by Raathi Chota
“Marcus, someone’s here to see you,” Dad said as he stepped aside. My eyes squinted as I took in the appearance of the man in a suit and the police officer beside him. Marcus stood in the hall with Miranda beside him as they stared in confusion. The two men stepped out of the cold and into the house as we went into the living room.
“Marcus Sanders,” the man in the suit said as we took our seats except for the two men and Marcus. “I’m Detective Kale, and this is officer Owen. I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“Err…sure.”
“This is related to the case of Mr. August, who went missing on October 1, 2016. We’d just like to know where were you last night?” he asked as the officer took out a notepad. I glanced at Nick and Benny and noticed their stares on the detective. The room suddenly went quiet as everyone listened.
“I was at a party,” Marcus said in an ominous tone.
“How far was this party from the industrial area…the crime scene?” Detective Kale asked.
“I-I don’t know it was at Tyler’s hou—” Marcus said as he looked at Liam.
“Tyler lives in the suburbs, probably about half an hour from there.”
“Were you anywhere near the crime scene, boy?” Detective Kale asked as he raised a brow. Marcus shook his head, and the Detective laughed. “You better not be lying, Sanders, we have evidence, and he can take you in.” He pointed to the officer.
“Whoa, whoa, Kale. Nobody’s getti—”
“Wait. I remember going there the other day…” Marcus cut off my father.
“Uh huh.” Detective Kale smirked as he pulled out a bag that had the word EVIDENCE written on it. My eyes widened as everyone stared at Marcus than the Detective. “Now explain why this was found in the alley that is under investigation and has your prints all over it.” Detective Kale held up the bag. I never thought I’d see it again. However, Blake and Aidan flushed down the last two bottles that I ever had.
“I—I—” Marcus stuttered as he looked at the bag then Detective Kale.
“He needs a lawyer!” Aidan blurted out. We turned to Aidan and stared. “Sorry…I’ve always wanted to say that.”
“Come on, Sanders, I haven’t got all day. The prints on the bottle match yours precisely,” Detective Kale growled. I raised a brow as I thought how they had his prints. Marcus was eighteen but still, the only time he had my bottle was when he walked to the trashcan and threw it away. I glanced at the pills inside and how ironic that there were fourteen in there.
“Well, the, err…my friend was taking those, and I wanted him to stop, so I grabbed them from him and ran down the street,” Marcus began. “He followed, and I tossed it somewhere…that must’ve been the place where it landed.”
There was absolute silence as Detective Kale stared at Marcus. I barely knew Marcus, only the things Miranda had told me. Other than that, we barely spoke.
“All right,” the detective said as he turned to my dad. “Sorry to bother your little party, Willson.”
Dad gave a short nod in return as we followed them to the door. I leaned against the staircase as Dad opened the door for them.
“Any leads yet?” Dad piped up as the police officer walked out the door.
“Not really. With scarce evidence and a clueless family, it’ll take a while to find him,” Detective Kale answered as the lump grew in my throat.
“What do you mean by clueless?” Nick asked.
“That’s classified information, boy,” Kale said as he eyed Nick. Dad let out a sigh as he watched Detective Kale walk out into the snow. Everyone else returned to the living room, but Nick, Benny, and I stayed in the hall.
“Dad, what happened to Jack’s family?” I asked as Dad shut the door. Dad let out a deep sigh as he spun around and looked at us. Benny stuffed his hands in his pockets while Nick folded his arms, apparently not going anywhere until my dad gave an answer.
“Saw Kale questioning them in the interrogation room the other day. They didn’t know where he was, and it’s like they barely knew him, considering he’s an alcoholic,” Dad answered.
“Thanks, Dad,” I mumbled. Dad gave us a skeptical look as he walked to his office to join Richard as they continued the game in there. Benny stood next to me as Nick stood in front of us. I looked up to see his eyes squinted as he stared at the ground. “Maybe I should just tell,” I murmured. From the corner of my eye, I noticed how Benny looked at me as if I’d grown a second head.
“We can’t; we don’t even know where he is,” Nick said. Benny intertwined his hand in mine as I rested my head on his shoulder. He left a gentle a kiss on my forehead as Nick tugged on his hair.
“It’s just weird that his family doesn’t know anything,” Benny said.
“Let’s just see how the rest of the week plays out. If nothing comes up after Christmas…” Nick trailed off as he looked at the living room.
“Then what?” I asked.
“I-I don’t know.” He shrugged, then joined everyone in the living room. I stared at the floor in guilt because I didn’t want anything to come until Christmas. I wanted to have a typical Christmas like every year.
“Hey, don’t worry,” Benny whispered as he brought me in for a hug. I wrapped my arms around his torso and gently placed my chin on his shoulder. He rubbed circles on my back as he brought me closer to him. “Everything’s gonna be okay.”
***
Blake
Using Levi’s Zippo lighter, I lit my cigarette and put it between my lips. I tossed it in the back where Carter, Axel, and Keene sat. Green Day blared through Levi’s car as he drove.
“Where’s this lame-ass party?” Levi asked as he drove with one hand on the wheel and the other to dump the ash out the window of his cigarette.
“Dude, do you remember that frat party last year? Jaden’s house,” Keene replied from the back. I turned to Levi and noticed how the corner of his mouth rose. I glanced up into the rearview mirror and saw the looks my brother and Keene exchanged. Earlier when he decided to join us, I didn’t take note, but Lana got suspicious, and I understood why. Axel bonded with Keene and Levi way better than I ever had. It was as if he knew them already.
By the time we arrived at the party, it was already packed. The house was located on top of a hill, and I heard the music from the bottom. Wasn’t really in the party mood since Levi, Carter, and I were already at a party last night.
“Levi Radcliff!” a guy exclaimed as we entered the house. A dark-skinned guy who wasn’t the tallest approached us, dressed in a muscle tee, black sweats, and Nike shoes. He held a drink in one hand as he hugged Levi with the other.
“Jaden, long time no see,” Levi said as Jaden hugged Keene.
“I know…I’ll visit soon,” Jaden said as he looked at Axel, Carter, and me.
“This is Blake, Axel, and Carter,” Keene stated. We greeted Jaden as he gave us a once over. He then looked at the door, then back at Levi.
“Where’re those little girlfriends of yours?” Jaden asked as my eyebrows rose.
“Err…they couldn’t make it,” Levi mumbled as he avoided eye contact. Keene shook his head as I folded my arms.
“Ugh, what a shame. Last year she blew the fucking roof off!” Jaden laughed. “Ain’t that right, Keene?” he added as we turned to Keene. A puzzled look filled my face as I stared at Keene. What I’d heard from Keene was Levi didn’t date. So there could be only one person Jaden referred to. Yet I didn’t understand how it affected Keene. “Enjoy the party, gentlemen, and if you need something, hit me up,” Jaden said, then disappeared into the crowd with Keene behind.
“All right, see you guys later.” Carter smirked as a girl approached him. I let out a sigh since we’d be here for a while. Axel and Levi disappeared, and I suddenly felt thirsty. I walked through the full house to find a drink. The living room seemed to be the spot for dancing, yet it was the only way to get to the kitchen. Ten minutes later, I was finally in the kitchen where people did beer pong, body shots, and made out.
I scanned the different types of bottles until I found a pack of beer.
As I drank, I glanced around and took in the party atmosphere. Opposite me was a couple doing a body shot. I mentally cringed at the thought of Benny and Lana doing it a few months ago.
“Hey,” someone said beside me. I turned my head to see a brunette with a bright smile on her face. I glanced down to see her in a yellow neon tank top and her underwear. I raised a brow at her as I looked straight and took another sip of my drink. “Dope party, right?” she asked. I turned to her again, stared her dead in the eye, then turned away. She groaned as I took another sip. “Are you one of those smirky-ass bad boys who’re looking for his good girl?” she asked as I rolled my eyes. I stayed silent as I continued to drink my beer, hoping that she’d get the message and go away. “Look, dude, you’re hot. My friends over there dared me to kiss someone.” She pointed to her group of friends. I gave a fake smile as I waved at them. The girls squealed as the one in front of me jumped. Her boobs bounced as she twirled her hair. “So?” She stepped closer and rested her palm on my chest.
“This house is packed with perverted guys looking for a girl in her panties, yet you decide to come and disturb me?”
“You weren’t even doing anything.” She stepped back and folded her arms.
“I am now,” I said, then took another sip. Sudden wetness was felt on my jacket as I glanced to the side to see someone messed their drink on me. “Fuck,” I muttered as I put my beer down.
“So sorry, Blake!” someone said. I looked up to see Erwin. We were usually lab partners, but other than that, I rarely spoke to him. I realized what an outcast he was at the party since he was too dressy and didn’t even wear his glasses.
“Erwin, why aren’t you wearing your glasses?” I groaned, then took off my jacket, which left me in my Blink 182 tank top.
“Tattoos,” the girl on my right whispered. Shit, she’s still here.
“I’m wearing contacts,” Erwin mumbled, then looked at the girl. “Did I interrupt you guys?”
“Yes!” the girl said as she glared at Erwin.
“Nope,” I replied as I gave Erwin my jacket. I turned to the girl, who gave me an irritated look. I fake smiled in return. “Now if you don’t mind, my buddy Erwin and I are gonna go get high.” I swung my arm around Erwin’s shoulder.
“You’d rather hang out with a loser than with me?” the girl demanded as we walked away.
“I know this loser!” I said, then showed her the middle finger. We continued to walk through the crowd until we found an open space by a window. The window was smashed open as I moved all the broken glass then took a seat. Erwin leaned against the wall as he handed me my jacket. I thanked him for taking care of it for me.
“What was her problem?” he asked after a while. I shrugged.
“She wanted to kiss me, and I didn’t want an STD.”
Erwin nodded as he anxiously glanced around the room full of wasted people. I raised a brow as he tugged on his collar and fixed his gelled hair.
“So what brings Erwin Chambers to this side of the world?” I asked, then took out a cigarette.
“Err…I’m actually here with someone,” he said as I took out my matches and lit the cigarette. I offered him a cigarette, but he declined.
“Who’s the lucky girl?”
“Bianca.”
“Bianca…Bianca…Bia—is she the girl in our Bio class?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Lucky you,” I said. “You can go. I’m sure you don’t want to have a virgin asshole forever.”
Erwin chuckled as he thanked me, then walked back into the living room. I finished my cigarette and threw it out the window. The party seemed like it’d go on forever. I put on my jacket as I pushed myself up. I walked around, and I saw Axel making out with a girl on the sofa. I shook my head and walked to the first door I saw. I opened the door, stepped in, and shut it behind me. It’s as if the party stopped. The room must’ve been soundproofed because the music suddenly changed. A few other doors surrounded the rectangular room. Two poles on either side of the room had girls dancing on them. I glanced around the room and saw Jaden sprawled out on the sofa with a girl on his lap. Levi sat in the armchair with a hookah pipe beside him. I plopped down on the end of the couch where Jaden sat. Levi handed me the pipe, and I took it, then vaped.
“Parker!” Jaden exclaimed as I whipped my head in his direction. Keene walked with Parker and Austin. Parker pulled out a brown bag and tossed it toward Jaden. I watched as Jaden gestured to the coffee table, probably for his money.
“So you’re Parker,” Levi stated as he sunk in the sofa.
“Nice to finally meet you, Radcliff,” Parker said with a smirk.
“How do you two know each other?” I asked.
“Oh, we don’t, but Keene always talks about getting shit from this guy,” Levi said as Parker laughed. Carter came downstairs and sat down next to me.
“How’s business?” Keene asked as he took out a cigarette.
“Err…I’ve received my pay for this year,” Parker responded.
“Bro, the money rolls in when everyone’s busy with finals,” Jaden said as the girl got off his lap and walked off.
“I know.” Parker smirked at Carter and me.
“Does she…” Keene trailed off as he stared at Parker. Parker shrugged in response as Carter and I exchanged a look.
“Does she what?” Carter asked.
“Nothing,” Keene mumbled as he took a drag and looked away.
“Does she what, Keene? Tell us. I’m sure we’d love to know,” Jaden said as Keene sighed and avoided eye contact.
“Parker and I were friends. Being the nerd that Lana is, I watched as she stressed about finals last year,” Keene mumbled. “So I introduced her to Parker.”
My jaw clenched as the memory of flushing all those pills down the toilet entered my mind.
“So you were the one who started her on the pills?” Carter demanded.
“Yep, and her other option were cigarettes,” Austin stated.
“Oh, thanks, Captain Fucking Obvious,” Levi added. Austin glared at Levi, yet I stared at Parker. At the beginning of the school year, I remembered Aidan always hung out with them. The more we hung out with Lana he found out what they truly were. Then I saw him freak out when we found out about the pills, which interested me.
“Why did Aidan lose his shit when you guys came out of the janitor’s closet that day?” I asked.
“What?” Levi asked.
“Lana was overdosing on that crap you first gave her. Found her in the janitor’s closet with these two.” I looked at Keene.
“Were you guys having a thre—”
“No!” Austin cut off Jaden as I let out a sigh of relief.
“Not that time…” Parker trailed off as he glanced around the room. We stared at him as Austin squinted his eyes.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Levi barked.
“Lana didn’t want anyone to know that she was using pills so…”
“You guys were fuck buddies?” Carter demanded.
“I kept her happy; she kept me happy,” Parker replied with a shrug. I swallowed the lump in my throat as the thought of Lana Willson with Parker entered my mind.
“That’s why Aidan was pissed. He’s seen you two come out of the janitor’s closet before, yet it didn’t bother him because he and Lana weren’t friends back then…” Carter said as he put two and two together.
“But it doesn’t make any sense. You two came up with the bet,” I said.
“Yeah, it was fucking hilarious waiting for which one she’d have sex with first, only for one of you to realize she wasn’t a virgin in the first place.” Parker laughed. It all made sense that Aidan didn’t try to kiss her or hit on her; he suspected that she wasn’t a virgin. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Levi push himself off the sofa and march toward Parker. He violently shoved Parker, then grabbed his collar.
“You cunt!” L
evi yelled as Jaden jumped up and separated the two.
“Jealous you’re not the only guy who fucked her, Radcliff?” Parker asked as he tilted his head to the side.
“You used her by fucking in the janitor’s closet just so that you wouldn’t tell about the pills!” Levi shouted.
“Remember that time she’d do anything to get out of school, to get away from us—especially him?” Parker emphasized.
“Who?” we asked in unison.
“Benny,” Keene mumbled. It was quiet as the music played in the background. I couldn’t believe she’d do such a thing. She must’ve been so desperate to get away from him.
“She didn’t care about sex at that time. As long as she got her pills and A’s, then she’d be the happiest person in the world,” Parker said. “But now the tables have turned…she hasn’t talked about Yale. She’s applied to colleges in Illinois because he’s here,” he added. Levi grumbled as he removed Jaden’s hand from his chest and lunged at Parker. Multiple punches were thrown as I got up to help Jaden. Jaden held Parker back as I pushed Levi away from him. His blue eyes were dark as he huffed.
“Don’t you ever fucking touch her again!” Levi shouted.
“Can’t help it, she keeps coming back to me!” Parker said, and my jaw tightened. “What’s wrong, Blake? Jealous that two guys fucked Lana and neither of them were you?” Parker asked. I let out a bitter laugh as I glanced around the room. I didn’t realize that a crowd had formed around us. Some held phones up as they waited. I spun around to walk away, then whipped back around and threw a punch at Parker. All sorts of reactions spread throughout the room as people yelled, cheered, and whistled for more. I shoved Parker to the ground as I straddled him and punched him straight in the jaw. No one held me back, so I continued to beat him. All my anger and stress that I felt for the past few weeks suddenly fell out. The fact of almost killing Levi in a street race, almost kissing Lana again, Lana and Benny dating, then seeing the hickey. They weren’t even dating for a week, and they’d already fucked. Now to hear that Parker fucked her last year seemed to hit a nerve. I didn’t know what happened to us. I blinked as I realized Parker passed out. I let out a huff as I stood up and watched the unconscious curly blond on the floor.
