Murder in Winter

Snow

Beep! Beep! Beep!
My alarm went off, usual time, but I was already awake. My room seemed...lighter. Brighter. Very reluctantly, I groaned and slipped out from under the covers of my cosy bed, yawning. I looked into the mirror; a girl with messy hair and yesterday's make-up blotted across her face stared back. Then I rubbed my eye as I half sleep-walked over to the curtains, which I drew open.
Looking out, everything was white. Snow dusted the tree-tops and floor. Snow! I thought. Maybe it'll be a snow day! I rushed to get dressed, feeling energetic despite how I felt a few moments before. Running down the stairs, two at a time, I called to my mum "is school still on?" Then nearly slapped into her as I turned into the door.
"Sorry, sweetie, but I haven't had any messages saying that school's cancelled. You're going to have to go in-the buses are still running." I sighed and simply nodded before having my breakfast in silence.
I stepped out onto the icy doormat; the ice cracking under my weight. The thick fog swallowing me like a snake does an egg. The wind whispered about me as it pushed against me. As I turned the cold metal handle and closed the door, I heard a voice.
"Come on Christmas, we'll miss the bus!" It was Summer. I looked up. Her shimmering hair looked even more dazzling against the background of snow.
"Coming!" I called.
Walking down the hill, the fog creating a bubble around us that moved forward every step, we spoke about this week. It was going to be interesting second week of winter term, with heavy snow forecast for everyday.
"Plus, that transfer student is scheduled to come this week," Summer reminded me. I shivered-not because of the cold-but because memories of the last transfer student.
"Oh yeah!" I exclaimed. "I'd forgotten. Hopefully things will go better this time. What do you think they'll look like?"
"Blue eyes? Maybe blonde hair? How am I supposed to know?" she laughed.
After a while, we reached the bottom of the hill and due to the fog, we could hardly see two feet in front of our faces, let alone the bus stop. My knees stopped bouncing with every step. Two minutes later we were on the bus and after that we were walking down the long and winding path. We padded past the houses, our footsteps being softened by the white powder. Eventually the school emerged from the trees, icicles hanging from the rooftops. Then we trod on what is usually the path and made our way to form.
We turned into the doorway and instantly I realised today was the day. The new girl had arrived. She was sat in Brooklyn's old seat at the front at the edge of the row. Another similarity between the two transfer students...perfect, I thought, putting on a smile and heading over.
"Hiya!" I greeted cheerily, holding out my hand. "I'm Christmas."
"Hi, I'm Lia," she said, shyly as she took my hand. She looked so cute with her long black-slightly wavy-hair, small lips and her large, thick-rimmed glasses. Plus the dark navy school blazer really complimented her dark chestnut eyes. "I'm the new transfer student."
"Of course! I'm sure you'll love this school," I beamed, before undoing the buttons of my sky blue coat and taking the seat next to her. "By the way, this is Summer, one of my best friends," I added, gesturing towards the figure sat on my right. They shook hands and we began chatting. Turned out she was going to be in the same classes as me, so I could show her round.
"What's it like here in Winter?" she asked. "Is there good heating?"
"Depends," Summer replied. "Some rooms, like the science labs, are warm but others are freezing."
"Okay. Does anything interesting happen round here? Or is it plain boring?"
I glanced at Summer before answering,questioning whether I should tell her; she shrugged. "Interesting. Sometimes." I didn't make eye contact.
"Like what?"
I sighed. "Death."
"No," she gasped, hand covering her mouth in shock. "What happened?" I bet she won't believe the truth.
"Murder. There was four murders last year."
I was expecting her to laugh and call me a liar-after all, I can hardly believe it myself-but she didn't do anything of the sort. Instead she said "oh of course. I read about that in the newspaper." Pause. "Wait-weren't you guys the students that solved the crimes?"
"Yeah," I smiled weakly. Too many reminders!
"What was it like? Sorry for all these questions but I love murder mysteries. And crime."
"Well, the first two were bad enough, and they were people I couldn't stand. But when the victims were my friends, I-I just couldn't stand it. I don't know if you heard, but Brooklyn was a transfer student. On day one she was bullied. In only six days she was dead."
"And it was the bullies that killed her, right?" she asked.
"Kind of. They bullied this other girl into committing the crime."
Silence.
"I'm sorry," Lia began. "I must be a reminder, huh?" I glanced at her, then nodded lightly. "Well don't worry about me. I don't take no nonsense from anyone," she said, putting on a tough-girl voice and clicking her fingers from side to side.
Then madam Pují came in and asked for silence as she did the register. After that she introduced Lia to the rest of the class, who said hello. Then we had a five minute wait until the bell, and once again we started chatting.
"What lesson's first?" Lia asked.
"P.E," Summer replied. "Do you have a kit?" Lia shook her head.
"I have a spare skort and socks," I offered.
"You can use my games shirt if you'd like," Summer added.
"Yeah okay thanks."
"You'll have to find trainers, but you can borrow them from the P.E department anyway." And then the bell rang.