Page 11 of Savage Valentine

“I don’t know babe, but we will get answers!” I seethe, hiding my emotions like I always do. But for Zova, it’s hard to do. Shewas my first real friend, until Liv. Then they became my ride or die.Come on Zova, where the fuck are you?

Walking back through the doors, I hadn’t even realized we’d made it through them yet the first time while I was texting Parker. Heading towards the headmasters office, we pick up our pace, ready to get some answers.

Chapter 10

Parker

We walk through the sports center, no sign of Ezran anywhere. Going through the exit, the sun is starting to set and the wind picks up, sending an eerie chill down my spine.Something’s not right. He wouldn’t just go missing.I think over and over again. Knowing deep in my gut something is off.

“Try calling him again. I’m going to walk around out here and see if I can’t hear his phone ring or something.” I say looking over at Hayes. He nods, grabs his phone and holds it up to his ear.

Moving along the outside rink between the ice and the woods, I can faintly hear the ringing of a phone. Looking over at Hayes with a panicked look, we lock eyes and both take off running, dropping my skates on the way. The ringing stops, Hayes must redial because within seconds it starts back up. Getting closer, we both halt, seeing a body laying in the snow. Too scared to move any closer, we freeze. Standing therestunned.No! No fucking way is that one of my best friends laying there!

Being the first one to move, I take off running. Finally seeing it with my own eyes, Ezran is laying in the snow, a puddle of his blood pooling underneath him. Hayes runs up beside me, I don’t even catch his facial expression as I fall to my knees and scream out.

“Noooo! No, no, no. Who did this to you?” I scream, getting closer to his face. Looking over his body, it’s then I see his throat. There’s a clean slice from one side to the other.

“Who the fuck would want to kill him? Why? Of all the fucked up shit that happens here, why did it have to happen to you?” Hayes cries out from beside me.

We sat there holding on to our friend for what felt like an eternity. Finally Hayes grabs my shoulder and we both stand. Pulling my phone from my pocket, there’s only one person I can think of to call right now. Hitting the call button on my phone, I bring it up to my ear and listen while it rings out.

“Vance? What’s wrong? It's Saturday night, is everything okay?”Coach says on the other end of the phone with a slight panic to his voice.

“No, coach. Everything is not okay! Me and Hayes found something you need to see and you were the first person I thought to call. We’re by the outside rink. Between the trees and ice.”I say, my voice barely above a whisper. I’m trying to hold my shit together, but I don’t know how much longer I can.

“Okay son. I’m on my way there now.”He says and I hang up the phone, sliding it back into my pocket. I feel numb, I’ve never lost someone this close to me and I’m not sure how to deal with all the emotions I feel right now.

Hayes puts a hand on my shoulder, causing me to look up at him.

“It’ll be okay. I know this sucks. I mean hell, I just lost my brother too. We will get through this bro, together.” He says, his face lacking any emotion.

I should be used to this. Death. That’s what we’ve been around our whole lives. And to make matters worse, both of our dads are on our case about this stupid initiation. Sure, I’ve killed people with no remorse. When it comes to your best friend though? This hits way differently.

Coach finally walks up. Seeing Ezrans body, he looks at the two of us before looking back down.

“Do you know what happened here?” he says looking between the both of us.

“No coach, we’ve been out looking for him most of the day because neither of us have heard from him. We just found him here, like this.” I reply back and Hayes nods beside me.

“Alright, I’ll make some calls. You two head back to your dorms. You’ll be called if we have any more questions.” He states, basically shooing us away.

As we walk back to get our things, I text Syd. She’s the only other person I want to talk to right now. Grabbing my skates as I walk by them, I toss them over my shoulder again and head for my duffle by the bench. On autopilot, me and Hayes head for our dorms. I feel my phone vibrate, signaling her text back.

Syd: We're looking for Zova. We haven’t seen or heard from her since yesterday at the game.

Me: Well we just found Ezran. Dead. If you find Zova, let me know. I need answers.

Is all I reply but get no response.That’s nothing new. Always getting left unanswered by this girl.

Opening the door to my room and slamming it closed with my foot, I throw my bag on the ground and fall down on my bed. This day turned out to be one of the shittiest ones yet. Scooting up on the bed, I reach for the bedside table and grab a joint. Lighting it, I take a deep inhale, hold it for a few seconds and exhale. Watching the smoke float up above me. Repeating the cycle until the cherry burns my fingertips. Laying my head back, I put my phone on my chest and wait to see if Syd texts back and to see if they ever find Zova.

Chapter 11

Sydney

Walking into the main building, we go up the stairs to the headmasters office. Knocking, we get no reply. Liv tries striking the door, this time a little harder and still nothing. Reaching for the doorknob, I try to turn it and realize it’s locked.

“Well there goes that plan.” She lets out an irritated huff beside me.

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