Take Me With You || Jess Mariano

Part 4

A week later, Rory and I are walking home from the bus stop when we notice a group of people outside Doose's. Dean is amongst the crowd; he catches Rory's eye and waves us over.

When we get to him I notice the crowd's been blocked off by police tape. There's a chalk outline of a body in the middle, right outside Doose's Market. Taylor is out front talking to a police officer, freaking out.

"What happened?" Rory asks Dean. He shrugs.

"Looks fake to me but Doose thinks someone got murdered outside of his store." Rory keeps asking him questions while I scan the crowd. I glance across the street for a second and see Jess standing on the sidewalk. He catches my eye and gives me a smirk.

"Mia? What's your opinion?" Rory's voice brings me back.

"Sorry, I didn't hear you," I say, glancing back at the spot where Jess was. He's gone.

"We were just wondering if you think the outline's fake or not." Dean explains. I glance at the outline. It looks too perfect.

"Definitely fake," I tell them, glancing at my watch. "I should probably go, my mom wanted me to help her close up the shop today." They both nod and we say our goodbyes.

I don't see Jess on the way home.

XXX

The next afternoon I head to Luke's after school to get some tea. I'm sitting at the counter, waiting for Luke to finish adding milk when Taylor comes barging in.

"Luke, I need to talk to you right now!" Luke hands me my mug and gives me a look that says he doesn't want to deal with Doose today.

"What is it Taylor?"

"I have conducted a thorough investigation of all the people who may have inadvertently been witness to the phony murder at my store last night." Luke and I both roll our eyes. "Luke, are you going to listen?"

"What's this got to do with me?" Luke asks, leaning forward on the counter.

"Three people have reported seeing Jess in that area late last night skulking – lurking." I take a sip of my tea.

"There were a lot of people out late last night," Luke tells him. "I know because I fed some of them. I'll give you their names so you can add them to your suspect list." I smirk.

Taylor's having none of it. "Another person witnessed Jess walking out of an arts and craft store two days ago with what appeared to be chalk."

"Maybe that's where he meets his drug dealer," I mutter into my tea. Luke gives me a look and Taylor frowns.

"What did she just say?"

"Nothing," Luke tells him. "You're annoying me Taylor, get out."

"Well what are you going to do about it Luke?"

"About what?"

"About the results of my investigation!" Taylor says. I resist the urge to laugh.

"Absolutely nothing, but thanks for the info."

"You have to do something! People want action!"

"People, meaning you."

"Not just me," Taylor protests. Luke turns to me.

"Mia, do you want action?"

"Nope, not at all." I say.

"Well she's a teenage hooligan, what do you expect?" Taylor says.