Please Understand

Chapter 9: Product of Lust

"In conclusion, if you have any information on Amelia Jackson's whereabouts, then please step forward. You will not get into trouble, but we do need information," Detective Nix pleaded from his spot at the podium in the center of the gym. His partner, Detective Conan, stood next to him with her strawberry blonde hair pulled up into a tight bun and her wire glasses sitting on her beak-like nose.

Carlie Nash stood up from her spot a few rows in front of me on the bleachers. "I was next door the night she went missing, and I saw her climb up a ladder into her window. Her dad probably killed her just like he killed his wife," she bluntly stated with a flip of her curly platinum blonde hair. How did I ever find this girl attractive?

"Knock it off, Carlie! You know that didn't happen!" I shouted back with a small smirk. I leaned forward with my arms limply resting on my legs. "Emily Jackson had cancer."

She turned to face me with her piercing green eyes glaring daggers. Oh yeah, she has a nice rack. "That doesn't mean her dad is innocent. He's still a crazy drunk," she argued with her pink lips set in a pout. Evil incarnate. Then, she finally took her seat.

I shrugged my shoulders, and looked back down as Coach Holtry took the microphone.

He glared towards us for a brief moment, and then he forced a smile onto his tan, leathery face. "Thank you, Carlie, but please speak to the detectives privately. This school needs to be a united front if we want to find Amelia. No more secrets, or fights," he began as he paced in front of us. He caught my gaze for a brief second. "We are all working as a team, and working with the detectives. Please, keep this in mind. We are all on the same team!" His voice was harsh, but passionate and that's why he was one of the best coaches we ever had. Even the cheesy poem he read had us all encouraged and ready to work together.

Well, until we walked out of the gym. Then, we would all go out separate ways and hate one another again.

As we filed out, Luke wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "So you're back to caring about Amelia?" he asked with his eyes scanning the crowd, like he was watching to make sure no one listened.

"I'm always going to care about her. I'm just not going to let her ruin my life," I answered with my heart racing. Why had Luke been acting so weird these last few days?

He let his arm drop, but walked close beside me. "So have you told anyone about the party, or are we keeping that a secret?" he whispered as he continued to look around. "I've been telling everyone to keep their mouths shut, but someone could go to the detectives after this. Carlie literally just mentioned being at your house the night she went missing. That's going to raise suspicion."

I shrugged my shoulders and looked around the hall as everyone pushed towards their classes. "Everyone at that party was drunk out of their minds. I'm sure none of them are going to say anything because that could get everyone into some kind of trouble," I murmured, but I wasn't so sure of myself. "Plus, I doubt half of them even remember the party."

He snickered at me and lowered his head. "What if someone saw who took Amelia, then what?" he asked with an unreadable look on his face.

I bit the inside of my cheek. "Then, I guess they better keep their mouths shut," I hissed as I glared at my best friend. "Unless you want the whole football team suspended right before Homecoming."

His eyes widened and he let out a hearty laugh as he smacked my backpack, harder than it looked. I almost tumbled forward, but I caught myself. "You would be the only one getting suspended. You know, lying to the police and the party was at your house," he shot back with a gloating smirk.