Our Little Secret

The Missing Girl

Dewsbury is as small-town as it gets. With a population of around 300 people, everybody knows everybody and everybody knows everybody's business. Which means the minute news came out about Ella Lockwood's disappearance it was all anyone could talk about. The rumors started and spread like wildfire. Ella's best friends, Jo Garcia and Hazel Walker, tried their best not to leave their homes for weeks to avoid the whispers and stares that followed them. 

Luckily, when school resumed in the fall, the whispers had finally died down. Jo and Hazel had not spoken since their friend went missing, which became more obvious to everyone at school when they avoided eye contact with one another all morning. Once lunch came around, the two sat on opposite sides of the cafeteria. Jo decided to sit with Katie and Luna, who she usually referred to as her "other friends" since they only really hung out when she didn't already have plans with Ella and Hazel. She had been getting closer to them recently since her and Hazel were not speaking anymore. Hazel had not made any effort to hang out with anyone since Ella's disappearance. She sat at a table alone during lunch with her headphones in, ignoring everyone and everything around her. 

When the last bell rang for the day, Hazel hid in the bathroom until the majority of the rush was over in the hall. She looked in the mirror and messed with her hair for a while. She had wanted a change before school so she had dyed it blonde a few weeks ago. When the commotion calmed down, she grabbed her bag and walked out to the parking lot to wait for her dad to pick her up. Mr. Walker worked as a doctor at the hospital about 10 miles out of town and was usually late getting Hazel from school, so she got used to sitting and waiting. She used to have Ella and Jo to sit with her, but now she just sits alone. When her dad finally pulls up she gets in and gets ready for the small talk. 

Mr. Walker did not even wait for her door to close before asking how her first day went.

"Fine," she says.

"Just fine?" Hazel knew that he would not stop nagging until he got something more than a one-word answer.

"It went good. My classes aren't too far apart from each other and lunch wasn't too inedible."

He smiled and she took that as the go-ahead to put her headphones back in until they got home. She was looking forward to locking herself in her room and watching Netflix until dinner. However, her plans had shifted once she noticed Jo sitting on her front deck. 

"Hey Mr. Walker," Jo said cheerfully.

"Hey sweetie, it's been forever since I've seen you around here," he responded.

They both smiled at each other and Mr. Walker went inside. Hazel was confused and also a little upset. Why didn't she warn her that she was coming over?

"Why are you here?"

"We need to talk." Jo spoke with a serious tone that Hazel hadn't heard before. 

Jo pulled Hazel inside the house and up the stairs to Hazel's bedroom. After closing the door behind them, Jo turned to Hazel with her arms crossed. 

"Well?" Hazel was confused and a little bit worried about what she wanted.

Jo rolled her eyes and said, "Do you want to tell me why Hayes was at my house after school?"

Hazel's stomach dropped. 

"Matthew Hayes?"

"Yes," Jo made sure to be stern with her words, "he was waiting for me at my house and when I got there he started asking me questions again."

Hazel had so much going on in her head she couldn't even make out if what Jo was saying was actually coming out of her mouth.

"Hello? Earth to Hazel?"

Hazel finally got it together and responded, "What kind of questions?"

"You know what kind of questions," Jo sounded almost annoyed, "he was asking me about that night, about Ella."

"Why? It has been months. I thought this had all died down," Hazel responded.

Jo grabbed Hazel by the shoulder and made sure they were looking each other in the eyes. "Have you said anything?"

"No," Hazel was confused, "I swore I wouldn't. We both did."

Jo let go of Hazel and began pacing around the room, rubbing her eyes. Hazel was still so confused. Why was Jo here? And why was Hayes asking questions again? Jo stopped in her tracks and looks at Hazel.

"You haven't heard have you?"

"Heard what?" Hazel was more confused than ever now.

Jo sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.

"They found Ella's body."