Finley Winter's Killer

3 - Wanted

Harper:

I lost my mother a month ago. And here I am, surrounded by people who call themselves my friends. None of these friends have once asked how I'm doing. None of them have hugged me, none of them have make me feel better.

It's not like they know I'm sad, though. Ever since my dad left. I try to keep the feelings all inside. I have a reputation, I don't want to be an emotional mess. These people wouldn't care anyways. These people I surround myself with are the populars. These people only care about who's most recently been down on their knees blowing head or who's bringing alcohol or weed to the next party.

It smells too strongly of cheap cologne and rancid lunch, and I want some time to myself. I wander down to the usually empty hallways where my locker is. A small figure with its head down turns my way. It's Finley. She looks awful. She has no makeup and her face looks tired. She usually has the cutest (and most revealing) clothes, but she wears baggy sweatpants and a sweatshirt.

"Finley, why are you here? Grayson said you were sick," I asked her gently. Grayson told me other things, like how she exploded on him last night, but she looked so sad and I didn't have the heart to bring it up.

"I wanted to give you this," she pulls an envelope out of her pocket. On it are the words "Open on May 18," a day 6 months from today, and Finley's birthday. "It's my birthday. Whether you give me something or not, I want to give this to you....Don't open it!" She starts to yell. "Please, just don't open it until then, please," she pleads. Her eyes look so sad and I feel terrible for whatever mental breakdown she's going through.

We hear footsteps. A tall guy with dark hair approaches. Grayson.

"Grayson...look, i'm sorry about last night," Finley says, staring at the ground. She takes out another envelope and repeats the same procedure to him. Grayson sympathetically bugs her and picked her on the cheek. She walks away quickly.

I turn to Grayson and sigh. "What was that all about?" I ask, trying to sound like i didn't feel bad for her.

"I have no idea..." he smirks a little at me. I laugh softly, trying to contain the butterflies in my stomach. "Something's up with her...I don't know what to do about it," his smirk turns sad. "You gonna open it?"

"Honestly I feel really bad for her...I think I'll wait," I remember how sad she looked, how tired her face was. I burst into tears. I don't exactly know why. I couldn't contain it anymore and I felt safe right now with Grayson. He puts his arm around me.

"Hey..it's okay." He whispers. Tears form in his eyes. "Look, my brother and I are having a party tonight. You've probably heard. It'll be fun...something to take our minds off this. Wanna come?"

I look at him and just nod my head.

***

Trashy rap music bursts in my ears and sluts sing and shake their asses along with it. I roll my eyes. Grayson offers me another beer. I promised myself I'd only have one, but he was on his third and he seemed fine. Another wouldn't hurt.

"Hey," he yells and slurs over the noise, "If these hoes are bothering you, you wanna come upstairs with me?" Before I can answer, he grabs my arm and takes me to his room. His window is open and he has an amazing view of the city.

I turn to him as he sips another beer, his fourth. He pulls me close. I know this is wrong. I know what's about to happen. I didn't want to hurt Fin like this but for the first time ever I felt things that were too good to contain. I felt wanted. My head felt dizzy, I was getting drunk. Without speaking I leaned my head into his. I looked at his dark blue eyes and felt he was staring deep into my soul.

Our lips touched. It was soft at first. But we couldn't keep them from each other. I kissed him more and more and we stumbled onto the bed.

"I've always wanted you," he whispered, alcohol spraying from his breath. He took off his shirt. I took off mine. Guilt rose in me but I tried to ignore it. His hands reached down to you-know-where and touched the zipper of my skirt when his phone buzzed and his pocket and startled us both.

He looked at it and his eyes went wide.

"It's Finley..."