DEADEYE

Chapter 2

As Miss Z brings Lamar his order, he asks, "Excuse me, but do you have my backpack? I think I left it last time I was here."

"Yeah, I do, sweetie. Hold on a minute," she replies. She walks over to the counter, reaches behind it, and pulls out his backpack before bringing it over to him.

"Thank you," Lamar says.

"No problem, dear," she responds, heading back to refill another customer's coffee.

Lamar quickly pulls out some school textbooks, his homework, and a notebook. He finishes his homework with little trouble, except for the math problems. Then he begins writing in his notebook:

Warren Blackwell and Victor Langston

He pauses, staring at their names for a moment, before continuing:

"Only Monday, and there's already two more. They keep telling me that I'm only doing what I'm taught but that I'm doing a good thing and that these people deserve what they get. But I don't know. I try to think of it as punishing the same people who hurt my mom, but I can't see it. I can't help but wonder what would happen if I were to mess up or if people found out who I was, who I really am—a monster and a murderer."

He pauses, staring at the page. The words "monster" and "murderer" echo in his mind. Just as he's about to write more, his friend Ava Walker walks into the diner and notices him. Lamar quickly closes the notebook, puts it away, and pretends to be working on his homework.

Ava walks over and sits on the opposite side of the table, glancing at Lamar. She slides his milkshake over toward herself and takes a sip. "Why do you always wait until the last moment to do your homework, and you do it here of all places?"

Lamar shrugs, picking up his burger and taking a bite. "I don't know. I guess I work better under pressure. Plus, it's quieter here, and Miss Z doesn't mind me hanging out."

Ava raises an eyebrow, eyeing him skeptically. "You're always so nonchalant about it. But seriously, you need to manage your time better. It's not good to be rushing your work like this."

Lamar nods, still chewing. "Yeah, I know. I'll try to do better."

Ava watches him for a moment, sensing there's more going on. "Everything okay, Lamar? You seem a bit off today."

Lamar swallows and forces a smile. "Just a lot on my mind. Nothing I can't handle."

Ava doesn't seem entirely convinced but decides not to push further. Ava shifts in her seat, clearly curious. "Hey, I actually wanted to ask you something. Where did you go? I wanted to hang out after school, but some of your classmates said you rushed off as soon as school was over."

Lamar shifts uncomfortably but tries to keep his tone casual. "Oh, I just had some stuff I needed to take care of. Nothing major. You know how it is, sometimes things come up."

Ava narrows her eyes slightly, sensing that he's not being completely open. "Really? It just seemed a bit sudden. You didn't even text me back."

Lamar gives her a reassuring smile, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Sorry about that. I was just caught up with some stuff that needed my attention. I didn't mean to blow you off."

Ava nods slowly, accepting his explanation for now. "Alright. Just don't do that again, okay? I was looking forward to hanging out."

"Got it," Lamar replies, relieved that she's letting it go. "I'll make sure to let you know if anything comes up next time."

Ava takes another sip of the milkshake, her expression softening. "Well, at least we're hanging out now. Anything interesting happen today?"

Lamar chuckles, trying to steer the conversation to a lighter topic. "Not much, just the usual school drama. What about you? Anything exciting on your end?"

After a few hours of talking, they walk outside of the diner. The sun has already set, and the streetlights are beginning to cast a warm glow over the area.

"You want me to walk you home?" Lamar asks Ava, glancing at her with a friendly, concerned look.

Ava smiles, appreciating the gesture. "That's sweet of you, Lamar. But it's not too far from here, and I usually prefer to walk alone at night. I'll be fine."

Lamar nods, understanding. "Alright, but if you need anything or if anything feels off, don't hesitate to call me."

Ava chuckles, shaking her head. "You're really too protective sometimes, you know that? But thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

They share a final smile before Ava heads off down the street. Lamar watches her for a moment to make sure she's safely on her way before heading back in the opposite direction. As he walks, his thoughts drift back to his complicated life, but for now, he feels a bit lighter, thanks to the time spent with his friend.