Lacrosse My Heart, Hope To Die

first forty-eight | Nina

1 Year Ago; February 25th, Sophomore Year

"Your friend has been reported missing. If you know anything about her disappearance, please come forward now. The first forty-eight hours are crucial to an investigation."

And that's how it all started. My dad's co-worker, Officer Williams, standing in the Ziegler's wide open living room, telling us why Jess hadn't shown up to our annual Friday-night sleepover. She hadn't shown up for school that morning, and her parents hadn't spoken to her since Thursday.

Jess was always considered the quiet one of our group, but her laugh was so radiant that it could fill the room. Her trademarks were her deep red hair and the fact that she was born in Portugal, and could speak fluent Portuguese.

It's like that with our entire group: everyone has cool, special things about them. I, on the other hand, am still figuring it out.

"So, you're saying that Jess is just-gone? I can't believe that. Not for a second. Jess would text us if she even went to the bathroom alone," Josie protested. Josie been friends with Jess the longest- they'd known each other for years before they met the rest of us in high school.

"Your friend is gone, girls. There isn't much else I can say, other that any leads you have will help," Officer Williams said, turning around towards the door, "I'm sure I'll see you girls soon," he said briskly, closing the door behind himself.

"What the actual fuck? If she's pulling some 'grand scheme,' I'd tell her to stop acting so much like Nina," Josie groaned.

"I don't think this is a joke, Josie. What if she's actually-" Elaine began.

"Don't you dare," Josie snapped, "we'll find her. I don't trust that crooked department at all -sorry Nina- so I think we should go look for her ourselves."

"Are you insane? What if we get kidnapped, too?" Elaine yelped.

"How about we let the police handle it for right now? If no one else, we at least know that Nina's dad is competent," Lila yawned, stretching her legs across the Ziegler's white crushed-velvet couch.

And that was the last we'd talk about Jess for the entire night. When Lila ended something, it was done. Everybody listened to Lila, she was our leader.

-

The next morning, we all went home, and Jess still wasn't found. The panic started to set in, leaving us to wonder if our group would ever feel the same.

Over time, we began finding things, little things, that we never knew about Jess. We realized that if she had been kidnapped, maybe she'd seen it coming. And maybe, just maybe, we could save her before it was too late.

But one year later, at the end of our junior year, Jess' decomposed body was found in her basement.