Murder was the Case they Gave Me

Chapter 2

Being alone was never my strong suit. I preferred to be with people and the house felt too vastly empty all alone. Thankfully I had my brother, Henry, and my best friend, Adrianna.

"Are you okay?" Adrianna asked.

"Yeah, just miss Eli," I said. "And I wasn't feeling very well earlier so that really doesn't help make me feel better."

"It's okay, Emma, it's only been a couple weeks," she said. "And then he's gonna be home again."

"Yeah," I mumbled. "I'm video chatting with him later before he goes onstage."

I looked at the time, waiting anxiously for the time to come. Adrianna smiled, resting a hand on my shoulder comfortingly. She was always so much more outgoing than me. She was erratic and fun. She dyed blue streaks into her black hair, contrasting drastically with her dark brown eyes. Adrianna was spunky, my best friend who helped me to do crazy things with her.

We were waiting to talk to Eli now. Not ten minutes later he called, and I smiled when Eli's face popped up on my screen.

"I miss you!" I exclaimed.

Eli chuckled, the screen slightly pixelated from poor connection.

"I miss you too, Baby," he said. "Hey, Adrianna. How's it going?"

"Hi, Eli," she said. "It's good."

"How are things doing there?" He asked.

"They're good but a little lonely without you," I said. "How is the tour going?"

"It's amazing," he said. "This is my first tour and it has been a little stressful but it's really good. I've met so many people and I've been having so much fun with the guys. Oh my God, we were on the coast and saw the most beautiful sunset. It made me think of you. Did you see the pictures I sent you?"

I frowned before I remembered the photos down in Florida that he had taken at the beach with the rest of his band.

"I did," I said. "They were really nice. What time is the show tonight?"

"This place has an earlier curfew, it's starting at six thirty tonight," he said.

Adrianna got up and I watched her go to the kitchen to open the fridge. She began making some tea and I mouthed at her to make me a cup too.

"How have you been?" He asked.

"Okay, a little sick but okay," I said. "I ate at a restaurant last night that was a little bit sketchy, so I'm paying for that by feeling kind of sick today."

"Take an antacid, that should help," he said. "Wait, isn't your art show in seven days?"

"Adrianna's making some tea now," I said. "I'm so nervous, there's already butterflies swarming around. I'm pretty sure they're starting to morph into these giant, mutant butterflies. Gargoyles, maybe."

Eli chuckled, and the screen froze for a moment before returning to normal again.

"Where are you now?" I asked.

"Hotel," he said. "At first, I thought they didn't have wifi and I got worried, I think I would just about die if I missed my chance to skype you. We could talk on the phone but that's just not the same, I wouldn't get to see your pretty face. And I can't wait until I get to see you in person again, I already miss you more than you could ever imagine."

I smiled, taking my cup from Adrianna when she sat back down beside me.

"We're all missing you too," she said. "It's a little bit oddly quiet here, I'm not used to it. Also, not used to Emma being so sad all the time with you gone."