Witch (Supernatural #2)

17: Two Down

Message, noun.

1. a communication containing some information, news, advice, request, or the like, sent by messenger, telephone, email, or other means.
2. an official communication.

***

As the week progressed, everything was better than fine. I swam in the morning with Jamie and in the afternoon with the rest of the swim team. After practice, Ken and I hiked in the snow and after dinner Noah and I would watch a movie or two. Ken agreed to a double-date on Friday after school though he insisted on picking the activity - like I had predicted, I might add. Noah shrugged but reminded him that Amanda and he weren't as into - if at all - nature walks like we were. Instead, the plan was to go to Let's Jump, an indoor trampoline hall.

Honestly, things were so normal, I hardly even saw Tate. Sawyer told me as we were conjugating verbs that he skipped a lot of school when he is playing detective. She rolled her eyes; obviously, it wasn't his hellhound status and abilities that had attracted her to him. It was funny how most supernaturals were uneasy around him and would do anything to keep from pissing him off, yet Sawyer was dissing him at every turn.

Everything was perfectly fine, until the Principal made an announcement Friday morning, telling everyone to head to the auditorium. First period hadn't started yet, Jamie and I were only just heading out of the swimming pool. Ken was waiting for me outside and grinned at the elemental as he went off to find his friends.

"What do you think this is about?" I asked Ken.

"Maybe they caught someone with drugs again? It happened once and they also had a big meeting. They even invited the sheriff to talk about the dangerous and stuff."

"Whoa, sounds you paid attention to that talk," I teased.

He shrugged but smiled. "It's not like I'm ever going to use drugs. It messes with the shift; apparently, a shifter with an addiction was completely lose their animal. That is not something I ever want to risk."

I didn't know that.

We found the others at Sam's and Callum's lockers, which were conveniently right next to each other. Both lockers were open, showing how different the two boys were. Callum's locker was decorated with pictures of planets and suns and nebulae and articles about space discoveries. Sam's locker, on the other hand, was just short of being a greenhouse. There were nature-related things pasted to the inside of the metal door, but there was also a small tray covered in what I assumed was dirt. He sprayed it carefully with water and then closed the locker just as carefully.

I frowned, not understanding why he would try to grow something in his locker when I knew for a fact he had access to the rooftop greenhouse. And, there was no light in the locker; one of two things everyone knew plants needed. I was about to ask but Ken's squeezed my hand. When I glanced up, he shook his head discreetly. I let it go.

"Anyone have any idea what this is all about?" Joyce asked, leading the way to the auditorium.

It was weird for our group to be together and complete this early in the morning. Usually, Ken and I had practice and would barely have time to get to class before the bell rang.

"Drugs, maybe?" Iris shrugged, trying to read her book as Alana guided her through the crowds. It was incredible how this girl could read every spare moment she had, even when she was walking.

The auditorium was filling up already as teachers tried to organize the mess of students walking around looking for friends and enough seats to sit together. We were shepherded to where the rest of the seniors were sitting and I couldn't help but search for Noah. I hadn't seen him yet today so I was clueless as to what he was wearing. He had to be there somewhere. Finally, I gave up and joined in the speculations for the meeting.