It All Started With The New Students... And The Murder

Chapter 26 : Way Downtown... BANG! BANG!

Jason's POV

Jason had been worried slightly about Travis, not only because he'd sprained his ankle, but also because, for some reason, Travis had stopped pranking Katie.

The week started normally enough, with a prank just before the first period, but that was all for the day and none had happened since then.

But as Jason sat on the bleachers in the empty gym, playing back the scenes from their practice that morning, he realised something was genuinely wrong with Travis.

Flashback—————

As Jason locked the storage room and walked back to the lockers, he heard raised voices from coach Hedge's office.

"I will not let you play on a sprained ankle, Stoll!" Hedge shouted. "I will not be responsible for you aggravating and injury!"

Jason was worried this might happen. The sprain didn't seem to severe, but it was still a sprain and deep down, Jason knew Travis shouldn't play, but he wanted his partner in crime next to him for their first game.

"You can't bench me! I'm your second best player! Your best two guard!" Travis replied.

"I'm not benching you! You will not be playing!" Hedge yelled back. "That is final!"

"Coach..." Jason was stunned at how small and quiet Travis' voice suddenly was. "Please... you have to let me play."

"And why is that?"

"I- I'm not ready to talk about it yet." Travis sounded like he was on the verge of tears. "P- please. I have to play. I don't know what I'll do if I don't."

Shock ran through Jason's body like a bolt of lightning, wondering why the hell Travis was so insistent on playing.

Of course, Travis was an incredibly competitive person, but even he knew that playing on a bad ankle was not a good idea, especially for someone with his aggressive and athletic play style.

"Fine." The coach grunted. "But you hurt that ankle more and I will rain hellfire on you, boy."

"Thank you so much coach. You have no idea how much this means to me." Jason bolted as he heard Travis' footsteps coming towards the door.

End flashback—————

Jason's mind was still reeling at what he had overheard.

What was going on with Travis? He'd been noticeably quieter and often disappeared for seemingly no reason at all.

Jason made a promise to himself that he'd check up on Travis before the game and make sure he was fit to play, both physically and mentally.

"Jason?" He was violently ripped from his thoughts by a tentative and familiar voice, along with a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Hey Pipes." Jason replied with a fake smile.

"Don't even try it, Sparky." Piper replied, evidently seeing right through him. Jason cursed himself for being so bad at hiding his emotions. "What's wrong?"

"I'm just worried about Travis..." Jason trailed off, looking at nothing in particular.

"He has been a bit off, hasn't he?" Piper sighed.

"A bit?"

"Ok yeah, you're right. He's been very off." Piper agreed.

"He's hurt. Badly." Jason said after a few minutes of silence. "Physically and emotionally." Jason told Piper about the conversation he had overheard.