Odd One Out

CHAPTER 26

Naya
Sunday, November 9

No one moved at first, until Viktor suddenly opened the door on his side and stepped out onto the curb, letting the door softly shut. I was still too entranced in my own thoughts of the tweet to even move. I think we all were.

I guess we should lighten the mood a little. You're always good at that, aren't you? C'mon, don't be shy, tell us a joke!

No? Well, no worries! I have just the joke for you:

What do you call someone who runs over a person, and escapes without the calling the police, leaving the person to die?

Answer: Harry Ellis!

No? Too harsh? Not your taste of comedy?

I'm sorry, Ellis. I guess that joke wasn't as funny as I thought it'd be. Maybe you can teach me how to make good jokes one day — well, you know, after you get out of prison.

Well, that's all for today. Hickory dickory dock y'all! The clock has strung 12! And it is almost at 1.

As always, I'm sending out lots of love.

- F.S. <3

Viktor boldly walked up to the door, but halted and stilled in place at the porch. This was our cue to get out of the car, and despite the fact that we were terrified, it was almost done subconsciously. I didn't even realize I was up and out of the car until I was locking it, walking beside Bailey and Jake.

When we reached Viktor, we all waited a beat until finally, Bailey knocked on the door.

No answer. There was no answer.

Bailey knocked again, and I started to fear that maybe he and his parents had fled or something, and it made me upset. Angry, almost.

Not having enough time to process the sound of the door unlocking, I forced myself to ignore my anger as the door finally swung open.

"Yes?"

"Um...h-hi, ma'am," Bailey greeted, "good morning. Um...is Ellis here?"

"Ellis?" his mom asked.

"Harry," I confirmed, realizing we were calling him by his last name. "We're looking for Harry. Is he here?"

"Are you the two kids who came by yesterday?" she questioned, looking at Viktor and Jake. I hadn't realized until she turned to them how hoarse her voice sounded, as if she'd been crying a lot. Or yelling.

This was strange. This was all very strange.

She didn't even acknowledge me. I had been to their house a few times before, and she'd always greeted me warmly, as if Ellis and I had been close friends since a young age. But now?

She couldn't even hold eye contact with me for more than three seconds.

"Um...no," Jake answered.

"Oh."

She didn't say anything after that, and neither did we. It was the most awkward moment I had ever encountered in my life — the tension couldn't be cut with a chainsaw if we tried.

"Is E — is, Harry, here?" Viktor questioned, his hands shoved into the pockets of his leather jacket.

"Harry? Oh, he's...unavailable."

"Oh," Bailey muttered. Another long, awkward silence ensued, and the air suddenly felt thick and unbreathable. Talking to her was impossible — she was acting as if she had lost her mind, as though her thoughts had lost their place in her head and were now roaming endlessly across her mind, without a place to land on.