Dead Girls Walking: A Novel

Chapter Five

Jasmine

"Alright everybody! We're gonna start warming up in twenty minutes! And if I don't see you out there, you're running laps around the basketball team!" Brianna Rojas, the captain of the cheer team, announced in the locker room.

Half the team couldn't wait for Brianna to graduate at the end of the year. Then she could terrorize the Villanova cheerleaders. Jasmine was hoping to take her place for her senior year, then she could make cheer an enjoyable experience again.

It was 3:40. School had been over for an hour and ten minutes, and the entire squad had been chilling in the locker room, eating pizza and gossiping. Their usual pre-game ritual. Jasmine was in her usual row with Lila, Ashley and Heather Davenport, who was the team's designated hair dresser. She was busy putting curls into Ashley's hair with an iron. She just finished Lila's, and Jasmine luckily didn't need them.

"I talked to Garett today, he said he could get us stuff as long as we hook him up with Brianna." Jasmine said, referring to Garett Thomson, the school dealer.

Heather laughed. "It's gonna be a night of fighting for him."

Ashley looked at her manicure. "Besides, she's not stupid enough to actually get with him. He smells like dirt. Ouch!"

"Sorry!" Heather's hand started to get a little shaky with the curling iron.

Lila sighed. "Matt can't come tonight. He's going to some dinner at his dad's fiancé's house."

Jasmine was instantly reminded of Lacey. She almost forgot that her and Matt were going to be step siblings soon. Then she was reminded of the note and everything that was at stake. Don't think about it, don't think about it.

"Oh yeah, he's with Lacey Wood's mom right?" Heather let another curl loose.

"Don't worry, Lila. He won't be getting it with President Wood." Ashley scrolled through Instagram, liking nothing.

The girls all laughed, except Jasmine. She didn't think of Lacey as some crazy control freak as every one else did. After everything that happened today, that group of girls felt like the only ones she could trust. Stop fucking thinking about it!

Lila leaned against a locker. "Oh, Ash, did you talk to..."

"Shut up!" Ashley boomed, standing up and looking like she was about to strangle Lila. Heather and Jasmine both exchanged looks of confusion. Ashley did get angry, but never this angry.

"I'm gonna go get a water. Jazz, come with me." Ashley marches out of the locker room, Jasmine following close behind.

Jasmine was a little nervous to say a word. "What was that about?"

Ashley looked at her phone. "Nothing. She's being stupid like always."

Before she could say another word, a group of four boys in basketball jerseys came into view from down the hallway. It was Brandon Lang, Aidan Napolitano, Jack Moritz and Billy. A tall middle-aged man with a graying beard and whistle around his neck appeared behind them. Coach Wilson. "Where the hell is David?"

Billy turned around. "We don't know, Coach. He isn't answering his phone."

Coach Wilson's face turned bright red. "If he doesn't get here by 4:00, he's done."