Almost

4.

So it was my senior year, a huge year at high school. I knew I now needed to do better in studies but it really wasn't a problem as I usually got A's on most of the exams. Mom's words just rang in my ears, "Guys are idiots." And yes of course she was right. Also that, I didn't like to waste my time and energy in relationships.

I got to my locker, opened it and kept my new books in there. I liked to keep it organized, but every time I used to stick a note or something here and there in it so that I won't forget my tasks. Now, I wasn't the geekly-chic but I did good at studies or I simply got the grades without studying hard for them. I was interested more in spying and checking out what is going on in the school, any events or anything else.

On the other hand, I liked to play basketball. They were going to take me on the team but stupid Jenna had threatened me not to and as I was a junior at that time, I needed to follow and give her my place.

Oh, where's Clare? My eyes started searching for her in the hallway....no signs she was there. I got to her locker, she wasn't there too. Oh can this girl stop being lazy? I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called her. Not more than a second she picked, "Coming Lu! I'll be there in five, on the way. Don't panic, see ya" I opened my mouth to say something but she hung up till then.

I was waiting for her to arrive when I felt someone who patted me on my shoulder. I looked back and without a glimpse of surprise on my face and instead with a wide smile I said, "Hey Charles, morning!"

"Morning" he said smiling too. "Waiting for someone?"

I simply nodded and he gave me a knowing look. A few minutes of silence passed when I saw Clare making her way through the crowd and up to us.
"Huh, what a beautiful morning! Good to see your faces are lit." She said dramatically.

"It's because we rise up early, night owl." I said having a smirk on my face and then we all got into our class.

The day went pretty well with new teachers introducing themselves and the old ones suggesting ways to survive at high school. It was a day free from studies. I mentally chuckled when Clare said, "So Lu you've time to get this sorted and mister I ain't gonna tell you again
to be verbal today."

He said plainly, "Sure, meet me at yesterday's cafe at 5?"

"I'll try to 'cause I have a class scheduled" said Clare while I smiled and gave him a thumbs up. Then we parted our ways.

Later that day, we were at the cafe but Clare couldn't accompany as she had her class. I wonder why this girl likes to play some instrument when she is a good instrument who keeps chatting the whole day. We were served with a choco latte for both of us while I was lost in my mind.

He started off after taking a sip from his glass, "So, I told you about the homicide, right?"

I gave a quick nod and he continued, "Dean told me that his mother had warned him to not spill the beans anywhere and if he did, he was going to be the reason for his own death. I was startled by that sentence obviously and asked him that why would he tell me 'bout it then but he replied that he wanted me to help. Truth to be told, I was horrified by this whole murder thing and I told him to wait until I come up with something."

I hummed in order to tell him I heard and understood what he said. He kept looking at his drink and I sensed something unusual in his eyes. "What did you do?" I interrogated.

"I- uh- without extending my story further I'll tell you that I couldn't do anything," He looked up at me, "Because before I could do anything, his mother had understood that he had told me the matter and he already had been shot by his mother in front of me."

I gasped and froze; what the hell? Oh whoever she is, she's booked a reserved seat in hell.

"I saw that cruel witch killing and burying her own descendant into the arms of mother earth. She wasn't cognizant of my presence at first but when she did, fire burned in her eyes and she threatened me never to return again or speak a word against her to the police or else I would be killed in the same fashion." He ended.

"Wow. She really is a sadistic murderer. I mean who would kill their only child just for money? It also seems that she killed him because he had his father's traits, right? I saw..."

"Yes that was the another reason because I heard her say something like, 'you both are alike, sentiments before money. You got my eyes but his features and attitude. It's disgusting to see your beloved son having most of your foolish husband. On top of that, you told our whole personal matter to a stupid friend of yours hoping he'll help. That was a huge mistake you did. Now be ready to embrace your demise.' Yes, I clearly can recall her saying that. She is the worst woman, possibly on the entire earth."

I nodded, "That means we can conclude that now you're the one who gets killed if she is in assurance of that. You're racked. We can inform the police- oh yes we don't have evidence."

"That's for what I approached you, to help me find evidences so that we can convince the police to arrest her." He
replied followed by a shrug.

"I get it. We need to pack." I said getting up and finishing my drink. "Here we come, Texas" I said, grinning.

"Hey, hey miss Robinson don't go that far...what about school?"

"We need a leave."

"But it's just the start of our senior year!"

"I'll handle it."

"Great so you go by yourself as I'm gonna attend school."

By this time, he was yelling and fortunately only a few customers were looking at us. Taking that in observation, I sat down again.

"Look, this needs to be solved. Dean needs justice and we're going to provide him that with all our best. I can surely take a leave from school for a family function and you also can do that by telling someone in your family is tremendously ill, maybe you should be the one. Don't worry about medical certificate, my father will bestow that to you as he's a doctor, ya know."

"Gosh you're brilliant Lu! I never imagined that I'll be helping Dean and missing school with your help." He exclaimed with dumb sarcasm.

"First of all, my parents have given me a good name, Luana and yes you're welcome" I said with the same amount of sarcasm floating in my words. And by that we both left the cafe and he walked me home as his home is a few blocks away from mine.

***