Beautiful Scars [1] ✔

Chapter Thirty One

I sat in the chair across from Officer Clint. He stared at me, sizing me up. Normally, I feel self -conscious. But now, I just felt plain scared. I mean, I didn't murder my best friend, but who's to say he'd believe a single word I said?

"Sophia, you were close friends with Melissa, yes?"

I nodded, then looked at him, finally finding the courage to speak. "Yes. We were best friends."

"And how was your relationship? Was there any conflict between you two?"

This part was going to sound difficult. If I even said it the wrong way, he could accuse me of murder. I swallowed, then spoke, my voice shaking. "Before she died, we had a huge fight. I was in a relationship with her brother, her foster brother," I added. Melissa never had a brother, other than Aston.

Clint replied with a silent gaze, waiting for me to continue.

I took in a deep breath and started up again. "I broke up with her brother. She took it hard. After I broke up with him, that same night, she came to my house. We argued and we didn't talk after that. Two days later, Aston came to my house and told me she was missing."

He was silent for a moment, probably because he was jotting down every word I said onto his notepad.

He looked up at me, then asked another question that rocked me to my core. "How do you feel about the situation? About Melissa being murdered?"

How did I feel about it? Did I enjoy the fact that every time something good came along it got snatched away from me? Do I look like I enjoy having everyone I care for die?!

"Sophia- what happened? Who died?"

It was at that moment I realized everything I had thought in my head had been accidentally voiced aloud.

I closed my eyes, just as tears streamed down my face. "My parents. They were murdered in a house fire a few months ago. No one ever found the murderer. It's something I don't really like talking about.."

Finally, his gaze hardened. "I am so sorry for your loss, Sophia. I promise you- the minute we find Melissa's murderer, I will try my best to help find your parents'. You're free to go.."

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I opened the door to the truck and got in, shutting it behind me. I buckled up, then shifted my head. Aston was looking at me, eyebrows raised in concern. "So, how was it?"

I gave him a weak smile. "It was fine."

He nodded- and knowing how well he knew me- I knew that he knew I was lying. Thankfully, he didn't press, just put the truck in reverse and drove out of there.

The ride was silent and we rode for a while until we finally stopped. I stared up at the house, then turned to Aston. "Why are we here?" I asked.

His smile faltered. "My grandma wants to talk to you. I told her I'd bring you back here after the questioning. Is that okay with you?"

I nodded, then unbuckled, opening the door. After Aston got out, I trailed behind him to the house, my footsteps heavy.

He went to the door and held it open for me, then shut it the minute I was in the house.

There sitting at the kitchen table, was his grandmother. I walked closer, peering at her face. She looked run down, exhausted, and just lost. She looked depressed, her eyes blank and empty.

I cleared my throat and she looked up from the table, glancing first at Aston, then at me.

"Hi, Sophia. You came. I wanted to talk to you."

I smiled. "What did you want to talk about?"

Aston pulled me to him and whispered, "I'll be waiting outside. Just call whenever you're ready." He rubbed my hand with his thumb, then exited quietly out the door.

"Well.. I have some things of Melissa's. Since she's gone and I have no use for it, figure I'd give it to you."

I was taken aback. I didn't want my friend's things, but yet it w as the only thing I had left of her. I didn't want it to be thrown away; it would mean that a part of her was thrown away, so I did what I had to do. "S-Sure."

She forced a smile and stood, the chair creaking as she did so. "Follow me," She said and I did as she asked, my breath hitching when we reached her room.

She opened the door and flicked on the light switch. The room was exactly as she left it except for a few material items sitting on the bed. Shirts were folded neatly, on top of the shirts rested an IPod and an unused journal. Melissa's grandmother nodded towards the pile of items then at me. "Take whatever you like. I'll be in the kitchen."

She nodded once again then left, the door closing behind her.

I glanced at the notebook and iPod, then pushed them aside. I looked at the shirts and picked them up, hugging them to me. I sniffled, then smelled the shirts. God, they smelled just like her.

Tears streamed down my face and my eyes swelled up, but I didn't care. I missed my best friend.

Suddenly, the door opened again and I threw the shirts down and quickly tried to recover my appearance. I scooted over to Melissa's desk just as her grandmother walked in.

"Find anything?"

I smiled and shrugged, my attention focused on a photo frame on her desk. It was of a beautiful woman, an older replica of Melissa, young Melissa, and a man.

Melissa's grandmother smiled. "That's a nice picture, huh? It was taken when she was young- around five years old, before her mom died and things got out of hand."

I wasn't listening. I was still staring at the photo just as long painful memories came rushing back.

"Oh, my God," I whispered.

"What? What is it, dear?"

I had no words- nothing. I was completely and utterly speechless.

The man I was looking at in that photo was the man who murdered my parents.