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continued to flip through the channels. The pizza landed on the kitchen backsplash and smothered a piece of the tumbled stone with red sauce.
    “I need you to watch something. Please.”
    He sat back in the chair. But made a disgusted face at me then turned his attention to the TV.
    I sat at one of the empty chairs for support. My fingers gripped the side of the wooden table so tight I was certain I’d get a splinter. The news anchor didn’t cover the story about Zack. She discussed a break-in at a local church. The perpetrator had stolen bibles – all the bibles in the church.
    “Uh, Bops,” Matt said, “That’s a weird story, but I couldn’t care less about –”
    “No,” I yelled. I jumped to my feet and nearly tripped over the leg of the chair. What the hell’s the matter with my feet today?
    “That’s not the story I was looking for.” Frantically, I changed the TV through all the news channels. Had I imagined it? Had I been asleep still? I plopped down in the chair, embarrassed once again by my rash behavior.
    I didn’t want Zach dead, but I also didn’t want to go insane. Unfortunately, one of the two was happening or had happened. Regardless of my feelings. I blinked up at Matt and Amber. They stared at me with wide eyes.
    “Are you okay?” Amber asked. She extended her hand and rubbed the side of my arm. “No,” I mumbled. I placed my head on the table with a small thump for good measure. “I…I think I may need to go lie down.” I didn’t bother to lift my head so they could hear me. Maybe I’ll call Zack and check on him.
    “Hey, turn the volume up, something happened at school,” Amber said.
    My head popped up. The reporter, Melanie Clemson, talked. Recognition twisted a knife in my gut. I raised the volume and prayed the story wasn’t what I’d seen earlier. In my heart, I knew it was.
    She stood at the entrance to the school with the sun beating on her back and a light wind tossing her hair into her face. She motioned behind her in the direction of the football field.
    I swallowed hard and braced myself against the side of the table again for support. My nails dug into the wood of the table. I needed something to hold onto if I passed out.
    The reporter announced: “His body was discovered stabbed to death on the football field behind me just a short time ago. The authorities are giving no further information as to what occurred here at this time. I’ve been told that counselors will be set up at the school tomorrow for students who need to talk.”
    “Come on. Who is it? Say his name… Argh!” I screamed and threw the remote at the television. I missed and it shattered as it hit the dark travertine tile. It scattered into pieces, sending black plastic and batteries across the floor with a loud whack. I paced the floor in front of the television. The reporter announced, “Now back to Trish in the studio.”
    “Who do you think it is?” Amber asked, her brow scrunched in confusion at me. I stopped pacing and searched her eyes. Could I trust her with what was happening to me? No way. I didn’t want people to think I was crazy. No way.
    “What a sad story,” the news anchor said. “My nephew attends that campus in Manhattan, and I’ve frequented the games with his parents. The kid was a great quarterback with tremendous potential to go professional, like his father had.”
    Disbelief, and something else, labored for emotional dominance…maybe – relief. And my head began to throb.
    “Oh no, Chloe,” Amber said, “Zack, it has to be…but how? Who would…?” She shook her head, not finishing her sentence.
    “Why?” I said, barely audible. I hadn’t been in love with Zack, but he was my friend. A loyal one for some time. To have his life cut short was awful. The fact that I knew, felt responsible even, didn’t help either.
    Shocked and incapable of processing what I’d learned – what I already knew – I walked from the kitchen without a word. I returned to my