As the principal took to the stage to talk to the students, for a split-second Aren allowed his gaze to shift to the rather robust man. Aren barely heard the word of the missing students but noted their names; Richard Trees, Gabriel De Rege, and Daniel Holcomb. What really stood out to him as he sat there nose in his book was the imperiously overbearing rant and utter disrespect that Ethan showed as he stood and exclaimed [b] "Come on, 'teach! You just described the mafia in every cheesy spy flick ever. Daniel was a stuck up prat and Richard was a freak, it was only a matter of time before those two vanished. And Gabe has been in and out for most of highschool. He'll probably be back in like, a week! This some kind of welcome-back prank? People don't just get -kidnapped- here, it's a nice town!"[/b]

This alone was enough to enrage most of the table. As Aren’s friends began whispering he stood up calmly. [b]”What kind of person says that type of thing!? Gabe and Danny coucld be dead”[/b] Jess whispered in an agitated voice. The others nodded in agreement and began discussing how much of a dick Ethan is. None of them noticing the Aren had walked off with, [i]The Ocean at the End of the Lane[/i], in hand as he approached Ethan from behind.

Sliding behind the groups were east as everyone was talking about the missing students. As Aren approached, he slid through the crowd without anyone taking notice as he raised the book. With the book raised he brought down wacking Ethan in the back of the head with, [i]The Ocean at the End of the Lane[/i], the resounding smack could be heard throughout the cafeteria. As eyes turned towards the two boys Aren, in the calmest voice he could muster, declaimed [b]”You need to learn some respect. If not for Principal Watson then for the students that have gone missing, as it is you are nothing more than a rich hack,”[/b]

Turning around he calmly began to walk back towards his friends as a student burst through the double doors of the school exclaiming that someone by the name of Tristan had been shot in the parking lot.

Aren hadn’t known Tristan well but they were on their way to being friends. They both had the same interest and had a lot in common. It had been cool to meet a person so similar to ones self. As Aren turned on his heel at the name and began a dash towards the doors. Losing someone that was so close to being a friend, it wasn’t something that anybody would want.