Castle High

38. Despicable

“I still can’t believe he did it.”

Jamie sighed gloomily. It was recess back at school and the atmosphere was a dull one. They had received news that Ben was drifting from consciousness to unconsciousness and that his health wasn’t getting any better. Still a lot of people couldn’t digest the fact that Jake had sent him flying off the roof. It was obviously a mistake, but the question why Jake went and attacked him in the first place still stood.

“It just doesn’t make sense,” Ariel piled in, curiously. They all sat in one big circle once more. The girls – Alex, Ariel, Alice, Shelby and Emily on one side of the circle; and the boys – Jamie, Stephen, Andrew with Nicole and Roxanne on the other side. “I guess we really don’t know people as much as we think we do. But I still can’t believe Jake did that.”

“Well the instance isn’t too far-fetched,” Emily interjected. “He did beat Ray Barrowman to pulp last semester. And he was always the best in Combat classes, in the whole school in fact. The instructor kept on saying he must have had a back-ground in kick-boxing or mixed martial arts but he kept on dismissing it.”

Nicole said. “I thought it was bad-ass, though. I mean a dude who is fit, tall, plays basket-ball, gorgeous as fuck and kick-ass at the same time? it was just too good to be true, everything had to be for an ulterior motive.”

“I just can’t wrap my head round it.” Andrew exhaled sharply, with his arms folded. “You know guys, Jake tried to persuade Joey into stabbing school today for some reason.”

“So he could attack him at home where there would be fewer eyes to watch?” Alice declared, in an ominous tone. “That makes sense.”

“No it doesn’t,” Alex scowled, throwing an incredulous look at Alice. “You’ve been to my house like a million times and you have failed to take cognizance of the tight security detail. Believe me the only person Jake would be attacking is himself for making such mistake of venturing into the mansion with something despicable in mind.”

Roxanne took Alice’s side. “Alice’s point makes sense in some sense. I mean, the detail knows Jake as a friendly face and Joey would never suspect a close friend of his wanted to kill him. Jake would probably lure him to a quiet secluded corner of the house, where he’d–you know.”

Jamie swallowed in fright. “The thought just sends chills down my throat. It’s a good thing Joey refused to stay at home.”

Andrew sat up straight. “Have y’all stopped to think if Jake wanted Joey at home to keep him out of trouble? Instead of assuming the worst of him all the time.”

“We’re not assuming the worst, we’re just stating the obvious!” Emily shrieked in disgust. “I don’t even know why anyone would take Jake’s side on this. A sum of money was found in his bag for goodness sake, plus a recording stating Joey as his target. It’s all glaring. Your judgment is clouded, Drew because he was your best-friend.”

“IS my best-friend.” Andrew snarled. “You just don’t write people off like that when investigations haven’t wrapped up. We don’t know if Jake is a victim in this just like Joey and Ben. Besides, you guys seem to forget how much sacrifice Jake put into returning everyone back safely from J.C. a couple of months ago. I’m disappointed guys, I won’t sit down here and take this crap.”

With that, Andrew sprung to his feet instantly and strode angrily out of the class-room. Stephen and Jamie shared a knowing look with the girls, before rising to their feet and going after their friend.

“Shelby,” Emily cleared her throat when the boys departed. “You’re being uncharacteristically quiet.”

“What do you want her to say,” Alice interrupted before Shelby could. “That she is happy she didn’t get into a relationship with a murderer?”