Zepotha

The Truth

Skeeter sighed and looked at the clock. Is it even possible for the clock to move even slower? It sure seemed like it. He looked around the classroom at the students silently reading and the teacher grading papers. It was almost like the room was too quiet. Skeeter looked back down at his book and stared at the hundreds of words written down on that page. He couldn't focus on the book. He could only keep reading the same page over and over because his mind wandered elsewhere while he tried to read. He shook his head and stood up from his chair, the friction from the chair leg and the floor making a loud squeak. Skeeter walked up to his teacher's desk.

"Excuse me sir, may I please go use the restroom?"

The teacher rolled his eyes and looked up at Skeeter

"Only if it's an emergency."

"It is an emergency!"

Skeeter realized he wasn't being very convincing so he brought his hands down to his lower stomach and put a fake distressed face on. His teacher raised an eyebrow at him suspiciously but sighed and gave him a pass.

"Fine, but be quick. You ask to use the bathroom almost every day, Skeeter. One of these days I'm just going to say no."

Skeeter grinned and took the pass

"Yes, yes I understand. This time I really need to go though!"

The teacher just shooed him away with a flick of his wrist and Skeeter quickly sped out of there. Of course, he didn't really have to use the bathroom, he just didn't wanna sit down anymore. He needed to stretch his legs. He put on his Walkman and listened to the newest Bon Jovi album. He hummed along to the tune of "Livin' On a Prayer" as he strolled around the empty hallways with his hands in his pockets, occasionally peeking into a classroom just to see what other classes were doing. He walked around for a little bit and started to pass by the main entrance of the building. He took a glance at the outside before peering over and seeing Maxine and Cole sitting down on the steps. He immediately stopped in his tracks and silently backed up behind one of the stone pillars at the entrance. He was snoopy and decided to listen to their conversation. I mean who wouldn't?? He removed one of the headphones of his Walkman off of his ear and listened closely...

"It's Jessica Bradley."

"W-what how do you know?"

"Duh, 'cause I saw her."

Skeeter's eyes widened as he heard the two talking about Jessica. She was the one who died? Skeeter gulped nervously and snapped out of his thoughts and continued to listen

"-went out in the woods for a smoke, and I went a little bit deeper 'cause I didn't want the security guard to catch me like last time. So, I went out further and I heard a rustling sound. I got scared and looked up from where I was sitting, and I'm not even joking, I saw Jessica's body, mangled up-"

Skeeter couldn't listen anymore. He felt like he was sick. Jessica Bradley? He knew her! He's had conversations with her before! This was all so much information. He felt dizzy and nauseous. He stumbled back on the pillar a little before regaining his balance and quickly rushing out of there, back to his class. He quickly entered the classroom and silently put the pass back on his teacher's desk and slumped down in his seat, his eyes still wide and petrified. He just couldn't believe it. He had to tell his friends.

...

"I'm going crazy! It's all anyone ever fucking talks about!!"

Alaine exclaimed to Danny as they stood at their lockers during passing period. Danny nodded along to her words and grabbed his books inside his locker next to hers

"I mean, it's relatively new so it makes sense why everyone is so infatuated with it right now.."

"No I know, but today in first period Nate and Rita were talking about it. But the way they were talking about it was so grotesque and it genuinely felt like they were doing it to provoke me since I had my headphones in, so I confronted them and Nate was nice about it, but Rita was literally so rude! She had such an attitude!"

Nate raised his eyebrows as she spoke and he pushed his brown hair back

"Oh yeah? How so?"

Alaine just huffed out an irked breath and shook her head

"It's too much to explain right now"

All of a sudden, Skeeter came rushing to them, clutching onto Lydia's arm. He ran to them and crashed into a locker from the velocity of his speed. He immediately regained his posture and spoke to them in breathless gasps

"Guys... Important... News... Follow... Me... Now!"

He motioned his arm for them to follow him. Danny and Alaine flashed each other a puzzled look before following Skeeter. Skeeter rushed to an empty janitor's closet and slammed the door shut as soon as they all entered and plastered his arms over the door like it could fling back open any minute. Lydia crossed her arms and looked Skeeter dead in the eye

"So..? Care to explain why we are in here? Class starts in two minutes, Skeet."

Skeeter turned around and put a finger to his lips

"This is serious... Listen... I went for a walk this morning because I didn't want to do school work and I was walking past the entrance of the school-"

Danny groaned and put his hand over his face

"Dude get to the point!"

"I am! I was walking past the entrance of the school and I overheard Maxine and Cole talking about the dead student. Well, Cole told Maxine that he saw the dead body and It was Jessica! Jessica Bradley!"

They all looked at him with pure shock before exchanging looks with each other as well.

"Are-are you sure? You can't just go around saying stuff like this..."

Alaine whispered and Skeeter shook his head violently

"No no no no no! I promise! I haven't even told anyone! Im just telling you what I heard!"

"I mean, Jessica has been acting weird lately. She's in my art history class and she didn't show up to school for like a solid week. She eventually came for one day but that was two days ago."

Lydia chimed in. Skeeter held out a hand as Lydia helped him prove his point and he looked to Danny and Alaine

"See?!"

Alaine and Danny glanced at each other once more

"I'm not believing anything until the news comes out."

Danny uttered as he put his hands on his hips. Alaine let out a jeer and tucked her hair behind her ear

"No, you know what? This is bullshit. Maxine and Cole shouldn't be spreading stuff."

"They aren't! I just overheard them!"

Alaine shook her head at Skeeter

"No, I'm angry! How could they not tell anyone or go to the cops? I wanna go have a word with them!"

"Oh 'laine thats a bad idea..."

Danny started, considering Alaine and Maxine's past

"No! This is bullshit! Im going. Anyone else coming with me?"

Lydia shot her hand up in the air

"I am! I want answers too."

Alaine nodded and looked between Skeeter and Danny

"Fine. Me and Lydia are going. You guys don't have to come, but I'm getting answers!"

Alaine opened the janitor's closet door and stepped out, followed by a lively Lydia. Danny sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose before walking out after them and grabbing Skeeter's shoulder to drag him out alongside him.

"What! I'm not confronting them!"

Skeeter cried out defensively but Danny patted his back and walked side by side with him behind the two girls

"We do this together remember? As a group. Besides, don't you wanna watch the girls just in case they get into a catfight?"

Danny divulged in a hushed tone to Skeeter with a smile in his voice. Skeeter chuckled and nodded his head at a grinning Danny

"Yeah, I guess you're right. This should be fun."

That was chapter 3!! I hope you guys enjoyed!! Please put down in the comments any suggestions/recommendations or just anything you'd like to see! Happy reading!!