Secrets & Lies

Chapter 4

So her partner was Jaqoub... that was the dark-haired boy that she was looking at this morning. He turned to Amy and gave her a slight nod as he walked towards her desk. "You're Amilah, right? I'm Jaqoub, guess we're partners." Jaqoub greeted.

"Yeah, but you can call me Amy." Amy replied.

"So.... what did you want to research on?" he asked.

"I... was kind of thinking to research on a death of someone. Penny, do you know her?" she replied.

"Yeah, I've heard of her... Wasn't she about to graduate?"

"Mhm." Amy said, her voice wavering at the thought of her sister.

Jaqoub noticed the sadness enveloping Amy. He had always seen her as a bubbly girl-next-door type of person, not like this. "Were... you close to Penny?"

Amy nodded. "She was my sister."

Jaqoub's eyes widened. "I am so sorry, I had no idea..."

"Its fine."

Jaqoub looked down at the floor, not knowing what to say.

"She was leaving to go the bonfire that was going on at night... It was her first time sneaking out of the house and then she crashed..." Amy continued.

"I really am so sorry, I can't imagine what you must be going through. I know we just met but I'm here for you."

Amy nodded as she swallowed. "Thank you." she whispered.

"I just... don't believe that's something Penny would do. She was so careful and such a good person, I was positive she would get back home safely."

"Maybe she had one too many drinks..." Jaqoub said. "It happens to the best of us."

"She definitely doesn't drink. Or do any drugs for that matter. She's too much of a goody-two-shoes for that."

"Oh.. I'm sorry then, that might have sounded insensitive."

"No it's alright."

"It's just that I come from a crazy family so..." Jaqoub struggled to finish his sentence.

"Yeah I get you. So that type of stuff is normal for you guys." Amy finished.

"Yup." he said."So... do you like investigating stuff? Or writing?"

"Both. That's why I joined this class. Journalism helps me write the newspaper."

"You write the newspaper?"

"Yeah, just me. No one else."

"I... like writing too. And investigating. That's sort of my specialty."

"Really?" Amy asked. She hadn't pegged him to be that type of guy. "You would be perfect to join the newspaper writing group."

"Can I?"

"Yeah, of course! I would really like having someone to work with." she said.

"Then consider me your official newest member. Do I get a certificate, or a badge, or..." he joked with a smile.

"You get the pleasure of working with me! And a bunch of extra assignments." Amy replied, a smile tugging at her cheeks. Her heart actually felt lighter for the first time since Penny's death.

"I guess I can deal with that. But I'm expecting something soon." Jaqoub said, running his fingers through the luscious brown locks on his head.

"I release the newspaper every month... and I don't have any sports news for that. If you know any athletes or coaches can you ask them for updates & games?" Amy asked.

"Sure. Anything else?"

"Um, I don't think so. If you have any other important events that you feel should be discussed in the paper, then you can write about that."

"I actually do..." Jaqoub said nervously.

"What?"

"I don't know if you'll like it."

"Just tell me!" Amy said impatiently.

"Actually, I changed my mind. I won't tell you. You'll see it on the front page when it's released. And I promise you it won't be bad."

Amy raised her eyebrows skeptically. "Fine. Whatever."

Suddenly, the bell rang.

"Wow we wasted this whole period!" Amy said.

"Well, it wasn't a complete waste... I mean, you gained a new member of the newspaper!" Jaqoub said.

"True. Well I'll see you later." Amy said.

"Later."

"Wait, Jaqoub!" Amy yelled after he had started to leave. Jaqoub turned around swiftly at the sound of his name.

"What's your number? We're gonna need to contact each other for the newspaper and this project." she said.

"Oh, here give me your phone." he typed in his number into a new contact, and then texted himself. He received a vibration on his phone. Jaqoub lifted it to show Amy. "There, now we have each other's number."

"Thanks." Amy said.

"No problem. Bye!" Jaqoub walked out as Amy packed up her stuff. He turned around to wave at the door, but she was too busy putting her things away.

Jaqoub picked up his phone to call his friend Ethan, a senior.

"Hello?" said Ethan.

"Hey, Ethan? Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure bro, what do you need?" Ethan replied.

"I need you to gather everyone who ever knew Penny Wesler. I have something I need to get done."