Chương 199: Chapter 199: Gunshots
Burbank Middle School's open day drew a significant number of parents for a visit. In comparison to previous years, this year featured a special addition: star students participating in a movie promotion.
According to the agreement between Warner Bros. and the school, Martin, Blake, and other "Sisterhood of Travelling Pants" stars would partake in an afternoon basketball game between Burbank Middle School and North Hollywood Middle School. Additionally, there would be an advanced screening of the film in the school auditorium in the evening, allowing students to watch it ahead of its official release.
Martin and Bruce arrived at Burbank High School together, heading directly to the campus parking lot. Exiting the car, they proceeded straight to the basketball gym.
The basketball gym, located in a renowned California private high school, was impressively large and capable of accommodating thousands of spectators.
Adjacent to it, the grand library rivaled the size and opulence of a university library.
Martin couldn't help but comment, "If only I could have attended a private middle school back then..."
Bruce responded thoughtfully, "With your talent, you could've surpassed all expectations."
Martin, with a touch of self-awareness, admitted, "That's true. But I bet anyone who could afford to attend this kind of middle school could easily secure a recommendation to a decent-sized public university, right?"
Bruce, equally self-aware, replied, "I can't say for sure, not having experienced it myself."
To this, Martin playfully taunted, "You scoundrel!"
Bruce had nothing more to offer than a middle finger in response.
The two approached the side entrance of the basketball court, where representatives from Warner Bros. and Burbank Middle School awaited, guiding Martin into a spacious lounge.
"Hi, Martin!" Blake, upon spotting her male idol, dashed over, arms outstretched, and enveloped him in a hearty hug. "I've been waiting for you," she exclaimed with enthusiasm. Watching from the background were the other three heroines: America, Alexis, and April, their gazes icy.
April, who had her share of conflicts with Blake, muttered under her breath, "Brown-noser, you're such a sycophant!"
America remained silent but nodded in agreement.
Blake enthusiastically roped Martin into a conversation. "It's still early. I'll be participating in the cheerleading competition in three hours. I'm the head cheerleader here. You must watch me perform!" Martin, obliging, promised, "I won't miss it."
Blake, in high spirits, revealed, "I get to kick off the basketball game today and enter the court early. The northwest channel offers the best view. I'll be close to that side during the game." Suddenly, Martin recalled that cheerleaders typically wore short skirts and jackets, making the competition more enticing.
He inquired, "Are you competing against the Hall Middle School cheerleading team?"
"Of course!" Blake exuded confidence. "I'll trounce the Hall Middle School cheerleaders!"
Martin jested, "You're taking on middle schoolers. It hardly seems fair."
Blake responded, "You're just praising me, aren't you? Yes, you're definitely praising me! Martin, you think I'm incredible..."
Martin observed the self-absorbed girl and remarked, "It's quite straightforward. If you score a perfect 100, your figure is at least a 99. You've got the game in the bag." This flattery caused Blake to instinctively straighten her posture and puff out her chest, basking in his admiration. "In my eyes," she proclaimed, "a perfect score of 100 is a conservative estimate—I'd give you 120 points!"
At that moment, a Warner Bros. staff member entered the lounge and reminded them, "Get ready; the media is here." With the game still hours away, there were no fans queuing outside yet. However, the early arrival of the cast and crew allowed for interviews with reporters.
Warner TV reporter Helen, along with her photographer and assistants, entered the lounge.
The cast and crew, one after another, assembled for photos and videos at the prepared venue.
Originally a team of four women and one man, the inclusion of Martin due to his popularity and Blake's connections transformed it into a mixed-gender ensemble, with three supporting female characters.
Amenda expressed her dissatisfaction, muttering, "Those sycophantic lovebirds!"
April, still bearing a grudge from the incident involving a soup shower during filming, whispered, "Should we mess with them?"
Upon hearing this, Amenda instinctively distanced herself.
Alexis, who hadn't taken part in the on-set disputes, remained seemingly oblivious, not engaging in the discussion.
The ensuing interviews initially focused on Martin and Blake.
"I watched the trailer," began Helen, "and it seems like you two share great on-screen chemistry. Is that true? How well do you know each other?"
Martin, known for his adaptable personality, momentarily channeled Anne's character. "Blake and I have known each other long before filming. By the time we stepped onto the set, we were already close friends who shared everything."
He nodded toward Blake, continuing, "As you can see, Blake is the kind of girl that even God might envy. Words can't do justice to her excellence. I'm proud of her, and having such a friend and partner is something I'm proud of."
These words resonated with Blake, who already had a penchant for flattery. She gazed at Martin, her eyes nearly forming heart shapes, and eagerly seized the narrative, "Martin is my idol and favorite actor. He's the most perfect man I can imagine!"
With a triumphant tone, Blake added, "He's also a true gentleman. Being around him is always comfortable, and I've often thought that knowing Martin is one of the best gifts God has bestowed upon me"
Helen cast a discerning look at Martin and quickly grasped that this girl cared primarily about her appearance and figure.
After a few more questions about the movie, the interview paused momentarily. Helen intended to interview the other three heroines after a break. Warner Bros. representatives informed them not to make any inappropriate remarks.
At this point, Bruce approached Martin, informing him of a text message. Martin checked it and discovered it was from Elizabeth, inquiring if he had time for a group photo with her classmates. Martin approached the scene coordinator and received immediate approval, as it coincided with a break. He replied to Elizabeth with the lounge's location.
Within two minutes, Elizabeth arrived, leading a dozen girls through the door. Most of them were around sixteen or seventeen, sporting Hall Middle School uniforms. Elizabeth greeted Martin with a warm smile, introducing her classmates. Martin reciprocated the greetings, acknowledging the excited girls.
One girl among them expressed envy towards Elizabeth, remarking, "So you really know Martin. Having a big star as a sister must be amazing." Elizabeth defused the situation, urging them to hurry for a photo and reminding them that the crew was busy working.
The girls eagerly gathered around Martin for a group photo. Meanwhile, Blake, the cheerleader, inquired if Elizabeth's classmates were their opponents for the day. Judith, a member of the Hall Middle School cheerleading team, confirmed this, mentioning that the girl who talked to Martin was a member of their team. Blake was displeased, feeling as though her territory had been invaded. However, Judith's offer to help seemed to have been anticipated by Blake, as she firmly declined the suggestion.
On the other side, Bruce had taken out his SLR camera and positioned everyone correctly. He had become quite proficient at photography since last year.
After adjusting, Bruce captured five consecutive photos. Elizabeth's desire for attention was satisfied, and she expressed gratitude, promising to treat Martin to dinner another day. Martin accepted graciously, inviting her to contact him anytime.
With Elizabeth and her classmates leaving swiftly, Helen briefly interviewed the other three heroines. Following this, the cheerleading team had to enter the venue to get accustomed to it. Martin was also preparing to take promotional photos on the court, and Helen and her camera crew followed closely.
As they exited and entered a passage, they faintly heard the sound of basketballs bouncing on the floor. Black remarked, "Our home team is starting their warm-up."
Martin nodded and followed him onto the basketball court, where tall students were engaged in simple dribbling. Martin recognized some of them as familiar faces. Behind the scenes, the cameraman filmed the scene, and Helen captured images with her DV camera, showing particular interest in the venue decorated with posters of people pulling down their jeans.
In another part of the story, an ordinary Chevrolet parked at the entrance of Burbank Middle School. Andre, Sergey, and Victor entered the school, carrying sports bags and dressed in Burbank Middle School sports uniforms. They were well-known figures, and the security guard didn't pay them much attention. Many clubs had activities that day, and numerous students carried sports bags.
The trio had a clear objective and headed straight to the basketball gym, where their most vehement adversaries were expected to be present. Outside the arena, students gathered gradually. Although there were no queues yet, the number of people exceeded the norm.
Instead of rushing into the court, the three walked around the basketball hall. In order to prevent students from entering haphazardly, most entrances and exits of the basketball hall were temporarily locked. Only the entrance and exit designated for the teams and cheerleading squads remained open.
Andre signaled, and all three moved toward that entrance. Sergey, with his sports bag, brandished a sawed-off shotgun hidden under his sports coat. Andre, holding his bag, retrieved a Glock pistol from his tactical vest. They neared the entrance, where two staff members noticed the school students approaching and began to speak but were abruptly silenced by the sight of a black pistol pointed at them.
Without hesitation, Andre fired a shot, and one staff member fell to the ground. Simultaneously, Sergey unleashed his shotgun, transforming the other staff member's chest and abdomen into a gruesome sight. Victor, taking out his pistol, shot each of them in the head.
They rushed into the basketball gym, where Andre directed Victor to guard the area. He dropped his bag, revealing a bulletproof vest and multiple magazines, and unveiled a modified AR, positioning himself behind a corner with good visibility.
With AR in hand, Andre approached the court, anticipating Sergey in the locker room. Sergey, shotgun on his shoulder, wore a gleeful smile and an air of excitement. Andre shouted playfully, "Let's see who can score more!"
Grinning widely, Sergey replied, "I'm in!" The two were clearly in high spirits.
Sergey made his way to the locker room and encountered a curious black boy who fell victim to his shotgun's blast. Meanwhile, Andre proceeded down a corridor toward the stadium, passing a sizable convenience store. The store's glasses-wearing owner, carrying a basket of bottled Cokes, placed them against the wall. When he turned around, he locked eyes with Andre, who fired two shots, sending the owner to meet his maker.
On the basketball court, the Hall Middle School cheerleading team was warming up. Elizabeth approached Martin to say hello, and Blake, like a protective knight, positioned herself next to Martin. Judith, the basketball captain, was present, and the sound of basketballs hitting the floor echoed loudly.
Martin began to sense something amiss, hearing noises from a closer proximity. He asked if anyone else had heard it, but Blake and Elizabeth weren't sure. A second round of peculiar noises confirmed Martin's unease, and he swiftly turned to Bruce.
Bruce rushed over, urging Martin to leave. Elizabeth and Blake followed suit, their feet moving faster than their minds. Martin turned to shout, warning everyone of the shooting, and Helen and her camera crew trailed behind them.
Amidst the chaos and frantic escape, Martin still had the presence of mind to inform everyone about the situation, ensuring they fled the danger. The commotion only grew louder as the assailant with the modified AR burst onto the court, firing indiscriminately.
Martin and his group sprinted away, running for safety, as screams, yells, and the sound of panicked footsteps echoed behind them.
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