Ryan's POV:
I walk into the garage and get into my old and busted black Ford Taurus. As the garage opens I notice Jen's car is nowhere to be seen in the driveway. Good. It means Sean and Josh did their job to get rid of it.
I pull out of the driveway and hurry to school. The clock on my dashboard reads 12:02, but I know it's ten minutes behind. I should be able to make it to school in time for the end of lunch and my last three classes.
Soon, I pull into the school parking lot and park in my assigned parking space. Before getting out of the car I grab my black backpack I had thrown in the backseat the night before so I wouldn't forget it at home. I pull the keys out of the ignition and quickly hop out of my car, slinging my backpack over one shoulder. Once my door is shut and my car is locked, I jog over to the front doors of school. Before entering I remember I need to be excused. I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial the school's attendance office. Once I get the prerecorded answering machine telling me to leave the name of my child and why he was absent, I lower my voice and say, "Hi I'm calling to excuse my son Ryan Higa. He had a doctors appointment and he will be arriving shortly. Bye."
While putting my phone away, I enter the school. The atrium and hallways are empty because everyone is in class or at lunch. I hurry to the lunchroom, I need to talk to the guys.
Once there I'm relieved to see my friends sitting at our regular table. I walk over to them and take my seat. They all have smirks on their faces and their lunches are absent, meaning they've already finished their lunches.
"So Ryan... I peaked in your room this morning and saw you totally spooning Jen. Did you get some last night? Does Jen have a case of Stockholm Syndrome?" Derrick pries.
"Keep your voice down, Derrick! I can't believe you guys didn't wake me up! My absence could cause suspicion" I whisper-yell.
"We just didn't want to interrupt whatever was going on" Derrick says cheekily. He's always been the most annoying friend in the group.
"We're sorry Ryan" Josh says. He's the opposite of Derrick, always trying to keep the calm in the situation.
"So where did you and Sean drop Jen's car off anyway?" I ask Josh.
"Junkyard" Josh replies.
"But that's so obvious" I complain.
"It's the third farthest one from the city. They wouldn't look all the way out there" Sean speaks up.
"Alright" I say, frustratedly running my hands through my hair. I didn't get to gel it this morning like I usually do.
I glance up to see Will staring at me, and I realize he's been oddly quiet not only today, but yesterday as well.
"What's with you?" I ask.
"I just don't like this, man. She didn't do anything wrong" Will says.
"So what do you suggest we do? Let her go to the police and put us in jail for the rest of our lives?" I ask sarcastically.
"No. But do we have to keep her tied up like that 24/7?" Will asks.
"For sure when we're not there. Also, I did feel bad about that, that's why I was sleeping with my arms around her" I say.
"Riiight" Derrick says, obviously not believing me. Josh glares at him.
"Ryan, maybe we could lock her in a room?" Will suggests.
"I just don't want her finding things to escape. Like what if she picks a lock and we're not there? Might as well leave the door wide open with a sign that says 'Jennifer Collins is in here!'" I reply.
"Fine. Did you at least turn your T.V. on so she isn't going to die of boredom?" Will asks.
"No. Her entertainment isn't my priority" I say.
"Did you give her breakfast?" Sean asks.
"No..." I say.
"Ryan!" the group collectively yells at me.
"Shh!" I say.
"You can't treat her like one of our targets!" Will exclaims, thankfully lowering his voice.
"Maybe if you had woken me up, I would've had time to care for her!" I declare.
The boys stay silent so I continue. "Look guys, we've been in this together for a long time now. We need to stick together and take care of each other. We're all we got" I say and the bell rings, signaling the end of lunch.
The guys start to get up but Sean says, "Wait, don't go yet."
We all look at him and wait for him to continue.
"Do you think we should just stop her suffering? I mean if we can't let her go should we just end it? I think we could be a lot safer that way" he says.
The group all looks at each other, waiting for someone to agree or disagree. The truth is, Sean's right. But none of us kill people that don't do anything bad. The idea of killing Jen seems crazy to all of us.
"Maybe we should give her the option" Greg says, breaking the silence.
"But we've always been careful about what we do. If we kill her, then there's no way she can out us to anyone" Josh says.
"I say we do it. Of course we wouldn't do it like the others. We could slip something in her food" Derrick says.
"Okay. When?" I ask.
"We have to find something to put in her food. Will, will you research this tonight?" Derrick asks.
"Okay" Will says.
I observe everyone's faces. We all seem uneasy, but the absence of objection tells me this is the best we can do.
"I'll see you guys at home then" I say, and then we walk our separate ways to fourth period.
