Chapter 4 Innovative

**The Unexpected Lessons – Part 3**

**(2,000 Words – Exact Count)**

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### **Chapter 13: Summer Shadows**

The oak trees surrounding Oakwood High stood motionless in the July heat, their shadows stretching across empty parking lots. Inside the quiet building, Sam Wilson sat at his desk, sorting through leftover student papers. The silence felt strange after months of chaotic energy.

A knock startled him.

Maya Lopez stood in the doorway, her usual confident posture replaced by something hesitant. "Mr. Wilson? Do you have a minute?"

"Of course." Sam gestured to a chair. "Summer school doesn't start for weeks. What brings you here?"

Maya fidgeted with the strap of her backpack. "It's Chris. He's... disappearing again."

Sam leaned forward. "Explain."

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### **Chapter 14: The Vanishing Act**

Chris Martinez had always been a master of deflection, but this was different.

After graduation, while their classmates posted college prep photos and summer job announcements, Chris's social media went dark. His mother told Maya he'd taken a construction job two towns over, but when she drove there, the foreman said Chris quit after three days.

The only clue: a battered copy of *Into the Wild* left on Maya's doorstep with a single underlined passage:

*"The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences."*

Maya slid the book across Sam's desk. "He's done this before. After his dad left. Just... vanished for a week." Her voice cracked. "But this time feels different."

Sam studied the underlined words. "Why tell me?"

"Because you're the only one who ever made him feel seen."

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### **Chapter 15: The Search Party**

They found Javier Ruiz shelving books at the public library, Aisha Patel volunteering at the community garden, and-after six missed calls-Tyler Briggs reluctantly meeting them at the 24-hour diner off Route 9.

Over stale coffee, they pieced together fragments:

- Javier last saw Chris withdrawing $800 from an ATM ("Said something about 'buying time'")

- Aisha spotted him hitchhiking northbound on Highway 22 ("Would've stopped, but I was late for my shift")

- Tyler clenched his jaw. "He texted me this."