Young Perfection: The Death of a Teenage Drama Queen

Chapter IV: The Return

10:40 am: October 2nd, 2015, Newcreek, Ontario: Laurel West

My hands did the math work without my brain having to think about it. I was really good in school, but that didn't really matter to me. It actually kind of bored me, if I'm being honest. Once I was done with the work, I twirled my chestnut hair around my fingers. It was so long, my dad said I should cut it, but I liked it that way. It was like having a permanent blanket. The bell rang, dismissing me from class. I sighed, putting my books away slowly, taking my time. I left the classroom, immediately running into a crowd of flannel covered teenagers. I saw Adam, across the hall, an impatient look on his porcelain face. When he saw me, his blue eyes lit up like a flashlight. I walked over to him, and we walked down the hall together.

"How's Claire?" Adam asked. Claire had been through a rough time this past month. She had to move her locker out of the Pop Hall and down to the Heroin Hall because of Sabrina Willows constantly taunting her. Which didn't help much, because now Amber, who used to be Claire's friend, was completely ignoring her. Amber was hanging out with the wrong crowd. People thought I hung out with the bad kids, Amber was hanging out with the type of people that would get you killed. Seth Roger's older brother Brock was even worse than him. He was 21 and bad news. He dropped out of highschool after failing the eleventh grade, and resorted to dealing hard drugs to highschool kids to make cash. He lived in his parent's basement, where he did god knows what. Amber was all buddy buddy with him now, Seth said that she had come over to his place to see Brock on more than one occasion, which usually meant she was doing some sort of hardcore drug.

"Claire's about five seconds away from having a nervous breakdown." I admitted. She hadn't shown up to school a few times in the past week, and when she did, it was in sweatpants, with her hair in a ponytail. She was at school today, but Adam wouldn't have talked to her. He was in the elite of the school, alongside Ruby, Tyler, Lucy, and her boyfriend John. They were the preppiest kids, and many thought of them as the popular ones, in a good way.

"Hey, Adaaaaaam!" a voice chirped from down the hall, in front of the cafeteria doors. It was Lucy, Adam's twin sister, and her boyfriend John was draped around her like a blanket. We walked over to them, and I found myself slightly uncomfortable with how couple-y Lucy and John were.
"Did you hear the news?" Lucy asked.

"What news?" Adam responded, confusion showing on his face.

"Ruby got out of the hospital last week. She's coming back to school this afternoon!" She cried with joy evident in her crystalline eyes.

11:16 am: October 2nd, 2015, Newcreek, Ontario: Sarah Hills

We were at our signature hang out spot, the picnic table, when we heard the argument. Audrey subtly stared as Amber Cassidy cornered her twin outside the doors to the school. Amber towered over Ruby it seemed, even though they were the same height. What exactly they were saying wasn't evident, but it was obviously an argument. Sam was burning bright red with rage. Audrey touched her arm gently, and Sam turned on her.
"Are we really just gonna sit here and let Amber abuse her like that!?" She hissed.
"It's none of our business." Audrey said, blank faced. Sam looked at her with disappointment, and Audrey looked away, staring at her food as if she was analyzing it. Suddenly, the front doors to the school opened, and out walked Claire Deluna, Alex Lareau, and Alison Learings. Claire noticed the situation immediately. Amber, who probably hadn't noticed them come outside, began to push Ruby against the wall of the school.
"What are you doing!?" Claire asked Amber, horror in her voice as she saw what was happening. Alex and Alison looked over as Amber turned, a fire in her eyes.
"None of your business. You hurt her more than I ever have!" She snapped, looking like the demon to Ruby's angel. Their faces were the same, but Ruby looked innocent and sweet, whereas Amber looked like a predator with her red lips and cat eyeliner. Claire walked over with Alex, determination in their walks. Alison looked confused, and held back by the door, fidgeting with her hands.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Claire hissed as she tried to pull Ruby away from Amber. Amber reacted quickly, pushing Claire away with force. Claire tripped backwards and fell onto the pavement. For a second, it seemed like nothing else would happen. But then with a guttural cry of "Oh HELL no, bitch!", Alex threw a punch, landing it straight across Amber's jawline. Sam stood up then, yelling at them to stop, but they couldn't hear her as they tackled each other. Claire stood up and helped Ruby out of the way. Tears were streaming down the redhead's face now. Sam ran over, ignoring Audrey's plea for her to sit down, and tried to split up the fight, but Amber elbowed her in the face, sending her back onto the ground. I sat in horror as the scene unfolded in front of me. It seemed like Amber was winning the fight as she kept wildly beating Alex back, but with a scream, Alex leaped onto Amber and pushed her back onto the ground, stradling her and landing punch after punch after punch on her pretty pale face. Sam and Claire pulled her back as Amber groaned on the ground. I looked over to Audrey to find that she wasn't there anymore. Looking back to the other group, she was helping Amber up off the ground. What is she doing? I thought. Amber pushed her off quickly.
"I don't need your help." She growled, and with a last glare at Ruby, she limped away, getting into a car that seemed to be waiting for her on the curb. More questions swirled in my mind. Whose car was it? Why had Audrey helped Amber? And why had Amber been abusing Ruby in the first place!? It would be revealed eventually that all was not as it seemed when it came to the twins.

Nothing was what it seemed when it came to anyone.

11:00 pm: December 15th, Whitecreek, Ontario: Unknown

I dragged the body outside, her red hair dragging against the ground, staining her beauty with dirt and mud. I grunted as I dragged her further from the cabin, out into the woods. I wasn't going to make it far like this. I was too weak to lift the body, and my arms were starting to itch. My brain couldn't function, everything was starting to swirl. How was I going to hide this? I needed help, and in more than one way. I pulled out my phone, hands shaking. Dialing the number, I shakily put the phone to my ear. Three tones later, and the bad boy decided to pick up. I gasped for breath, trying to make words come out of my mouth.

"Seth, I need your help."