Who Murdered Joe?

Running.  As fast as I could. I had to get away. Things weren’t good at home. Six months ago my mum and my dad had split up; I was left torn up inside. I had a really good relationship with my dad but that had all changed now. My mum had remarried and I hated the guy. Even his name left a bad taste in my mouth, Joe. My mum and him were smitten. Ugghh. That was when I had had enough. I packed my bag and left, hopefully to never return again. Before I left I saw a cheque for £2000 on the table. It wasn’t signed to anyone yet.

 I’m going to need money I thought because for sure I’m never coming back here, at least while he is still around. I took it. This brings me up to date. Running.

I grabbed my mobile out of my bag. Without thinking I dialled two on my speed dial which instantly connected to my best friend, Megan.

“Meg!” I said frantically, “I need to get away, help me.” I was in tears.

“Calm down, calm down, what’s wrong?” questioned Meg.

“I’ve left home. Joe, I can’t stay there, not with him” I sobbed.

“Meet me in the den in ten minutes” I said. I hung up. The den was a place me and Meg used to play in when we were little but now it was just a place where we met up or where we went if we needed some space. It was in the corner of the park surrounded by trees and plants. When I got there the den was bathed in the soft moonlight.

“I’m here” Meg said.

 “Meg!” I threw myself into her arms.

“What am I going to do?” I cried.

“We’ll go and stay in a hotel somewhere across town, I’ll tell my mum that you’re having a bit of trouble and that I’m going to stay with you for a while.”

“It’s a good thing you’re calm Meg, because I’m certainly not “I laughed what I was sure was nervous laughter.

 I loved Meg. She had been my best friend since we were 5. We knew everything about each other. She was really pretty. She had long brown wispy hair that fit her face perfectly. She had long eyelashes and her eyes were crystal blue. This was in comparison to me. I suppose I am quite pretty in a not so obvious way. I too have long brown hair but it doesn’t fit my face like Meg’s does, it always seems out of place and also unlike Meg I have chocolate brown eyes. One thing we do share however is our personality, we are both quite quiet but strong as rock inside.

Me and Meg went to stay in Harley’s hotel across the other side of town.

“Name miss” said the receptionist. I wanted to lie. The voice in my head, my subconscious was saying lie, lie LIE!

My mum could track me if they had my name but still I was truthful.

“Isabella Ampleforth” I stated. I had kept my dad’s name; I wasn’t going to take Joe’s even if my mum had.

“Sign here please” said the receptionist. I felt like I was signing away my life or….. my soul. We ran upstairs to our room, 207. I put my bag on the bed and started to unpack.

Two months passed. I hadn’t been home since I ran away. Meg had gone to town with some other mates. She had invited me along but I said no. I went downstairs when the receptionist, Sarah, called for me.  I had gotten to know Sarah over the months. She was now a good friend.

“Phone for you” she said “some guy named Joe”

“Oh no, I’m not speaking to him”. I stepped back.

“It sounds urgent” Sarah said. I took the phone from her hand, wary, scared. I put the phone to my ear.

“Iz, come back home, your mum has gone into hospital; I don’t care how you feel about me, or where you are now, just come home”. He sounded terrified. He really loved her. It was at that moment that I felt a pang of sympathy for Joe.