Ohio is for Lovers (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter Four

"It has been confirmed that the death of fourteen year old, Jamie Young, is now being investigated as a possible homicide. Police have found during an autopsy, Jamie suffered bruising to his ribs and internal bleeding brought on by blunt force trauma to his abdomen. There is no other comment from police on any leads."

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I sat in biology. I could tell Cole dozed off the moment he took a seat next to me. Mrs.Humphrey was quiet today as she scribbled in the chalk board. Unlike others days when she was on someone's case if they so much as yawned in her presence. A sadness lingered around her.

"Today, we'll be starting biology projects. Here are a few suggestions for you all to choose from." She motioned towards the board, her golden bracelets clanged.

"I've assigned partners so don't get too comfortable in the current seating." She rubbed her nose as she held her clipboard up, reading off the list of students.

"Cole Birch and Cindy Hemmings."

I pursed my lips together as he stood to take a seat next to Cindy. Cindy Hemmings, the most sought after twelfth grader in the town of Pine Lake.

"Campbell Loughty and Billie Lane."

My body froze, unknowingly. Aiden's friend, Billie Lane.

Billie stood up from his desk at the front of the room and turned, walking towards me. His white shoes squeaked against the ceramic floor with every step and my mouth became dry as he neared.

Cole got Cindy and I got Billie.

Cole was lucky.

Billie sat down beside me, his grey wool sweater brushed against my arm. I bit the corner of my nail, ripping off a piece of skin.

"Hi." I greeted him with a tight lipped smile. He merely nodded at me and opened his notebook.

"You'll have the rest of class to brainstorm and decide on a topic." Mrs.Humphrey said as she sat in her chair, staring at papers on her desk.

Silently, he began writing down a list of potential topics in his notebook before clearing his throat.

"We cou-could do s-something.. easy." He stuttered. His voice was kind and gentle as he spoke, staring down at his paper.

Billie Lane thought I was stupid.

"I like challenges." I said as I peaked at his list of topics that I didn't entirely know about. Something about DNA versus RNA.

"Po-pollination?" He suggested, continuing to avoid my eyes.

"What about mitosis?" I leaned closer, pointing at the word on the lined paper. He smelled like pine trees.

"S-sure." He said as he circled the word

❅

"Billie Lane?" Holland asked, cocking is head to the side as he stabbed his salad.

"Yeah." I replied, popping a cherry tomato in my mouth.

"Pretty sure he's one of the biggest nerds in twelfth." Cole tittered. I wrinkled my nose at him.

"And Cole was paired with Cindy Hemmings? What is this world coming to." Holland said hammily, rubbing his left temple.

"It's just bio, Holly." Cole patted his back reassuringly.

"Don't hurt her." Holland said as he grabbed Cole by the collar. At this point, I couldn't tell if he was joking anymore.

The conversation fell silent as we sat, picking at our food. The fact that Jamie was murdered was a hard pill to swallow. Jamie Young, who was only fourteen years old, who was shorter than most, and who I had left behind in elementary because he was chess and I was hockey.

He was a familiar face in the crowd, now a ghost and it was affecting me more than I thought it would.