The lunch bell rang, and its shrill jolt went through Sidney like a gunshot firing off, galvanizing her out of her daze. She still couldn't focus on anything in class, ever since she had first heard the word murder. Teachers had called on her and she had only been able to stumble through a messy string of thoughts that came out in choppy, incomplete sentences.
The police weren't even close to being finished with their interrogating, and they all got their own table in the cafeteria. The second she had walked into the cafeteria, they all turned to look at her. She had tried to just ignore them, but she could feel their eyes all over her. Just like they had been staring at her in the principal's office.
She stared at the kids all sitting down to their plastic lunch trays, scanning the sea for Tatum's bright yellow top. Where the hell was she? She had to be outside.
It was a nice day, not a cloud in the sky, and the courtyard was full of high school students, some sitting in the grass, some at tables, some throwing a frisbee back and forth and others gathered around socializing. It didn't take a genius to figure out what everyone was excitedly talking about.
Casey and Steve's brutal demise was all there was to talk about, especially in a small, quiet town like Woodsboro. Sidney almost felt sick to her stomach as she looked at all of their apathetic expressions as they carried on casually about their day. Nobody seemed to care at all that two people were dead. It was as if their day was just another normal, annoying day at school.
Sidney walked through the courtyard, lowering her head to avoid the glare of the sun in her eyes, carrying her sack lunch that she had packed that morning. She didn't have that much of an appetite, but maybe she could just sit outside and get some fresh air. Maybe enjoy the sunshine a little bit and try to forget everything that was happening, even though she knew it wouldn't do any good. Sidney sat down at the edge of the fountain that served as the centerpiece for the courtyard, and ran her hand through the water, feeling the light mist on her face from the jets of water shooting up into the air.
Just then, Principal Himbry came over the intercom after a shrill beep and some static.
"Attention students, after lunch, interrogations will continue. The police are issuing a curfew tonight at 9 PM, and students are encouraged to return home promptly from school grounds. Avoid strangers, and walk in large groups. Your principal loves you, and I, and the rest of the faculty, want you to be safe,"
"There's creepy Mr. Himbry, being the father that I never wanted," said a familiar voice.
Sidney looked up to see Billy sitting down beside of her on the edge of the fountain. He had changed from last night into a grey sweater and jeans, and his dark hair was neatly slicked back.
"Hey," Sidney said softly, turning to face him.
"You alright?" Billy asked, his eyes growing wide with concern.
"Yeah... just a little shaken up," she said.
"I don't blame you. Do you want to talk?" Billy asked.
Just as Sidney opened her mouth to speak, Billy glanced over and saw Tatum's bright yellow top coming towards them from across the courtyard. It was a perfect distraction, she thought. Now, she wouldn't have to fall apart in his arms and cause a scene.
"Well, so much for alone time," Billy said, giving her a look.
"Hey, kiddo," Tatum said, perching on the side of the fountain beside Sidney. Tatum's boyfriend, Stu Macher, sat down on the other side of her. Stu's real name was Stuart, but Tatum had just recently started affectionately calling him "Stu" and the rest of the gang followed suit.
