Chapter 1: Bitter, Sweet

\"I love you\" I should've told her. Why was it that hard just to tell her I loved her? But now, now I’m too late. Now I stay at home all day doing nothing. I don't even go to school anymore. I stay at home because I didn't tell her what I needed to. Jacinta Brown was murdered on the 5/5/05. Coincidence? I don't think so. The man who murdered her had a motive and wanted to wait until the dates were equal. No matter if it made sense or not. Now every 5th of the 5th is the day we remember her for she was special to all of us. She will forever be remembered as the girl who dared to cross. What does that mean? Well...my name is Jayson Matthews and I know what it means all too well.

Chapter 1

Jacinta Brown giggled as she flirted with my best friend Connor Fokna and I stood there watching her wishing I knew how to say the 3 words I never witnessed anywhere but from the people around me. Connor laughed as he turned around to get into his locker. I waited for him because he had told me that he wanted to tell me something important. So I waited for him. After what seemed like forever he locked his locker and turned around to face her. She smiled and waved to me then hugged Connor \"seeya\" she said as he nodded in reply and she walked off. Connor turned to face me and smiled, I returned his smile then we began walking out of the school. I watched my feet as we walked \"Connor, you wanted to tell me something?\" I asked hoping he'd remember and then he looked at me and nodded then stopped me from walking and looked into my eyes. He smiled \"Jacinta wants to meet you after school tomorrow she was just too afraid to ask you seeing as you haven't spoken to her for weeks.\" He said and my heart started pounding against my rib cage. I felt myself sweat and I nodded and kept walking and he soon followed, \"what’s she wanna see me after school for Connor?\" I asked and he just simply shrugged. I sighed and looked up at the tree's swaying in the breeze but seemed to fit the mood we were both in. The school was empty except for the people coming out of an after school detention, me and Connor there was nobody to be seen in the school. I felt the wind on my face and my hair blowing in the breeze. I had to hold my hat still so it didn't blow away and give in to the power of the wind. I looked up to the sky and then it started to rain. The wet drops landing on my cheeks as I looked at Connor and we laughed and ran for undercover. The rain was pounding down now and we tried avoiding the drops but the rain left us soaked nonetheless. We stood undercover for a bit hoping for the rain to die down but it didn't. Connor rolled his eyes then looked at me \"we have to walk home in this you realize?\" He said pointing out the obvious as I nodded and we both laughed together. Connor's hair was dripping wet and he looked like a wet dog because his hair nearly covered most of his face when it was wet.

I looked back to see Connor's older sister Mel. She was running over to us and stopped. Connor looked at her with her makeup all smeared because of the rain and her hair sticking to her face as she ringed it out \"guys I brung the car I’m taking you guys home. Mum doesn't want you getting wet.\" She explained as we both nodded glad to see that his mum cared about him so much Connor and I ran to the car and I could see the relief in Connor's face. Mel jogged behind us as she got in and we saw her boyfriend John in the car. We got in and put our seatbelt's on and I looked out the window. I wondered about Jacinta, where was she? Was she safe? Would she be getting a lift? Or would she be walking? These were all questions I could only wonder without answers. I resisted the urge to call or text her and kept looking out the window at the rain drops falling onto the car window the sliding down it slowly. Connor looked at his sister as she started the car \"Mel, thanks\" he said and she nodded \"yeah, I had no choice\" she said driving. John looked back at me as I looked out the window. I pretended I didn't notice when he spoke \"both of you guys need a haircut\" he said and I could just see Connor's face change from being relieved to angry. He looked at me and I looked at him then he looked back at John \"shut up\" Connor said and John shrugged and looked back out the front window. Mel drove fast and played 'Party Rock Anthem' on the radio. I thought about Jacinta again and why she wanted to see me after school tomorrow. Was there a reason she wanted to see me? Or did she just want a talk with me privately?