Ch. 7

Early in the morning at school, the adviser of Nathan and Merida's room came in with a gloomy look on her face.

"Please be quiet class and take your seats, I'll be announcing to all of you that... Jenny Morgan just died last night."

This shocked everyone and scared Paris West out of her wits.

"She was murdered at an alleyway near a bar." She added making Nathan gaze at Merida who have a shock look on her face.

Everyone was quiet.

But Paris felt like all eyes are on her, she felt like she's the one who killed Jenny even though she didn't.

After class, Paris left the room as the detective called for her on her phone, "Yes... I'll be going there later after school."

Then went back to her seat immediately thinking so deeply about this outcome.

Nathan went to Merida and sat on the seat beside her, Timothy's.

She looked at the seat before looking at Nathan, "Hey Nath." She greeted smiling at him.

"Yo... that bar, wasn't that the one in front of the café where we went yesterday?" He asked.

"Yeah, thank god I left after I drank my coffee. But I did saw Jenny went in the bar after you just left." Merida said.

She and Jenny don't have anything to call their relationship, as Jenny hated her and Merida just doesn't care about what she do.

So she really don't know what to feel about Jenny's death.

"It's a pity that happened to Jenny, even though she's kind of a bitch... no one deserve to die by the hands of others. So thank god you're safe." Nathan said making Merida smile.

"You're so nice." Merida rested her head on her hand.

"Why do you wear bandages on your hand? Are they alright?" Nathan asked worried which made Merida look at her hand.

"Oh... I just burned them last night making some soup... I forgot that the pot was hot and actually touched it with my bare hand. The soup was safe and I ate gladly, just kidding! Don't worry too much about this. It's fine." She explained and assured Nathan.

"You sure huh?" He asked.

"Yeah, let's just go get something to eat." She said and stood up.

And so did Nathan, and then they passed by Paris' table which is just beside the door.

Merida gazed at the bundle of nervous wreck sitting so deep in thought, biting her nails out of habit.

But Merida didn't said anything and so did Nathan, they just went and proceed to go to the cafeteria.

"Hey Nath... do you think Paris really was the killer?" Merida asked when they finally left the room.

Nathan was hesitant to answer, because he don't have a clue as to who killed Timothy and possibly, Jenny.

"You don't know if the killer is the same person." Nathan just said.

"But Jenny said she saw Paris on top of Tim that day... do you think..."

"Let's not point fingers without evidences... maybe Paris just jumped on Tim but she didn't actually killed him. Nobody knows what really happened." He cut off.

"Why do you think that?" She asked looking at him.

It's like she's suspecting him.

"I'm just being rational, having your feelings decide more than logic will get an innocent person killed." Nathan answered which made Merida look at the ground in shame.

"Yeah you're right..." She just said with a frown.

When they arrived at the cafeteria, they bumped into Justin who was about to leave.

"Hey Justin... eat with us." Merida smiled at him.

They haven't been talking since the incident and Merida notice that.

"I... would rather not. Plus I'm already done." He said and his gaze passed by Nathan who's just staring at him.

"Nah, I insist. Come on..." Merida dragged him into a table and Nathan sat across her best friend.

"What do you two want? I'll get them for you." She asked, and knowing Merida... she won't say 'no' for an answer.

Justin sighed, "Just an egg sandwich."

"I want their burger." Nathan said.

"I'm adding juice to that okay?" Merida asked but left without even waiting for an answer.

And so the two men are left at the table.

Despite being an introvert, Nathan still want to be a little sociable. As the guy in front of him is still Merida's friend.

"Why have you been avoiding her anyway?" Nathan asked right away. So much for being sociable, he might have just made the situation more awkward.

He noticed of course, even Merida did... that may be the reason why she insist Justin to join them.

"I don't want any more trouble again just by being near her... plus I'm busy with my own studies." Justin said, clearly full of half lies and half truths.

"If you think I'm going to gang up on you just like Tim did, I won't." Nathan said making Justin's eyes widen in shock.

"You're there when that happened, why wouldn't I think you'll do the same when you're clearly making a way towards Merida." Justin finally admitted.

"I'm not the same as that brute, and I don't let myself drown in jealousy... if I did, do you think Merida and Tim will be together for this long."

"Well, calm people are the scariest to anger they said... it's not impossible for you to be fed up and you know... actually do something irrational." Justin said indicating something subtly.

But of course Nathan caught on, "Are you implying I killed Timothy?" He asked but not clearly offended.

Everyone is suspecting each other, so Nathan clearly understand the trust issues.

"Is that why you're keeping a distance with Merida as well? You're suspecting her?" He asked.

"I'm... I just want her to be happy, and for me to be happy as well." Justin's eyes suddenly saddened.

"You like her too." Nathan said but Justin didn't even denied it.

"If you like her and suspects me then why are you leaving her to me? If you truly like her then be by her side." Nathan lectured that made Justin look at him once again.

"I'm not the one who makes her happy, Timothy do, you do... but with me, she just... she just chooses me when the two of you are not there." He said standing up.

"And so I think it'll be better to just leave her happy, but that doesn't mean that I don't care about her. I'm still keeping my eye on you." He said and left while Nathan just watched his back.