Lacrosse My Heart, Hope To Die

the end | Josie

Per Nina's request, the police cars crept up silently, like a midnight storm. I lay on the ground unknowingly and helplessly, my hands tied behind my back and my feet bound.

"Please let me out. This whole thing is stupid, and you're getting my Louboutins dirty," I yelled, haplessly.

"Don't you understand? Your family cost us money, bad publicity, and humiliation. And now, I'm going to teach them a lesson," Mr. Smithers snapped, pulling a handgun from his pocket.

"Please! We can solve this, I promise! Won't people suspect the school if I'm murdered on school property?" I shrieked.

"We'll move the body," Coach Anna suggested, and Mr. Smithers raised the gun.

"NOOO!" I screamed, just as voice yelled, "Freeze!" I moved my head slightly to see the tall figure of Nina's father with his gun raised, and at least eight officers behind him. Just in time, I thought.

"You shoot, I shoot. Listen to me and drop the gun, Smithers," Mr. Atherton commanded. And, sure enough, he did.

"All four of you, get on your knees and put your hands up," he said, while he and his officers crept forward. Suddenly, the other officers began reciting the Miranda rights while I watched them handcuff my Principal, the Athletic Director, and two people I had trusted the most, my Varsity and Junior Varsity coaches, the people who had helped me perfect my skills and taught me lacrosse in the first place.

I couldn't help but cry as Mr. Atherton untied my hands and ankles. "You okay, kid?" He asked. I nodded.

"Well, we'll still have to take you to the hospital for drug testing, just in case they slipped you anything, and our detectives will talk to you, of course. But do you remember how you were taken?" He asked, kindly.

"I was in my backyard practicing, and no one was home. My brother and parents are out of town for my brother's soccer tournament thing, and I decided to stay. Out of nowhere, a bag was thrown over my head, and I was out cold. I remember tasting something sweet before I went unconscious, if that helps," I recalled, and he scribbled something down on his notepad.

"Dad!" I heard a voice that was clearly Nina, yell. She was running around the bleachers with George trailing behind her.

"Wait, were you up there the whole time?" I asked, alarmed. Were they finally- ugh! I did not want to think about that.

"Yeah, we were the ones who called the cops. And George got it on video, for evidence."

"Sir," George awkwardly nodded to Mr. Atherton, who nodded back.

"And you didn't try to help me?" I gasped.

"We called the cops, Josie. We didn't want to get killed," I said, narrowing my eyes. Was she really suspecting an ulterior motive?

"Fine, whatever. What were you even doing up there, anyway?"

"We just came back from the graveyard. I was feeling sad, so Neens brought me here to help me feel better," George shrugged, locking eyes with Nina.

"How did she make you 'feel better?' A handy? I thought you weren't putting out, Neens," I simpered.

"No way, ew! My dad is standing right here, Josie! Don't be so inappropriate!"

"I think it might be good for you two to head to the hospital for when Josie gets there. Nina, we're having a talk when you get home," Mr. Atherton warned.

"Dad, we aren't-" but he cut her off with a cold glare.

-

I arrived at the hospital with the whole shebang- Ambulance and all- even though it wasn't necessary. They'd keep me overnight for testing, but that was it. The other girls-  Nina, Elaine, and Lila- were already in my room when they wheeled my hospital bed in, looking nervous and concerned. In addition to them were two fancily-dressed Portland detectives, and Nina's dad, of course.

"Girls, we have some news for you. Josie, this particular group of faculty members mentioned something to you at the beginning of their charades in the back lot of your school, but we got all four of them to confess: they murdered Jess last year, because of a similar reason, an unrelated lawsuit filed by her parents against the school. Sure enough, the body was exactly where they told us- the crawlspace," Mr Atherton said, grimly.

We all were in shock. Jess was officially dead, even after our hopes of her being alive, somewhere. Elaine wiped her eye and thanked Mr. Atherton and the detectives.

"They wanted to kill me, too. They almost did. Thank you, Nina. I'm sorry-" I began to apologize for suggesting that she did... things with her boyfriend.

"It's okay, Josie."

-

"The girls called us, Josie! Omigod, we were so scared!" Tonya, my tall, dark-haired teammate said, handing me a 'Get Well Soon!' balloon. Behind her, a few of my other teammates, Trish and Hayden, nodded and handed me flowers. I handed them to Lila, who put them on my side table.

"Yeah. I hope this mess isn't the end of PDA girls' lacrosse. They'll have to replace all of the coaches," I sighed. I couldn't even begin to comprehend it- my best friend and my boyfriend were both dead.

But now, Jess had been found. And maybe, for the first time in a long time, she could rest in peace.