Murder?

Chapter One

Chapter One

                Cassidy Reynolds took a deep breath, brushed her bangs out of her eyes, and placed her hand on the door handle.

   “Cassidy, you have to get out.  I have to go to work,” Mrs. Reynolds said, her voice displaying her irritation.

                  “Ok, ok,” Cassidy said.  She took another deep breath and opened the door, letting the warm air soothe her.  “Bye,” Cassidy said climbing out and turning to shut the door.  “I’ll call you when school gets out.”  Mrs. Reynolds nodded and drove away quickly after Cassidy shut the door before her daughter could freak out and jump back in the car.

                 Cassidy pushed her bag higher on her shoulder before starting up the steps of her new private school, Teresa Damask prep.  Or Dam prep, as she and her older brother Cale referred to it.  Dam prep was a snooty, fancy school near the beach.

As soon as Cassidy walked up the steps she marvelled at the manicured lawns spread around her, free of snow.  Because of her dad’s promotion, they had moved from snowy Jasper to sunny California.  Santa Monica actually.

  Cassidy felt out of place among the green grass and bright flowers.  She thought of Jasper, where she would have been bundled up in a huge winter coat with fake fur on the hood and her Uggs.  She would have her red Olympic mittens on her practically numb fingers and a cute fuzzy hat pulled snug over her ears. 

She didn’t see anyone on the lawn either and she checked the time on her phone.  8:27, a.m. right on time.

  Feeling awkward, Cassidy moved faster to the doors.  She pushed the door open and was shocked.  The halls were painted bright, cheerful yellow, with dove grey lockers, creating a soothing atmosphere.  Posters reminding people to buy tickets for the homecoming dance next Friday were taped all over the wall.  Posters telling people to vote for Serena for homecoming Queen were taped beside them, looking like a unicorn had thrown up glitter all over them.  Cassidy gawked at them amazed by all the sparkles.

  As Cassidy made her way towards the office, signs plastered on the walls pointed her in the right direction.  She turned a corner and realised that all the students were missing.  Cassidy moved faster, wishing Cale were with her.  They were eleven months apart, so they were in the same grade and classes.

                 Cassidy reached the office and saw two crying girls sitting in chairs.  Her mind breathed a sigh of relief as she realized that the students hadn’t all been abducted.  She looked around nervously before speaking to the secretary who handed her a schedule and told her to go straight to her homeroom because there was a special assembly this morning.

  Cassidy thanked her and moved on.  Again, she was thankful for the unicorn barfed on signs in the hallways pointing her to wherever she needed to be.  Inside her homeroom most of the girls were crying and the guys were staring in horror at the crying girls.  Cassidy could see a group of girls at the front with major raccoon eyes, clutching wadded up snotty tissues.  She suppressed a shudder.

  “Excuse, me, I’m Cassidy Reynolds, I’m new,” Cassidy said.  Cassidy went up to the teacher who was also crying.

  “Hello,” The teacher said wiping her eyes with a Kleenex.  “I’m sorry, Miss Reynolds, that you had to come today.  Please have a seat and I’ll tell you what happened.”

  Cassidy walked to the back and claimed a seat near a group of guys who weren’t crying.  They all checked her out and one smiled.  Cassidy ignored them.  Having her heart re-broken wasn’t high on her to-do list.

  “Class please welcome Cassidy Reynolds, our new student.  Cassidy wave and tell us a bit about yourself,” the teacher said.

  Cassidy waved awkwardly.  “Um…I’m Cassidy, I’m from Jasper.  My older brother Cale is also in this class but he got sick so I’m alone.  Oh, I’m also a cheerleader, so if anyone’s on a squad can you tell me?” Cassidy asked, flashing her cheerleading grin.

  “Again, welcome, Cassidy.  And I hate to ruin your first day with our tragic news.  As you are all aware, Alexandria Mitchell was found dead this morning.”

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  Sorry it's short.  I ended it where I did because I felt like leaving it there.  I'm a bad person I know.  But the next update should be here tomorrow.  I'm trying to come up with a cast list.  If you have any ideas, leave a comment.

  Thanx.