Curious Stars

Chapter 9 - the mountain lion?

trigger warning: drug consume and abuse

"Hoosiers is not only the best basketball movie ever. It is the best sports movie ever", Jackson tried to convince girlfriend and his best friend. Lydia and Ophelia shared a critical glance.

"No", Lydia said and Ophelia nodded in a supportive manner. Jackson gave the girl a small glare before trying once again.

"It's got Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper."

"No", Lydia insisted.

"I swear to god, you're both going to like it."

"Lydia, if he really wants to watch it, we should-", Ophelia started but was cut off. "No."

"I am not watching 'The Notebook' again", Jackson said. After a few moments of silence and a side look from Lydia, he huffed and went into the movie renting store. Both of them knew he was going to get 'The Notebook'.

"Poor Jay. You've really got him wrapped around your finger", Ophelia started. "Oh, Lia. You have to learn to stand firm in your decisions. You care too much." Lydia watched her in the mirror of Jackon's car as she put her signature lipstick on.

"I just, I don't know, I just don't want anybody to be disappointed or hurt." The small girl stared at her hands.

"That way you only hurt yourself. And this hurts everyone who likes you which translates to every person you know", Lydia argued. She, like some of Ophelia's other friends, had noticed something was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it yet.

"Can we change the topic please." Ophelia felt a single tear rolling down her cheek. She turned her head away.

"Alright, what's going on with you and Brett?", Lydia wanted to know and turned around to face her friend who was blushing.

"I don't know, we have just met two times. I don't think he likes me."

Lydia scoffed. "Oh yeah? He is totally into you."

"Uh", the small girl didn't know what to answer. She didn't believe in her friends words anyway. "I am gonna go look what takes Jackson that long."

The store was cold and goosebumps appeared on Ophelia's skin. Cursing herself for not taking a jacket, she called out Jackson's name.

"Over here", he answered and she followed the sound of his voice. When she reached him, he put an arm around her and immediately noticed the girl shivering. "You cold?"

She nodded and he gave her his leather jacket. It was too long, obviously, but it did its job.

"You couldn't find 'The Notebook'?", she asked and he nodded.

"Well, it's over here." Ophelia led Jackson through different sections though he yanked her back all of the sudden, pointing at the floor. There were legs looking out from behind the shelves. Unmoving legs.

The pair slowly came closer and once they got a look of what was behind the shelf, Jackson turned her towards him and said: "Believe me, you do not want to see that." Though it was too late. The girl had already seen the body of a man. His throat was slashed and the blood was dripping down, forming a puddle on the floor. She knew she would get nightmares.

Suddenly a ladder started falling, hitting one of the lights and soon they were met with darkness.

A heavy breathing filled the quiet and empty room, causing the teenagers to turn around to the entrance. Ophelia suppressed a scream, her heart beating faster and faster. Jackson pressed her hand so hard that she thought it was going to break any second.