David appeared at the edge of the crowd, pushing through with urgency. His face went white when he saw Terrance on the floor, and for a moment, he just stood there, staring.
“What happened?” David demanded, his voice too loud in the suddenly quiet hallway.
“He collapsed,” Rachel said, not looking up from Terrance.
“He needs help?—”
“They've called for an ambulance,” she said, cutting in.
“Is he—” David started forward, but Rachel held up a hand.
“Don't move him,” the nurse barked. “Just let him be until the paramedics get here.”
David's jaw clenched, but he stayed back. Rachel could feel his eyes on her, could sense the tension radiating off him, but she kept her focus on Terrance.
She glanced at Emma, still kneeling with Laura having kept the students in their rooms. “What a day for you to need to do an assessment, right?”
Emma nodded, then whispered, “I’m always prepared for the unknown.”
They looked down at Terrance, and Rachel noted the convulsions had stopped now, but Terrance's eyes were still unfocused, and his breathing labored. Rachel kept one hand on his shoulder, grounding him, letting him know someone was there, while Emma still protected his head.
“Shit, shit, shit!”
Rachel swung her head around, ready to yell at the student whose muted cursing was still heard over the noise. Her gaze landed on Tyler Morrison, another senior wrestler in one of her earlier classes. She started to tell him to get back to his room when she noted his wide-eyed stare. He wasn’t just morbidly curious, checking on a friend, or just seeing what the commotion was. There was stark horror on his face. And she swore she could see guilt wash over his expression.
Her attention returned to Terrance as the ambulance arrived a few minutes later, though it felt like an eternity. The paramedics moved with practiced efficiency, loading Terrance onto a stretcher, asking rapid-fire questions that the nurse answered while Rachel stepped back to give them room. She recognized Jose Garcia as one of the paramedics. She quickly glanced at Emma, knowing they had dated in high school, but Emma kept her gaze on Terrance.
Rachel finally stood and watched as Terrance was wheeled away, his body strapped down, and an oxygen mask over his face. The hallway was clear of students, and she saw Cindy on duty with Laura as one of the staff members making sure students didn’t come down the hall.
Jose looked to the side where Emma stood, and both locked eyes. Rachel watched as a look of longing crossed Emma’s face, then glanced at Jose and saw the same expression on his face. Then he returned his attention to Terrance and continued rolling him down the hall with the other EMT. Emma stood rooted in place, her gaze never leaving Jose’s back until the gurney was rolled around a corner and Jose disappeared.
Emma jerked slightly, her head swinging around, her gaze now landing on Rachel. Emma offered a sad smile and tiny shrug.
Principal Martine appeared at Rachel's elbow. “Ms. Ayers, can you come with me, please?”
“But my class?—”
“Ms. Coates? Will you watch Ms. Ayers’s class for a few minutes?”
“Of course,” Cindy said and disappeared into Rachel’s room.
Rachel followed Jacqueline down the hall to the closest department lounge. Her legs were shaky now that the adrenaline was fading. She pressed her hands together to keep them from trembling.
“You did well out there,” Jacqueline said, turning to face her. “Keeping calm, calling for help, managing the crowd. Thank you.”
She nodded, then confessed, “I was scared.”
“I know.” Jacqueline's expression was troubled. “Me too. The paramedics said his vitals were unstable. They're taking him to the hospital now, and we've contacted his parents.”
Rachel nodded, her throat tight. She kept seeing Terrance's face, pale and slack, his body jerking against the floor.
Jacqueline glanced around, then turned her attention back to Rachel. “I need to tell you something. And I'm only telling you because I know you're dating Detective Hudson and you've been working with the sheriff's department on this problem.”
Rachel's pulse kicked up. “What is it?”
“I got a call from Sheriff Hudson,” the principal said quietly. “He informed me that they've identified the illegal substances that were found in the boys’ locker room. Anabolic steroids. He wanted me to be aware in case there were any medical emergencies.”
Rachel felt the blood drain from her face as she let out a long breath.