Chapter Four: -Noah O'Hara-

Maybe I should just leave her alone. She didn't need to know what I knew about her secret. The familiar guilty feeling I had whenever I learned of someone's secret returned. I hadn't felt like this in a while.

And I hated it.

She didn't want to talk to me. Who could blame her? She probably already heard about me since we last spoke. Gossip in this town spread like a wildfire.

I walked through the crowded halls, everyone I passed parting a path for me like I carried the plague. Like usual.

Pulling my helmet on, I revved up my bike and turned out of the school parking lot. I zoomed down main street. Stopped at a red light, I noticed the steeple at the top of the old church was missing. It must've blown down last night because of all the wind. As I passed through the intersection, I noticed a section of the lawn outside the church roped off. Shattered pieces of the steeple lay in ruins.

I snorted a laugh. If that isn't a metaphor for my faith in religion I don't know what is.

I stopped at a coffee shop and ordered a mocha and a brownie. I sat outside while I scrolled through my phone. I'd rather be avoided in public than be home.

My phone buzzed. It was Amber. Head over to Elena's place. We wanna hang!!!

I couldn't help but grin at all the exclamation points Amber consistently used.

I'll be over soon, I replied before draining my cup and tossing it and my napkin into the trash. Hands shoved in my pockets, I walked around the side of the building to my parked motorcycle.

I saw Raven walking down the sidewalk, heading towards me. Her eyes widened in recognition before breaking eye contact and continuing on her way. I noticed her phone pressed to her ear.

"Yeah, it is," she replied as she passed by the parking lot.

I wondered who she was talking to. No. I don't care. I do not care. I hopped on my bike and sped off.

I parked along Elena's street. It was only a block or two away from mine. I spun my keyring around my finger and stuffed it in my pocket before ringing Elena's doorbell. Elena answered the door, pulling me in by my wrist.

She shut the door and jumped into my arms for a hug. I hugged her back then stepped out of her embrace. "Why did Amber sound so frantic over text?"

Elena shrugged. "Impatience."

I rolled my eyes at me as she beckoned me to follow her down the hall. She pushed her door open at the end of the hall. Amber was lying on the floor, lazily swiping through her phone. I sat on Elena's floor, back against the side of her bed.

"What was the emergency?"

Amber sprang up with her chaotic energy and gave me a hug. "Because I miss yooooooou!"

"I'm well aware of that."

She smacked my arm. "Rude!"

I chuckled. "I'm kidding."

The three of us sat on the floor, Amber lying across both mine and Elena's legs while the two of us rested our backs against Elena's bed. Sometimes we didn't need to talk. Just being in each other's presence was enough. If no one had any energy, then we didn't exert any. Today was one of those days.

The sun was starting to set by eight thirty.

"Do you wanna go get burgers and shakes?" Elena asked.

Amber shook her head. "I gotta go."

"Why?"

She shrugged. "Just going to see Victor."

"So late?" I asked.

"Yeah, we're studying for the psychology test tomorrow."

"'Studying,'" Elena finger-quoted.

Amber smacked her arm. "You know that when I say study, I mean we're studying."

"I'm kidding."

"I know," Amber sighed, leaning her head back. "You just sound like Jake."

"Trouble in paradise?" Elena asked.

"No, he just needs to grow up and trust me when I say Vic and I are friends."

"He doesn't have a problem with me," I observed.

"Yeah, well I've known you longer." She shrugged. "I don't know his thought process, only that it's stupid." She stood up. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

She waved as she strode down the hall, finger flying across her phone.

Elena looked up at me, her head lolling on my shoulder. "How about you? Are you up for some food?"

"Sure. We can take my bike."

Elena sat up. "It's adorable that you thought I wouldn't make you."

I shook my head at her as a grin played on my face. "Alright, come on."

I pulled her to her feet after she refused to get up by herself. After she pulled her combat boots on, we left. I revved my engine to life and hopped on my bike. Elena climbed on after she grabbed her helmet from her garage, clasping her hands on my shoulders. I tugged my helmet in place and sped down the road.

There were only two burger places in town, and only one that Elena liked. I parked on the street and cut the engine as Elena expertly hopped off. We darted across the practically deserted road and I pulled the diner door open for her.

I ordered burgers and shakes and we brought them outside. We sat outside and dung in. I made her laugh so hard she spit some of her milkshake back into the cup. I grinned despite myself and we scarfed our food down.

After I kept Elena a half hour past her curfew, I drove her back to her house and begrudgingly headed home to mine. Just my luck, my aunt was awake. Thankfully, she was too high to give a damn about me tonight.

***

My phone vibrated repeatedly next to my pillow. I shot up into a sitting position, pushing my dark hair back from my forehead. I answered Elena's call and pressed my phone to my ear.

"What is it, Elena? It's not even five in the morning."

"Turn on the T.V."

"What?"

"Just do it."

I tiredly thumped down the stairs. "Why can't you just tell me?"

"It's Channel Five," she replied, ignoring my question.

I picked up the remote and clicked the T.V. on, flipping to Channel Five. The title scrolled across the bottom of the screen, the bright light of the screen lighting up the dark room. It read: Local Teen Girl Found Dead At On High School Grounds. My face paled as I sat back on the old couch.

The reporter on the screen held her hand to her ear. "I'm just hearing that her name has been released. This local girl named Amber Ellis was found dead at the school fair grounds of Fairborn High School."