Looper Circus

Chapter 8

I shivered, wrapping the cheaply made blanket around me tighter. I was forced to sit on the back of an ambulance and answer all the questions Officer West was throwing at me.

"Were you aware of the body before you jumped in the falls?"
"No."
"Why did you separate yourself from the search group?"
"I heard the falls, I got the idea to go swimming"

"Did you know Veronica prior to the party last night?"

"No."

"Was there any reason for you to not like Veronica and cause her any harm?"
"No- am I under arrest?" I asked, concerned.

"Should you be?" His eyes narrowed at me.

I locked eyes with Weston, pleading with him to come help me.

He walked over, taking my hand. "Are we free to go now? It's getting dark out and I have to get Hailey home."
After hesitating a moment, Officer West nodded, "Be careful, boy."
I had a feeling he wasn't warning Weston about driving carefully.

We luckily hitched a ride with one of the other officers back to the library where Weston's truck was waiting for us.

We got in the car and took off towards the circus. We were silent for most of the ride.

I sat there, I couldn't help but think about how much Weston must hate me. I went to a party of his, met some girl he used to be involved with, she went missing, and I found her. Dead. At the bottom of some waterfall.
I sighed, letting my head fall into my hands. Things were going so well in this town. I met a cute boy who thought I was cute, we were starting to hang out, I went to my first ever party, and then I find a dead girl. Hailey Looper party pooper, that what they should call me.

I couldn't stand it anymore and grabbed Weston's hand.

I peeked over at him out of the corner of my eyes, "I'm so sorry about what happened today," I squeaked out.

He pursed his lips and didn't respond.

"Do you hate me?"
He ran his hand through his blonde locks, "No, it's just been a weird 48 hours. It's weird that my girlfriend found my dead ex-girlfriend after she had been brutally attacked in her bedroom and dragged out of her bedroom window."

The truck came to a stop in the field, right next to the tent. Good, I did not want to have a repeat of the other night.

He turned to me, "I'm going to take a chance here."

I furrowed my brow in confusion, "Wha-?"
He didn't let me finish. He pushed the center console in his truck up, revealing a small middle seat. He grabbed onto my waist and pulled me close to him. I was almost on top of his lap, but I was not complaining. I wrapped my arms around him, he pulled me closer to him. It was almost too tight, but I didn't say anything. He had had a hard day.

"I can't believe she's gone.." He murmured, "We didn't talk or hang out anymore, but she was once such a big part of my life..."

My fists clenched when he mentioned that she was a big part of his life.

A dull throb radiated through my head.

Weston sighed, burying his face in my hair. We stayed like that for a few minutes until my eyes started to droop. Gosh. Finding a dead body is exhausting.

Weston finally pulled away, "You need to go bed, Hails."

I was fighting to keep my eyes open. "No, I'm not even tired."

He rolled his eyes, "Whatever."

I finally agreed that I needed some sleep when I almost fell asleep mid argument about me needing sleep.