TEENAGE TRAUMA

Chapter 25-A reward.

For about a week, I didn't go to school. And I'm quite sure neither did Kevin.  Days passed and finally, with several exams coming up we had to return to school. Fortunately we were both of the mental capacity to attend school again.

We both got to school earlier than usual, hoping to have a calm, peaceful day but sadly, we walked into class just to see Amber throwing a fit. We got to find out that it was Janet's first day back to school in a while  as well. Apparently, she also hadn't been in school for the past week, since Tricia's demise.

"I don't get it. Is there something you both know and are keeping from me? Because I appear to be the only one who's really frustrated by this episode of your, Janet" Amber ranted.

Kevin and I decided to ignore them, as it wasn't any of our business anyway. But it was nearly impossible, no matter how hard I tried to block it out, Amber's distinct words still found their way into my ears. I still dismissed them, not until one very word caught my attention. It was a name, Tricia's name. But unfortunately I didn't quite hear what exactly they said about her.
But whatever it was, it made Amber even angrier.

"You can't be serious! Okay I get that they were friends but don't say it like that. It makes it sound like they were actually dating each other" Amber said with a chuckle.
Now, I was eavesdropping. A part of me didn't want to, but I part of me did anyway.

"I know what I said and it was no mistake. Her girlfriend literally passed away recently, how do you expect her to feel?" Emily for the first time, talked back to Amber and asked irately.
Amber went quiet for a moment. I don't blame her. I did too. I mean, I know I was quiet anyway but you get what I mean. A smile crept unto my face. Someone finally got Amber to shut up AND they were probably about to argue.

"Janet, you're not even denying it..eew", she commented in disgust.
"There's nothing to deny. I was getting sick and tired of running in circles, trying to hide it from you anyways. I don't need your criticism right now, okay? Just leave me alone if you know you won't at least try to help me get through this tough time" Janet finally spoke.
"Oh, I was just leaving anyway, I don't want anyone thinking that just like the both of you, I lost my sanity"
  With that, Amber walked out of the classroom. And for the first time, Emily didn't follow sheepishly behind her.
I turned to Kevin, still with that smile on my face, "So they finally got together"
"Yeah apparently so..and honestly, I expected a more dramatic reaction from Amber when she found out about it", Kevin answered.
"I don't think she's even done reacting".

The school day went by quite quickly, and Amber didn't speak to Emily and Janet for the rest of the day. That was when I realised Amber had way more other friends than I thought. One would expect that without her usual friend group, she'd be more quiet in class but it was quite the opposite instead. She was friends with everybody.

The next morning, I was having breakfast, preparing for school when a loud shriek from my mum's room sent me racing in. I ran in to meet her staring at the newspaper bundle in her hands, looking completely shocked. "Why'd you scream?" I said panting in relief. She don't say anything. She just handed me the paper in her hand, pointing at the headline.
I took it and on sighting what it said, my jaw dropped. I froze as well, not knowing how to react.

"Well, go and show it to Chloe!!" My mum ordered, calling me back to reality.
"Right" I answered as I bolted out of the house.

.............

I had gotten to school really early on this day, eager to inform all my friends of this news. As I enthusiastically stepped into my classroom, I was taken aback by an unexpected, tranquil embrace. It was Kevin and he looked the happiest he had ever been. Apparently, I wasn't the first to find out about this story on the news papers.
"Deborah, you will never believe what I just found out this morning!" Kevin excitedly said, pulling away. He led me to my seat and asked me to sit then continued, "You need to sit down for this. It's really big news!" 
He leaned in and whispered in my ear.

I already knew about what he just told me. I found out this morning as well. But how could I tell him that. Looking at him break the news to me as he shook about with excitement, it felt like a reward. How could I rob him of the joy he was filled with at the moment? 
"Wow! You're joking! How did you know?" I asked.
Challenging the actress I never knew was in me. "It was in the news this morning. And I saw it on social media as well..but there was also photo evidence so I know it's not fake.

Soon enough, the bell rang it school began. Though I didn't know what motivated me, I just wanted to find out how it happened. I couldn't stop thinking about what we found out earlier-How exactly did Aunty die? According to the newspaper I still had hidden in my bag, she was murdered the previous night, her corpse was just found in the front of the Paragon's high school building very early that morning, even before sun rise. From the pictures we could obviously see that she was shot, with multiple bullets in fact but what I couldn't understand was 'who did this'. It was just frustrating that no one was able to provide answers to the questions like-who did it? And how did they manage to do it?

Just then, during the break time at school, Amber approached me and Kevin while we were on our seats. "Did you guys hear? Aunty was found dead this morning". She began as she grabbed a nearby seat and sat in front of us, with a proud smile on her face. "Yes, we definitely heard. But what we don't know is how it happened though. It's good to finally have her out of our hair but it'll also be good to know who did it at least". Kevin answered. "Oh no I don't think you guys should worry about that. I'm sure whoever did it was just tired of Aunty as much as you were. Don't go digging into that", she immediately stated, cancelling out the idea.
But I knew. She did it. I looked at Kevin and he smiled back. He knew, and he knew that I knew. Amber was responsible.

"So why did you even do it?" He asked her.

"Do what?"

"Because of Janet?"
"Of course not", she replied with a scoff. "Remember what that witch did to me the first day she was here? Yeah. That's the only reason I did it. Because of revenge".

"You're lying" Kevin commented.
"Okay, and maybe also because she murdered one of my classmates. It was the only thing I felt like I could do. Tricia was apparently going through a lot and I didn't make it any easier for her. I just felt like I owe her, you know?"

"Now I just wonder. HOW did you manage to do it. There was like at least six bullets in that woman!" I asked.

"It's seven. And that's because we all know how much of a beast she was. Obviously just one to the head couldn't put her down for good, so the rest were just for making sure", she answered with a smile.
"Okay this girl is insane! She's fourteen years old, just like me! How the hell did she manage to do this? Wow, I guess there's no limit to what money could get you", I couldn't help but think to myself.

"We really appreciate this, Amber. Thank you" I replied.
"Thank my dad. But don't actually walk up to him and thank him, you know better". Amber answered.

"Okay but still, on a serious note" Kevin added.

"Don't mention it. Really. Speak a word of this to anybody and you're next" she said to us, with a straight face, followed by a long pause.
"Relax I'm just joking" Amber added with a yawn before walking away.