I stood moving to the window, might as well get a good look at this dump for the last time. Something wheezed through the air and hit my forehead. what the heck!? I stumbled backwards at the impact. Sure it was a pebble but that was one heck of a blow! "Sorry", a masculine voice whispered from below. Leaning over my windowsill I prepare myself to launch the stinky pebble back to its owner. " Jay? WHAT THE HECK! Did you throw this?"
"I'm sorry ok, can we talk?"
"Johnathan! Its four freaking o'clock in the morning!"
"I know but it's really important you need to see this", he sounded serious and his face was showed signs of worry and surprisingly excitement.
"Ok I'll be down in a sec"
What does he want? And why at this hour couldn't he wait till midday or something?
"Hey, ok I'm sorry about the stone I didn't think you'd open the window before I ..." he sighed, " I'm sorry but I just had to show you this you won't believe it!"
"Believe what?"
"Just follow me", he grabbed my hand.
"Jay", I pulled away "I can't leave the house I'm grounded".
"I'll have you back before they can notice please this could change things for you"
We took a shortcut through the park and around the demolished block of apartments. We might as well have taken the normal bus route but he didn't want us to be seen lest someone notices me and causes trouble. The place was dead silent even the dogs where asleep. The only disturbing sound was the wind howling.
"Where are we going?"
"School."
"What? Why?"
"You'll see", he smiled
He led me through a hole in the fence behind the pavilion In the sports ground. We quietly made our way down the empty halls and into the boys changing room?
The light was dim and barely lit up the room. The clicking of keys was audible from the door. Across the room a dark figure was slouching, a bright screen before it. The air was humid and the floor was ice cold. My gosh, why did I ever leave the house? I mean I barely knew the guy. I couldn't help but feel he wanted to kill me or that I was walking into some sort of trap.
"Who else is here?" I asked nervously.
"Hey Skyler, she's here!" He rose from the bench he was seated on and approached us. Relieved to see a familiar face I sighed heavily earning me a confused look from Sky.
"You will not believe what I've found", he lifted his laptop and placed it in my hands.
"What am I looking at ?" I asked staring at the blurry video on the screen.
He clicked the play button and remained silent. "Is that the locker room?" I watched a shadowy figure walk toward Lilly "Who is that? I gasped as the masked silhouette grabbed Lilly by the neck and continuously stabbed her in neck and stomach. I turned my tear-stung eyes away from the screen. "Why did show me this?
"Sam I know this is hard to watch but this proves that you didn't kill Lilly," said J as he crouched on the floor beside me. "Skyler here found the tapes in the garbage can not far from the school he says it was hidden behind a couple of trees."
"Yeah, when I heard what happened I knew you couldn't do something like that so I tried to pull the security tapes but they had disappeared and well" he pointed to the screen.
"You dug through trash just to try and clear my name?" I sniffled my eyes watering.
"Hey, it's ok now we can finally prove that you were framed" smiled Sky encouragingly.
"But it doesn't show who's responsible for this! Whoever it is still winning!" I sighed, "What are we gonna do about this?"
"That's why we brought you here" confessed Johnathan. I hung my head.
"We could submit it as evidence , it would help your lawyer win your case for you. Also, you with such solid evidence and your alabi you wont have to go through all the public shame once your innocence is proven" he continued.
"Ok, just send me the clip and please take me home." I reply , still shaken by what i saw. I loved Lilly every little thing seemed to remind me of her lately. If only i stopped her from going to that cheerleader practice. If only i had stuck by her the whole day maybe she would still be here. All those thoughts bothered me.
"Cool, uhm I'll take her home" Sky notified Jay. They stared at each other for a moment a slight tension built up before J could answer.
"It's ok I have to get ready for the game today".
The game? What game? Wait oh no THE GAME! Shoot I forgot! I glance at my phone, it was Thursday alright. I can't believe the week went by so fast. Sky rolled his eyes at him. I'm surprised they agreed to work together I mean it's obvious they don't get along. He placed his hand on the small of my back and gently led me out of the room.
The walk back home was hard for me, although Skyler tried to keep me talking I just couldn't. Each step I took I could feel my heart sinking a little lower. The picture of a murderer still fresh in my mind and the thought that he could be still roaming around freely sent a cold shiver down my spine. "You ok?" Skyler grabbed my arm firmly bringing me to a halt. "No, I can't get over Lilly's death and the fact that she was so brutally murdered, she didn't deserve it Sky she didn't."
"Hey, I'm sorry you had to see that, we all loved Lilly and now at least we have a chance to bring her killer to justice".
"I wonder if I could use the football game to try and expose whoever this killer is, do you think Jay will allow us to?" I asked.
"Ask him if you are so curious" he replied coldly.
"What is wrong with you?"
"you should go home" he commanded.
His sudden mood swing made me stop and stare at him in disbelief. " What is your problem? Look I am grateful you went to such great lengths to help me but, you are not the only one who lost Lilly and Jay..."
"huh Jay" he scoffed and hung his head in an irritated manner." what's it going to take for you to see that he is not good for you YOU DON'T NEED HIM!" he growled. I jerked my head backwards. Who was this? Skyler had always been a soft-spoken kid and he was a bit shyer than I was. Where was all this aggression coming from?
"Nothing is going on between Johnathan and I and even if there was it's not your business to determine who is 'good' for me and who isn't". he rolled his eyes at me and ran his fingers through his thick blonde hair. "what is your problem with him!?" I snapped unable to tolerate his attitude any longer.
He sighed deeply, "I have seen guys like him before he is only after one thing trust me he is no good. He flirts carelessly and now he's trying to play the hero when he knows how vulnerable you are right now. He's just looking for a play thing and its fucking irritating that you are getting swayed. I thought you were smarter than this"
"You don't know him, you can't judge him" I squeaked my voice shaking in anger, " don't evrr insult my intelligence". Sure he was handsome and a great flirt but, even though I wasn't attracted to him in that manner, I can't let Skyler talk dirty about him.
"why can't you see?" he mumbled.
" Just give him a chance to show you who he is we could all be good friends" i reasoned.
"NO! Sam no, why don't you give us a chance" he gestured at the both of us.
What? Does he mean? NO way no it can't be true.My eyes widened at his question. 'Us?'
" Sam," he slowly closed the distance between us, "I love you", he said studying my eyes carefully.
I nodded awkwardly and slowly continued my way. He removed his jacket and handed it to me. Really? We are like two streets away from my place and you only notice that I'm feeling cold now? After all, you just said don't you see how weird this is? I accepted the jacket and continued walking. I don't have time to process his confession. The issue of Lilly's death still made me feel disorientated. I hate the feeling that I could be putting the people I love in danger, I mean I have known Skyler since preschool and now he was risking his life to try and prove that I am innocent, I just don't feel comfortable with it. "Sky" I began. "Yes?" he raised his eyebrows before he stopped and turned to face me.
"I am grateful for what you've done for me so far but, I don't want you to be in danger because of me". "Sam, I don't care what happens I want to help you and I will", he took a step closer closing the gap between us. My heart nearly fluttered, my eyes began to water, "I know you want to help me but what if something goes wrong? What if you are the next victim? I can't lose you, Skyler, I already lost Lilly I can't risk losing you too" I sobbed facing the ground. I tried to hold back the tears but couldn't my emotions overwhelmed me. It was the first time since her death I cried, mourned her.
"Thank you for being a good friend to me all these years but, I think it's time we say goodbye for good" I couldn't look at him knowing it might be the last time I do. "Sam", he inched closer before cupping my face and raising my head so I could face him. "I will never leave you, not now not ever I promise you".
"You don't know that! What if..." his lips crashed onto mine. I tensed at the sudden movement. Holding my breath before slowly parting my lips. Automatically I placed my hands around his neck deepening the kiss. At that moment everything around us seemed to disappear.
My knees began to weakened yet he held me in place firmly. Slowly and gently running his fingers through my hair. His soft lips slowly and firmly easing my pain. He slowly pulled away still holding onto me. "I'm not going anywhere remember that Sam. No matter how hard you try to push me away, I'll always be here".