"Kayla DaLanis has been murdered," a reporter in a black suit and grey pants says into the flat screen tv. "Although her body was not found at the crime scene, the police have identified that the blood found in her house match her DNA. We believe that whoever killed her has taken the body-"
Natalie picks up the remote and turns off the tv.
"You sure you're ok going to school today?" her mom asks from the kitchen.
"Yeah. I'm fine," she sighs. "Pass the orange juice please," she says, as she gets up off of the living room couch and walks over to the table.
"Are you sure you're ok?" her mom responds. "I heard that Mona's staying home."
"Well, I'm not Mona. I can handle it," she adds as she pours herself a glass of juice.
"But, what if-"
"I'm going to be late for school," Natalie interrupts. She picks up her bag and opens the front door.
She walks over to her car and gets in. She pulls back her hair and puts her bag down in the passenger seat. As she takes out the keys and starts the car, her phone makes a buzzing sound and she ruffles through her bag to retrieve it.
"Isabelle?" She asks. "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine, don't worry. Did you hear the news?"
Natalie looks out the car window. "Yeah."
"I feel horrible about it."
"I don't think we should do this over the phone." Natalie looks around. "I'll meet you at school and we can talk about it later," she says as she puts on the driver's seat belt. "I'm gonna be late," she adds before she hangs up. Natalie puts her phone back in her bag and starts the car for the second time.
• • •
Isabelle gets off her bike and locks it to the school fence. Her phone beeps and she reaches into her jacket pocket. She looks at the screen.
Melissa's been arrested. Need to talk with you. Come by my place after school.
-Thalia
"Hey!"
Isabelle looks up and tries to put her phone away without the person noticing. She fails miserably as it falls to the floor. "Sorry," she says as she picks it up. "Who are-" once Isabelle notices who the person is, she almost drops her phone for the second time.
Jake, Kayla's older brother, stands by Isabelle's bike, looking at her, concerned. "I didn't mean to scare you," he says. "I just came to tell you that we're holding a funeral for your friend this Sunday. At the church. I'm sending out fliers to everyone in Darkwood later today. I just thought you should know before the public does. Can you tell Mona and the others? You four were good friends with Kayla, right?"
"Yeah. We were," Isabelle says, a bit too fast.
"Good." Jake turns and starts to walk away. "See you around," he adds over his shoulder.
"No, you won't," Isabelle mumbles too quietly for him to hear.
Jake disappears around the corner, and Isabelle lets out a worried sigh. Darkwood High's bell lets out a horrible wail. I hate school, Isabelle says to herself. She looks at the clock on her phone.
8:30 a.m.
Why does school have to start so early?
Isabelle straightens her jacket, makes sure her bag's properly on her shoulder, and starts towards the school's stairs. Other kids crowd around her as they make their way into the high school. They give her weird looks as they pass. She hears parts of conversations.
