A Star in the Dark

Chapter 16 June 1 2:03 pm

Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts.

Stephanie tried, but it was not enough. Guilt and sorrow plagued her mind. She couldn't do this anymore. She hated life. Everyone stared at her since the incident with the newspapers. They all seemed to read the same thing:

16 year old, Suspected
Murderer?
Stephanie Houlter, a seemingly pleasant young woman, seems to be in
a spot of trouble with a murder case.
(More on page 4C)

The papers drove Steph nuts every time she walked past one, and what's more- she always had to have a 'body guard'. Someone was with her every minute of every day. Whether it was Brandon, Thomas, Erika, or her mum, they all had to take turns watching over Steph and her surroundings.

The first time she had went out by herself, she was ambushed with questions, and the news spread like wildfire. Pictures of her from at least 2 years ago were posted to Facebook with the headline 'Is she a murderer?' The headlines taunted her. Thank god school wasn't in session, that would make things worse.

The only people that seemed to be able to cheer her up anymore were Brandon and Thomas. They didn't criticise and taunt her. Neither did Erika and her mum, but it just wasn't the same with them. For one, Thomas had always understood Steph, and for that she was eternally grateful. As for Brandon, he just didn't seem to care what she had done, or what she did in the future. All he cared about was her well-being.

He loved her too much, and he wasn't willing to let her go. Not just yet, anyway.
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Brandon was getting upset. Not with Stephanie, but with her negativity towards life. The simplest mention of the 'incident' (if you could ever call it that) sent her to tears in the middle of a shop. She was always deeply upset, and he yearned to make her feel better, to tell her it would all be okay, but no matter how hard any of them tried, he felt that it all still made no difference. It made him even more upset that he's didn't know how to help.

He always texted her, told her that he loved her, and no matter how many times she texted it, he just wanted to hear her say  the words. Whenever he said it out loud she she nuzzled into his shoulder and pulled him into a hug. It was affection, just not the affection he was looking for. He just wanted to hear her say 3 words. I love you.
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Erika felt put out. Her 2 best friends were dating, and she felt as though she was a third wheel. Every time she wanted Stephanie alone it was the same thing-

"Is it okay if Brandon comes too?"

"Sure, I guess so."

And that was how it went.

It was pretty obvious, but it made her more upset that they didn't tell her they were dating. If they had told her, she mightn't be as upset.