Disturbing the Peace

Chapter 3

I look down and open my mouth. Nothing comes out. What would there be to say anyways? My friend might be dead and it's all my fault?

I look back at the man. "H-how do you know who I am? Is he alive? Who are you? Where are all my friends?" I blurt. That was just one big word vomit.

"Relax. Your friends are fine. They started heading to the hospital already to meet us there."

"You only answered one of my questions," I snap. I never snap at people, though.

He sighs. "I have been keeping video surveillance on you and your friends for a long time. Leo is still alive right now. I am a government worker," he whispers.

"You've been what!?" I yell as they pack Leo back into the ambulance.

"Look, kid, you can't tell your friends. You're the only one who knows. Promise me you won't tell them!" he commands.

My eyebrows furrow. "Okay...why haven't you arrested us?" I ask. He throws his hand over my mouth.

"Do you want to get caught?" He throws me into his car. So not cool.

He follows the ambulance once it starts driving.

"Why have you been keeping video surveillance on us?"

He points to his laptop. "I was ordered to watch you all 5 years ago, because the police saw you go to a peace rally. They were suspicious of you smoking marijuana since you're hippies."

"Why haven't you turned us in?" I ask, everything overwhelming me.

"I couldn't. I've fallen in love with your stories. You are all special people. Your hearts are bigger than anyone I've ever seen," he pauses. "But if you can't get your friends to stop doing drugs, I can't protect you any longer. My boss is getting suspicious."

"What happened to Leo?" I say, looking down at my feet.

He sighs and keeps driving.

"I need to know," I reiterate, still not looking at him.

"Ugh...fine. Leo was so high that he got mad at you guys and ran away. He ran into the middle of the street and..." he trails off.

"And?" I urge.

"And he got hit by a car. It was a hard blow. It could've been instant death, but he has a chance of survival," his voice is hopeful.

We get to the hospital and I greet my friends with a fake smile. "I couldn't find you guys anywhere. I was worried," I say.

Ferris hugs me to his chest. "I was worried about you too." He kisses my forehead.

The large man stands behind me.

"Who's he?" Marc asks.

"He helped find me to bring me to Leo," I inform. Not a lie, just not the full truth.

"Thanks, dude," Ferris says to him.

He nods in reply.

"What's your name?" Rain asks. We all look at him expectantly. Especially me.

"Kevin Brown."

A nurse calls us all in to see Leo.