Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Chapter Seven

I knew that the news about Raymond had spread around the school. The amount of buzz noise that was present, was very hard to ignore. Not to mention, the whole school gave off different vibes than usual. It was a whole lot darker and darker than usual. Everybody seemed to be whispering amongst themselves and nobody paid me any attention.

I knew what was the reason behind all that was happening around me. People standing in groups outside their classroom and whispering, nobody laughing or joking like usual, and some teachers and students looked sad and serious. It was all because they must have found out about him.

I should have been more concerned that the news had reached the school but I was not. I should feel, at least, a little scared or nervous, but I was not.

For whatever reason, my heart was content.

I saw my friends hanging out outside the classroom and I headed straight towards to meet them.

Seeing me walk and stand beside James, Chad spoke. "Do you know what is going on?" He asked.

I smiled internally. Always chatty, even at events like this. I liked it.

"No. What's up?" I asked casually.

Ryle and James gave me a look. "Wait. Jess did not tell you?" Ryle asked me.

I made my face grave and frowned at him. "No. What's going on? I had not checked my phone yet." I answered them. This seemed to give them a satisfying answer because their frown disappeared.

"Your girlfriend's friend, Raymond, died." Chad explained.

Changing my expression, I gave him a little shocked look. They will buy it.

"What?" I asked. "How?"

"Rumors are that he attempted suicide by jumping off a bridge because he was rejected by your girlfriend." Chad explained.

As I thought. I felt a wave of relief go inside me hearing this. This was what I was hoping for. It was the exact story I was going for. My heart swells hearing this explanation. Damn, I was good. I was getting good at covering up my tracks and making up real possible stories. Everything was going the way I wanted. No one will ever suspect that his death had anything to do with me.

Keeping a neutral face, I darted a stunning glance at Chad. "Wait. My girlfriend? Jess?" I asked him, looking shocked as hell. It was not in me to give out too many expressions so getting a shock out of me, must seal the deal on how serious I was in this situation. Also, very oblivious.

"You did not know?" James questioned from beside me. I looked at him to find me looking suspicious. He was not buying my story. How was he not buying my story yet?

I did not quiver under his scrutiny. "No. What are you trying to imply?" I asked him with unflinching seriousness. He must have seen something in my eyes because he backed down and shook his head.

"Nothing. Nothing. Why did you not have your phone on? Jess must have called you last night." He said. I pulled out my phone. Pressing the power button, I switched my phone on.

"I forgot to charge my phone last night. Only put my phone on the charger after I woke up. Without switching it on." I told him. Which was true. Last night had been a struggle and I was exhausted when I returned from getting the work done. I forgot to put my phone in charge. I only did it after I woke up. I wondered when this news broke into our school.

"When did this news break out?" I asked my friends. "I was so tired from extra practice yesterday that I just crashed and did not wake up until today." I told my friends.

"Early morning. His dead body was found based on his phone's last location." Ryle told me.

As soon as my phone opened, I had many messages and missed calls flying in on my phone. I saw at least fifteen to twenty messages on my phone and around fifteen missed calls. Whoa. His death made headlines.

I opened our school's main website and saw the news of Raymond, mentioned there. His death was ruled as attempted suicide. I scrolled down and saw that our principal had announced a special mourning period today. To commemorate Raymond's death. All students and teachers were invited to attend it.

I almost chuckled inside. I did not know that his death would be this big of a deal for our school. Especially when he did not die inside this school's property and was not this school's fault. But if they wish to go through all this, then it was their choice.

"Holy fuck ..." I let out a curse. It was good enough to be dramatic and taken seriously. To show that I was not as unaffected as I might have looked. I glanced up to see my friends' faces. Yup, they all bought it.

Suddenly, my phone began vibrating in my pockets and I checked to find that it was Jess. I knew her call was coming. I picked it up instantly.

"Hello, Jess." I called out to Jess. But all that came from the phone was a crying sound. Otherwise no word from the other side of the line. She was crying. I felt a tug at my heart. Jess was crying.

"Jess?" I asked.

"Nick. Please meet me at our commonplace." She told me between her sobbing. I jerked and stood taller.

"Don't worry babe. I will be right there. Just don't cry." I told her and gave my friends to tell them that I was heading off to see Jess. They all nodded and I left them behind to see my girlfriend.

When I reached our commonplace, I found Jess sitting on a desk and crying. I felt bad, seeing her crying like this. I headed straight for her. She stood up as soon as she saw me and hugged me in the middle. Burying her face in my chest.

"It's all my fault, Nick. It's all my fault. If I had not rejected him like that ..." She mumbled to me, her entire body shaking from crying.

I shushed her, stroking her back. "Shush. Don't say that. Don't blame yourself for this. It was his choice." I whispered to her, kissing her head. I pulled her more into me and stroked her hair to let her know that I was there.

"Nick ..." Jess kept saying and crying.

I made a promise to myself then. It was the last and only time she will ever take the blame for me. This was the only time she would cry because of me. This was the only time I will let her take the blame for something I did.

And this was the only time I will not feel bad for letting her take the blame for a murder I committed.

She will never find out the truth. She will never fall out of love with me.