Clouds of Violet

Chapter Ten

Thursday, September 11th, 18:39

One of the things I never thought I'd do was get a coffee and donut with Ayeza Rizvi, on the same day that a girl had been found hanging from a tree, and on the same day she snuck me into and out of her house.

Life's changed so much in just a week.

We're sitting on a bench at the Redwood Gardens, silently eating as the sun sets.

"Y'know, they said you gave an interview," Ayeza says. "The Five O'Clock News. They said you gave them an interview."

"Yeah, I know," I say. "They didn't really think it through because I was in detention."

"They did it with me and Max, too," she tells me. "After that toothpaste ad. Said that we talked to them after school. Apparently, I told them that Camila was a very 'dear friend of mine and I am very deeply said that she's now gone.' It's funny because I never even spoke to her."

"What about Max?"

"Oh, his was the best," Ayeza says. She lets out a dry laugh before continuing. "They said that Max was 'romantically involved' with Camila."

I snort; the white powder of my donut sticks to my nose and I wipe it off with the back of my hand.

"He called me in a panicked fit of rage," Ayeza says. "Said he didn't even know her name till she was on the news."

"Oh, that reminds me," I say. "I forgot to call him back." I open up WhatsApp and see about half a dozen text messages from him.

Max: me and ayeza are on the news
hehe theyre saying they interviewed us
idiots
BRO THEYRE SAYING ME AND CAMILA WERE DATING
WTF I DIDNT EVEN KNOW WHO SHE WAS UNTIL LIKE TWO DAYS AGO
SKY RESPOND IM ABT TO CRY

I show the messages to Ayeza and she just shakes her head.

"It isn't cry-worthy," she says.

You: sry
im with ayeza

Max is typing...

Max: SINCE WHEN ARE U TWO FRIENDS
You: we're having coffee
Max: ARE U FUCKING KIDDING ME
WHILE IVE BEEN HERE
GRIEVING
MOURNING
CRYING MY LITTLE HEART OUT
U GUYS HAVE BEEN HAVING A LITTLE TEA PARTY
You: chill
its just coffee
Max: i hate u

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"He blocked me!" I laugh.

"Lovely," she says, downing the rest of her coffee. She tosses her cup into a trash can. "Let's go."

We part ways and I head home, ready to be yelled at by my mother and grounded, yet again. I pass by the school on my way back and stop to stare. Who would've thought that this building, with its cracking paint and fake grass in the field, would be the school that a serial killer could be going to?

I take out my phone to check the time: 18:57. Well, my mom's gonna kill me.

I'm about to walk home, but then I notice something out of the blue. The lights in a classroom are on. On the second floor. And that's not all. There's something else. A silhouette, a figure, a...a person!

In the school? At this hour?

School closed half an hour ago, nobody's allowed to be in there. They're walking around in the Maths classroom, I think. I hope they trash the place.

But on a serious note, why is someone here at this ungodly hour? I see a high ponytail swinging, so I'm guessing it's a girl. I can't see her face, but she's wearing a sleeveless, striped, blue and white crop top and white pants.

Could she be the killer?

I take out my phone again and hastily take a photo. I do it just in time, too, because the girl switches off the light and leaves the classroom. I fight the urge to barge into the school and see who the fuck is roaming around at this time of night, but God knows who I'll find in there. I head on home since the last thing I want is to end up on the news as the newly dead girl. It's getting darker and colder; the sun's finally dipped fully into the horizon and the air is chilling as I walk in my tee and shorts. To think that I left home two hours ago, to somehow end up in Ayeza's bedroom and then at the Redwood Gardens, just sitting and drinking coffee like we were old friends.

I make it to my street and spot my house a few buildings down. The lights are still on, but I see police cars parked right in front of my front yard. Our neighbours are gathering around, trying to see what's happening. I push past them as I get closer to my home. They recognise me and let me pass, watching me with a grim expression.

Mom sees me and looks at me with this mixture of fear and anger in her eyes. I look over at Sheriff Hudson, who's standing with his hip out. He's even taken off his hat, revealing his thick, brown hair. His green eyes flick to mine and he frowns as he speaks.

"Skylar Smith, you are currently under investigation for the murder of Camila Young."