WHERE ARE YOU CHARLIE?

NOW CHAPTER 2

The man had been shot in the forehead three times before being thrown in the river. His name was Patrick Gibbs and he'd been forty five years old.

I almost cried out of relief when I understood that it wasn't Charlie. Of course, it also meant that Jim had once again decided to play God which never failed to make me feel sick, but hey! Charlie was alive, so that was something.

Another article caught my eyes. Patrick Gibbs had apparently been the first to a long list since they had since found three more bodies. All males, aged between thirty-eight and forty-four.

The river had spat four bodies within the last two weeks. Something big was happening and I was kind of glad to be staying at the Fields'.

Could I really say that, though?

The truth was I missed Charlie. I missed him like hell. And not knowing what was up with him was killing me. He'd never abandoned me before. He couldn't possibly have abandoned me, anyway so something must have happened.

Something bad.

"You ok?"

I looked toward the voice and realized that Cole had been sitting next to me all that time.

I grabbed my back pack and was about to leave the room when he stopped me.

I glared at him.

"I'm supposed to be your boyfriend, remember?" He stated somehow arrogantly.

"So that's what it was all about?!" I yell-whispered not to attract the other students' attention. "What am I to you?" I asked him. "A freaking puzzle?!

The confused look on his face after my outburst showed me that he didn't have a clue what I was talking about. I didn't stay to apologize however, and walked away from him wordlessly.

Double P.E. was a blast. We ran for an hour and then played basketball until the final bell rang.

Practice was intense, just what I needed, and once I had stretched, I let my teammates hit the showers while I just hid my sweaty body in my oversized hoodie ready to go to the Fields'.

As soon as I'd left the IT room, I'd decided that I would walk to the Fields'. Getting close to Sam and Cole was bound to cause trouble so I'd stay away from them.

I was walking with my two bags in the cold October night, when a car overtook me and parked along the pavement a few yards ahead.

Cole and Sam got out of it.

"Get in the car, Zoe..." Sam's gentle voice reminded me of his Mom's.

"I feel like walking." I answered blankly.

"I live too far away..." He pointed out. "And it's not safe..."

I huffed.

Not safe... Had he got even the tiniest glimpse of my life at home, he wouldn't be using such a strong word to describe a twenty to thirty minutes' walk, depending on whether I'd get lost or not.

"More dessert for you, then..." My voice dripped in sarcasm.

Two arms suddenly circled my waist and lifted me off the ground before sitting me at the back of Cole's car.

"Don't you think you're taking it a bit too far, boyfriend?!" I spat the last word.

"Don't you think you're being an annoying bitch?!" He countered, shocking me.

"Did you just called me a bitch?!" I was shaking with rage now.

"I did..." He answered arrogantly.