rosaleen channing ↠ applyfic [ongoing]

↠three

three updates in three days!! expect this number to drop dramatically from here, like with every book

also, kinda short chapter sorry :// the action kicks up next chapter though, i promise!!!

-𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓽𝔂

✘ - ✘ - ✘

Convincing everyone to help them was a lot easier than Lucia expected it to be. There was a small hassle with Wyatte, who kept insisting he didn't want anything to do with it, that he "just wanted to walk home without getting completely soaked". But they'd successfully gotten everyone on board by the end of the day.

However, that was exactly when their plan began to crumble. Lucia and Aisha had already had a conversation about keeping their suspect list private, and the group had all agreed to meet in the library after school, just the six of them.

As a matter of fact, that was exactly where she was headed when someone cornered her. She had just forced all of her stuff into her backpack and was climbing to her feet. She turned on her heel, just about smacking directly into someone.

He was shorter than she was, and younger too. He had light brown hair and pale blue eyes. He was familiar; she'd seen him in the hallways a couple times. But that didn't mean that she knew him.

Lucia tried to step around him, but he moved into her way.

"What?" she snapped, a bit more harshly than she meant to.

"I heard you talking earlier today..."

"About what?" Lucia wasn't stupid. She wasn't going to admit it; he'd have to say it first.

"About your plans. Your suspect list?"

"So?"

"I want in."

"Why? You didn't know her."

"And you hated her."

"Why should I let you help us? What can you bring to the table?"

The boy paused, a dark grin appearing on his face.

"I don't think anyone would be so willing to help if they knew why you really asked them."

"You wouldn't," Lucia's voice was calm. She was not about to let her plans fall apart by looking desperate. She couldn't have him telling anyone anything, but if he knew how badly--

"You're right," the boy said, "I wouldn't. But I know more than you think."

"Say, sophomore, what's your name?"

"Arthur," he responded, "Arthur Finley."

"Oh, of course. You're the president of the Chess Club."

"Yep," he said, dropping his serious tone for a moment. Lucia did not.

"I imagine you already know who I am."

Arthur merely nodding, rustling his honey brown hair.

"Well, Finley," Lucia held out her hand, "Welcome to the team. Let's get over to the library."