the case of the DEATH LIST

epilogue

The sound of the alarm clock ringing was starting to make Veronica, or what people would call her, Ronnie irritated. she pull out her arms to turn the alarms off before she looked up to the ceiling, blinking several times. she then hears loud noises downstairs. she had always wake up with it. with a heavy sigh, she throw her blanket away from her body and got ready for school. she wears a black jeans and her worn out hoodie, not caring how she looks like as she wears a beanie on top of her head, hoping it would keep her warm from the weather in Curran. the city is small and she knows the city like the back of her palm.

when she arrived downstairs, she found her dad slouching down at the couch watching TV with a bottle of wine in his hand, not wanting to pick a fight with her dad, she rolled her eyes and continued her steps to the kitchen, where she sees her mom carrying her brother around while wearing an office uniform while cooking some pancakes.

"Oh hey sweetie, did you had a good sleep?"

her mom asks while putting the 18 months baby on the highchair

"yeah" she smiles as she felt bad for her mom who already work hard enough at her mom's workplace.

"why won't i cook that pancakes mom? you can go to work" Veronica said with a smile

her mom then stops what she is doing as she smiles. she then take her bag before she kissed Veronica's cheeks

"thank you, feed your brother for me okay?"

"okay" Veronica said as she nods

"oh and don't forget to drop him off to-"

"Mrs. Jane, yes i know mom, don't worry"

Veronica replied while brushing her mom's shoulder with her hand to calm her a little bit. just as the front door was closed, meaning her mom was gone to work already, Veronica walks over to the table and drop her bag from her shoulder to the chair as she looks at her brother, Charlie.

"want some pancake bubs?"

she asked to Charlie as he jumps in his chair with a wide smile on his face, making Veronica gave her saddest smile to him thinking of how pathetic his life is including her own. she then continued to walk to the stove and made some pancakes before she gave the warm ones to her brother and the cold, hard pancakes for her, knowing that her brother deserve better than her. she then sat infront of Charlie and ate her pancake. starting the day just the same as yesterday.

"thank you so much Mrs. Jane"

Veronica said while giving Charlie to her neighbor with guilt, perfectly heard in her voice

"its okay Ronnie, besides, Charlotte need a friend here"

Mrs. Jane said referring to her daughter.

"If we're bothering you or if you think this is too much then you can tell-"

"its okay Ronnie, now go to school, don't worry about Charlie"

Mrs. Jane replied cutting off Veronica's sentence with an assuring smile, knowing that Veronica should just worry about school for now, not her brother.

Veronica then thank Mrs. Jane once again before she walks to the streets, going to the place everyone would say school, but to her, its a place called Hell. she don't like crowded places and seeing how her grades is treating her, it doesn't help even a bit.

when she arrived inside her school, she knew her heart is starting to beat a little faster than before, feeling her legs slowly become a jelly. but she doesn't want to care about her anxiety knowing that she could embarrass herself in front of the whole school. once she is in front of her locker, she hears whispers behind her and it was some of the popular girls. noticing that the girls are staring at her and probably judging her, she decides to just leave them and not think too far about it.

"how's my Ronnie doing?"

suddenly someone said popping out of nowhere making Veronica gasp in surprise as she opens up her locker door

"oh my Gosh! ! can you stop doing that?"

she exclaimed with an irritated tone, making Lucas laugh in satisfy

"why? you should look at your face!"

Lucas said while laughing.

Veronica stare at her friend who she had known for nearly 6 years. Lucas has been there for her, they're both are the bullied kids you'll know in middle school, the kids who have many secrets from the public, the kids who sit at the back of the class, invisible. but they liked it, they like how safe their friendship is, they like how they could spend time with each other without worrying the others. they have each other.

"Ronnie here is mad"

Lucas said as Veronica scoffs before she shut her locker door viciously making Lucas blink in shock

"i'm just shocked, okay Lucas?"

Veronica said as they both walk down the hallway

"you sure you're shock? not scared?" Lucas teases while Veronica rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.

"still having panic attacks?"

Lucas suddenly said. as he grab Veronica's arm, stopping her from walking further. he grew worried when Veronica told him that her panic attacks kept coming back. of course being the best friend he is, he would ask her occasionally just to see her well being. he don't want his best friend would lose her smile just because some stupid panic attacks.

"yes.."

Veronica said as she stopped walking, staring at Lucas's eyes while Lucas release her arm.

"well.. i can't really help you with that can't i?"

Lucas replied, feeling guilty as ever, he know that Veronica is hurting inside, but he can't do anything about it. Veronica replied, of course with a shook on her head, looking at the ground, biting her lips.

"you helped enough..."

Veronica smiled sadly at Lucas as the bell rings, making the two teens plastered their faces with an annoyed look, knowing that their time to see each other was over.

"well... just tell me if anything happens.

bye Juliet, class calls"

Veronica looked at Lucas confused as he walks away to the other side of the hallway, she was confused as why Lucas called her by her nickname that she used to own when they were a little child. Lucas always thought Veronica is pretty, charming, clever. but Veronica would always thought that he's joking. that's why Lucas stopped calling her that, didn't want to hurt his own feelings.

but strangely.. he called her again with that nickname today..

are you enjoying the story? i hope i did well. sorry if i was short. i was starting to get bored in quarantine so i decided to made a story. tell me if i made some mistakes, i'm trying to get better at my english since it is not my first language.

see you on the next chapter!