Intent

Chapter Seven: In Remembrance

Every person in town knew before I did. I got up; rushed my daily routine; and headed downstairs just as Mom and Dad came in through the front door. "I know I'm late," I said. "I'll be in the car." I moved to slide between them and the wall when Dad held out his arm and blocked me. "No need, school's been cancelled for today." I blinked and looked up at him. "What do you mean..?" I backed up and sat my bag down next to the couch. "A student that went to your school was found dead this morning near the road. It wasn't good." He sat down in his armchair and Mom hugged me. "I'm sorry about your classmate, dear." I stood there awkwardly and stepped away from her. "Mom, why are you telling me sorry? I haven't even been told about who it was that was killed." Dad glanced over at us and turned on the news. "It was Sheriff Anderson's boy; Jasper."

"Jasper..?" The name sounded weird coming from my mouth. It's not that I didn't know who he was, but every student and teacher at school just called him Anderson. He played football for 3 years before quitting because of a knee injury which cost him almost half of his junior year. He still made time to come to all the games, even though he couldn't be a part of it. As far as I knew he was a great kid.

"Who killed him?" I asked out of curiosity. My Mom went and sat down on the couch and Dad continued watching the news. "I don't think it was a 'Who'." He said. "So you think an animal did it?" He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "It's a possibility..". I looked over at the tv as they showed the weather forecast. It was going to be raining all this week. Perfect climate for a funeral, I suppose. I sighed and grabbed my bag, heading back upstairs to my room and changing into more comfortable clothes. I suddenly got a call that startled me. I picked up my phone from the bedside table and answered. "Hello?". Tobias replied on the other side. "Hello Miss Fay. Care to join me for a stroll down to the lake?" I laughed and looked out the window. "Of course Mister Green. And when will this stroll take place?" I smiled. "In about the time it takes for you to put clothes on and sneak out to your backyard I suppose?" He said. "Well then I shall see you then." I hung up and pulled on my jeans while digging through my closet for a jacket. I grabbed a string pouch from the dresser and put an umbrella and an extra jacket in, just in case, and pulled it around my shoulders. I headed back downstairs quietly and slipped through the glass door that led to the deck facing the woods behind our yard.