Killer Star

The Storm

Wind howled, bashing the rain against the house. It was late noon and the sky was pitch black.
I could barely see the outline of the animals that were all tucked safely away. Justin and I ensured that they were each okay, the horses however gave us a lot of trouble.

They sensed the weather before we did and now I sat, drenched, on the couch. The fire was beginning to warm me, but I could feel the cold rattling my bones. Justin had ran into the bath first, leaving me here, freezing.
After a while, he eventually appeared, wearing sweat pants and a T-shirt. His hair still slightly wet.
I ran into the bathroom.
The hot water burned my skin in a soothing way, I allowed it to seep deep into my hair, my bones and my body.
After an hour, I was dry and in warm PJ's, which included my very own sweat pants and a huge T-shirt.
Justin knocked on my door, a smirk on his face and his hands behind his back.
"What?" I snapped.
At which point he brought the bottle on wine to my eye level.
"Yum," I licked my lips and grabbed the blanket from my bed.
"Who says I'm sharing?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Justin!" I moaned. He chuckled.
I carried my blanket to the coach by the fireplace, nestling myself deeper into it's warmth.
Justin brought two glasses and the bottle.
He poured his, then mine, and I sat their caressing the red liquid.

After an hour my thoughts were fuzzy, and my feet were getting heated by Justin's thighs.
"So, why are you really here? The last time I saw you you said you hated me."
Justin was pouring me another glass of wine, something I didn't mind. Now that I think about it, it seems like I had finished most of the bottle.
"Well, you know, I miss you," I said, poking his nose. "Plus, I tracked the killer all the way here. It couldn't hurt killing two bird with one stone."
Justin's face hardened, "What did you just say?"
"Oops," I laughed. "Didn't you hear? Everyone thinks I'm crazy! That I ran away, but what they don't know, is that he took me. Shhhh," I brought my finger to my lips. "Don't tell anyone."
"Hayley, what are you talking about?"
"The killer."
"What killer?"
I shrugged.
"Hayley," Justin griped my arm, "you better tell me everything, right now."
"I found him Justin, I found Jake."

That was the last thing I remember, I must have dozed off before spilling the rest of my secrets but none the less, Justin knew enough to drill me the next day.
I woke on the couch, my head resting on Justin's thigh which was the same as sleeping on the ground. My neck was stiff.
Justin's head was thrown back on the couch, his arm draped around my waist. He didn't look comfortable.
I studied the scene before moving out of his arms.
The cold morning air welcomed me, my body shivered in response.
I went to the kitchen to grab myself a cup of coffee when I noticed tablets that lay on the counter.
Justin had drugged me!
The realisation stung. It all made sense at once, why he was so willing to share the wine, why he drank so little of it.
He was unbelievable!
I marched to the couch he lay on, contemplating slapping him awake.
I kicked his leg, "Wake up!"
"Jesus," he groaned, "what happened to you?"
My head throbbed. I held up the container, jiggling the tablets it held. "Shit!" He cursed himself.
"You better start explaining, and fast."
"Okay, look, I was curious as to why you came and believe me, I would never in a million years guess this was the reason."
I stared at him, if only looks could kill.
"Come on Hayley, you can't be mad at me. Plus, I agreed to help you. What else do you want from me?"
"Wait, you did?"
I was shocked. Why would he help me?
"Off course I would. I miss Jake too."
He meant it. For once I could see the Justin I was knew resurface. He gave me a warm smile.
I spent the rest of the afternoon updating Justin on my findings, which wasn't much if you put everything together, but closer than anyone has been in years.

Virginia, 2015

"Hales, are you seriously going to go to the dance with that jerk?" Justin asked. We sat on the swings outside our house, our favourite spot in the whole world, under the maple tree.
"Off course I am, he is Andrew Hanson for crying out loud."
"Yeah yeah, whatever." He rolled his eyes.
The truth was, I had a crush on Justin from the time I was eight years old and he pushed me in the pool one summer's day at Camp Witmore.
He was a few months younger than Jake, but they were in the same grade. Junior year actually, and so was Andrew.
Which was how I met Andrew, he was friends with Justin and Jake, because were there was Justin there was Jake. They were inseparable, even though I was Jake's sister.
It struck me as odd that Justin at developed a bitterness towards Andrew.
"Hey guys," Jake walked towards us, wearing this famous leather jacket. "Whatcha up to?"
"Nothing," Justin shook his head, "just talking about Andrew."
I elbowed him in the rib. "Shut up!"
Jake chuckled, "My little sister does not have a crush on Andrew Hanson."
"Yes, I do!" I insisted. Jake knew I was lying, he knew I loved Justin but he also knew Justin would never look at me that way.
Jake turned to Justin, my beat beat drummed, "Party at Cams, wanna go tonight?"
"Yeah, sure," Justin agreed.
Justin was a straight A student, and so was Jake but they were both on the football team and very popular. I on the other hand, kept my grades decent and never hand has many friends as them. They seemed to attract people like a moth and light.
"Can I come?" I asked.
They both turned to me and said in unison, "No."
Then laughed. I hated them sometimes.