Justin Bernard got ready for high school just as he’d done for the past four years. Only two more weeks and he’d be finished forever. No more teachers. No more annoying community service requirements. And most importantly, no more immature high school girls. At the end of the summer, he was going off to the largest state university in California with a full athletic scholarship. Partying, girls, and football games were how he intended to make the most of his college years.
Yet Justin suddenly forgot those frivolous dreams once he walked into the coffee shop on his way to school. He couldn’t remember how it happened exactly. One minute he was picking up his order and the next second he turned and bumped into the tall blond man.
“Oh, hey sorry,” Justin blurted the apology even though the other guy blocked his way.
Brushing a few splashes of coffee from his expensive jacket, the man smiled down at him. “Not a problem. You’re Justin, right?”
Staring up into his pale blue eyes, Justin thought it weird that this stranger knew his name but he felt compelled to answer. “Yes.”
The man wrapped his long arm around Justin’s shoulders and ushered him to a small table in the back corner of the shop. A warm wave of calmness rushed through Justin’s body as he shuffled along with the stranger.
“Um, I have to get to school,” Justin managed to say as they reached the table.
“Yes, I know. This won’t take but a minute.” For some reason, Justin trusted this man and he willingly sat down with him. The man seemed daunting yet his voice soothed Justin’s mind. As he slid gracefully into the chair, Justin continued to stare at the handsome smile on his face.
“Justin, I need you to do something for me.”
“Sure. Anything,” Justin replied quickly, like the words flowed without conscious thought.
The man’s smile widened and his eyes seemed to glow in the early morning sunlight. “Do you know Eviana Dumahl?”
Taken aback by his question, Justin raised his eyebrows. Sure, he knew who Eviana was. They went to the same small school. But other than an occasional word here and there, they never really spoke.
“Yes, but I don’t know if she’s still there. I haven’t seen her in a while.”
“What about her friends?”
“I know a few of her friends.” Justin’s mouth turned up into a crooked smile. “One or two in particular.” He’d impressed some of the girls by personally inviting them to one of his parties. They were all too eager to express their gratitude later that night.
The stranger nodded. “Perfect. Now, here’s what I need you to do.”
Justin left the coffee shop in a haze. The gift the stranger had given him felt heavy in his hands and his words filled Justin’s head with images of rewards and girls. He only had one thing to do, and right now, that was the single thought in his mind propelling him forward.
Upon arriving at school, he immediately searched for Eviana’s friends. With a few minutes before the first class, most of the students gathered in the courtyard delaying the time until they became trapped inside all day like prisoners.
The small group of girls stopped speaking when he walked toward them. He noticed the slight blush rise to their faces and the nervous way they shifted to greet him. Normally, this would have been flattering, but ever since the stranger’s request, nothing else mattered. As though disconnected from his consciousness, Justin opened the rectangular box and looked down at the gun the man had pushed into his hands.
Nothing else mattered right now except for hurting Eviana Dumahl.
