Friday Barnes Book 9: The Final Mystery

Chapter 1: The Recap

 It had been almost 3 and a half years since Ian Wainscott, the most handsome boy at school, left Highcrest Academy. Nothing much had happened in the school while he was gone, except for the fact that it was quite dreary. Especially for a girl named Friday Barnes. She missed him, as he was her girlfriend. Every year, at Highcrest Academy, since Friday had gone there, there was always a huge plot or mystery that would have almost caused Highcrest Academy to disintegrate into chaos, or to shut down forever. But ever since Ian left, there were no huge mysteries. Sure there were close to harmless pranks or mysteries, like missing food from Ms. Marigold's kitchen, but nothing was very important. Friday could only hope these small exercises would help her in a bigger crime, such as a massive heist, or a mass murder. No, Friday would not like to solve the murder, as long as there was blood involved. She could not stand the sight of blood, as she would faint, or get extremely nauseous when it came to blood.

Friday was close to lonely without Ian. Although Friday did have other friends, they also had different priorities apart from being friends with Friday. Such as Melanie, Friday's best friend, who sleeps a lot because she didn't fully recover. But apart from taking a lot of naps, Melanie had gained a boyfriend, Harrison Abotomey, in which they were quite fond of each other. This created the concept that apart from not seeing Melanie in classes, she only saw her in breaks, meals and dorm room, and half the time she was asleep or with Abotomey. Friday was very lonely in her classes. Since she was very intelligent, she studied things at university level, which even then she had passed those classes easily. Another friend Friday had was Binky, one of Melanie's older brothers, but he had left the school the same year Ian did to serve the Norwegian army, to win the king's approval for the Norwegian princess, Debbie. In fact, in the news on the radio Uncle Bernie had gotten her, they had announced that the Norwegian princess had a significant other. Friday was happy for them, but it made no difference on how lonely she was.

Friday wasn't always lonely however. In fact, when she first came to the Academy, she had no one to talk to, and that was fine with her because she wasn't really the feeling type. But the years of mystery and relationships grew on her and wore her down. Especially the fact that Friday and Ian were officially together at the airport. But this didn't help her feel any better. The only other person that spoke kind things to her was Parker. He had been giving Friday complements in the hallways and saved Friday desserts at her door. This was probably because 3 years ago when Ian had called Friday his girlfriend, Parker came out and said he had had a thing for Friday. Friday had made it clear that he wouldn't be in a relationship with her, but he said he would keep thinking like that until Ian and Friday broke up. He was still very thoughtful to Friday, even though she had turned him down.

Each day dragged by, as Friday mentally counted down the day in which Ian would return to AUS and they would finally meet after all these years.

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Ian had been in a bad place too. He had no friends in his new school in Italy. He kept his head down and caused no trouble. Whenever there were small mysteries in the school, Ian choked as he remembered his girlfriend, all the way back in AUS. He missed her dearly. Especially for the fact that he still refused to accept Bernard Bernie as his father figure. He seemed so caring and he hated it. He would often sneak out in the yard to get away from his mother and step father, doing "lovey-dovey" things they always did.especially the fact that he was going to be an older figure for the annoying baby in the house. He was glad that it distracted his guardians, as his brother, Evan, learned to walk and talk.

If he wasn't in the yard, or at school, he stayed in his room, and did almost nothing. Sure every day he would do some exercises, making sure he kept his body, and muscles. But apart from that, he thought about Friday and how glad he would be to be back in his old school. But of course he didn't really show it. He wanted to seem tough and annoyed, just to avoid feeling sad all the time. But he did get happy every time his stepfather talked to Friday on the radio that he had gotten her. Just to hear her voice was the greatest thing in Italy. The downside to having to listen to her voice was his step father there. So whenever he did this, he crept to his room, as to not make a sound, and listened through the keyhole. He really wanted to talk to Friday but he knew she was uncomfortable with feelings. He listened with two fingers on his lips, remembering the 2 times in which they kissed.

It had been about 2 weeks since Friday had last called when the radio turned on, except the voice wasn't Friday's. It sounded like his step father's boss. In a stern voice, he told his stepfather about something. They spoke quickly and Ian was only able to grasp a few sentences. In summary, 2 siblings in year 12 are currently missing, reported by the foster family holding them. The names are Angela and Angelo Farrow, and one was in Italy, while the other in Australia. This meant they were in his year, thought Ian. So siblings were split from each other. The poor things. Ian had gone to school the next day, doing the same thing he always did, keeping his head down, and making sure that no one bothered him. In the study hall, he had gone to the library.

"Hey Ian, I-" said a girl his age, lightly tapping his shoulder.

"Go away" Ian retorted

"But-"

"Go." Said Ian shooing her away. He looked up to see her saddened. He shook the thought away. She should have known not to bother with him. He continued on with his study book. He was looking over the notes for the final exam. He sighed, he knew that this exam was the final thing in school and he couldn't wait to get it over with. Because right after he will soon see his girlfriend, Friday. Ian had looked back onto the studies when he was tapped on the shoulder again. Just as he was going yo shoo then off like he did everybody else, the girl said look up. Ian, wanting to get it over with, looked up making the biggest mistake.