13. Best in game

I blinked my eyes several times to confirm whether I was dreaming or not. If Mrs Pierce was actually telling truth then there might be a possibility that Damon was innocent and he had been wrongfully accused all this time. But then again why did no one confirm her theory? How come she did not testify this and save Damon from the terrible five years he had to face? So many different kinds of questions were floating around my brain.





"What?" I dumbly asked as if that's the only thing I could come up with.




Mrs Pierce hummed, "I clearly remember that he was running through the woods then I saw him. Five years ago there was no parking lot which blocked the way to woods..."





She sighed, her head tilting like she was trying to remember what happened all those years ago. I averted my gaze towards Kay who seemed equally intrigued and shocked at the new revelations. Maybe it would finally get rid of the bad guy image she has painted in her mind since years about Damon. Even though Kay had enough proofs about him being 'not friend material' she did care about finding out the truth and helping me.





"The woods?"




Mrs Pierce nodded her head, "It was strange. He was all alone and I saw him running towards his house. Maybe ten-twenty minutes ago before everything went down."





My mind went blank at that. How can anyone pull off the entire thing under twenty minutes? It was impossible for someone as young as Damon to do that. Maybe he had someone to help him carry out the crime. Apparently, there was no one at the crime scene but he and his uncle and aunt. At least that's what was written in the newspaper. It made no sense for him to kill his own parents and his brother after running from the woods.





"He didn't do it," Kay said with a short gasp. My eyes shifted towards her and her face was pale.





Mrs Pierce shook her head, "Trust me that's what I have been trying to tell everyone."




"Everyone?" I asked, raising my eyebrow




She hummed softly, "Yeah. The Sheriff came by to take the statement from the school. I told him that I saw the boy but he didn't want to talk about it. Almost seemed like he was hell-bent on sending that boy to jail"




My hands automatically ruffled through the newspapers on the desk. There was a blurry picture of the sheriff on one side of the newspaper. The over the top headline along with his picture made it seem like he was the hero for catching a 14-year-old boy in the act. You would think it was ridiculous for someone to get so much press for a case but then again it was a small town and murder along with fire was a huge deal.





Kay scoffed, her arms crossed against the chest as she looked up, "That's so fucking unfair! How could he do? The jerk deserves to be punished"




I widened my eyes at Kay. Her choice of words must have offended Mrs Pierce. The apology was ready on the tip of my tongue but the laughter from the librarian stop me. Kind of surprising to hear someone as strict as her bust out laughing.





"Oh trust me he got what he deserved! That bastard. He passed away last year in an accident"





I let out a huge breath at that. He was the only leader who could have helped us with the article. I felt hopeless for seeing this case without any active leads. Maybe that's the reason why Damon was out so easily and everything was hushed up.





Mrs Pierce narrowed her eyes at the newspapers and patted my shoulder, "Hope you can find whatever that you're looking for"





I closed the paper and shook my head, "I don't think so. This entire thing is so fishy from the beginning. There are no active leads and we can definitely not talk with Damon. It's a proper mess"





Kay softly muttered, "Hey"




I rubbed my face with my palms. What was I thinking? This is not my thing! What if I never want to get into journalism? All this time I believed that is what I wanted from watching someone else fight for justice but what if that's all it will ever be? Someone else making change while I wallow in self-pity and delusion into thinking that I can actually do anything.





"Anya don't" Kay started and I weakly shrugged




"I know what you might be thinking but please stop. This may be difficult but we can do it."




Mrs Pierce patted my shoulder once more and gave an assuring smile, "You got this"




I weakly smiled back and she retreated back to her chair. I did have many questions to ask her but my brain felt numb. There were too many thoughts going inside my mind.





"I don't know what to do Kay?"




"I know"



I lifted my head and blinked at her. She had a mischievous smile on her face and that was never a good thing. I eyed her cautiously as I leaned back in my chair.




"What?"




"We should go party"




My eyebrows scrunch in confusion, "Huh?"




"I heard that numbnut Sam is throwing a party and I'm sure Damon will be there. Maybe talking to him will give you some sort of lead" She started and trailed as she looked at her phone, "The only thing is...we don't have an invite"





My lips broke into a smile, "We do"




"How?! Sam hates me and all my friends"




"Now that's dramatic!"




"He legit tried to shove ice-cream on Bryan because he talks with me"




I sighed, "That's not why- doesn't matter. We are going to the party tonight"




"About time!"
***

We were too early for the party because there was no one when we rang the bell. Sam greeted me with a smile while he rolled his eyes upon seeing Kay.





"Always the lovely one" Kay exclaimed as we entered inside his mansion like a house. Oh yeah did I forget to mention that his father was also a politician who was in the same party as Kays? You would think being on the same side was good but it was worst and probably explained their rivalry.





"What can I say? I aim to please" Sam mocked looking over his shoulder. The music got louder as we stepped inside the kitchen. That's why I noticed Asher sitting on the barstool and doing something with the ice.





He looked amazing with his hair done in a cinnamon roll. His sleeves were rolled up by sides and exposing those tanned arms.





Kay scoffed upon noticing him, "What is the Crasher doing here?"





At her voice, he looked up with an annoyed expression. As soon as his eyes landed on me he gave me a soft smile.




"Kay!" I nudged her elbow, trying to smile back. How can she not understand how much of a bad idea it was insulting the best friend of the host? Sam could easily kick us out.





Sam chuckled, "Oh man! That name still makes me laugh"




Asher made a face and crossed his arms against his chest, "It's not funny"




"For you! But everyone loves it"




Asher turned towards Sam, "Why did you invite her again?"




I sheepishly smiled, "Sorry but we are kinda package deal"




"I mean I am okay as long as it involves you..."




Kay made a face, "Seriously and girls fall for that?! Ridiculous!"




My mouth fell open in shock at that while Sam coughed as if to hold back a laugh. Before I could see his face he disappeared towards the fridge.





"Kay, will you stop?"




"Ugh fine" She threw her hands in the air and stepped away from me.




"Sorry about her" I smiled, my cheeks pink as I moved to stand in front of Asher. I noticed that he was making some kind of drink with salt, olives, ice, and white liquid along with some other ingredients.




"Eh, it's nothing." Asher brushed it off





"You look gorgeous" He breathed as he patted the seat next to him. I shyly sat up on the barstool, adjusting my red dress. As much as I was excited wearing skinny jeans and sneakers my sister made a barfing sound and asked me to get changed. The red v neck dress only reached up to my thighs, far too short for my liking.





"Umm...what are you making?" I eyed as he delicately picked the mint from the plate and added it on the side of glass.




He grinned as he picked up the glass and raised it towards me, "Martini with my own twist"




"Interesting"




"I hope so. Why don't you try it?"



I nervously chuckled because I had never drunk anything alcoholic apart from wine. Well,l, that was more of a fruit wine so doesn't count. Cough syrup probably does.




"Are you trying to get my drunk?"




He chuckled, shaking his head, "Maybe"




"Wow, should I be scared now?"




Asher chuckled, "No I'm just kidding. I want this drink to be perfect that's all"




"Why?"



"Brooke got injured on the field and he's like one of the best we've got. So the coach wants me to recruit a new member who can actually play because we are playing against Hampson in two weeks, our biggest rival."





He took a breath, "Well it's a short notice period but I was able to find someone who is kinda the best in the game"




"Who?"




"Damon Arcuri"
***