Partners In Crime

5 The Mystery Begins

Derick generally doesn't do well with groups.

Derick is one of those people who like creative control all the time. He hates relying on someone else because nine times out of ten they'll always let you down. This is no different. It's like being shackled to someone to work together.  He doesn't even want to share the credit. Who knows the horrors that will come? He doesn't want to think about it but he's going to, otherwise, the case is a no-go. There are no loopholes or anything. He has no choice. So this pair-up is something he's not looking forward to.

The worst part is he can't choose. If he did, he would probably use them to gain more popularity points. But he's not sure how he'll live it down.
At this point, he doesn't care. Black, white, gay, trans, male, female; give it to him.

Derick Tirone Oxford wished he hadn't eaten those words.

It not only aged like fine wine, but it came back to bite him in the butt. The fact that it aged poorly in less than one hour is a new record of extreme backfire and 180s to epic prepositions. It's quite tragic.

Honestly, he should have seen it coming a mile away. Now he was stuck with Chelsea. Of all people! That in itself had him ticked so much,  that the whole two-week time crunch doesn't even bother him any more. And it's culminated by the fact that it's the person Derick had a bad history with in the past. And knowing Chelsea, she won't allow bygones be bygones, and would still hold a grudge.

The feeling was mutual.

Derick wasn't the only one who wasn't enthusiastic about going back to school, either. At least, less than usual.

When the weekend was over, Johnty was on edge, not looking to go in at all. He would have preferred he was suspended. But after he pushed his luck for the final time in the past, this was what he got, otherwise exclusion. And, at this point, Johnty would happily take it, even if it meant falsely admitting he did it.

"I don't think I can do it, dude," Johnty claimed, shaking as they got closer and closer, his unavoidable fate waiting for him.
"It's not too late to turn back."
He was right. He could move school or move entirely. But Derick wasn't having it.

"That'll be taking the __________ way out," he said. Even he wasn't above profanity. But unlike others, he uses it sparingly, and sometimes for when to throw shade, especially at his best friend, who looked like he needed the pep talk and motivation. And it seemed to do the trick.

"You're right. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to put myself through it all. In for a penny, in for a pound."
"That's the spirit!" Derick slapped him on the back."

They soon got to school, with only several students still adjusting or continuing as normal. But Derick knows what's up. The second he entered Leory's property he knew he was transported into a life of crime, something he, himself, subjected himself to, while Chelsea was doing it under false pretences. It was only a matter of time during the weekend. So he prepared and brought some stuff over so the transition from student to sleuth overnight is more natural.

It wasn't.

He gazed back at Johnty before smiling.

"Try not to go insane and escape like the last person did, causing several teachers to land in hospital to this day." Then he walked away.

"I will....wait, what!?" Johnty exclaimed, terrified.

_____________________

When Derick got to their office, via key, he was proud himself of how neat the place was. And, deep, down he insurmountably was looking forward to coming back just to admire his handiwork.