King went?”

  “No,” they said together.

  Cassidy came over to my uncle. I hadn’t seen Cassidy, the Beta, since she’d told me Covin was out of the building. Seeing all the camaraderie of her sorority sisters behind her, I could see they had something special. Why she was living in the dorm and not in the apartment with the Chapter President, who was supposedly her best friend, I didn’t know. But I did like seeing about eight Betas who were happy Cassidy was okay.

  Cassidy said, “Yeah, the housekeeper was on the second floor. She came to my door and told me to knock on people’s doors to get everybody out.”

  My uncle asked, “And did you see her get out with you guys?”

  “No, we were trapped. I assumed she was already on the other side of the door.”

  “And that’s when we came and we heard screams coming from the second floor,” Covin said. “There was a beam that had already fallen, and my friends and I were able to move it together. We didn’t get out of the building immediately because we made sure everyone on the third floor was out. The second floor got so cloudy so quick—that’s why Teddi passed out. Maybe Ms. King got trapped there.”