I yank open my locker, and a sheet of paper flutters out. I pounce on it with one foot before the crowd of kids in the hall sweeps it away, then fold it quickly into my pocket. I catch a few words or letters, written in cursive. 'Circle'. The letters n and s. The number 215. Interesting. But I can't read the note, whatever it's about, right now, or I'll be late. Later, during lunch, I sit on a bench in the courtyard somewhere, underneath a maple tree, and slip the letter from my pocket. Hi, Jacob. How many people did you tell the truth to? And, I mean the full truth. Not just part of it. I know that there are at least three people you told: Sam, Ashley, and Frost. I am one of those people. I will not say who yet, but please do not assume that I am one or another of them. I would like to say one thing, but I am not sure if you would want to hear it from me. If you are willing to listen to my words, please do. Circle, on the above list of names, anyone you would be willing to hear the words of. I truly hope I'm one of the circled names. To return the paper to me, place it in locker 215. It is an unused locker, and no one goes there. Naturally, it's unsigned. Locker 215. So, whoever it is, they know the combination. But the note does ask that I don't make assumptions about who wrote it. It says, circle one. Frost? We're out of contact now. He knows about it all by now, anyways, so I expect we'll stay out of contact. Though, of course, he might've asked someone here to deliver this, or even pen it themself. Ashley? I mean, I would... but would I? To be truly honest, I couldn't. Sam? No, Sam. I don't even think that's a question. I'll hear any words he says, and I'd promise anything to believe it. I'd want to believe it. When we get back inside, I take out a pen and hover over the names for a moment, then circle. And I sign right next to it, as confirmation.
Wasn't going to do another chapter until September but I got bored... Next TN inside if you're going to continue, Comma. But unless it's out by tomorrow afternoon, we've got to include a real and final cliffhang.
