Dream Chasers Read Online Free Page B

speculation, she had very few facts. “Do you know the boy’s name?”
    Crystal stiffened. “It wasn’t him. He had nothing to do with it.”
    â€œBut then...”
    â€œThat’s what I’m trying to say. If she didn’t get her way with him, she’d have freaked out. She thought she could get any guy she wanted—she usually did—but this one was different. That’s the point I’m not sure of. I don’t know what she’d do if she got upset.”
    Jenna tried to make sense of her. “Then you’re worried she’s done something bad? What?”
    â€œI don’t know!” Crystal burst out. “You’re the social worker. Run away? Killed herself?”
    â€œWait a minute. You think Lea might have killed herself?”
    â€œWell, tried, you know? Taken a bunch of pills just to get his attention.” Crystal squinted at her again. “It happens, right? I mean, my mother once—”
    â€œHas Lea ever talked about killing herself?”
    â€œNo, but then she thought this guy was over the moon for her. Romeo and Juliet, she said they were. And those two killed themselves, right? I saw the movie.”
    Jenna sat forward in her chair, preparing to rise. “Crystal, I think you probably should talk to the police about this.”
    â€œBut I don’t really know anything.”
    â€œMaybe not, but if it helps find Lea...”
    â€œThey’ll want to know the boyfriend’s name, right? He’s got a great future ahead of him. He doesn’t need his name dragged in just because she’s a drama queen.” She shoved her chair back and groped for the doorknob. “I feel better. I don’t think she’d kill herself. She’s too full of herself for that. Even if she swallowed a bunch of pills, she’d be sure to end up on his front doorstep so he’d know what he’d done to her.”
    She yanked open the door. “Wait!” Jenna dived to intercept her and laid a restraining hand on her arm.
    â€œShe’s going to turn up all innocent surprise once she gives him a good scare. You wait and see,” Crystal said.
    With that, she tore herself loose and flounced out the door.
    * * *
    Jenna spent the rest of the morning calming the fears of Lea’s friends and classmates, but she found her mind wandering back to what Crystal had said. Not about Lea’s tendency to play drama queen nor her possible histrionic suicide attempt, but about the boy she’d been involved with. A boy who had a great future ahead of him, who could have any girl he wanted, and who might view Lea’s demands as a mere inconvenience. Perhaps even more, as an obstacle to his pursuit of utter sexual abandon. The more she thought about it, the more she worried.
    At noon, she headed down to the staff room to join the clusters of teachers opening their Tupperware lunches. Lea’s disappearance and the heavy-footed presence of the police were the talk of the room. She joined a table of three, including the scary Mrs. Lucas. No one paid her any attention, as a young man, clearly shaken, was voicing his outrage.
    â€œThe cops interviewed me three times. Three times! Once yesterday and twice today, the last time calling me out of the room in front of my entire class! That’s how rumours start, I tell you. I just teach the girl. I hardly know a thing about her, but because I’m a man—”
    â€œAnd cute,” interjected a very pregnant, thirty-something woman. “Let’s face it, Nigel, half the girls are in love with you.”
    â€œThat’s hardly my fault,” Nigel exclaimed. “But apparently Lea told some of her friends she had a crush on me, and they told the cops. I’m telling you, I don’t even dare smile at a girl.”
    Jenna rolled her eyes but kept her impatience to herself. Men always thought they had it so tough. Instead, she steered the conversation to her