Evan Farrington's Confession | ✔️

twelve

Evan slid her bag over her still tender but healing shoulder. Suzanne had been in the lounge all morning with Eric. The low rumble of talk had been radiating out of the room, only ceasing when Evan had knocked to take in her father's cornflakes. She had crept in as if trying not to wake a baby. There hadn't been any porridge this morning.

"Bye," Evan called. She paused for a few seconds by the door, waiting for Suzanne to remind her of the murderer.

(which you don't need to worry about she should be worried matricide is more common than you think)

Suzanne didn't appear but the door to the kitchen slowly squeaked open. George walked out. He didn't hobble exactly but he walked like he was in no rush. Evan's grandad never walked, he ambled.

"Have a good day, love," he said and Evan smiled.

"Bye Grandad. You too," she replied then left the house, closing the door gently behind her.

The rain was thinner today but still present. The minute droplets almost felt like they were caressing Evan's face as she walked through them. Her feet slapping against the pavement made the only sound for what felt to Evan like miles. But soon they were joined by another set of footsteps, jogging ones. Her heart throbbed once but calmed when she heard a voice she recognised.

"Evan Farrington! Wait up!"

Evan slowed her pace and William caught up. He gave her a winning smile, catching his breath.

"Mind if I join?" he asked. Evan's cheeks tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"Not a bit," she said, forcing her mouth back into its neutral position.

"You English people and your politeness. And your walking quickly."

Evan huffed, the smile threatening again. "I'm actually Scottish. But that's close enough. I have actually been asked what was was like to live in Australia."

William snorted. "What kind of daft..."

"Would you believe me if I said Miss Peterson?"

"The geography teacher? No way."

"Yeah, you're right. It was just some idiot student. I didn't hang around long enough to hear their name."

William laughed and the sound lifted the last traces of pain from her shoulder. It had begun to scab over this morning and Evan knew it was only a matter of time before it started to itch. The trees on either side of the road were beginning to throng.

"So," William said. "You seen the news?"

Evan's eyebrow twitched. "The news?" she ventured. "Can you be more specific?"

William sighed. "The news concerning the Math teacher murder?" As if it was the most obvious thing in the world. The Maths teacher-

(murder murder murder murder)

Evan swallowed and shook her head. "I've not seen it," she said. "Is there- Is there anything new?"

"They think it was a student," William said. He clearly expected more surprise from her. "Like at our school!" Evan did her best to match his horrified excitement while also masking her internal panic.

"Th- How do they know that?"

"They think. But still that's majorly freaky."

Evan laughed nervously. "I'm glad you caught up with me then," she said. "Unless you did it."

"That's the thing see, it could be anyone. Like, you have no idea who you can trust." His words hung in the air, slowly stirring into the silence. The rain changed direction and wet the back of Evan's head. She made a decision.

"Have you seen anything weird around school?"

William sucked in a breath through his nose. He let it out in a huff. "Have you?" His tone made his answer clear.

Evan shook her head. Not a lie, exactly. She knew that there were weird things to see and she knew where to find them. She hadn't seen anything. The woods loomed next to her, thinning a little as they neared the school. Her shoes were in those woods, somewhere. They walked into the grey carpark, avoiding the few cars pulling into spaces.

"Same deal after school?" asked William.

Evan inhaled through her nose, knowing her decision wasn't the smartest one. Especially considering (the cold-blooded, pre-meditated, brutally executed murder) everything. "Sure," she said. 

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Love always,

-pinknaails

xx