10

COLE HENDRICKS.

"I'd like you to tell me all you know about Logan"

The eyes of the boy away turned blank at me, a low chuckle escaping his lips. That chuckle that said 'you've got to be Kidding me'

For a long minute he remained staring at my form, shifting his gaze through mine, and in a second he had snatched the paper laid on my desk, eyes skimming through.

"The evaluation of Logan Marshall? What is this, some sort of interrogation?" He gave a low chuckle.

The grin on his lips had faded in a second as he pulled even nearer to the desk, eyes widened at me.

"He hasn't gotten into trouble with the police, has he?" His voice poured out with concern, eyes intent on me all the while.

"Cause the last time he did, things didn't end well" That utterance was followed under his breath.

Gaze remained fixed on him, taking in the look of concern that had crossed his eyes.

"Okay, let's begin there. What happened the last time?"

"He ran his bike into a shop" He stated flatly.

"Was he drunk?"

"Oh no. Not at all"

"Michael was in that restaurant that very night" He followed.

"Who's Michael?" The avidity was found in my voice.

"He goes to Bartons. A school outside town"

"What relationship does Logan hold with Michael?"

"None" He called at once. "Michael was in the same football team with Ashton"

"Who's Ashton?" I followed.

"Logan's brother"

"He passed away months ago"

"Hold on" The confusion was evident in my tone. "Michael and Ashton went to the same school?"

"No. They were scouted by the same man and paired into the town's local league"

"Ashton and Michael got into a fight, and Michael threatened to fix him, a month later, he turns up dead"

The eyes of the boy away had turned gloom at the last utterance, with gaze averted from mine, I could detect the air of melancholy which surrounded him.

"Ashton was different" He called in a low voice.

"Admired by every teacher, loved by the students, his death was a hit to the entire town"

"After his passing, every thing about Logan changed. It was like a piece of him had been stolen...…He no longer showed up at the places we used to hang out, he barely made his presence known, distanced himself, and slowly I saw my best friend drift away from me"

"I'm sorry about that, Cole"

That forced smile he gave stung my heart so well, with gaze beholding the look of disappointment which rested in his eyes.

"How long have you both known each other?"

"Since the time I stole his bike" He followed at once.

"I was eight, found an abandoned bike laying on the streets, and at once, I snatched the piece. Next thing I knew, a figure was chasing after me, spewing curse words my way"

"You should have seen that" He burst into a fit of laughter, head falling back in the chair.

My eyes only lingered on him, letting him bask in the glee, while his chuckles poured out.

"For kids our age, we were every bit rogue"

"We became friends after I threw a punch at him, when he tried pushing me off the bike, and ever since—you can say we've been as thick as thieves"

"What are some happy memories you've had with Logan? I followed.

For a second, his gaze on me remained blank, head shifting side to side, like he thought otherwise to answer my question.

"Okay, you've questioned me enough" He had shot off the seat at once, turning to leave.

"Come on, Cole. This is your best friend" I followed. "You just stated that he's been pulled away from you. Wouldn't you love getting things back the way they were?"

"Things can never go back to the way they were" He called at once.

"Then help amend it"

His eyes met mine, scrutiny resting there for a long while, and in a moment, he had taken the seat, soon pulling his gaze off my profile.

The silence lingered for a moment, with him shifting in the chair.

"One memory that I'm sure to depart with is when we hosed the man next door" His face was blank, but in those eyes, laid a haze of joy.

"I had thrown a party over at my house, and he called the police on us. Logan came up with the idea, and we all showed up at his door step with a hose and a bucket of cow dump"

That smile soon took his lips, with eyes coming to behold mine.

"We all were like every normal kid, Miss Sangretti" He followed in a low voice. "Something broke Logan"

My gaze had fallen to the file held in my hands, the summary of the young man in question piled on there. It was more than a summary, much of a review and even most, similar to a letter. A letter of appeasement. Appeasement to a provoked soul.

"Do you think Michael killed Ashton?" I turned to the figure away from me, eyes soon resting on him. For a moment he had fallen silent, questioning gaze peering on at me, and under a breath, he called:

"Everyone knows Ashton Marshall died of suicide" That voice followed.