𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐸𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒☏︎

Chapter 9, Part One, 'Skatepark'

Maudie's POV
Tuesday
3:34 p.m.

I need to check my phone.

'Everyone is dismissed, except for Miller, Roberts, Banks, and Clarke,' Sir Turner appointed. What now? Me, Ezra, Caesar (Clarke), and Rebecca (Roberts) waited until most of the classroom was empty. Oh, it seemed like eternity.

*I didn't mean to give alliteration to the names of the other Robotics Club members, I only meant one for Caesar, then it accidentally happened to Rebecca.*

3:36 p.m.

Sir Turner then ceased the undying silence and spoke, 'As all of you are in the Robotics Club, and as club counselor, I'm hoping to see you all in the library by 3:50. There is a special announcement that I am gonna announce. All of you got that? Okay, you may go now.' Special announcement? Wait, I can finally check my phone.

A single check if my dad agreed to let me hang out with my friends was a hassle. How? Am I acting less weird again? Or I'm just grasping for proximity with my friends since there isn't really a whole bunch of cases that is being reported, and everyday at the office is always so mundane and boring. Anyhow, Ezra waited for me when everyone left the classroom. And, dad— a few more clicks— said...

"Dad: Just before 6, okay?"

He agreed!

'Ezra!'

'What happened?' Ezra asked.

'Dad let me go with you and Kyle to the skate park later!' I said with joy, and while forwarding to Ezra about it.

'No need to get so close. Your shout was already loud enough to hear,' Ezra said. "Also, are you not gonna investigate 'The Case of Concealed Soccer Balls" ?'

'That's not really on my mind, right now. And also, why'd you say "concealed"?' I exclaimed, packing up my stuff.

'I think someone stole them. But, Maudie Miller refusing a mystery that is long awaited by our fans...'

'Okay, okay. I'll do it later. I just have to reassure to Spencer that we have tutoring tomorrow.' I said, 'Come with.'

'Sure.'

3:42 p.m.

'Okay, thanks, Spencer,' I said, while we were waving goodbye to them.

'So were going to the library next?' Ezra suggested.

'Yeah, and also, when are we going to the skatepark later?'

'Your mind seems to be fixated to the skatepark. But, we'll have to ask Kyle, and then we will have some time to go home, and get changed; then we'll go to to go to the skatepark and wait for him to retrieve his skateboard. Got that?'

'Yes, of course,' I answered, and Ezra's right, my mind is too focused about later. Well, I do want to see Kyle, skateboard. But, I'm not too eager to see that, so then, why am I so fixated about it?

☆Time Skip☆

Ezra's POV
4:30 p.m.

'Poppy, I'm back!' I shouted.

'I'm in the living room,' Poppy responded with a voice crack. Once I untied, took off, and set my shoes on the shoe rack; I went straight ahead to my room to get changed.

* I am just gonna write thoughts that went through Ezra's head when he was changing, since I didn't want to write him changing. *

That ride back home was surprisingly fast... Maybe Maudie, Ava, Kyle, and I could investigate tomorrow about the missing soccer balls— I could ask Kyle more questions... What did Sir Turner announce earlier— Oh right, an environment-friendly competition and more funding... What should I wear for later? Don't want to be late. I should hurry up. Maybe this grey jogging pants? Sure. What goes well with grey? It think this beige shirt looks... fine. Why am I so self-conscious?

4:55 p.m.

I sat down on a bench near the skatepark. I haven't seen Maudie yet, nor has she responded to my messages. And Kyle, cannot forget about Kyle— suddenly, my phone notified.

"Maudie: Turn around."

Expecting Nightingale, I turn around and— I was correct. There she is, standing, looking at me with a smirk.

'Hey, Nightingale.'

'Hello, Falcon. How long have you been waiting? Is Kyle here yet?' Maudie asked while walking towards the bench I'm sitting.

'I just got here. And no, he messaged me that he couldn't find his sock, he's probably on the way, right now.' I answered. 'Also, you most probably are pleased with of yourself with that entrance.

'Mhm, and I was excited,' Maudie answered.

'Do you want to come investigate with me tomorrow?' I asked, hoping for a yes.

'Sure,' Maudie answered, sitting beside me. When is Kyle gonna come? He's the reason we're here.

I look over at Maudie to see what she's looking at. She was just gazing at the people in the park. 

'How could someone look so alluring by just looking at people?' I whispered. Maudie then looked straight at me with a flustered expression on her face. I guess I said that louder than I heard.

Maudie's POV
4:57 p.m.

Wait... Alluring means strongly attractive— Was Ezra talking about me? I mean, he was looking at me...

'Who were you talking about?' I asked, not able to make eye contact with Ezra. I was basically frozen, and so was Ezra.

'You,' Ezra said. He thinks I'm alluring? Really? 'I-I meant, that, um, I just thought that you look p-pretty and n-nice in this angle.'

'O-oh, thank you very much,' I said while there were hearts forming on my cheeks, and an irresistible smile. We both looked away and just waited for Kyle.

That was really nice of Ezra... The atmosphere around us also feels very much awkward...

Ezra's POV
5:00 p.m.

I platonically meant it when I said that she was alluring. Why would I even think about that? But seriously, I really admire and aspire her. And she could seriously run The InBESTigators all by herself, she is really the only member needed. And always number one in everything. Everything I want in myself, I see in her.

'Sorry that I'm late. I also lost my phone while trying to find my sock,' a certain someone said from behind.

'Finally,' I whispered. Maudie and I turning our heads to the one and only, Kyle Klimson.

'And before you ask, I brought all the gear and safety wear. The knee and elbow pads, the helmet, and everything else that I couldn't remember at this moment,' Kyle said, walking towards us, 'How long have you two been waiting?'

'Roughly four minutes,' Maudie answered.

'Oh, good. Now, here are my safety wears, and watch me do the most sickest trick ever!' Kyle handed us the gear, and put his skateboard to the ground, put his right foot on the skateboard, aiming for the skatepark.

'Kyle! No!' Maudie and I said in unison.

'Wear your safety gear!' I shouted.

I'm so, so sorry about my publishing schedule. It is almost two months! I'm so sorry. I really am. I hope I would be able to publish part two in less than a month. Though, I doubt it. I had just been less enthusiastic about this. I hope we could finish this book. I'm also sorry for how this ended. I'm sorry.

Also, thank you to Shqrmqine. They have helped me immensely.

End of Part One.

May 8, 2023