1
I’m fully soaked in blood. My head hurts like someone knocked me down with a rod, my hands are tied with handcuffs, there’s knife in my hand, and all I can hear is sharp sirens of ambulances and police cars.
2 weeks before party
Like every other day I’m late for the school, but today I have an excuse. I’m late because I saw my friend Angelina at the School gate. She is from the town I moved. She was my senior in high school there. She’s the girl nobody talks to or make friends with, and I was kind of the only person who talked to her there. When I asked her about the sudden change of schools, she replied, “My family moved here because of my dad’s job.’’ But I did notice her left arm and legs shaking weirdly while she spoke. “Welcome to my city bitch,” I said confidently even though I moved here a month ago. “I will see you around,” she said with a half smile on her face. Then we parted ways, now how do I explain this story to my home room teacher who’s shouting at me for being late.
13 days before party
I met Angelina in the morning while I was on my way to school. “Hey, Angie good morning,” I shouted and felt a little weird saying Angie but I said it anyway. “Hi, Sara,” she said while running towards me, then she suddenly grabbed my hand and said shakingly, “meet me at the back stairs near the pool area after school.” Now, I’m the one who is waiting for her, and this place is shady and looks like the place where you sell drugs illegally to teenagers. She is here. “You are late, miss Wednesday” I said while scrolling on my phone. She literally wears only black clothes. “Listen carefully Sara, I want to tell you the real reason why I’m here.” ‘‘To supply me drugs,” I said while pointing at the stairs. ‘‘We moved here because of the sudden deaths and missing news of the students at our last school,” she said without even showing an emotion. I wasn’t shocked by her reason since many students did change school. “I kinda guessed that, and don’t you feel lonely around here okay. I’m going to hang-out with my friends tomorrow, you should totally come. I will introduce you to them,” I said with a warm smile to make her feel better. Then she hugged me tightly while I told her the address and time of the meet up.
12 days before party
We all are meeting at our usual hang-out place, and that is of course a place in the middle of nowhere. Just trees, an old river, and some high school students who just came to smoke some weed. This place is perfect to hide a dead body, just saying. The place is called Teen’s food truck even though its’s not even a food truck, it’s an old rusty bus just renovated with sofas to sit in and eat with yellow color all over the body. We come here because it’s the only place where teenagers can have beer. It’s 5:30, but Nathan, Gia and Angelina’s still not here. Bobby and Theo’s smoking while eating the burger, gross. “You shouldn’t smoke, you’re in the High school team right. Aren’t ya?” but they gave me a stare and continued smoking. Deepika and Evelyn’s bitching about our School’s popular cheerleader Jessica while eating the fries. How can anyone eat with such long nails I thought. I checked it’s 5:40, Nathan and Gia’s arrived while shouting at each other for something that happened a few minutes ago when they were kissing. I opened my phone and started searching Angelina to ask her where she was, shit I forgot I didn’t ask for her number. Damn it, Sara.
11 days before party 2
The Friends is my all-time favorite TV show to watch with my actual friends in evenings with lots of chips and coke. Angelina could be here any minute and I’m still searching for my laptop’s charger. It’s nice to hang-out with someone I know from my old school. Ting-tong. She is here. I don’t know why I’m running to get the door. ‘‘Can I come in?’’ She asked, and I replied, ‘‘I hope you like friends, chips and coke combo.” She smiled, “but Angie doesn’t share chips.” We went to my room. After watching 4 episodes of joey making a vlog of the London she got up and said, ‘‘thank you for having me over., it was nice hanging out with a real friend, but now I have to go. I have to return some books to the bookstore that my mom borrowed.’’ Then she left saying her final goodbye and I remembered, it was my turn to cook dinner. I grabbed the keys and went straight to buy some noodles. I couldn’t see her on the streets. While having the dinner which is not even close to mom’s cooking. I told my mom that a friend of mine came to hangout and we had fun. After hearing that she held my hand in hers, ‘‘please honey take care, I just heard that 2 kids got stabbed to death down the street,’’ She drank some wine and added, “the cops are still searching for the suspect.” I replied, “I bet they were addicts and that’s what addicts do, stab each other for small amount of shit to get high on” I laughed but in my mind I said, ‘‘mom I was the one who called 911 since I was driving by and heard someone screaming.’’ I went back to my room and started searched about the two boys getting stabbed down the street. There were pictures, they were obviously addicts.
10 days before party
I was already late for the class and damn it suddenly I’m bleeding. I started my marathon towards the washroom and I heard someone shouting my name, what the fuck! Why would anyone be out of their class right now I wondered. I turned back and it was Angelina. ‘‘Wait Sara I want to talk to you about something,’’ she shouted “stop running” while running towards me in the hallway. I slammed the door of the washroom and went straight to the last stall, closed the door, and took a seat. I searched my bag but couldn’t find a tampon, damn it. I heard her footsteps approaching towards my stall, she asked, ‘‘Why were you running Sara I’m not a ghost for god’s sake?’’ ‘‘I’m bleeding here you dumbass., by the way do you have a tampon in any case?’’ I asked, “oh, yeah I do,” she replied and gave me one. I was washing my hands when she said something that shifted my attention from myself to her, she whispered, ‘‘Let’s go to staircase I want to talk about last night’s incident. I bet you have heard about it till now.’’
‘‘Thank you for earlier,’’ I said while hiding from Mr. Henry my history teacher.
‘‘Anytime’’ she whispered,
“So that means you keep tampons 365 days with you” I laughed even though joke wasn’t funny,
“let’s run before the security camera catches us,” she said like she is James Bond who’s hiding to kill a bunch of bad guys.
We ran really fast and she’s not even out of breath a little bit. “Say what you wanted to, and tell me why don’t I have your phone number?” I asked taking a seat on the staircase. She hugged me and said in my ears, “It was me Sara, I’m the one who the cops are searching for, I’m the one who killed those two guys down your street.”
(Same day) 10 days before party 3
“What the hell are you talking about? And what did you do exactly?” I shouted “and why are you telling me all this? and who were those guys?” I showered her with every question I could think off.
She took a long breath and asked me to calm down. “I left your place, and I was walking down the street and suddenly I heard a guy shouting for help so I went straight in the house to see what was happening. I ran straight to their backyard and I saw a big fat boy about our age was stabbing the other guy who was clearly younger than us. Both were obviously addicts. The big guy saw me and ran towards me. I saw here and there and there was a grill and a small knife, so I took that knife and when he swinged the knife towards ducked and stabbed him in defence. It happened in an instant. I didn’t mean to kill him. Trust me Sara I was just trying to save myself,” she said crying.
“You have to tell the police,” I said calmly, “I can’t, I won’t. The cops won’t believe me and I can’t afford to get involved in all this. I told you everything because you are my only friend in this town. So please don’t judge me if I don’t want to confess that I accidently killed a random addict.” She said while rubbing off the tears with her black t-shirt.
“Okay don’t tell anyone but are there any clues or hints that can lead to you. I need to know. Like the clothes you wore. The knife you used to kill that guy. Anything? that can get you in trouble. Anything?” I asked looking down at her feet where there’s line made up of ants going up the stairs. “I threw the knife in the lake, and burned the clothes,” she answered and added “nobody saw me last night and I stole some of the boy’s clothes and a bag, in which I put all my clothes and burned it.” I sighed but felt a little relief, and the bell rang so I ran straight back to my next class.
9 days before party
I was just eating a chocolate bar and my home room teacher threw it away. As usual I was late again, and I don’t know why but I always end up late and I have a valid reason every single time. Today I’m late because I couldn’t sleep last night because of all the things Angie told me about the incident and I might have had 2 cups of coffee and two scoops of ice cream while reading the book: Ugly love. A girl must have ice cream and her favorite book in her periods. I couldn’t eat breakfast because I woke up late and mom already went out for work. Therefore, no breakfast, and hence the chocolate bar. I skipped the 2nd period to eat something. Yes, there’s a secret place from where you can get out of the school without anyone noticing. I went straight to McDonald’s ordered a big Mac with a McFlurry oreo. I was enjoying my meal happily like we are supposed to at McDonald’s until someone put a hand on my shoulder. I thought someone caught me and I turned, it was Gia’s hand. Nathan is here too, and I instantly noticed Gia was crying so I looked at Nathan and he cut his long hair. I guess cut is a small word for the situation he literally went from Johnny Depp to something like they do in the Military. Now I know why she was crying. They took the seat opposite to me at my table and now they were kissing each other, I don’t want to watch them shout and kiss while eating so I took out my phone, and I saw people were spamming messages on WhatsApp group. I scrolled in our year’s official group to look what happened and I saw a picture of our theatre stage and someone’s on floor, oh my god! It’s a death on stage I thought. A little bit dramatic death if you ask me. I showed my mobile screen to the love birds and Gia instantly knew who she was in just a glimpse. We went back to school as fast as we could before anyone notices that there are three students are missing while someone’s dead in school. While running back to school the students who were dead from my past school appears in front of my eyes. shit people are dying here too, I’m cursed.
(Same day) 9 days before party 4
All students were gathered in the basketball court since auditorium was filled with police officers. We were the last ones to arrive, and I did a quick search for Angie and there she was sitting in last row. I sit next to her, “where were you?” she whispered in my ears. “No sleep, no breakfast, McDonald’s, here” I replied. Principal was now saying something about this cheerleader named Jessica about how she was an excellent student and a great person, I was sure he didn’t even know the poor girl’s name when she was alive and well. They were now showing a slide show of this girl’s photos, most photos of her are in her cheerleading uniform but she looks hot in every one of them. She is really beautiful, she has all the facial features of a Hollywood actress like small nose, glowing white skin, blonde hair and a perfect body. I bet she’s famous among boys. Especially the jocks who were always looking for a cheerleader to be their partner in every high school. I’m not a cheerleader but I’m cute too.
“I would never die if had a face and body like her,” I said to Angie while some guy is crying in front of everyone and talking about great Jessica was. She replied, “how are you so sure that it’s a suicide,” she whispers and then an image of her killing those two guys come in my mind. Then I look at her and she wasn’t there, I looked behind, and the door’s wide open so I guess she went to washroom.
The school was exhausting and boring today. I felt like this was my past life in a new town again. Mom’s home when I’m back, she hugged me tightly and telling me that my dad was a big hugger and used to hug mom every day when he came back home after work. I miss my dad every time I get scared. He used to say this beautiful quote he said he read somewhere, “only be afraid of psychopaths everything else can be fought with bare hands and big brains” I used to laugh on that and he used to kiss me on my cheeks too tightly. Damn it! I miss those kisses.
8 days before party
I opened my locker, took some Oreo minis in my both hands and as I closed the locker, I saw a boy was standing next to me. He’s a bit taller than me, his brown hair’s damped down reaching his grey eyes, he was in beige pants, white t-shirt that says hills over hips everytime and a green flannel shirt. “hey” spilling an Oreo out of my mouth. What can I say he was really cute, “I’m harry from the history class, Mr. Henry chose me to be your partner for the project,” He said looking at my eyes. “Okay but don’t expect too much from me I suck at history” I pause and added “cool shirt btw” I swallowed the Oreos. “So, my house after school is that cool for you? Meet me at the gate when school’s over” he said casually. His eyes are so grey and his lips are really pink maybe I should kiss them, I wanna kiss them, damn it! Sara you are staring at him just stop I shouted in my mind and I did a nod in a yes way. He’s now walking away so I shouted, “the name’s Sara FYI,” he turned and winked at me. “He winked Sara winked!” a known voice comes from my back, “I know Angie, I bet he already has a cute girlfriend who’s way better dressed than me.” I’m wearing black sweatpants, an oversized grey hoodie, and black converse shoes. “I don’t think he has a girlfriend,” she argues taking some Oreos from my hand. I was sitting on Harry’s computer chair while he went to bring me a coke. There’s a PC that looks like the one a hacker uses in the movies, a Guitar hanging on the wall opposite to his bed, a macbook and weeknd posters all over room. He handed me a coke, lifted the bean bag and put it next to my chair. He took the laptop in his Lap and said, “let’s get to work,” “with some weeknd songs maybe,” I said to impress him and he smiled. We worked straight for one hour, he did most of the searching and explaining, I only did the writing part. “See you in History” I said putting on my bag, “okay Saaraaa” he smiled and said, “You are cute you know that.” I left smiling.
7 days before party 5
It’s evening when I returned home after completing my math’s homework with Angie. She never said she was really good at mathematics but I thought since she was my senior, she must have done it all last year. The entire time I kept asking questions again and again since she knew how to solve every single question and I just sat there like a chair and drank three cups of coffee while getting all confused in the formulas. When I opened the door, I saw that mom’s sitting on the couch drinking some weird pink colored thing. “What’s that?” I almost shouted, “it’s dragon fruit juice, I saw a video on Youtube about how it’s good for your skin and stuff” she handed the glass towards me, “and I thought Beauty salon was the thing to make your skin better” I joked while doing a no sign with my hand. “Now that’s a great idea” she smiles, “what?” I made a face and then she said, “we’ll go to Starbucks and then to the salon and then we’ll have dinner at your favorite Thai restaurant, how does that sound huh?” she looked really excited so I accepted and went to change. I almost finished my desert and a bit of ice cream fell on my skirt so I stood up and walked straight to washroom. I was trying to rub it off with tissues when I overheard a girl talking on call about how two more students are found dead at our school’s football ground, I stopped the cleaning and walked quickly to my table, “Mom, I am tired let’s go home” I said, “okay honey but we have to buy eggs and bread for breakfast, is that okay?” she smiled.
6 days before party
It’s Sunday and it’s my first funeral after my dad’s. Mom didn’t force me to go but I wanted to go. When I enter the church, I saw there’s no place to sit and I saw both Evelyn and Deepika are standing next to the last bench so I went and stood with them. Evelyn is wearing a black long dress with dark sunglasses and Deepika is wearing a white shirt, a black skirt with black heels, woah she’s flexing her fashion sense at a funeral obviously while I’m wearing a black coat with black pants and black shoes. I thought nobody’s going to be here after hearing the news of those two students who were found dead yesterday but I noticed that many school students are present here including the most anti-social teachers of school and the cops too. Then I questioned myself that will everyone be present at my funeral like this then I regret thinking it. The boy who was crying too much at court that day is now saying a eulogy while sobbing in front of everyone. I think he was Jessica’s boyfriend but she was way too beautiful for him. I do a quick 360 with my head to search for Angie but I can’t find her anywhere. After half an hour of prayers and eulogies I walked straight to the door and I saw her. Angie is standing at the door, “you know I was searching for you everywhere,” I said holding her arms like a mother. “I know you can’t leave a serial killer alone” she laughed. We headed straight to my car. I drove us to the nearest ice cream shop, and I still can’t believe my mom let me drive her car. After 8 minutes of deep research on different ice creams I decided to have a butterscotch and Angie ordered Belgium chocolate chips with extra chocolate sauce, “that’s my dad’s favorite” I said silently, “mine too since birth,” she replied while we sat next to the counter. I ate my ice cream in silence and remembered my dad who used to take me on ice cream dates on Sunday nights. I missed my dad, and I always will. I returned home and ran directly towards my room, and I lifted a photograph from my bedside table, pressed it against my chest and I dialed a number while falling on my bed.
Photograph: I’m 10 years old and I’m wearing a pink colored barbie dress and my dad is hugging me from behind, he’s wearing a black suit with white tie. It was my 10th birthday.
(Same day) 6 days before party 6
I washed my face before I put on some lipstick. I changed my clothes and now I was in white top, blue skirt, and a black coat. I learned some fashion. I walked down the stairs, and I saw that my mom was standing near the couch with a cup of coffee in hand. “Is that lipstick I see on your face?” she laughed, “I’m going on a date” I replied hiding my face. “I don’t think it’s safe out there dear,” she said looking all pale, “I will be back before 10 mom,” I gave her a hug. “You want my car?” she asked and someone blew a horn twice. “My ride is here,” I headed towards the door. She asked to wait and went running to her room. “Mom I gotta go,” I shouted and she was back. She handed me a new pendant. Harry had a vintage royal blue colored car, “cool pendant, what’s the destination though?” he asked looking at me with those dreamy grey eyes. “The maharaja restaurant and I lost my mom’s snowflake pendant, so she gave me a new one,” I replied while kissing the pendant, I added “I hope you like Indian food,” “never tried once,” he said so quickly I gave him a what the hell look by my eyes. We finally arrived at the restaurant after 15 minutes of ride filled with the story of how Deepika took us there on her birthday this summer. While eating something called Gulab Jamun for dessert Harry said, “this was by far the spiciest food I have ever had that I enjoyed eating without tears in my eyes.” I laughed simultaneously paying for the dinner which I insisted on paying because I asked him out. We sat there on the hood of his car. “You know I was really missing my dad in the afternoon when I came back from the funeral speaking of which I never saw you there,” I turned towards him. “Yeah, I didn’t come to the funeral because Jessica was my ex and she cheated on me with a guy named Charlie,” he said while making a cute face. “I rea….” he kissed me, his hand cupping my face and I felt the warmth and softness of his lips. In no seconds I crossed my arms around his neck and kissed him back so tightly, now there’s all fire in my mouth. After few seconds he backed a little, looked into my eyes, our nose still touching and I said “I want more” in my mind and then I kissed him again. When he dropped me at my place, he said something like, “I hope you liked my spicy Indian lips,” and I laughed really hard. We said our goodbyes. He left.
5 days before party
When I woke up, I thought last night was a dream but when I saw that I’m still wearing the clothes that I wore at my date I smiled looking at myself in the mirror. I took a shower while singing Late Night Talking by Harry Styles. Everything seemed so silly and good. I saw my mom making breakfast so I went by her side gave her a hug from behind. I don’t know why I hugged her but I felt it so I did it. She gave me a half smile, “you read the news dear?” “No, I didn’t why? What’s up with the news anyway?” I asked while drinking orange juice, “two more students were found dead at your school” she said shakingly “and I don’t think the police are doing their work properly, they should increase the security at school,” “don’t worry mom I’ll be safe, and I heard they have installed cameras at all the blind spots,” I gave her another hug but this one lasted a little bit longer. Mom wasn’t always like this but since dad’s accident she changed. She never drank unless she’s drinking with dad, she never went to job even though she had a college degree, and she wasn’t scared about my life so much but now she’s an everyday drinking, full time working and a scared pale looking women. I never said this loudly but today I said it today while giving her that long hug, “I love you mom more than dad used to love you,” I saw a tear falling from her right eye but she turned and went straight back to cooking the breakfast. We didn’t talk while having the breakfast but we both knew that the eggs we were having were over cooked but I didn’t complain since I was the one who hugged her and made her all emotional. I took my bag and headed directly to the school. I was waiting to see Harry again.
(Same day) 5 days before party
I was walking to the school peacefully while listening to the new playlist I made last night when I was thinking about harry and couldn’t sleep. Someone without asking took my earphone off my ears and I almost shouted but stopped when I saw Angie smiling at me, “someone is glowing here and it’s not me,” she sounded just like my mom. Then I told her everything from crying at my bad with my dad’s photograph to making a playlist on the same bed. We were laughing when we entered the High school but stopped as soon as we saw what was going in the school. People were gathered around and shouting “PROTECTION,” “PROTECTION,” “STUDENTS NEED PROTECTION.” The media’s here too and asking the students about the sudden deaths of students. The cops arrived and started pushing the crowd and I got pushed around, watching all these my heart started pumping really fast, everything seemed blurry and when I was about to fall on the ground an arm held me by my shoulders and a sudden image of Harry came into my mind but when I got a clear image it wasn’t Harry, he was the boy that I thought was Jessica’s boyfriend and then my eyes closed itself. When I woke up “I’m Liam,” the boy (who was crying too much at Jessica’s funeral) handed me a water bottle, the room was all dark and dusty, and there’s a lot of light stands, broken lights, colorful outfits, long red cloth that looked like a curtain and I knew I was at the theatre storeroom, “I think I know you, you are Jessica’s friend right? and why did you bring me here?” I asked after drinking the full bottle, he sat beside me “yeah Jessica was best friend, but you know I always liked you since the first time I saw you in the class while you were arguing with the teacher about being late and I thought you looked so cool, I was gonna ask you out about a week ago but couldn’t because I was afraid you would punch me in the face so I asked Jessica to tell you about me and the next day she was found,” “I’m sorry about Jessica and I would never punch you in the face you are really cute, you helped and brought me here remember,” I said while putting a sympathy hand on his shoulder and he suddenly kissed me, I backed for a second then saw his eyes crying and I kissed him back, I don’t know why but my whole body wanted to kiss him even though I didn’t even know him till this morning. My eyes were closed but when I opened them I saw a boy standing at the door, he was Harry. I backed down and my legs couldn’t move even though I wanted to run after Harry who went away, we heard a loud voice coming from the speakers of the room, “all the students must be present at the auditorium immediately.” Damn it Sara. I spent the entire time in auditorium sitting alone and watching Harry looking at me and making an angry face. Liam on the other hand is sitting at the back with his friends and smiling every time I take a look at him. I didn’t know what I was thinking when I kissed back Liam but it never felt bad for kissing him back. Something inside of me felt a little relief when he kissed me. I was so confused about what to tell Harry, but I stopoed thinking about it when some shouted, “what the hell are we supposed to do huh? Sit at home like a bitch.” Everyone laughed and principal asked everyone to stay quiet and finished his speech about new rules. The teachers were sharing a pamphlet about the precautions we should follow in order to stay alive, I bet this was written by Miss Miller who’s our Literature teacher. We were given half day and everyone started talking about murders and deaths while leaving the school building. Liam who had a Tesla asked me to give me a ride home but I declined politely saying my home’s just five blocks away. As soon as I reached my bed, I called Harry to apologize about the kiss but he didn’t pick up, so I left him few messages:
I wanna talk about today.
I will explain everything.
Just pick up the damn phone. he didn’t reply the whole day.
4 days before party
I slept with my phone on my chest. I quickly opened my phone and checked if Harry has texted me back, nope he didn’t. Then while scrolling in our group I saw a link and below it said ‘click on the link to know more about the murders’ and as soon as I clicked on the link a tab opened and it was a newspaper not the one you read while having a cup of coffee. It was a colorful newspaper with all photos of the students who died, there was a caption: comment your theory about all this and it might get posted, a lot of students commented. It was basically the new school’s gossip center. I did a login myself to get some news if possible. I took a shower but this time I wasn’t singing any songs. I checked my phone again for any messages and there was one:
It's my number.
Save it.
-Liam
I ignored it without replying. Mom asked me to take her car since it was safe and all but I had a feeling that I won’t get attacked. I parked it at the first row and I couldn’t believe it there wasn’t a single car except mine so I checked the time and I was half hour early than school time. I sat in my car for a while, listening to my old playlist that cheered me up a little bit but when I saw someone was knocking my glass I actually smiled, it was Angie. I told her everything that happened after we got separated at the entrance. After listening to the whole story she said, “sometimes we think we like someone until we really like someone,” we sat there in silence for few minutes until the ringing bell of school broke it. We parted our ways and I for the very first time entered the class in time even my home room teacher asked me if I’m alright and I smiled but that smile faded when I noticed that Liam was sitting at the next seat from my usual seat. I left the class room as soon as the bell rang. When I reached my locker, I took out the time table and I thanked god while watching it and it said I didn’t have History today, but god had other plans. I was watching Harry coming to my direction and he passed me without saying anything, he didn’t even look at me. I spent the rest of my lectures dodging both Liam and Harry. How ironic both of their names are as same as the One direction members. At lunch I sat at the back of the canteen hiding behind Bobby and Theo who were large enough to cover me entirely. My friends started talking about the News site that was made by one of the students and how it was a brilliant idea to talk about everything without our teachers noticing. “The cops are not that dumb I bet they will take down the site as soon as they found out about it,” I said, the bell rang and I ran straight to my locker but when I reached my locker someone’s already standing there. “Hey Liam” I said without sounding rude, “I know something’s up with you and Harry, I saw him yesterday too, I don’t know what’s the deal between you two but I think you need some fresh air, why don’t we go out, there’s something I wanna show you. Please don’t say no, I know school sucks and I miss Jessica too much to stay here. Please Sara,” I said yes and we left the school through the trees near football court. We walked for few minutes without saying anything and suddenly Liam grabbed my hand and he ran while taking me with him. We were at Jessica’s grave. We sat there holding hands and he hugged me while crying. It felt so peaceful and natural to sit with him, far from everything, after an hour or so we noticed it’s late so we walked back to school again. I was heading towards my car and I saw a boy was standing at my car. He was Harry. I didn’t talk to him and got into car, he didn’t say a word until I reversed a little, he shouted one word, “Tyler” and my heart starts racing as fast as it can. I almost hit Mrs. Pitsburry who’s our math’s teacher, I couldn’t stop thinking about how Harry knows my ex boyfriend who blackmailed me with my nudes that I sent him for his birthday. Stupid right? I know but I ran straight to my room and dialed Tyler’s number, I don’t know why I still had it but now I’m that I had it.
(Same day) 4 days before party
“Hi Tyler”
“Hi Sara”
“I have a question, Did anyone try to reach you like since yesterday. I mean if someone unknown called and asked about our relationship or me?”
“No one called, what happened though? Something wrong?”
“Nope, nothing happened”
I threw the phone on bed and sat on my computer chair. I opened my Instagram on my computer since I didn’t wanna touch my phone with whom I had just talked to the worst person I have ever met in my life. I still cry sometimes thinking about how he blackmailed me. I was an idiot I know but he was my first boyfriend and he was really hot, naïve I know. I checked his Instagram to which I follow from my fake account, I scrolled a little and I could see that he still has our photos on his feed and haven’t removed them. Fuck you Tyler, he has tagged me in every single one of them. Fuck you Instagram for showing the tagged photos. Now I know how Harry knows about Tyler. I took my phone from bed and started texting.
Harry, I wanna talk now.
Don’t fucking ignore me.
Streetway Coffee in 30 mins.
he read my text immediately but didn’t reply.
When I entered the café he was already standing at door. We took a seat at a table near the left corner of entry. We didn’t say a thing until I broke the silence by saying, “I know you are angry about me kissing Liam but it was just a kiss and nothing more, and it wasn’t me who started the kiss.”
“I saw you kissing him back so don’t lie to me on my face” he said while he took out his phone. He started a video, handed me the phone and I saw that I was kissing Liam in theatre supply room. I bet Liam would love to have this video clip but then I noticed that it’s from a high angle. “This is the recording from the CCTV, how did you get this?” “I Hacked into school’s server and believe me this isn’t the only video of you that I have,” he has a smirk on his face. I felt a sudden urge to throw his phone and break it into pieces but I didn’t do it since it will make him angrier and he might look for other videos, “what other videos do you have of me?” tears started falling from my eyes. He stood up walked to the counter and ordered something and waited for it, took it in his hands and sat back on his seat. He bought me my favorite beverage, he took his phone back from my hand and showed me a photo that looked like an invitation, BLOOD BATH PARTY was written in big red font, I took a sip of my mocha and he said, “It’s a date, well it’s a Party but it can be a date too. You have to come with me.” Then without saying anything we finished our drinks and I left without saying goodbye but gave him a forced smile instead. Without doing anything else I went straight to my bed. I couldn’t sleep and there were two reasons, first: I was too hungry, second: I was still thinking about Harry and his Videos, I thought maybe I should ask Tyler if he still has my videos but I stopped thinking about it since my dad made him delete every one of them. I took dad’s photo in my hand and put it back as slowly looking at it when I heard mom shouting ‘DINNER’ I went downstairs and mom made my favorite dish so I was happy at the end of the day, “I love you mom” I shouted.
3 days before party
We were both sitting on my couch and thinking about the same thing, should I really go to the Party with Harry? “Fuck I’m confused as hell, not about what to wear but is it alright to go with him?” I groan loudly since my mom is not home yet. “I think you should because firstly you don’t have any other choice and secondly you owe him a date,” Angie stood up and cupped my face with her hands, “maybe you are right or maybe I should ask Harry what to wear for the party,” I picked up my phone from the coffee table in front of me and started typing,
Hey, quick question. What should I wear?
For the Party.
He read them instantly, and replied
Anything related to Blood or dark or black is an option if you don’t want your dress to be ruined with blood stains.
As soon as I put my phone back on the coffee table it started to vibrate, I took it back and it’s the notifications from the News site. I open it and I saw the same invitation card that Harry showed me but there’s a caption that took my breath for a minute. The caption said: I think I know the killer and he will be revealed in the Party, the founder’s gonna be killed by the killer I thought and I noticed that the timing of post shows 2 mins earlier. Then I check the founder of site and here it was, the name was Weeknd’s Guitar strings. I thought I knew him and I shut down the site and opened texts and started typing,
You made that site. Didn’t you?
You can get into trouble Harry.
He might come after you. The killer.
He replied instantly
I want to find the killer that’s all.
He will be revealed in the party.
You have to come, okay. Dw.
No one knows that I am the founder.
I sighed and told Angie everything, she said that Harry is dumb and might get killed because of his childish obsession of finding the killer. She left after pulling me into a hug while saying good bye. I went to my room since I was tired from doing all the garden work since the morning. When I woke up I felt a lot more sleepy than before, I saw time and it’s way past dinner so I walked straight towards the kitchen. I saw my mom’s sitting on the couch watching House of Dragons. “I love that show mom, why are you watching it without me” I took the plate of meat loaf out of fridge and put it in the oven. She paused the show turned toward me, “okay, we will watch it together.” I took out the plate and sat next to her on the couch, I put down the plate and my mom stood up showing me an empty popcorn bowl. After few minutes of wait she came back with a bowl full of popcorn. I put away the empty plate. Mom fell asleep while watching the 2nd episode, I put a blanket on her.
2 days before party
After my mom fell asleep I went back to my room and jumped directly on my bed. As soon as I rolled my comforter over I fell asleep. As soon as I woke up a sudden thought hit my brain. I threw my comforter aside and jumped out my bed. I opened my wardrobe and took out every dress I had, after thinking for like 40 minutes I selected 2 dresses. One was red and a bit elegant, something that could be wore at an expensive restaurant for a date or something. The second one was a gothic black dress with a skirt made up of net, it had a black corset to complete the fit. Obviously I selected the black one since I didn’t want my red dress to be ruined by Harry’s fake blood. I put away all my dress back, before going to take a shower I thought of checking the News site once more for any news update related to murder but as I opened my phone, I saw there were few texts from Liam.
It’s Liam.
Did you save my number?
But that’s not the point here of-course.
Meet me at the back of the school.
Don’t go in, it’s not safe anymore.
See you in a while.
I ran straight to shower. It took me only 23 minutes to reach the school but I don’t go in as Liam asked me too, I didn’t wanna die anyway. When I took the turn towards the back of the school a black tesla came in sight. I parked beside his car but when I took out my phone to call I heard a loud noise of someone falling behind me. “What the fuck Liam? You were so scared of the killer you climbed the tree,” I gave him a hand and he took it, “I was going to… leave it and get in my car we have to go somewhere else we can’t be seen like this by some cop or any school teachers, they might suspect us,” he said while looking here and there like someone might be spying on us. “I don’t wanna go anywhere with you. I am already in trouble because of you, and for all I know you can be the killer,” I shouted looking straight into his hazel eyes. “How can you say that? Someone killed my only best friend and you think I’m the killer. I just wanna talk about.. nothing leave it you wouldn’t believe it anyway,” he got back into his car. I stood still for a minute and then I opened his car’s door and got in. We didn’t say anything the entire time he drove. We were back at the grave of Jessica Hugo, “why here of all the place?” “it’s related to her Sara,” he held my hand and continued “I never thought Jessica could do suicide or something, she loved her life more than any other person I ever knew but when she kissed Charlie in front of Harry on prom, Harry hated her ever after, everyone liked Jessica except him, it has to be him,” Liam sat in front of the grave stone, “you have any proof? I mean we can’t just call him a murderer because he hated her,” I sat next to him, I was still holding his hand. I could see it in his eyes that Liam wants to find the real killer and he was about to cry. I stood up and made him stand while he made a sad face. I put my palm on his heart, “she’s looking at you Liam don’t cry, smile instead,” I said while holding his face with other hand and suddenly he pulled me towards him. We hugged for few minutes while he cried and then he rubbed off his tears and smiled like he could see her in front of his eyes, then he kissed my head. “We still got hours before school is over, I think we should go to eat something first, I’m starving,” I said while putting on my seat belt. We drove to a café far from the school. We talked, ate and laughed for hours.
(Same day) 2 days before party 12
After I got back home I walked directly to my room and I saw someone was lying on my bed. “oh you are finally home I have been looking for you all over the school,” Harry said getting up from my bed, “How the fuck you entered my house man I am calling the cops for trespassing,” I stood there at my bedroom door. “Don’t call the cops your mom let me in and by the way your welcome for saving your little ass by not telling your mom you weren’t there at school,” he said looking at me, I didn’t understand why he was here so without any waiting I asked, “why are you here?” “To ask you if you told anyone about me being the founder of the News site, some random account messaged me that he/she might know something about me, I tried tracking it down but it was sent from school library so I couldn’t find out who he/she was,” he stood up. I instantly know it was Liam who messaged him but I don’t tell him about that instead I smiled and said, “I told ya you might into trouble, and for that question of yours I never told anyone anything,” he didn’t even say a thing and left. I heard him slamming my front door. I was in such a good mood before meeting him and I might have to ask my mom to not let anyone in without me being present in the house. I instantly went to take a shower, while drying off my hair I pick up the phone and I saw there were 2 new messages from two people, I smiled and opened the first one,
You made me smile today.
I had a great time with you.
I hope you felt the same way.
Thank you, Sara.
And FYI
I still can’t see your DP so save the fuckin number.
And I saved the number naming it Liam(cute smile). Then I opened the other message with a groan.
The date’s still on.
You still have to come to the party.
I used to feel that Harry was a great guy but I’m having second thoughts. He was so cool until I knew some things about him and in the other hand there is Liam who is really cute, sensitive, caring and a genuinely good person. After this date I will ask Liam out. Then I sat on my computer chair and started to think that I want to make dinner and specially something good. So after few minutes of scrolling on Instagram and looking at great pictures of food on the internet I decided to make spaghetti with cheese on top. I took the keys in my hand and headed straight to the door. I came back with the groceries and made the spaghetti with a bit of more than needed cheese. I love cheese, who doesn’t? I ate the dinner alone while watching the office. I packed a plate for mom and put it in the fridge, I was all tired so I went to sleep but obviously after sending a text,
Thanks for today.
You can see my DP now.
Ya and I do feel the same way.
Good night Liam.
I smiled.
1 day before party 13
Someone was shaking me and waking me up. I couldn’t even open my eyes but I did when someone slapped me “wake up, I need to tell you something” Angie sighed, I rubbed my eyes, clicked on the bed side lamp, and without even asking her how did she got here in the first place I asked her, “what’s the time?” and no one replied. I opened my eyes and looked clearly and there was no one in my room except me. fuck! What a bad dream but I can feel the sting on my right cheek. I went to sleep again. It was morning already but I didn’t wake up for school, when I woke up it was already past 9 so without even checking my phone I went straight to shower. I wore some sweatpants and a hoodie, I took my phone and walked to the kitchen for breakfast. I knew mom wouldn’t be there but I did see her card. I took out the milk and made a nice bowl of cereal with some blueberries. I opened my phone and there was a message,
(smile emoji) your DP is really really cute.
See you soon.
I didn’t have a DP. I didn’t reply since I didn’t wanna start the conversation and I did want him to message me again but I was still confused about the see you soon text but I stopped thinking about it. I finished the cereal and went back to my room with the card and when I was just about to sit on my desk chair, I heard a doorbell. I sighed and went to check who’s there, I opened the door and someone jumped directly on me, it was Gia and there were others with her so I did a quick check if everyone was here but my eyes stopped on the third person, Liam is here too. ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAAA’ everyone shouted like they practiced it for a month, it was perfectly in sink, I let them in. Everyone took a seat and then we did a little cake cutting ceremony. While cutting the first piece a memory of my dad came in front of my eyes and exactly at that moment someone whispered in my ears, “he is looking at you Sara don’t cry, smile instead,” so I smiled. After an hour of Truth and Dare with lots of Pizza everyone knew Liam liked me and as a dare he even asked me out, Nathan and Gia told the truth about how they broke up and hooked up for one last time, Bobby and Theo kissed as a dare and I even recorded a video without them noticing, Evelyn and Deepika told everyone that they liked the some guy from the Basketball team and how he turned out to be Gay and everyone laughed. Everyone left except a boy who was standing near the TV and staring at a frame, “you look so much like your mom,” Liam said still looking at it “except my eyes I have my dad’s,” I said moving closer to him. He looked at me and in a second his face was an inch away from mine. We both looked me into each other’s eyes and then our lips merged, he lifted me up and put me on the couch while our lips stuck together, he tasted like cake and oh my god suddenly cake is my favorite dessert on planet, he’s a really good kisser and his tongue knew how to invade my soul. Our lips grew apart for a second and he looked at me and I understood he was asking for my permission and I grabbed his neck and kissed him again giving him the permission and he started taking off my clothes but suddenly I heard a voice, someone rang the doorbell. We grew apart he started adjusting his hair that became messy because of me, I put on my shirt and ran to open the door. My mom came in with some shopping bags in her hand. she saw Liam and turned towards me, “I didn’t know you were having company,” and whispered “did I disturb you teenagers,” I did a no nod and took the bags from her hand and put them on the couch next to Liam. “It’s pleasure to meet you Mrs. Anderson,” Liam stood up and did a hand shake with mom, “and you are?” mom turned toward me so that I can complete her sentence and I do, “He’s Liam and he wasn’t alone here a few minutes ago, everyone came to wish me and Liam stayed to help me clean up the mess,” I handed mom a glass of water. Liam left saying it’s already late. Mom gave me a tight hug and said, “Happy birthday love I went to buy you gifts but you already had one when I came in,” we laughed.
(Same day) 1 day before party 14
I was sitting on my bed with all the presents my mom and friends got me. I got two watches, twisted book series, a dress from mom, a box of Ferrero rocher that I loved, and there’s one present left to open. I saved it for last, it’s from Liam and I didn’t think so he pretty much got me something good since he didn’t know me that well and he obviously didn’t know my preference. It’s a small box wrapped in a purple wrapper, he obviously knows my favorite color. There’s is a small sticker that says: From Liam, I peeled the sticker trying my best not to tear it a little bit, I peeled the wrapper and it’s a small black velvet jewellery box. I opened it and there it was, a beautiful purple diamond ring. There were small black diamonds around the big purple diamond and something was engraved on sides of the ring: Hope, I took out the ring and there was a letter inside it,
Hii Sara, I knew you expected something different from my gift and I was gonna give you a damn watch. I bet you have dozen of those but when I was thinking about what to gift you my mom came in my room. So I asked her what to get as a gift for a close friend and she gave me this ring, she said she bought it for Jessica’s birthday. She gave me the ring saying I can do anything with it so I thought why not give it to the someone I love. Yes I said it and I know its totally weird to say it without even knowing you that well or spending time with you that much but I assure you I fell in love with you the day I saw you. Please accept this gift and smile.
Your lovingly,
-Liam
I wore the ring and smiled, it fitted perfectly. I kept it hidden inside my closet. I was gonna take a nap when I heard a knock on my bedroom door, “Happy birthday my little princess” Angie ran and gave me a hug. “That’s what my father used to call me,” I hugged her tightly. “I know” she replied and we hugged for some time. I might have cried a little but Angie rubbed all the tears away. I told her everything from what happened yesterday and how my friends surprised me today, I even told her about how me and Liam were about to hook up on my couch. I never had a bestfriend in my life but now I had one and I loved to tell her everything. We talked a lot about how Liam is perfect for me, we talked what shoes should I wear with my black gothic dress tomorrow. She told me I should totally wear the ring Liam gifted me but I argued that I didn’t wanna wear it on a date with Harry. She was about to leave and I suddenly remembered the morning dream so I told her about it and she left saying, “That might be true I sleep walk to other people’s home and wake them up,” we laughed and I went back to sleep. Someone woke me up, “we have dinner reservations at your dad’s favorite place,” mom said and I instantly ran to shower. I was really happy that my mom planned a dinner for me. I wore the dress mom gifted me today and it looked really perfect on me. We went to the restaurant and had our food. I insisted on paying for the dinner and mom allowed me to. After dinner while walking out of the restaurant I asked, “what about dessert?” and mom replied, “let’s have Belgium chocolate chips with extra chocolate sause,” we both smiled and mom took out a small gift box from her purse. “what’s this?” I asked while opening it but she didn’t reply until I took out a car key from the box. I looked at her my hand shaking the car key in front of her eyes and she pointed at a black Chevrolet Chevelle. “It is dad’s car, isn’t it?” tears were falling out of my eyes, “I had it repaired and colored, I hope you like black,” she said smiling “I love it,” I hugged her.
Party-day 15
I woke up with a smile on my face. I got out of the bed and the first thing I did was to stand at the door and look at dad’s car I mean my car. I named it snape, because it was black and my dad loved Harry Potter. The next thing I wanted to do was to get ready and get a perfect keychain for the car key. I went to the bathroom and got ready, I wanted to wear a perfect black outfit to match my car so I wore a black turtleneck, a black long coat, black pants and black boots. I did put a black scarf at the end to finish the outfit. When I came down the stairs I saw mom standing at the kitchen filling a bowl with cereal, “you look like night,” she said, I gave her a kiss, “I am matching with the car and going out for a drive.” She didn’t say anything but she did wait here with her hands and I understood she was gonna hand me some money but when she came back she handed something so precious, “This is,” I said looking at my dad’s old silver Rolex in my hand. I jumped on my mom giving her a tight hug and she kissed my forehead, “don’t you ever loose that watch,” “I never will mom I never will.” I walked to the car, opened the driver’s seat door and something hit my mind,
Text me your address.
Wear something black.
Not a suit but something casual.
See you soon.
He texted me back his address in a second like he was waiting on his phone for my text. I parked my car outside a mansion and waited for him to walk out of that big metal gate. I waited for a few minutes and the gate opened and a boy in black coat, black t-shirt, black pants and black boots came out. “Nice ride, 69 Chevrolet Chevelle is it?” Liam said moving his hand around the car. “It was my grandfather’s car then he passed it to my dad, now my mom gifted it to me, you like it?” I replied holding him into a hug. He kissed me then we got into the car, “Where to and you better tell me you’ve named this bad boy,” he said putting on the seatbelt, “To buy a keychain for my Snape,” I started the car. “Just follow my lead and I know exactly where to go,” he said putting his hand on my hand which was on the gear. I followed every turn he said and we were finally at a Shop, it was a Harry Potter Gift shop, “I didn’t knew you were a Harry Potter fan,” I said looking at that wonderful store, “Jessica was, she brought me here once,” he held my hand and we walked straight into the store. A wall was filled with different colored book sets, there were collections of wands, chocolate frogs like the one they showed in the movies, but we passed all that and we stopped at a corner that said The Potion Master’s collection, it was a collection of Snape. I looked at small wand keychains but then a keychain caught my eyes, it said ‘Always’. It was my dad’s favorite line from Snape. We got out while eating chocolate frogs and Liam bought me a time turner pendant, I bought him a wand of Ron Weasley. He laughed, “so we are Weasley couple now,” then we got back into my Snape. We went on a long drive around the city. We had lunch at a café which was like decorated with poems and quotes of William Shakespeare, the food was good but the staff wore dress from 16th century. We arrived at Liam’s huge gate when he asked, “Blood bath party, you are coming with me right?” “I’m sorry but I have to end things with Harry today and then I will fucking kiss you in front of him every damn day,” I said giving him a good-bye kiss, He smiled and without saying anything he walked toward his gate, when the gate opened he turned waved his wand saying I love you with just his lips, I kissed the time turner and he smiled. I waited there until he wasn’t in my sight. I went back home while listening to the song until I found you by Stephen Sanchez.
(Same day) Party-day 16
I was taking a nap until the same Angie’s dream woke me up. I got up and had a glass of water. I took my phone and checked if I had any unread messages from Liam, but I saw there was a message from
Harry instead,
I will pick you up at 6:45. Be ready.
I wanted to reply I’m not coming but I thought this was my last date anyway. I looked at the time on my phone and it was already 6. I took a quick shower and wore the black gothic dress. I did a bit of make-up and my hair were wet so I let it as it was. It showed 6:43 when I opened my front while looking at me phone’s screen. Harry arrived in his blue car wearing a black shirt and a black hat. He opened the passenger’s seat door for me and I took the seat. He didn’t say a single word until I broke the silence, “what happened to your left eye?” I said looking at a small bruise under his eye, “I fell while playing ball,” he said without even looking at me. He sounded mad but I didn’t why was he mad at me. We both didn’t say a word until we arrived at a house, the house looked like nobody lived at that place, there were broken windows, huge grass that the owner didn’t care to cut, the house was huge and I could see some boys and girls are standing at the door, and suddenly they got in, I still could see everything from the window. Harry took my hand, “we are on a date remember,” “how can I forget that,” I let him hold it thinking it was the last time he will ever hold my hand. we went in and everyone was wearing black and the lighting was really red and it kept changing from red to white. We walked a little ahead and someone handed me a glass of some red colored drink and I took it, it tasted sour and sweet at first but bitter at the end. Harry left me saying he will be back in a minute. I looked around and I saw my friends sitting in a room playing some drinking game but I didn’t bother to meet them since I didn’t want to explain everything about Harry. I asked the guy who gave me drink for another one and someone hugged me from behind, if it’s Harry I’m gonna leave immediately after slapping him. I turned, “it is you” I said hugging Liam back, he was wearing a black leather jacket, a black t-shirt, jeans and black converse shoes, “it is me” he smiled. “I don’t think it’s a good idea hugging someone else’s date,” I backed a little bit, “I know but I can’t control myself if the date’s gonna be wearing that,” he pointed at my dress. “I have to find Harry, I’m sorry but I gotta go,” I walked away from Liam, I took the drink while walking away and finished it in a single sip like it was gonna decrease my pain. I went to kitchen and someone put a knife on my neck, “you look too pretty I will have to kill you my darling,” someone said from back “kill me bitch if you can” I turned, and saw Angie smiling. “I have to do something, meet you in a few,” she walked away while doing the silence symbol with the knife in her hand. I walked to another room and someone spilled a bucket of fake red blood on me, “What the fuck?” I shouted and ran in search of bathroom. But the music was suddenly stopped, “can I have your attention everyone,” someone said in mic and everyone gathered in the hall from where the voice came. It was Harry, who was standing on a chair, I went there and stood next to him since I was his date, “as everyone read on the News site today I’m gonna reveal the killer and trust me when I tell you he is here with us,” silence swooped in the room “The killer is,” Harry waited for a few seconds to reveal and then said, “Sara Anderson” everyone in the room looked at me and I looked at everyone than I looked at Harry and suddenly someone stabbed harry. I looked at him falling from the chair and then at the hand who held the knife, wait a minute I have seen that knife. I didn’t want to look at the face of the hand holding knife but I slowly moved my eyes from knife to face and I saw her, my bestfriend Angelina. I could hear everyone screaming and running out. I closed my eyes and when I opened it, I screamed my voice out, I saw that I was the one who was holding the knife. I closed my eyes and opened it again but this time I saw Angie is holding the knife, “How did you know it was me?” Angie asked, Harry slowly managed to show the pendant he was wearing. It was my mom’s snowflake pendant.
17
“I found it in Jessica’s hand, I was the one who found her body,” harry said spilling out blood from his mouth. I heard a thud and everything got silent, there was a sudden sting at the back of my head, everything went to blurry and I fell on the ground. I woke up, everything is blurry. I’m fully soaked in blood. My head hurts like someone knocked me down with a rod, my hands are tied with handcuffs, there’s knife in my hand, and all I can hear is sharp sirens of ambulances and police cars. I see a face, it’s little blurry but I knew who it was, “why did you kill her? Why did you kill Jessica?” Liam shouted, “I…”