High school. 7:52 a.m.Justin ran up to JC’s locker, slamming it shut when he turned his head to talk to Joey. “Justin! You fucker!” JC opened his locker again and gave Justin a look of disgust as he stuffed his books inside. Before he was able to take out a chemistry book, Chris walked up behind him and slapped the back of his head.
Lance slowly followed, rubbing his eyes. “I so don’t want to be here today.”
Joey looked towards Justin, “Then let’s leave.”
JC shook his head, “No way in hell I’m going to miss my chemistry test.”
Chris watched a few sophomore cheerleaders walk past him, “I don’t want to go anywhere those girls aren‘t.”
“They’re loose. They’re always loose.” Justin shut JC’s locker before he was able to grab another book. “Come on Josh-u-a.” He pronounced each syllable clearly. “I’ll drive.”
Lance folded his arms. “Where we going?”
“I know a place.” Joey smiled wickedly as Justin nodded.
JC frowned, “I don’t know…”
“You’re coming and that’s it!” Joey grabbed his sleeve and pulled him towards the exit. “We’re seniors. Teachers could care less about us.”
Driving. 8:25 a.m.
Lance drove the car, making sure to watch the road carefully. Always the careful one. Chris played with the radio, turning from station to station and back when he couldn’t find a song he liked. Justin was sprawled out in the back, snuggling up to Joey’s chest, his feet resting on JC’s lap. JC tried to read one of the few books he brought with him, but Justin kept kicking it away from him. Finally getting annoyed with his friend’s inability to have fun, he threw the books out the window. “Pick it up on the way back.”
As Justin nodded off to sleep, Joey played with the curls on his boyfriend’s head. Twisting each curl around his fingers all the while telling Lance where to go.
JC started reciting the Periodic Table.
Walking. 10:40 a.m.
“Shit, shit, shit!”
Everyone turned around to see what JC was having fit about. He clenched his teeth, “I just failed chemistry! Like any of you care.”
They let out a laugh of amusement but continued their walk in the empty desert. Joey stopped in the middle and looked up at the sky. Buzzards hovered overhead, screaming; cries of hunger. “Here’s fine.”
Justin watched as Joey pulled something out of his back pocket. “What’s up, baby?”
Chris and Lance and JC stood around him as small tablets about the size of asprin were sitting in his hand. Five pills. One for the each of them. “Take one.”
JC threw his hands up, “Nuh uh. Not touching a damn thing.” He started back the way they had came. Joey ran after him as the other’s watched. None could hear what the other was saying but watched as JC gave in and placed the pill in his mouth. They continued walking.
Relaxing. 11:00 a.m.
Joey and Justin had started pleasing one another on the hot sand. Lance sunbathed. Chris was trying to tell JC about the bunnies that kidnapped him when he was little. Everyone was happy.
Trouble. 11:33 a.m.
“Chris! Chris! Wake up!” Justin’s voice was in a panic, waking everyone up. He sat up and stared at his friend. Blood covered his white T-shirt, his eyes filled with tears. His jaw quivered as if he was about to speak, except he had lost his voice.
Chris jumped at the sight before him. JC standing in the middle of the desert, clutching his chest, blood spilling rapidly. Lance started crying at the sight. Joey, motionless, watched silently as his friend fell to the ground.
Dead.
Solution. 12:04 p.m.
They dragged the body back to the car. Into the trunk he went. Joey sped through the streets as fast as he could. “Hospital. Hospital. I need a fucking hospital.”
Lance did nothing, but cry. Justin sat in the passenger seat, silent. Chris wept to himself.
Stoplight. An old couple pulled up beside them, waiting for the light to turn green. Chris jumped from the backseat, screaming, “I’m a murderer! I killed him! I killed him!”
Lance pulled him back into the car, screaming at Joey to go. He ran the red light, almost running into a car. He slowed the car down. “Hospital.”
Justin turned to his lover, “Why are we going to take him there? He’s dead. Dead!”
“But…”
“Nature has done his course. Fucking drive to the river.”
Pac. 12:59 p.m.
Four men stood on the shore watching the car drown under the torrent waters. Joey rubbed the car keys in his hand. He turned to Justin, “You fucking bastard!”
“You lied!”
“You brought the gun!”
Chris and Lance butted in, “What just happened?”
“Nothing.” Justin spat.
“I don’t know you. Any of you!” Joey turned to walk away.
Justin ran to stop him. “We all make a deal right now. All four of us. JC’s death was an accident and there’s no way I’m going to jail for it. His mistake.”
Lance frowned, “I have no clue what happened. His mistake for what?”
Justin stared at Joey. Joey nodded, “I’m in.” Chris, “Me too.” Lance shook his head, “What the hell?”
Justin turned to Lance, “We didn’t kill JC, right?” Lance nodded. “Then you’re in.” He nodded again.
The four men headed back towards the city. Justin whispered to Joey, “I know, cheater.”
High School. 8:07 a.m.
Next day. Chemistry. Roll call.
“Justin.” “Here.”
“Joey.” “Here.”
“Lance.” “Here.”
“Chris.” “Here.”
“JC.” Silence. “JC?” Silence. Justin glanced at Joey. He shrugged.
Joey stood up and walked out of the room. Everyone watching him. He entered the bathroom, crying. Lance walked in after Joey, “What happened?”
“I slept with Josh. Justin knew.”