"Nina Patterson's death is a great shock. Once you've seen the grief counselor, you're free to return home. Classes will resume tomorrow at 8."
My chest was tight, and I couldn't breathe. I could barely see through the tears in my eyes, and it didn't help that the room wouldn't stop spinning. I could feel a hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down. The voices were starting to get louder around me, and my body was beginning to shake. Every breath I took was like water filling up my lungs, and it felt like I was drowning. The arm on my shoulder moved to my lower back, and slowly rubbed patterns into the exposed skin. I bring my hands out of my pockets, pressing my palms to my eyes and trying to clear my vision. I step away from whovever was holding me, sitting down on one of the plastic chairs. Jake sat across from me, silent. Brooke and Riley held eachother, and Emma just sat there. Noah and Audrey sat still, exchanging secret looks. Kieran looked confused, and I couldn't help but look the same. Nina was killed last night, and I can't help but feel some part of her death was my fault. I should have tried harder to contact her, all I was concerned about was shoes. And she was laying in a pool of her own blood. My eyes drift to the shut door of the counselor, and the working clock on the wall. I stand up from my seat and walk toward the now open door, pushing pass the random girl and grab my bag, stepping into the room. "Jade Fitzgerald, you were Nina's friend, correct?" She asked, gesturing me to sit. I nod silently, still not trusting my voice. She begins to write on a piece of paper, quickly obstructing my view once she notices I'm reading it. "We don't have many resources, but I'm always here to talk if you need it. Don't hesitate to talk to someone, it's always important to talk." She stated softly, as if not to make me start crying again. "Who killed her?" I ask, trying to keep my hands busy while drumming a pattern on my thigh. "That's highly confidential information, but I promise you, you'll be okay." Her voice wavered, and she retracted the pen. "What the hell do you mean it's confidential! My best friend was murdered, and I'm just supposed to sit here?" I stand up from my chair, slamming my hands on the table. She calmly stood up, not nearly reaching my height. "You are going to need to calm down, or I will call security and you will be escorted out." Her tone quickly turned snappy, and she placed her hand on the phone sitting on her desk. "Go ahead. Tell them I'm just expressing myself! Because people like you, are shit at their stupid jobs!" Her eyes widened, and before I knew what was happening, I was being dragged out of the counsellors office by two security guards. "Get your fucking hands off my you pervert!" I kick my arms, trying to escape their hold. Jake stands up from his seat, quickly taking me from the guards. "You need to take her off of campus." One of them said, pushing me into Jake's awaiting arms. "What happened!" He demanded, looking from the guards to me. "She got violent. Please take your sister home, before we do." The taller guard says, walking away from Jake and I. My eyes look to the group of people staring at us, and I manage to give Brooke a sad smile. A tear streams down my face, and I tuck my face into my brothers shoulder as he walks me to our truck.
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"You know, a party like this, you're actually pretty safe from your typical Jason and Michael Myers type." Noah states, downing the rest of beer drink with a tipsy grin. "What makes you think the killer isn't outside right now? Just waiting for one of us to wonder off alone." Riley argued, raising her eyebrows and leaning closer to the boy. I grab for one of the bottles someone brought and take a sip, careful not to gag on the pungent taste of vodka. Maybe I should've stopped after my sixth beer, but the night was just getting started. "We're together, and the killer isn't going to fight his way through hundreds of drunk teenagers, that's the whole point, he's waiting for one of us to be alone." Noah replies cockily, laying his head down on Riley's lap and closing his eyes. "Jake, I really don't think it's a good idea, it isn't safe out there." I interrupt, grasping his shoulder roughly as he and will pick up Noah's knocked out body. "Too bad, it's Lakewood tradition." Jake laughs, quickly stripping Noah at the shore. "I'm defending him because I don't want another person around me to die. " I spat, rolling my eyes dramatically before clenching my fist and punching his shoulder. "You're being a bigger douche than usual tonight, Jake." I finish, glaring at him as someone begins to swim to the dock, carrying Noah on their back. I walk away from the crowd of people gathered around my brother, making my way to the empty drink table. I pour myself a hearty glass of tequila and quickly down the drink, chasing it with sprite. After doing that three times, I decide to save my precious kidneys from alcohol poisoning. "Have you seen Noah?" My body stumbles, and I nearly drop the empty bottle in my hand. "Shit, you scared me. Uh, see that crowd of people by the dock? Might want to check over there." I slur, pointing at the screaming crowd. "Thanks Jade." She says abruptly, running to the now screaming, Noah foster. "You're welcome." I mutter, walking into the nearly empty house. My eyes trail to the couple dry humping on the white couch, and I quickly sprint to them. "You're fucking gross, get a room." I say, pulling the girl up and gesturing for her man friend to leave as well. She glares at me, tugging the clearly intoxicated boy to the staircase. "Oh my god, not her room! Stupid fucking degenerate." I chase after them, shoving my body in front of the staircase and block them from getting a room. "Chill out Fitzgerald, don't be such a bitch." She says, leaning into her nearly passed out friend. "Oh my goodness, I'm sorry I didn't want you reproducing on my friends couch or bed." I gasp, feigning my apology. "You should be, slut." Her eyes narrowed at me, backing down from the staircase and walking down the drive way. "I hope you get hit by a train, skank." I whisper, waving sarcastically at her as she drags her now passed out friend away. I close the door, looking to see most of the people in here had migrated to the yard. I go into the coat closet, searching for Jakes keys. I pull them out of his pocket, along with two magnum condoms. "Ew." I drop those on the floor, pulling his jacket on over my dress and walking outside. I unlock the car, sitting in the passenger seat and taking my shoes off. Jake was my usual designated driver, and dying wasn't anywhere on my bucket list.
