After Spanish class, Amy couldn't stop thinking of what Laurel had said.
He killed my sister.
Amy shut her eyes close, trying to concentrate on something else. But all she could remember were the bitter eyes Laurel had in that instant. It seemed as if she really hated Jake.
"Hey, are you okay?" Lisa asked.
Amy snapped out of her thoughts. 
She nodded. "Yeah, just distracted."
"By the size of this library?" Lisa replied, gazing at her surroundings. "I know I am. I'd never seen such a big high school library!"
Amy smiled, deciding to lie. "Yeah."
They were sacrificing their recess for Tara, who'd forgotten about a one-page essay she had to give in for Science. She was currently using one of the computers, and two open books laid on the table next to her. From the week she'd spent with Tara, Amy came to the conclusion that she was a really perfectionist and hard-working student.
"I still can't believe you forgot to do your homework," Lisa chuckled.
"Shut up," Tara murmured, focused on her computer screen. It was clear she wasn't happy about the fact.
Amy had to smile. 
Lisa slipped a cookie in her mouth. Eating was not allowed in the library, but Amy had learned that Ms. Young, the young librarian, was very chill. The only thing she didn't allow was, like any other librarian, too much noise. After all, she usually spent her time taking care of the library with her nose buried in a book.
"Who's that?" Lisa asked with her mouth full, pointing at something behind Amy.
Amy turned around, and her breath got caught in her throat.
A portrait of a girl looking like an older version of Lauren was perched up on what seemed like a small and simple shrine.
Tara looked to where Lisa was pointing, and her eyes saddened. "That's Lena Bledel. She... she was run over by a car last year. I think she was in tenth grade at that time."
Lena furrowed her eyebrow together with slight sorrow. "Oh."
"She was a huge fan of books, so they set up her shrine there," Tara explained, still gazing at the picture. "She was a friend of my sister's... I think today was her birthday."
There was a small silent, cut off by Amy. "Did she... by any chance, knew Jake?"
Tara pursed her lips together. "He sort of liked her ever since he was in sixth grade... I don't know the whole story, I just know it was something about her helping him in a bad time of his life. She never liked him back like he did, after all, she was two years older. Besides, I think she was dating some Ian guy."
Amy nodded. That sort of assured her hunch.
She bit the end of her pencil. She had been advancing in some math problems she didn't want to take home (she didn't want to spend her entire afternoon cracking her brain with problems she didn't understand). 
It was quite obvious Jake blamed himself for the death of Lena. She didn't know why... but she wanted to find out. It seemed sort of insensible from her part, but still. Maybe that was the reason why Jake sometimes acted so weirdly? 
Her stomach growled with hunger. She hadn't eaten anything for breakfast.
"Lisa, do you have any of those cookies left?" Amy asked.
"Sorry, just munched down the last one," she informed her.
Amy frowned. She stood up. "I'll go get something... I'll be right back."
To get to the cafeteria, you had to go through the backyard of the school. Not that Amy minded, she really enjoyed walking through the academy's gardens. They were really pleasant. I guess that's how all private school's gardens are, she thought, gazing up at the tall trees. In no time, she was returning back to the library with a cold sandwich in her hand. 
Then she spotted him.
Even though his back was turned to her, she could tell it was Jake. The school was located on the top of a hill, so from a certain area, you could see a lot of the town. It was a pretty breathtaking sight. Jake was leaning against the rails, gazing at the scene.
Amy quickly began to leave, until...
"Hey!"
Amy turned to look at Jake. He was staring back at her, smiling.
He motioned her to come over.
Amy narrowed her eyes. Here it goes.
Little did she know how much that time would change her perspective on Jake.