Condemned by Christopher Renna (iphone ebook reader txt) 📕

cargo pants and then sit on the bed. "I know Jared's death must be difficult to deal with."

Conner's parents had always been the nurturing and sometimes overly attentive type. If they suspected that Conner was having a tough time dealing with Jared's death, they'd check on him more often than he cared for. At eighteen years old, he wanted to be treated like a young man, not a little boy.

"I'm kinda shocked and sad, but I'm fine, Dad. I told you and Mom already, I'm okay. Please don't ask me twenty more times."

"I just wanted to double-check."

"Don't worry."

"Okay. I won't."

"Besides, Jared and I weren't really friends anymore. I guess that makes it easier to deal with."

His father nodded as though satisfied by Conner's words and then walked to the door. "I never really asked why he didn't come around anymore. What happened?"

"He changed."

"Changed how?"

Aside from becoming an angry and miserable person, allegedly he was possessed by the devil. "He just changed."

His dad seemed to ponder the morsel of an explanation. "Even though you weren't friends, it might do you some good to go to the funeral. Go pay your respects."

"I'll talk to Trevor and Adam about it."

"Good." Stepping out into the hall, he said, "Have a good day, buddy. And make sure you check in with Mason."

"I will."

*   *   *

When Conner walked out onto the porch, Adam was already seated on the steps, waiting. They recited their usual greeting, but Conner sensed a shift in the exchange. Although neither mentioned Jared or the devil, Conner suspected the previous night's story had affected them equally. For a moment, he was thankful for the lack of supernatural talk. However, the story about their former best friend scratched away at his skeptical mind.

"My dad thinks we should go to the funeral," he said.

"My mom and dad said the same thing."

"What do you think?"

Adam shrugged. "I guess so. He was our friend and all. I bet his parents are probably expecting us to be there."

"Yeah. Probably."

Trevor pulled up to the curb and yelled out the window, "Let's go, losers. Newman High awaits."

On the way to school, they discussed attending Jared's funeral. Adam and Conner expressed their belief that they should go as a united trio in support of the friendship that had existed between the four. After brief consideration, Trevor agreed.

The boys hung out near their lockers talking to Miguel and Levi while students meandered through the noisy hall. As they discussed the upcoming basketball game and wrestling match, Conner spotted Mackenzie walking in his direction. Prepared to apologize for bailing on their text conversation, he stepped forward with a smile. However, she barely glanced at him and continued to walk to her first-hour class.

"Ah. Rejected!" Trevor blurted. "Looks like she's not falling for Casanova Conner."

"Shut up." Conner thrust his elbow into Trevor's stomach. "I was going to apologize and everything. It's her loss."

Levi grinned, his dimples on full display. "She didn't look defeated."

"Hey, it's no big deal." He glanced at Adam. "Life goes on."

The first bell rang, and students quickened their steps.

Adam groaned. "All right. Let's get to it."

In Miss Campbell's English class, the boys sat at their assigned seats—a tactic she'd employed weeks earlier because the three spent more time socializing with each other than studying. A minute later she entered the class and closed the door. Within seconds the bell rang.

She scanned the classroom. "Looks like everyone's on time. Great. No tardy arrivals."

Conner slipped his essay, The Effects of Steroid Use in Athletes, out of his backpack. Once she'd retrieved the paper from him, he relaxed in his seat and opened his textbook to the section on correlatives and interjections.

"There will be no school announcement regarding Jared Smith's funeral," she said. "But the teachers were asked to inform senior students of his parents' wishes. Since you're all seniors, I have the duty of informing you that his parents have decided to have a private service. So, there will be no school transportation, nor will there be any excused absences for the funeral."

Conner glanced at Trevor. Trevor glanced at Adam. Then Adam exclaimed, "What?"

Miss Campbell tsked. "Mr. Wheeler, control your tone."

"They don't want his friends to be at the funeral?"

"I think it would be in everyone's best interest to honor his parents' wishes. I'm sure they're going through a really tough time right now."

Adam slouched in his seat and sighed. "Whatever."

"Why would you?" a boy asked.

The students turned in their seats and looked at Steve Croft.

"Jared didn't have friends," he continued. "He was like mentally losing it. He probably wouldn't want any of us there anyway."

Allison huffed. "We've known him our whole life."

"Since second grade," another girl added.

"Not before he died," Steve emphasized, as if reminding everyone of something they had forgotten. "We all knew him before—"

Miss Campbell clapped her hands together. "This isn't the time or place to be discussing this. You guys can have this debate another time. Right now, I'd like to begin class."

Adam shook his head. "Well, I don't think—"

"Mr. Wheeler, the discussion is over. Everyone, open your books to page ninety-six."

*   *   *

"That pisses me off," Trevor said on their way to the gym.

Conner and Adam both agreed.

"I kinda didn't want to go," he said. "But now I feel like going just because we're not supposed to."

"Me too," Adam said. "But we need to find out when the funeral is. How are we gonna do that?"

"Duh. Kayla probably knows," Conner said. "You can text her."

Adam pulled his phone out of his pocket and rapidly typed a message. "You know she has a thing for me."

Trevor laughed. "Whatever, man."

"I'm serious. Last night she mentioned hanging out."

"She did not."

"Uh, huh. When she was leaving and I walked her to the door."

"If you say so."

"Trust me. I'm gonna get—"

"Who cares," Conner said more loudly than intended. "Let's stay focused on the funeral at the moment. Not Kayla."

"What's to focus on?" Trevor asked. "We don't know nothing until she texts back."

Short of the locker room, Conner stopped and faced his friends.