𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄, original story

thirteen, the letter

I met with Harry later that night, he came to mine as my parents went out on a date night in town. I think they said they were going to Nando's, after I had said how lovely the food was and how some things aren't spicy I think I brought them around.

It was a bit strange for a date night, but oh well.

Harry stood in my bedroom doorway, resting on the frame, I sat on my bed as I began to tell him about my findings, "So, Serena and I went to see Rob after school as he said he'd meet her. Then Rob doesn't talk to us, but he shows up with Poppy's younger sister... I think her name was Darcy. They were kissing and holding hands. The worst part is Darcy is twelve,"

At that last bit Harry's eyebrows raised, mostly in shock more than anything, "So... Robs dating a twelve year old?"

"Uh huh," i said, running my hand through my blonde hair, "Which means that if Callum knew about them then maybe he kicked him out of the group?"

Harry nodded, I think he was taking mental notes instead, "You said on the call there was something else?"

Oh shit. The messages between Serena and Poppy.

"I didn't see much, so take this with a large pinch of salt" I began, "But when Serena went to text her I saw these messages saying Poppy needed to tell 'her' though I'm not sure who or what about because the messages cut off,"

"Is it possible Poppy was the one Callum was cheating on you with?" It was something I had never considered in the slightest.

"I... I mean, it could be,"

I hadn't ever considered Poppy to be the one Callum was cheating with, there was more chance it was some random girl on holiday. When we went to the seaside he seemed to always leave me with his sisters — eighteen year old Angie and four year old Penny — whilst he went off to apparently find mates he made on the caravan site.

I presumed it was some random girl he had met there once I found out. Before I knew, I had believed him fully. Then I found out and things changed, my mind went over all the possible moments Callum could've cheated.

"I don't know how they had met, though," I told him, to which Harry produced a piece of paper from his pocket.

"Poppy liked to read, she was always lost in a book. That's something else I got from Serena, and she told me Poppy's favourite book was A Good Girls Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson," he sat next to me, making the old bed creak and then he handed me the note, "I found this tucked away in one of the copies in the library. I think you should read it,"

Dear, Callum,

I left this in this book for you to see. Only your eyes, not Rob, not Will. And most importantly, not Maddie. If she found out about us... I can't even imagine the bruises we'd be sporting.

When we first met we were at an arcade by the seaside, Maddie was busy on the 2p machines trying to win some key ring with Penny. My family had dragged me along with the triplets. And you were there, you showed me how to rig the claw machine and won me a small, brown bear.

I didn't think I'd ever see you again, the cute stranger who made my heart all gooey and my cheeks red. And yet, when I started my new school there you were, riding your bike into school.

I was so excited to see you, I didn't think it was you at first, actually. That was when you saw me in the library, reading this book. You asked me what it was about and I told you that you'd have to read it in order to find out. Then you asked me if I liked reading and I told you that I did.

And so you listened to all the books I wanted to buy and bought me one, that was when I knew you cared about me. I knew again when you brought me here, not so I could read. This time we kissed for the first time, I saw stars and felt firew

I chucked the paper at the wall, covering my face as tears of frustration came out of my eyes. I didn't want to cry, not over him and not again. Yet, here I was, bursting into tears of Callum Makins.

I had said good riddance, and yet here I was.

"Bitch!" I scowled, trying to get the tears out of my eyes with my fingers.

Harry gingerly put his arm around me, letting me cry into his chest. I heard his heart beat, it was slightly irregular, a small smile grew on my lips and for a fleeting moment I forgot that I had killed Callum and was just trying to solve his murder with his childhood best friend... whom of which I definitely didn't have a crush on.

I couldn't have feelings for him. It was stupid, I couldn't do that. I couldn't fall for someone, put my heart on the line for it to be shot off.

My tears, instead of being anger, were now mourning what could have been. Harry would never feel for me the way I did for him, even if he held me as I cried, petting my hair and pressing kisses to my forehead that I pretended not to notice.

My stomach fluttered with butterflies, of which were slowly dying one by one with my tears.

No one else but Harry would comfort the killer, no one else would hold me like this. And maybe that's why I felt something I shouldn't have.

I felt real affection for the first time in forever.