The Students Who Stayed After

Long after the 2:40 bell has rung, sophomores Grace Lybarger and Bella Hayden remain in the building. Left stranded until their parents can come get them after work, they choose to hang out at East until they can be picked up.

“[We stay after for so long] because we don’t have rides home and walking is stupid,” Hayden said.

The girls are generally found in the band room, but often venture elsewhere. They spend their time in any fun way they can: roaming the halls, sitting around in the band room and playing random instruments, doing homework, singing at loud volumes. Sometimes they just sit and talk.

“We do run through the hallways, just because we can,” Hayden said.

The two sophomores enjoy the freedom staying alone at school brings them and have had some interesting experiences in their trips through the usually empty hallways.

“We did get in the middle of a chalk fight once,” Hayden said. “That was unfortunate.”

Still, this only adds to the adventure. Lybarger says she enjoys hanging out at school after it closes and spending time with Hayden and her other friends. They always manage to have fun and are fine with not being able to go home right away.

Being stranded at school definitely has its upsides.

The Chalk Fight: