Marliss and Murder

Chapter one

Marliss stared out the window watching the grass and trees fly past her. The car stopped at her school. "You know, I had to wait for you again." Lydia, her mother, said. "For what? I was out for an hour or two." "You know you were supposed to be home by nine." Marliss rolled her eyes and got out of the car. "Have a nice day at school." Lydia mumbled. As Marliss walked up to the giant school there was a smell of newly cut grass. She walked through the crowded hallway. "All of this for a few classes?" She mumbled. She smiled and ran to the back of the school. Vending machines and dumpsters. It smelled like rotten school food and urine. There was that fence that nobody knew how to climb over. Nobody other than her. She threw her book bag over the fence and started climbing. It really wasn't that hard. It was a tall fence, yes, but anybody who wasn't lazy could do it. She hopped down on the other side and saw a restaurant. "I have some money after last night. Why not spend it?" She asked herself. Once inside the restaurant, there was a smell of tea, coffee, and pancakes. "You look really young to be in here by yourself, young lady." A woman with long blonde hair who looked to be in her twenties spoke to Marliss. "I'm 13, 14 in a few months. Why do you care?" The lady looked irritated already. "Can I seat you?" She asked. "Isn't that your job?" The blonde woman escorted Marliss to her seat. Marliss didn't really like anybody. She always thought adults were annoying and rude. So were kids, arrogant and self assured jerks. She knew what she wanted as another lady came up to her. As she looked away from the window, she saw, out of everybody in the world, her mom. She grabbed her book bag and hopped out of her seat. If she couldn't do what she did at night, she would do it during the day. She stopped once she saw a tall lady with red hair and green eyes. About 35, Marliss guessed. Gold watch and diamond earrings. She slipped by the lady and grabbed the watch. Marliss tapped her shoulder and the lady looked down, into Marliss's eyes. "Never wear expensive things while you're out in a town like this, anything could get stolen. Oh, by the way, what time is it?" The lady looked at her wrist and once she turned to Marliss, the 13 year old was already running away.

Marliss ran to her room and locked the door, Lydia right behind her. "MARLISS! WHY WERE YOU AT THE RESTAURANT?" "I was hungry." "YOUR PRINCIPAL CALLED ME!" Lydia yelled. "About how good my school performance is? Perfect right?" Lydia simply unlocked the door with a bobby pin. Marliss groaned. "Can you get some new locks?" "Marliss, you've been skipping school?" Lydia asked. "Yeah, and I'm actually doing something with my life, like getting good money. Don't you think it's crazy how you have 3 jobs and don't get paid enough?" Marliss said. Lydia's phone rang and she picked it up. When she hung up she stared at Marliss. "I don't have time to discipline you. There's a murder. I don't need you to do anything stupid. If I figure this out, I could get promoted." Marliss sighed, "Okay fine." Lydia left the room. "She should know better than to trust me." Marliss stuffed the gold watch under her mattress and grabbed her bookbag. When she opened her window, there was a man. Marliss jumped out and gave him a high-five. "Hey Mar Mar. Stolen any good stuff lately?" He asked. "As if I'd tell you! What? You only have a penny?" They both laughed. "You know, kid, you don't need to be getting in trouble. You have a great life, even if Lydia isn't your actual mother." Marliss rolled her eyes and the man continued. "Alright, sorry. A little birdie told me there was a murder going around, and she was rich and wealthy." "I'm going to sneak onto the murder scene and steal some things." Marliss said. "No. What don't you understand? I'm trying not to boss you around but you're making this hard for me. You shouldn't be stealing. Lydia makes money and she works three jobs just to feed and take care of you." The man answered. "Look Landon, I don't need you to take care of me, I'm-" Landon interrupted her. "13, 14 in a few months, I know. Still doesn't mean you need to be out here stealing things. You should be in school." He snatched a ring from a woman nearby and kept talking. "I know Lydia. She needs you." "Well I don't need her! I don't need my actual parents either! I'm going home." Marliss ran back to the house. "NICE TALKING WITH YA!" Landon yelled behind her.