Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 60676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Oh, thank gosh.
I CAN FEEL ALL THEIR eyes on me.
As I walk to class the next day, I know everyone is talking. They’re all wondering if I did it, if I killed her. I want to scream that it wasn’t me, but it doesn’t matter what I say, nobody will believe me. Not until the killer has been found. The police ruled her death a homicide and are conducting interviews today. The students have been told not to attend class if they don’t feel safe, and extra security has been added.
I considered going home, but I really want to talk to Alyssa’s best friend.
It’s risky, but I have made it my mission to find out more about her and try to work out who might have wanted to hurt her.
It didn’t take me long searching social media for me to find the name of her best friend, who also goes to this school. I won’t forget her cries last night when she found out, and I have no doubt she won’t be here today, hell she might have gone home, but I’m going to try and find her after class anyway. That is if anyone will tell me where she stays.
Most people are giving me a wide berth.
Even Pervy Pete doesn’t come near me when I enter his class. He gives me a suspicious look, and suddenly, he’s very uninterested in me. The only person in this place who believes I’m innocent is Paulie. He called this morning and told me he’d meet up with me and we’d find who did this together. When I asked if he was scared I did it, he laughed and said it has always been his fantasy to be kidnapped, and so long as I included my biker, he’d be okay with it.
He makes me laugh.
But he believes in me.
By the time I get to Gerard’s class, I am tired of the whispers.
So much so that when the next wave of them come my way as I’m walking down the hall, I stop and yell, “I didn’t do it, you fucking imbeciles. Stop gossiping.”
This only makes them gossip more, and me look even more guilty.
I need to learn to shut my mouth.
“Bad day?” Gerard asks when I storm into his class early just to get out of the halls.
“Everyone in this school thinks I killed Alyssa. I didn’t fucking touch her. I didn’t even know her. I just happened to go into the shower at the wrong damned time, it could have happened to anyone. Now all those gossips out there are spreading lies.”
I exhale once I’m done, letting my shoulders slump.
“Maybe you should go home until next week. You don’t have to be here, and you don’t have to put up with that.”
Shaking my head, I hug my laptop to my chest. “No way, I’m not going to let them beat me. I didn’t do anything so I’m not running. I’m sure they’ll find who did it, and then this will all go away.”
He nods. “I’m sure. Just keep your head down; they’ll get bored eventually when something else comes along to take their attention.”
“I hope so.”
“Are you feeling okay? It was a big night.”
I purse my lips and shrug. “I don’t know. I’m trying not to think about it, but I can’t stop seeing her face. It’s haunting. I probably should be taking the time off to deal with it, but I don’t want to be alone right now.”
“Well, you’re always welcome in my class early.”
I smile at him, weak as it is. “Thank you.”
“No problem. Help me put these books out.”
I help him set up for the lesson and then everyone arrives and we get to work. Anyone who whispers in his class is immediately sent out. I’m grateful he’s trying to keep it away from me. I really like Gerard; he’s a good teacher, and he cares about his students. By the time the class is finished, I feel a little like I might just get through this after all.
Paulie meets me outside before I head to my room and immediately throws his arms around me. I hug him tight, not realizing how much I needed this until this very moment. Pulling back, I notice a few people have stopped and are staring at us. Paulie, not holding back, spins on a group of them and yells, “Mind your damn business or I might just start committing murder myself. Nosy bastards. Nothing better to do.”
They move along, and I can’t help but laugh.
“You’re scary when you’re mad.”
He grins. “I know, it’s my secret weapon. How was class?”
“Awful. Gerard made his class bearable, but even Pete wouldn’t come near me.”
Paulie’s eyes widen. “Girl, you’ve scared Pervy Pete off, you’re a queen!”
“Hey listen, do you know where Alyssa’s friend stays? I want to go and talk to her. I heard her last night, and she was so upset ...”