Murder in Winter

So close yet so far

As soon as we left the library, I whipped my phone out and noticed that Summer had sent me a desperate message in all caps: LIA'S COMING!!! I shrugged-it didn't matter any more, and besides, Lia's most likely innocent.
Ignoring it, I tapped onto the group chat. It was ten-past eleven; there were still fifteen minutes of break left. Plenty of time left, I thought to myself as I began typing. 
Guys, Miss Lauren told us that Michael bought a compass Monday lunch and Jay bought two on Tuesday morning.
"Hiya Christmas!" a voice echoed around the small corridor. I looked up from my phone, which I could feel vibrating in my hand, to see Lia, walking in the direction of the Library with a few books in her delicate, pale hands-they're cold of course. "Hi Danny."
"Hiya, what're you doing over here?" I asked, holding my phone down, out of the way.
"I need to make a trip to the library," she explained, nodding her head towards the books she was carrying. "We have maths next, so I thought I may as well come now. I asked if Summer wanted to come, but she refused to step away from the radiator."
"Oh!" I laughed with the others. "Well, she does prefer hot weather, hence Summer is her favourite time of year!"
"Yeah, well see you later!"
"See you!" we chorused, watching as she disappeared through the library door, which swung closed behind her.
I returned to my phone, with Danny peering over my shoulder, where Summer had replied: cool so unlikely to be Lia or Azzy.
Not necessarily Hartness disagreed. It could be that they got a compass somewhere else.
Or someone else got them one Alex suggested Jay got two right? So like, if it really was him and Azzy...
Omg you're right! April agreed.
No! Jay would never! May argued.
You never know. Melody reasoned. We didn't expect Crystalline to be the murderer on D of E
*Crystal
Okay well they all have an opportunity, and even a chance of getting a new compass. They may've always had a spare, for all we know. Hartness concluded. So we should focus on their motives.
This rules Lia out I texted, if you think about what I explained the other day.
Plus she seemed eager to help May added.
A blind? Alex suggested.
Ok, well don't cross her off yet in case. Hartness told us all, firmly. Next.
Jay's innocent!! May said. He's so sweet and kind!!
You can't keep listening to your heart if it IS him! You hardly know him! April half-yelled at her. I didn't blame her, but it is May.
"Yeesh, harsh," Danny flinched from beside me. "Remind me not to get on April's bad side!"
I smirked, and began typing Danny says 'yeesh, harsh. Remind me never to get on April's bad side'.
"No, no, no!" he started as I pressed 'send'. "Christmas!" he cried before slapping me in the arm and I returned the action.
-___-
...thanks Danny April replied.
Sidetracked! Hartness interrupted.
Well, Jay and Azzy found Ivy 'creepy' and since they're best friends may quite possibly have done it together.
I guess if that was true a) it would probably have been Azzy who actually killed her as the point of Jay getting the new compass would be to lessen the suspicion of her. And b) I could understand BOTH of them overpowering Ivy. May thought over text.
Yeah, I suppose. Ivy's definitely stronger than Azzy and Jay.
Yes but MOTIVES people MOTIVES!! Hartness yelled over text, if that's even possible. What are their motives?
Well Azzy liked Danny. Ivy beat her to him, so to speak. Alex replied. And as we've already stated, Azzy and Jay are best friends.
Weak as a motive though. But I suppose we can't see how they're thinking. Hartness gave in. As important as motives were, so far they had hardly helped.
What about Michael? Hasn't he always hated Ivy? April asked.
But not to the point of wanting to kill her, just wind her up Summer pointed out.
Then again, no one obviously hates anyone to the point of death Alex reasoned.
True, I guess. Every time someone says they hate someone, they don't mean it. But then again, we never know.
Let's face it. All our motives are bad. We're clearly missing something.
Yeah but what? Melody messaged.
I don't know!
Why don't we talk through how they actually committed the murder? Alex suggested. Quick, we have seven minutes.
Okay, I think we're all assuming it happened during first period. Hartness texted. After all, otherwise, where was she afterwards?
Agreed.
So, during your PE lesson, the murderer found an opportunity to stab Ivy and hide her corpse under the bushes without being seen. HOW?
We hardly know anything, I sighed.
The murder must've taken place by the bushes. There was no trail of blood or dip in the snow, and there's no way Ivy was dragged over a long area without being seen. Alex decided, which was fair enough, but didn't really help much.
What I want to know is how did they sneak up on Ivy? Melody stated, bringing up yet another point that needed solving. Why would Ivy be standing by the bushes in the first place? How would the murderer be able to get close enough to her without her knowing?
I don't know. And I'm not sure we're going to find out any time soon, I hate to say.
"I need to go, Christmas," Danny suddenly spoke up. "I have to get to English."
"Ok, see you," and with that he left. I began to walk upstairs to Maths when Lia returned from the library. I had to put my phone away, in fear that she'd see the conversation.
"Hello again!"
"Hey," I gulped. "Looking forward to maths?"
"I absolutely despise maths."
"Really? Why?"
"It's a long story. You wouldn't understand," her spat, hunching over and quickening her step, leaving me alone on the stairwell.
"Oh," I replied. "Okay."