The school papers come in hot. Lizzie Todd suspected for Nicole Walters murder. I drop the newspaper back on its stand, sighing in exhaustion.
" She's your neighbor, right? " A girl walks up to me, arms crossed. I think she's Dana.
" Yes. How did you - "
" I've seen her get into your mom's car. " It's true, mom's been taking us home together. How this girl knows that beats me.
" Isn't this a bit too far? You don't know that she actually killed Nicole. "
Dana swirls around and starts heading for class, I follow behind. " I never liked Lizzie. She's a jealous friend who slut-shamed Veronica and abandoned Nicole. "
" Who's Veronica? "
" She was her friend. Atleast before the poor girl died by a wolf. " She shudders.
" Does everyone here die by wolves?! "
" No. " She enters the classroom, leaving me at the doorway.
At lunchtime, I spend my time in the school's library, browsing on the computer, a cheeseburger in hand.
Apparently, only ten deaths by an animal attack has been recorded, Nicole's making it the 11th within the span of three years. Even juicier news, Veronica, Nicole and Lizzie used to be best friends. They called them the three musketeers, they were inseparable.
Veronica was the town's slut, daughter to a drunkard of a father who still works at a construction site. Nicole was more put together, a nice ordinary girl from a nice ordinary family. And Lizzie was Lizzie, but apparently she had and still has a blog channel.
It doesn't make sense. Why would Lizzie kill her best friends? For what reason? But again, Dana did mention she was a jealous friend who slut-shamed Veronica. Did the two fight over something? A boyfriend perhaps?
Even if they did, Veronica died by an animal. It's Nicole's death that's suspicious and I don't think the two had an issue.
Arrrgh! It's frustrating. I lay back on the chair. Why am I even worrying about all this, it's not like they're paying me to investigate.
I log out and leave the library with my lunch in hand. That's when I see Lizzie standing in front of the principal's office, wearing faded dungarees. I rush over to her.
" Lizzie? I thought you weren't gonna come. Why're you in - "
" I'm not here to stay. Mom says I should stay home till the whole thing blows over. I'm here to collect my bag from the principal. "
" Go in then. "
" She's talking with the admin. I'll wait. "
I watch the dark eye bags beneath her red - rimmed eyes and her pallid skin, she's getting worse.
" Are you okay? Is the sheriff still troubling you? "
She looks at her fingers, bandages wrap it. " No. He isn't. "
" That's a relief. " I narrow my eyes. " Who's Veronica? "
If I wasn't looking closely, I wouldn't see her eyes bulge slightly. She swallows and turns to look at me. " Where did you hear that name from? "
" Dana mentioned it. "
" What did she say? "
" Nothing. " I smile.
The doors open and the admin walks out to see us. " Oh. Lizzie, you're here. Is there a problem? "
" I'm just here to collect my school bag. I forgot it yesterday. "
" No problem. Take care of yourself. " He walks past us to his office.
Lizzie gives me one hard look and enters the principal's office. Something is definitely going on with her.
I turn around, heading for class.
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