“I think we're going to Ace this,” Mazin grins at me while closing his book.
“Nah I know we gonna Ace this test tomorrow” he says confidently.
I smile back at him “thanks for helping me out.”
“Anytime and I got you something,” he says as he leaves the living room.
He comes back, holding a box of tea. “Cbd tea to help you relax more, “I know you enjoyed the Calimine tea, but this is way better and don't worry it doesn't get you stoned”
I“ know it relaxes you.” I take the box from his hand. “I heard it also helps with sleep.” “Thanks I'll try it out.”
Mazin has been nothing but helpful this week. His quiled my anxiety to rest. Introduced me to music that takes you to outer space, but also touches your heart, music that's deeper than the ocean.
His obsession with music just happens to be one of his drug choices. And by the next day when I walk up to my locker Mazin and AJ bop their heads to a song I've heard a thousand times because of Mazin..
It's smile by Saba and from a far Mazin smiles as he raps along to the song holding on tightly to his black phone. He leans back and forth to the song radiating joy. The hoodie he wears today is not far of from what he usually wears. It's a black baggy hoodie with resplendent mushrooms on it with black sweatpants
“Hey" I Immediately wrap my arms around Mazin the music blasts close to my ears.
“Smile smile smile” AJ still goes on singing. Mazin decreases the volume. “Wassup?”
“I'm good and you? You ready for the test?” I add another question.
“Yeah sure come on that's a rhetorical question,” he squints his eyes and tilts his head to the side.
“Okay okay,” I laugh “it was rhetorical”
“Damn I didn't even get a good morning AJ.”
I roll my eyes and smirk “Hi AJ.”
“Oh so he gets a hug, but I don't?” He places his hand on his chest, covering up the small Nike imprint on his beige shirt. I go in to hug him “where's Ameria?” he asks.
“Uh she's still in the car” I look down at my white vans and bite my lips. “She still...” AJ's tone lowers and I know exactly what he wants to say.
It's been a difficult week for Ameria ever since detective Adams questioned her. Whispers and eyes glare at her every step she takes.
“I bet she did it.” That's what they whisper when she walks.
“Its obvious remember the party"
In the beginning of the week, Ameria would stand her ground bark back at whoever stared at her or made snarky comments. However, as the week progressed she became tired of fighting of the vultures.
“AJ they think I did it."
“No babe come on.”
“How can you say no it's in the way every one looks at me and what they whisper. They think I'm the killer"
The conversation I overheard still haunts me. She's not the killer. There is no way she can be.
The bell rings and Mazin looks at me. “How you feeling?” I know the real question his asking is if I'm nervous.
“Fine you idiot let's go.” I grab on to his hoodie pulling him.
“Don't touch my hoodie with those hands that look like lizards”
I roll my eyes and laugh. Once we walk in Mr Bavis class it's go time the class fills up.
“Anyone seen Ameria?" Mr Bavis asks clenching on to the papers and placing his one hand on his hip.
No one says anything.
Guys I told you to be on time “we only have an hour-”
The door sequels open and the tapping of Ameria's shoes catch everyone's attention.
“Finally” Mr Bavis sighs. Mazin looks over at me. His lips are zip tied but the corners of his mouth quiver.
And I smirk.
“Nora this isn't the time to be making kissy faces at Mazin” Mr Bavis places the fine piece of paper on my desk.
Kissy faces? At Mazin this man tripping. Sure yes, Mazin's tall figure, his black dreads, dimpled and joyously unrestrained laugh make him cute. But do I want him? Hell Nah. Me making kissy faces I was just smirking.
“Okay you may start.”
And we go racing past the green light we've been given to start. And I'm floating through riding the high wave. And when the bell rang indicating the end of the class and the end of this test. I looked over at Mazin expecting his joyous unrestrained smile,but no instead I was met with his eyes shooting straight at a black hoodied figure.
Confusion sits at my brows.
Mazin then shut his eyes and sighs in annoyance. He clears his throat loudly and quickly coughs “Jake"
And right there I catch his signal. The memory of his advice came back to me. Studying with Mazin was not just about studying it was also therapeutic. You always took something from him. Be it a new song or a cool ass anime or even oddly satisfying art.
And in our last study session he was more into his phone than revising.
“You should retrace your steps, I know it sounds weird since you can't remember your exact steps but have you thought about going back to Jake's house to try and jog your memory?”
That's what he said to me he was right. So when Mr Bavis takes our papers my eyes lock on Jake as he made his way to the door.
“Jake!” I yell “wait up” My voice cracks never in my life have I ever said that to him. And now there are butterflies of anxious that begin to awake in my stomach.
He looks back at me with his brows knitted in puzzlement. He stands at the door clenching on his side leather bag
“Is there some work I missed” he asks with bags hanging under his eyes and the smell of cigarette engulfing him. “I know this is going to sound crazy but can I come over to your house."
He remains quiet. “It's about Ava. I'm trying to retrace my steps maybe that can speed up the case I guess" I whisper the last word. The anxious butterflies flatter rapidly. Can this boy open his lips I'm dying here.
“Okay I'll text you my address.” Before he can walk away I grabb his arm. “Can I bring Mazin along?” My chest tightens. What's with the long pauses he takes?
OPEN YOUR LIPS JAKE! Fuck it!
He looks back at Mazin who is looking around in the classroom clearly trying not care about the conversation.
“Yeah sure whatever he then walks off.”
After school and when the sun slowly starts saying goodbye Mazin and I walk over to Jake's doorstep. There's this deja vu mix with nostalgia. Which is ironic. How can I yearn for a place that I can't remember being at?
Mazin presses the doorbell and it dings twice. Green wispy pot plants sit near the oxidating bench. “How do you feel?" Mazin asks
The door opens and Jake still in his black hoodie and pants let's us in. “Unsettling" I whisper to Mazin.
That's the only way I can describe it. My soul is not at rest. I'm a ghost who has unresolved business. “It's dark in here you don't have the curtains opened up" Mazin says.
“Can't open them yet the news reporters keep on harrasing us" Jaks replies. We pass the living room where the tv plays softly. The light from it is the only thing that shines in this house. More pot plants fill the corridor. A mix of earth and smoke fills my nostrils still nothing hits my brain. Jake drags his white socked feet with his hands shoved in his pockets. You guys want something to drink he asks making a left turn into a kitchen.
The huge Silver fridge outlines our bodies. “Nah we good.” Mazin answers for us. I think he also feels this dark low aura. “So...."Jake says taking yet again a long pause “remember anything yet?”
“No this isn't as easy as the movies.” I shrug my shoulders. But I can't shake off the deja vu. Somewhere in my mind I remember being here. It's difficult to unlock these recollections. It's like I have a bunch of keys in my hand and I'm trying to see which key fits to unlock the door but none of them fit.
“Did the party only take place downstairs.” Mazin leans on the grey marbel island.
“Upstairs too, maybe she'll remember something if we go upstairs.” Jake folds his arms
We go to Jake's room where posters of Ronald and a football hand askew. His navy blue bedsheets are slipping of his bed. And at his desk an empty pizza box sits. Next to it there is a topaz bracelet.
That was Ava's but I don't say anything.
But I still don't remember anything.
Three days in a row we went there still nothing. This isn't going to work at all. It was a great idea that Mazin had, but it wasn't working.
My eyes grow tired and the soft music that plays as I lay in my bed make it worse.
Sinking deeper into my ocean of dreams.
And then there it was I finally got the right key to the memory and the door opened.
“Your such a bitch Ava you been fucking my man Admit it! ”
“Ameria stop you got this all wrong”
“Don't defend her AJ, you make me this way!”
“I'll fucking kill this bitch!”
I jolt up and I can't believe I'm asking myself this, but IS Ameria the killer?