(Athena's POV)

When we got to the school we stared walking around till we finally saw one of the students in a study room. She looked about 17 with tan skin and short brown hair wearing a medallion with what looked like Kanji on it.

She noticed us and smiled, "Hi, I'm Connie. You two aren't from around here are you? Usually Paseo del Mar High is really quiet and boring? Lately it's been totally out of control."

"Is it that obvious we're new here?" I asked with a light laugh.

"I'm a school monitor, so I have to notice these things." Connie said.

"You're very observant." I said.

"We girls have to stick together. There are a lot of wolves walking around campus." Connie said.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"You wouldn't want to waste your time with any of the guys at this school trust me. There all a bunch of self-centered jerks." Connie said.

"Well you won't have to worry about that." I said as Chase wrapped his arm around me.

Connie's face showed realization, "Oh, I get it. Nice choice girl, he's cute."

I giggled, "Thanks. But are all the guys really that bad?"

"Well, there are a few who are cool. Jake Rodgers was not one of them." Connie said narrowing her eyes.

"I take it he wasn't very popular." Chase said.

"I avoided him whenever I could." Connie said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Jake was rude, dishonest, self-centered, and manipulative…I gotta go now later." Connie said then looked back at her book.

Obviously the subject of Jake Rodgers was uncomfortable for her.

Chase and I looked at each other before leaving the room. We went to the next room to see another student. He was Asian with black hair, probably 18.

"Hi I'm Athena Drew and this is Chase Nickerson. What's your name?" I asked.

"Hal Tanaka. Actually, my first name is much longer than that. But I wanted to fit in here in America, so I chose Hal as my nickname. I'm a Japanese exchange student." He said.

"Why would you think it's easier to have an American name?" Chase asked.

"I want to be part of the culture and succeed in this country." Hal said.

"Do you plan on staying in America after High School?" I asked.

"My family is counting on me to succeed here. I must make them proud of me." Hal said.

"What's been going on around here lately?" Chase asked.

"A murder was committed here. Everyone is very stressed out." Hal said.

"What happened?" Chase asked.

"I heard Jake Rodgers was pushed down a flight of stairs." Hal said.

"Did you know him?" I asked.

"Not really. Only by reputation." Hal said.

"Reputation?" Chase asked.

"I feel uncomfortable speaking about this now. Please excuse me." Hal said then went back to his book.

Chase and I left the room, "So far everyone seems uncomfortable when the subject of Jake is brought up." I said.

"Seem like it. That'll make it hard to get information out of people." Chase said.

We kept walking around till we saw another student that looked like a jock, tan skin, black hair, mostly likely 18.

"Excuse me." I said walking up to him.

"Whoa, a new girl at school. Do you realize what destiny has brought you today? Yours truly, Hector Sanchez, but you can just call me 'The Hulk'." The jock told me in a flirty tone, completely ignoring Chase.

"How'd you know I was new?" I asked.

"Hey, you're talking to 'The Man', the number one football player in the state of Florida. I know all the beautiful girls at Paseo del Mar High, are you kidding?" Hector asked.

"That's sweet, I think, but I have a boyfriend." I said as Chase wrapped an arm around me.

"Bummer, but I'm sure you'll come to your senses." Hector said winking at me.

I felt Chase's muscles tense in anger, "Anyway…Do you know the guy who was killed." I asked.

"I knew Jake. But I didn't hang out with him. Sorry, can't talk now. I gotta go to practice. Later." Hector said.

"Wait, before you go, what can you tell us about Connie Watson?" I asked.

"She hangs out at the gym a lot. I heard she's been having a real tough time." Hector said.

"Tough time?" Chase asked.

"I heard she's been having some money problems." Hector said.

"What about Daryl Grey?" I asked.

"He seems like a cool guy. His family used to sponsor the annual football awards dinner until last year. You know he's the one who found Jakes body." Hector said.

"And Hal Tanaka?" I asked.

"That dude is always studying. He's a huge fan of mine. Real smart guy! But I never understood why a brain like Tanaka would hang out with slim like Jake." Hector said.

Chase raised an eyebrow, "They were friends?"

"Let's just say I saw them talking together a lot. Jake's locker was right next to Hal's." Hector said.

"But they weren't really friends, is that it?" I asked.

"Jake didn't really have friends, and Hal…he may seem pretty chill, but I've seen him crack a couple times. He's seriously uptight." Hector said.

"Crack?" I asked.

"He's got a temper, a bad one. He lets the pressure build and build until he's wound so tight the slightest thing sets him off. Last week, I strike him out during gym and he goes ballistic and charges the mound. He's got some serious issues. Now that I think of it, last time I saw them together, Hal seemed pretty upset." Hector said.

"Talk to you later." I said.

"Bye sweetheart." He said before Chase and I left.

"Chase don't listen to him." I said feeling his muscles tense again.

"I don't like when other guys flirt with you." He said.

I giggled, "You know none of them could compare to you."

He smiled and squeezed my shoulder.

We passed by a soda machine and Chase stopped, "What's wrong?" I asked.

"I was thinking, you know how the teacher's lounge is in the study hall where Connie is?" I nodded, "Well, since she's a school monitor she won't just let us walk right on in. So I was thinking we'd distract her."

"How?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

He smirked, "While you were doing most of the talking with the students I saw some odd notes on the bulletin boards. One of them mentioned an alarm in the soda machine. So we set it off, tell Connie and it gives us at least eight to ten minutes to check the teacher's lounge for anything that might be useful."

I smiled and kissed him, "You're a genius."

"I know." He said then hit grape, grape, orange, cool causing the alarm to go off.

"Now let's get to Connie." I said.

We went to the study hall Connie was in, "Hey Connie, someone set off the alarm to the soda machine." I said.

"Ugggh! Watch the fort while I'm gone." Connie said then left.