Love & Carnage✗Noah Foster [2]

Chapter Twelve// Dirty

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"Bi-curious and the Virgin officially out of retirement"

--Noah Foster

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"Audrey, you touched it! It's evidence!" I yelled at her as she wiped the blood off of the corkscrew. "Arielle, I realize!" Audrey shushed me. She threw it into the hole we had just dug. I began to cover it up with dirt, using my hands. "Hurry!" Audrey yelled. "I'm trying!" I hissed. Once it was finally buried, I stood up and patted the soil. "Let's go." Audrey grabbed my arm, along with the shovel, that I should've used to bury it...

"What happens now?" I asked as we ran to her car. "We go home."

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When I woke up the next morning, I remembered something. My car! I left it at the motel. I groaned loudly. "Fuck!" My phone vibrated and I sat up to grab it from the nightstand. But when I did... I felt something. A bunch of somethings... I pulled the covers off of me to reveal all the dirt in my bed. And all over my legs. I instantly scrambled off of the bed and onto the floor. I answered the phone call. "Hello?"

"Guess who was in your house." The distorted voice said in a sing-song way. "No." I whimpered. "No--"

"Yes." With that, they hung up. I began to cry. Like... blubbering. I threw my phone to the side and stood up. I practically ripped my bedding off of the bed, the dirt going everywhere. But I didn't care. I'd fix it later. I bent down and grabbed my phone, dialing Audrey. "Hello."

"Audrey, I need you to drive me to my car." I said. "Sure... Arielle, did you find anything in y--"

"In my bed? Yeah. A whole bunch of dirt. Did you?" I sniffled, wiping my tears. "Yeah, the corkscrew." Audrey said. "Audrey, he was in our houses! You're not freaked?" I cried. "You need to keep it together, Arielle. Because, he's going to do a whole lot worse." I shook in fear at her words. "Okay?" Audrey asked. "O--okay." I stuttered. "I'll be there soon." Audrey assured me. I nodded even though she couldn't see me and hung up. I felt my mind go into overdrive as I rushed around my room, getting ready.

I heard a horn honk from outside. I rushed to the window to see Audrey. I ran out of the room, grabbing my backpack on the way.

"Where are you going?" I heard as I was walking down the stairs. I looked to see Katherine, leaning against the wall beside the door. "Uh... school?" I scoffed. "With Audrey? Didn't Mom give you your car keys back?" Katherine crossed her arms. "Yeah, I just don't feel like driving today." I lied, walking to the front door. Kat looked at me with suspicion. "Mhm."

"Yeah, I'll see you at school." I opened the door, and walked out.

When I finally got to school--after picking up my car--I spotted Alexis. She was by her locker, grabbing her books. I walked towards her. "Hey." I whispered to her. She turned around and looked frightened. "Oh, it's you."

"Listen, I'm really sorry about... you know, punching you." I told her. "Yeah, it's fine." She touched her eye, which I noticed was a little bruised. I felt bad all over again. "Wh--why'd you cover for me? I would of told on me." I laughed. "Yeah, well, I'm no snitch. The words you're looking for are 'thank you'." She scoffed. "Thank you." I said quickly. "Mhm. See you around." Alexis slammed her locker closed, and walked past me. I sighed in relief.

"Arielle." I turned around, only to be faced with Noah. "H--hi." I smiled at him. "We have to talk." Uh, oh. "What about?" I kept up my front, though I was screaming inside. "Where were you last night? You totally ditched us. Both, you and Audrey." Noah crossed his arms. "Noah, look, I'm really sorry. I promise tonight we'll hang out." I smiled at him. His face softened. "I thought maybe we could go out for lunch?" He asked. "Yeah, totally. I promise." I grinned. I got on my tippy-toes and kissed him. "I have to get to study hall." I whispered against his lips. "Same." He groaned. "I'll see you later." I promised, walking away from him. That went better than I thought it would. I started towards Study Hall, when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I unlocked it, to see I had a text message.

Unknown:

I like to play DIRTY. Can you tell?

My heart began to beat fast as I read and re-read the text over and over again. I looked up. Just in time, too. I saw Stavo leaning against a locker, that I wasn't sure was his. He had his tablet in his hands. He was staring at me. My heart sped up. If that were even possible. He's a nice kid, Arielle. He's not scary. I tried to tell myself. I slipped my phone back into my purse, and turned the other way. I could take the long way to class.

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I tried to keep my mind on my homework that was due today. But I couldn't. I looked to my left. Stavo sat in the back corner. At a table all by himself. He was already watching me. I turned back to my worksheet. "So all of you guys can come to Kieran's party tonight, right?" Emma spoke suddenly. "Right?" I looked up at her. "Oh, uh, yeah, sure." I smiled at her. "Guest list is devised. Texts sent." Brooke's phone chimed. She picked it up and looked at it. "Oh, look. Another RSVP." She whispered. "It's called Study Hall for a reason, ladies." The teacher scolded. I smiled nervously at him, before looking back to my friends. "What do you guys think of that Stavo dude? He seems kind of off." Audrey said suddenly. I looked at her and nodded. "That is putting it mildly. I think he's a total weirdo." Brooke said. "Plus, he has this kind of fanboy thing with the Lakewood Six." Brooke informed us. I listened closely, putting my pen down. "He's kind of obsessed with us, actually." Audrey got up suddenly. "Where are you going?" I asked. "Restroom. Be right back." She said, exiting out of the door. "I've got to hand it to you, Em. Having a party behind your mother's back?" Brooke chuckled, "who are you and what have you done with Emma Duval?"

"I don't know, I just felt like it was time for me to start being a normal teenager, I guess?" Emma said, though it sounded more like a question. Suddenly, the fire alarm began to blare and people began to get up. "Everyone, leave your belongings right where they are. Proceed out the door, quickly." The teacher barked. I rolled my eyes and stood from my chair. "Last one out, please turn off the light." The teacher called as he left the room. I huffed, reaching the light switch. Once I did, I heard something. Another door closing. I turned and saw Audrey walking in the service door. "Audrey!" I hissed. She jumped, turning around. "Shh! Close the door!" I complied, shutting the door, as I walked back into the classroom. Audrey rushed towards Stavo's table, grabbing his backpack. "Audrey, I don't think--"

"Come here!" She called over her shoulder. I couldn't resist. I rushed over to her. She pulled his tablet out, placing it on his backpack. She unlocked it easy. "No password? Smart." I rolled my eyes. It immediately opened to a picture. A drawing that I could easily see was Jake. She slid the screen, and the next picture was Audrey. In the picture, it was raining, and Audrey's eyes looked dark and cold. She slid it again, revealing Noah and his happy face. Again. It was Brooke, who looked bored. And the next one was Emma. Hers was disturbing. She was sitting down, but there was a knife. Yes, a knife in her head, with blood all over the drawing. She hesitantly slid to the next picture. It was me. Drawn perfectly.

Audrey turned her head to look at me. "That's not weird." I whispered, sarcastically.