"I've been thinking, this guy was in your biology class and close enough to your table for him to have heard you and Samson". Sam supplied. "Who do you think it is?"
"Beats me". I went to his study desk where there was a cup of pens and books here and there. I picked a pen and selected a rough book. " But I can try and remember the names of the guys in my biology class, then we go through each of them. There are thirteen boys altogether.".
"Good idea, babe". He praised and stood over my shoulder as I prepared to write.
The first name I remembered was Peter Kirkman because he was the first boy to be paired. I wrote his name down.
"Okay. One down, sixteen more to go". Sam patted my shoulder encouragingly.
Now I was mentioning and writing down their names as their faces appeared in my mind. It was quite easy because, most of time I don't chat with anyone or more like no one chats with me so I just sit at my favorite back spot and observe everyone else. "Elijah Samson..." Sam grunted. "...Derek Cooper... Nelson Anderson...Xavier...Isaac...Franklin...Kane...Alvin...Connor...Joseph...Chris...and... that's all I can remember".
"We need one more name". Sam mused. I leaned back on the chair and looked up at the ceiling as though the last name I needed was written up there. I thought hard but no matter how hard I tried, I got no new name. It was like there was this face staring back at me but it was blurry and the name of the owner of this face was lost somewhere at the back of my mind.
"Shit". I scratched my head in frustration and irritation. Finally, I sighed in defeat and stood up. "We'll have to make do with these twelve, Sam". I walked back to the bed, still scratching my head.
Sam did not like how that sounded, "Why don't you—?"
"Yes it's Catch!" The long sought name abruptly came to mind halfway to the bed. I quickly penned it down before I forgot it again or worse, before we both forgot it. "He saved a seat for Samson".
"Good job". Sam held up his palm for a high five. I excitedly jumped up and slapped his palm soundly.
"Aw". Sam rubbed his now red palm. "Chill, girl".
I laughed, "Sorry". I plopped down on the bed again and Sam took a seat and faced me.
"Let's begin with the simplest question" Sam got into interrogation mode. "Which of these guys were closer to your table in biology?"
"Um... Actually I had time to notice that only girl groups were really close to me".
"Then we should add girls to the list". Sam opined. I searched his face for any sign of seriousness. He was not kidding!
"Gross, Sam".
"What? It's possible".
"They were most likely there because of Samson".
"Or you. What about the teacher?"
"It's a woman". I rolled my eyes.
"It's also possible". He stated as a matter of fact.
I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. "Give it a rest. We are veering off the main point. The person we're looking for is a guy and his name is in that book in your hands".
"Maybe I'm hoping it's a girl". He admitted grudgingly. "Let's try this another way. I'll call these names one after the other and you'll tell me what kind of relationship you have and if you think he could be the one". He raised his brows at me, silently asking if I was ready.
I nodded, "Yeah. Go ahead".
"Peter Kirkman".
"We're neither friends nor enemies. I don't think he's the one".
Sam crossed Peter's name off the list.
"Samson". He said this name reluctantly.
"Today was the first day we spoke to each other and it did not go well. If he's the one, why would he say he would teach himself a lesson in the note? So we wouldn't suspect him?"
Sam shrugged. "Maybe".
I narrowed my eyes in thought, "You know, I got the first note right before I got paired with him. And after Mrs Jones put us together, he turned and smiled at me. Then, when we got together, he was all chats and smiles and he flirted with me. What do you think of this?"
"I most definitely think that he's a bastard". Sam hissed.
I pinched my nose and stopped myself from throwing him another pillow. I couldn't blame him though. "Yes, as my boyfriend that's what you think. Let me rephrase. What do you think of this from a detective's point of view?"
"From a detective's point of view, he's still a bastard for hitting on someone's girlfriend". I shot him a glare before he added, "But...I admit his actions makes him suspicious".
"I know right? But why all of a sudden?"
"Dunno. Maybe his eyes opened and he finally saw beyond all those girls he messes around with and realized that you're the real deal".
"Oh please". I waved it off feeling butterflies in my stomach.
"Or... he was dared. Samson and his guys get stupidly mischievous sometimes and do crazy things for fun. I don't know".
I didn't like the thought that some group of guys thought that I was such a joke that they saw it fit to use me as a challenge in their stupid game. "Assuming this is true, why then would he take the secret admirer route?"
"Because some girls go gaga over a secret admirer".
He sure had a point. "Circle Samson Elijah. He's our first suspect".
"Done. Derek Cooper".
"He's one quiet kid. Never spoken to him. He's not the one".
"You're sure? Quiet kids are sometimes green snakes under green grasses".
"I'm sure". I affirmed and he crossed his name off the list.
"Nelson Anderson".
"We used to be friends but we kinda grew apart. We say hello to each other now and then. He's a nice guy, cross off his name".
We went on till we were got to the last candidate for suspicion. So far, we had circled two more names. Xavier and Connor. It was Sam's idea to circle Xavier's name. Xavier was a shy guy and he had once gathered the courage to send me a letter through Mirabel. The letter had said he has a crush on me. I had laughed and told Mirabel to tell him that I appreciated it. He never spoke to me again. Presently, he still wouldn't or can't look me in the eye. He's just shy and cute therefore I saw no reason to circle him a suspect, but Sam did.
In Connor's case, he was also in my English class. Last week he sent a paper jet to me and said it was a mistake. I opened the paper and it said, '𝘏𝘦𝘺' and there was a heart beside it. One weird guy. The rest of the names were crossed off. The bearers of the names we had crossed off did nothing questionable, at least, not any that I knew of. We were done now with one name left.
"Catch". Sam called while stretching his limbs.
"No way. This guy hates me. Picks on me at every little opportunity he gets".
"Why?" Sam's eyes narrowed.
"I would love to know too".
"You guys ever spoken?" Sam stroked an imaginary beard. I shook my head, no, "He's Samson's friend, yes?"
I nodded my head. I had no idea what he was driving at but I knew Catch would be the last person to hit on me, game or feelings.
"Something doesn't feel right with this Catch guy so let's keep his name on the list. I'm not crossing it off and I'm not circling it either". Sam suggested.
I shrugged not minding because I already knew who the culprit was even if there was no prove. Yet. "It's Samson".
"We are not sure, Alex but come on, I'll drop you home". He looked at his wristwatch and took his car keys.
"There's no way in hell I'm sleeping in my room tonight". I would no doubt have nightmares of the psycho coming into my room in the middle of the night through my window while I laid under my blanket wide-eyed and shivering in fear too terrified to scream for help.
"Finally, some good news". Sam winked at me and rubbed his hands together.
"But my parents—" Sam cut me off.
"Don't worry I'll take care of it. Wait here". He beamed and danced out of the room. I giggled seeing how excited he was at my prospective first sleepover since we started dating. I prayed it happened and nervously waited for him.
Minutes later, the door opened and Sam came in with a long face, all his excitement and happy vibes had disappeared. I met him at the door feeling deflated myself after seeing his face. "What?"
"My mom spoke with yours and she said that..." He stopped, unable to complete the sentence and ran his hand through his hair.
"She said...?" I prodded.
"That you have to use the fucking guestroom". He kicked the wall in annoyance.
Wait. Is that why...? I cracked up in laughter. "I'm even surprised my parents let me stay. Don't be such a baby". I took his hand and led him out of the room. "Come show me the room I'll be spending the night".