GOOD GIRLS AND SERIAL KILLERS

TWELVE

Rui:

  57%.

   I stared at the paper in front of me with trembling hands. This was the lowest I had ever got. If Mom found out about this, she would kill me. Definitely kill me. The whole shooting thing had distracted me too much, and the fact Aaron and Olivia were being chased in a freaking parking lot four days ago was just, insane.

-"Hey, it's okay Rui." Layla ruffled my hair.

-"No it's not okay. You don't get it. It's my mom.." I started mumbling.

   Layla simply nodded, and turned her attention to her own things. At lunch time, we were all sitting down. I was barely even touching my food.

-"I received another message guys." Olivia said and showed as her screen.

   Kayan leaned closer and took a look.

-"Keep running you stupid kids. I'm not far." Jules read out. "Alright I'll get shotgun."

-"It's not funny." Aaron explained, "What if he had killed us or something?"

   Just then, a notification buzzed from my own phone. I looked at the others before reaching out and grabbing it.

-"Low grades Chen?"  I read as horror filled me whole. "Mathematically ridiculous."

-"Okay what the actual fuck?" Sofia said as she looked at my phone. "Guys seriously, you should tell someone. This isn't okay."

-"Really? Wow girl, thanks for telling us. No one understood before." Jules rolled her eyes.

-"Jules." Stella warned, "please calm down."

-"Yeah whatever. I have class. I'm out of here." She got up and shot a look at Sofia before leaving.

   At home, I showed the paper to my Mom with trembling hands still.

-"What is this?" She asked as she saw the paper.

-"Its my.."

-"Rui. What the hell is this?!"

-"Mom please, I'm so sorry but it's been a hell of a week!" I tried to defend myself.

-"Eloise." Dad spoke. "It's fine. All of them nearly died. We should focus on his mental state and not his progress at school right now."

   Mom took a deep breath and placed a hand on my cheek.

-"It's alright, Rui." She forced a smile. "I know you're going through that...Whole thing... But I don't want this happening again."

-"Yes. I promise." I said and looked at a smiling Maddy before going to my room.

   2 WEEKS LATER:

-"I'm sorry Mom!!" Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I tried explaining yet again.

-"Rui your grades have been dropping so badly over two weeks! 28%!?" She yelled.

-"MOM IM SORRY—!"

-"You know what—You're such a disappointment. I don't—"

   Dad looked at me as he tried to step in, but I opened the front door and stormed outside while yelling.

-"AND YOURE A BAD MOTHER!!"

   As soon as I got out, I took out my phone and looked at my face staring back at me. Tears, tears and more tears. I had received more messages.

Fighting with mommy Rui?
Poor poor Rui...
Low grade again?

  Someone was stalking us.There was no other explanation. I walked over to Olivia and Kayan's and knocked on the door.

-"Hey kiddo," Uncle Ravi opened the door, wearing his usual floral shirt.

-"Hey Uncle Ravi," I wiped my tears, "Can I?"

-"Yeah of course bud. The others are upstairs, Jules is here too." He stepped aside so I could get in.

   I muttered a thank you and walked up the stairs.

-"Hey guys." I said and flopped down next to Kayan.

-"Are you okay?" Olivia asked as she took in my expression.

-"No." I blurted out. "I'm terrible."

-"We all are." Jules said. "I mean this is crazy. Someone's literally sending Layla death threats and calling her a freak."

-"Guys, there's clearly someone stalking us." Olivia read my thoughts.

-"Didn't you say you took a picture of the person who chased you and Aaron?" Kayan asked his sister.

-"Shit yes. Maybe we can make out something." Olivia took out her phone and looked at the picture.

-"I don't see shit." Jules squinted her eyes. "Give me that." She grabbed the phone from Liv's hands. "Rui, do your thing."

   I scooted closer to her and looked closely at the picture. There was a strand of blonde hair that you could see with the flash.

-"Here. Whoever it is, they're blonde." I said and pointed at the hair.

-"Blonde and chasing us?" Jules said. "I'm offended."

-"Max." Olivia said. "Who else could it be?"

-"No one else." Kayan added. "Send it to Sherlock Gang."

   Olivia sent the picture at the group chat. And soon enough, we found ourselves in the warehouse again.

-"Yeah it's definitely Max." Nic said and rubbed his chin. "I mean who else would chase Olivia around?"

   Jules was busy eyeing Sofia the whole time. She didn't like the idea of her being here.

  Layla was extremely quiet this whole time.
Those death threats had really affected her.

-"Hold up zoom in." Louis said.

-"Why?" Kayan asked.

-"Just do it Kayan, Jesus." Louis said.

-"Okay okay—" Kayan zoomed in the picture.

-"I've seen those shoes before. My dad used to have one pair just like them."

-"Dad isn't blonde." Sofia said.

-"Oh I'm sorry." Louis mocked her, "I'm not saying it's Dad, sister dearest. I'm saying, that these shoes, are hella old. They don't sell these anymore."

-"Maybe if you check Max's instagram account? See if he has any pictures that prove it's him?" Stella said.

-"Yeah. Yeah let's do that." Olivia took out her phone and typed in Max's account.

   We all held our breaths as she scrolled down, examining each pictures.

-"Hold up babe," Aaron stopped her, "This right here."

-"Shit—Aaron the picture,give me the picture!"

   Aaron moved quickly, nearly tripping in the process as he gave her his phone and showed the picture.

-"Guys." Olivia said and looked at us.

-"It's Max Hastings." Aaron finished her sentence.