Clashing Cliques

Lauren's POV

I still stared at the door Joe just walked out of a few hours ago. His reaction told me what I needed to know and what I feared the most. He has her. He has the girl I want. All I feel is rage.

"Lauren?" I'm shot back to reality as I hear my name being called. I look at the person that called it. "Are you okay, honey?" Jess's mom asked me. I just nodded. I can't lie to her mom, but I also can't scream out my undying love for her either. I look at Nick.

"Nick, can I talk to you alone?" I ask, shocked by my own voice. It sounds so hoarse and deep, I couldn't believe it came from me. Nick just nodded to the kitchen and walked into it. "Give me one sec to go grab something and I'll be there." I yelled out before running up the stairs to Jess's room. I grabbed all of the notes, realizing they all had the same handwriting, including the one Joe signed with his name.

After grabbing them, I ran to the kitchen where Nick was waiting to hear what I needed to say. I placed the notes down on the table. "Joe's the stalker, Nick. That's where he's been, why he's been acting strange, why he doesn't stay around for long." I saw the realization strike across his face. He started looking at the notes, one by one. I'm sure he recognized his best friend's handwriting. Hell, he lives with the guy. He looked up at me.

"So what are you saying?" He asked me.

"I'm saying he has her. I'm saying he was the one that shot up the school. It was all a stupid elaborate plan to take Jess." I'm pacing back and forth, not knowing what the hell to do. Nick sits down in one of the chairs. I can't. I'm too much on edge. "The girl I love is being held captive by my psycho brother!" I shock myself by saying this out loud. Nick has a smile on his face. "You knew?"

He nodded his head. "Everyone can tell. It's obvious how much you love my sister." I slowly nodded.

"Gotcha. Well, that's not important right now. What are we going to do to get her back, Nick?" I ask as I sit down, still fidgety. Then something washes over me. "Oh my god. What if they think she was the shooter when her body isn't in the morgue?" I nervously ask while looking at him.

I think he realizes the same thing. "This doesn't look good, like at all." He looks like he's spiralling.

"Nick, stop spiralling. We'll save her." I grab his hand from across the table. "She'll be okay again. We'll all be okay again. I promise."

"How are we supposed to get her back, though?" I just shrugged. I had no idea, but I know we'd figure it out. We always do.