The Mysterious Case of Happy Tree High

The Death Detectives

Giggles

"Why did you remove Petunia from the group?" Lammy asked me.

"Because I can."

"Come on, you can share anything with us. Is it a fight? Because I can-"

"Listen, Lammy." I looked at her in the eye. "I just... I just needed to get rid of her. It's not like you would understand."

Flaky and Lammy halted all of a sudden. "So you removed her for no reason?" Flaky said.

"It's not- Ugh, You guys just wouldn't understand, okay? Do I have to explain?" I rolled my eyes.

"Yes!" They both said.

I was sick of these two, butting in my  friendship with Petunia. I knew her like I knew my own mind, those two were just starting to annoy me now. "Listen, I don't need you two in my business. I never even wanted to be friends with any of you. Lammy just happened to invite me to her stupid tea party which I was forced by my mum to go to and Flaky, you just showed without a goddamn invite!
"I don't want you guys to talk to me nor Petunia right now, I'm stuck in a stupid situation that I really cannot get out of and I don't need your pity or your friendship. Just leave me alone now."

"But... but..." Flaky stammered.

"But what, Flaky? Listen, if you're a willing to piss me off even more, great."

"Sorry..." Flaky was about to continue walking, but Lammy tugged her shoulder and shook her head.

"Well if you're gonna be unreasonable,  we're leaving." She stomped her foot. "Right, Flaky?"

Flaky looked at me, then at Lammy, then back at me, then back at Lammy. "Yeah."

"I can't believe her..." Lammy started rambling.

They could never understand the sort of situation I am in. If it weren't for that stupid email...

***

Someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around. It was Sniffles. He gave me a note and then went to his seat.

Meet me in science lab after lunch
-sniffles ☆♡

Ugh, not sniffles. Why was he talking to me? Especially after the incident. Well, I have nothing else to do, so I guess I'll just go to the Science Lab.

***

I haven't been in the Science Lab in ages. Luckily, it was litteraly right next to our classroom.

We opened the door and not only was there Sniffles, but also Cuddles, Lifty, Handy, some other random kids, and Petunia, Lammy and Flaky. Of course.

Petunia looked at me, worried and confused.

"Great, now everyone's here!" Sniffles put his hands together. "We can get started. Oh, Flaky close the door behi- thanks."

"Why did you block me?" Petunia whispered. I ignored her.

"So, there's been... well, more than a few deaths... First Nutty, then Shifty-"

"Wait, Shifty's dead?" Someone called out. Sniffles ignored them.

"Then Hatty, then Toothy and now Poppy."

"Who the hell is Poppy?" I asked. Sniffles shrugged.

"Like, Lumpy's brother or something. Speaking of Lumpy, he's gone missing. And of course, so has Mr. Media."

"Yeah, but like... who cares?" I rolled my eyes. Some kids, not just me, were getting bored.

"Well, moving on, there's obviously something going on. These deaths can't be coincidental. That's why I've gathered all of you to help me figure this out."

"Ooh, will it be like a movie? Can we be detectives?" Lammy shot up.

"Yes."

"Let's get a name! Like Dumbledore's Army!" Handy, an annoying potterhead (how does he even read??) Exclaimed.

"Can we be Mondo Media's army?"

"Or the Inbestigators!"

"What about The Incredibly Amazing Dete-"

"No, no, no!" Sniffles shouted. Everyone jumped back. "You're all missing the point here! Plus, I've already decided on a name. We're the Happy Tree Detectives."

"That's so lame though..." I said.

"Can we change tree to death? It sounds way cooler..." Lammy exclaimed.

"Happy Death Detectives... yeah, that'll do."

"Remove the Happy. It sounds like we're in some sort of cult." Cuddles frowned. I've never seen him frown before.

"Sure." Sniffles smiled. "Okay, now we're the Death Detectives. Our first meeting will be tomorrow, same time."

Flaky

I walked out with Lammy and Petunia. I couldn't stop thinking about Giggles. I abandoned her. I could tell she was going through something, she mentioned some sort of situation. But I went with Lammy and Giggles which... well, at least she wouldn't poke fun at me anymore.

I don't really want to go through that again.

I bumped into Cuddles. "Omigosh! I' so sorry!"

"It's okay." Cuddles said blankly.

Cuddles and I had been friends since diapers. But after I met Giggles, Lammy and Petunia I started to drift away from him. Giggles said that she didn't want me to interact with that freak, which is strange because she has a crush on him.

Giggles was already gone. I didn't really want to go back to her, but I really did want to at the same time.

I decided to stick around with Cuddles for a bit.

"So uh... it's been a long time." I went up to him.

"Yeah."

"Made any new friends?"

"Yeah... Toothy and Lumpy."

"How are they?"

"Dead and missing."

"Oh... I'm sorry."

Cuddles shook his head. "Not your fault. How's uh... Giggles? Oh yeah, and Lammy."

"I guess I'm not really friends with Giggles anymore."

"Oh. Why not?"

"Um... it's a long story.

"I'm patient enough for it, Flakes." Flakes. He used to call me that. I like it.

I shrugged. "Well in short, she unreasonably kicked Petunia out of our friend groupchat and lashed out at me and Lammy and said she never wanted dto be friends with us anyway."

"Damn. You really need to talk to her about that."

Cuddles left me. I stood there for a long time, thinking about what he said.

I've never stood up to anyone before. I'm not as brave as Lammy. Or Petunia. Or Cuddles.

I don't think I can do it.

Or can I?