Braxten High

Chapter 11

Scarlett's POV:

"So I just got an e-mail saying the school saying that today has been declared as a half-day?" I said while stretching in my seat a little. We had claimed the kitchen island-turned-breakfast bar as our work station as we dug up information about Gabriel and Jenny's death.

Ayden handed me a cup of coffee while saying, "That's great, isn't it? Don't you think we should take a small break?"

I grabbed it and took a long, slow sip. "God, this coffee is magical," I said while exhaling slowly. "Yeah, let's take a break and check up on Zara and Azriel," I answered and put my head down on the table.

He smiled bashfully when I complimented him. "So, what do you like except solving high school murders?" he asked while sipping on his coffee.

I jokingly glared at him. "Being with Azriel has rubbed off on you. I will have you know that I-" I stopped in between as I got an idea. "Hey! Let's just break into the school today? We are more likely to find those letters in the main office today. Plus, we can stay home tomorrow or it may seem suspicious."

"That's a great idea. And I can take a break from being Sherlock Holmes at least for a day," he said, chuckling as an attempt to cover his fallen expression.

I leaned over while standing up. "Don't look so crestfallen, child," I said while patting his cheek and laughing a little. "I'm going to go call Zara and ask her to bring Azriel so we can change into Detective gear and go break into our school" I joked and went into the room to call Zara.

"Whatever you say," he scowled trying not to smile as I left.

I came back after ending the call and tossed the phone on the couch while dramatically jumping on the kitchen counter, where Ayden was busy drawing our path into the school through Gate 11 or something. "Guess what," I asked and folded my legs.

"What?" he looked up.

"Apparently your sunshine best friend turned up to school HIGH on weed and was late for the headmaster's announcement. They're on their way here now and his high wore off, thank god. But Zara is being weirder than Sriracha on ice-cream and yes I have tried doing that once," I ended my short monologue with a huff.

"What?! I hope everything's fine with him. He does that only when he has issues with his family. And what's up with Zara?" he continued, laughing, "Really?"

I sighed. "I asked her what happened then and she said 'nothing' in a very high-pitched voice. She's obviously lying." I was rudely interrupted by the doorbell. "It's probably them," I said while jumping off the counter and dusting my butt.

I opened the door to see Azriel and Zara standing like, at the edge of the door trying to be far from each other. "I could cut the awkward tension here with a knife," I commented while smacking Azriel atop his head. "For your misbehavior" I reasoned.

"Bitch," he muttered while scowling. I clapped my hands over-enthusiastically and grabbed my jacket. Switching off the lights when Ayden joined us, I grabbed my bag from the floor. "Let's go!"

______________________

"There is a back door for the janitor but it has been abandoned for years now. On the website and the school map, they call it Gate 11 but I have never seen it, and I don't think they bother to guard that gate."

"Ayden and I think it would be best to enter from this gate, what do the two of you think?" I ended while taking in their expressions at the hand-drawn map I had just rolled out on the table at our booth at Salty Beans.

"I think we'll be able to get out of there without getting caught if we follow the map," Zara said while examining it

"Hm," Azriel mumbled. I smacked his arm. "Get out if you want to look so disinterested."

"Jeez. Yeah, I agree with the map and we can split and look for the letter and other clues we may stumble upon," he said while playing with the straw of his milkshake.

"Okay then, Scarlett and I can search the headmaster's office hoping we get our hands on the letters while you and Zara can examine the cafeteria for any evidence," Ayden suggested.

"Uhm," Zara spoke up quietly, "Can Scar and I go together? I mean if that's fine with you." she finished, looking at Ayden.

"Yes that's fine, why would I mind?" he chuckled in response.

"Uhm hello? You should be asking me that," I folded my arms. "And we'll go together. We have a lot of catching up to do anyway," I raised an eyebrow at her.

Azriel scoffed. "I didn't want to go with you anyway," he said, trying to sound gruff and

unbothered. I made a face and got up after paying the waitress and shoved the map in my backpack. "Can we go already?" I tapped my foot impatiently.

-zoie and dawn