𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄: 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

Background color

Font

Font size

Line height

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚

Adora found herself drifting off again, her gaze locked on the empty seat that had once belonged to her best friend, Casey. The chair seemed untouched, almost hauntingly still, as if Casey might walk in at any moment, tossing her hair back and giving Adora that bright smile she always had. But instead, it just stood there and the blonde girl would never take a seat on it again. The though made Adora's heart ache with pain, feeling like she could burst in tears at any minute.

Sidney sat in the chair on the right side of Casey's and Adora often felt her best friend looking over at her with worried eyes. Adora hadn't said much to Sidney yet this morning, not really in the mood to follow classes after what had happened or just talk in general.

When their eyes met, though, Adora forced a small smile, her lips barely curving up. It was a smile that said, "I'm okay," even if everything inside her felt far from it. She needed Sidney to believe it. She needed everyone to believe it, even if her voice cracked whenever she forced herself to talk, even if her hands shook whenever she picked up her pen. She had to be fine, whatever it took.

The stares from her classmates only made it worse. Every time she looked up, someone was watching her, glancing away quickly when she noticed. It was worse than the pity-filled glances she'd gotten outside of school, like they didn't know how to act around her anymore.

A knock was heard on the door and a student walked in, handing a note over to Mrs. Tate, their English teacher, who gave the boy, James, who was undoubtedly a few years younger than they were, a thankful smile before looking down on the paper and reading the words that were written on it.

"Adora." Mrs. Tate spoke, making the Riley girl look up from Casey's seat over to her teacher. "It would appear to be your turn."

Adora gave a small nod in her direction as she picked up the English book that they were talking about, up with shaking hands so that she could place it in her bag and get out of the room as fast as she could. The longer she was in here, the more trouble she had with thinking and breathing. People around weren't even pretending to look away from her anymore when she caught them looking.

As she placed her bag over her shoulder and stood up to place her chair under the desk, she felt a hand grab her. Adora let out a gasp as she looked at the person holding her hand to find that it was just Sidney.

"It's gonna be okay." Sidney spoke to her while giving Adora's hand a squeeze. Adora thankfully nodded, looking down at her, before taking her leave out of the classroom. As she closed the door behind her, the girl pressed her back against the lockers next to the room, taking a deep, shaky breath as she felt her nerves more clearly than ever.

She leaned against the cold metal lockers, pressing her palms to her face as she tried to steady herself. Her heart was racing, each beat thudding painfully, and her mind kept circling back to the last night's horrific event and how she had heard her best friend scream before passing out, not being able to help her in any way. The last memory she had of Casey, was of the girl in panic, tears rolling over her face and her eyes loaded with fear.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚

"Who's next?" Sheriff Burke asked as he sat down with Deputy Riley in Principal Himbry's office. The three were in there so that they could interview all the students. They had hope that someone knew something that would help them solve the case.

"Adora." Dewey replied and Sheriff Burke nodded.

"How is she doing?" Burke asked with a worried frown on his face.

"Not so well." Dewey replied as he looked down at his daughter's name on the paper, fatherly worry settling in as he laid the clipboard away.

Some people at the station were convinced that Adora had something to do with Casey's death. She was at the Baker's house and she was the only one left alive to live and tell the story of what had happened that night. Casey's parents had told the sheriff that they had found Adora passed out on the floor, shaking her in worry asking if she was okay and where Casey was, and Adora had given him the same version of how she had woken.

There were also people that believed that Adora was completely innocent and that she didn't do anything to hurt Casey or Steve. Her father, Sheriff Burke and some other people knew that he girl wouldn't hurt a fly, never mind hurt her best friend.

She had basically grew up at the station, going to work with her father when he didn't find anyone to babysit her. Most of them could still remember how she kept herself busy playing with her stuffed baby duck or how she was always staring at the pink or red roses on the desk of officer Bailey.

Adora stood awkwardly by the door. She didn't really know what to do, she hadn't even been in the headmaster's office before, so she just quietly stood there until her dad noticed her. Dewey gave her a small smile as she stepped further into the office.

"Here, take a seat, Adora." Headmaster Himbry said to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, making the girl flinch as he guided her over to the chair every student had sat on while the police had been asking them questions. Her flinch wasn't missed by Dewey, who glared at the headmaster for scaring his daughter, and Burke.

"Sheriff Burke." Adora gave the man in front of her a small smile, doing the same towards her father.

"How is everything?" Sheriff Burke asked.

Adora faked another smile as she told them she was fine. She was just hoping that smile was convincing enough. She didn't want them to be worried about her.

"We're gonna keep this very brief, Adora. The police just want to ask you a few questions, you okay?" Principal Himbry said softly, placing a hand under her chin to lift her face up. Adora tensed, feeling her discomfort deepen. She pulled back slightly, nodding in response, though her heart hammered in her chest.

"Adora, how close were you and Casey Becker?" Burke asked, seeing how the girl shifted in the seat from how close Himbry was standing to her. Adora casted a nervous glance at the headmaster, who still stood a bit too close, hovering.

"The last few years, very. Casey is my best friend. Was my best friend." Adora quietly replied, fidgeting with the ring that hang around her necklace. Having to correct herself to speak about Casey in the past hurt her. It felt unnatural.

Sheriff Burke nodded, his gaze never leaving her. "And before that?"

"Not as close. We used to fight a lot as kids, but we were little so it didn't really mean that much." Adora answered again, completely honest with the others in the room. She didn't see any point in lying about something. And besides, everyone knew that she and Casey hadn't always been on the best terms as kids. Even her dad could vouch for that.

Burke paused, jotting something down before looking up. "And Steve?"

"Didn't really know him that well. He was Casey's boyfriend. I spoke to him a few times when I was over at Casey's house or just here at school during lunch."

Sheriff Burke shifted in his chair, leaning forward with a thoughtful expression. "Alright, Adora. You mentioned seeing Steve a few times when you were at Casey's house. Did you ever notice anything strange between them? Any arguments, or maybe... anything that seemed off?"

Adora shook her head, a slight frown crossing her face as she thought back. "No, not really. I mean, they seemed happy whenever I was around. They'd joke, laugh... Casey seemed really into him. I never noticed any issues."

"And, Adora, in the days leading up to what happened last night, did anything strange happen with Casey or Steve that you know of?" Burke asked.
"No, not really."

Burke nodded. "And what about you, Adora? Did you get any strange calls or notice anyone watching you? Anything that felt abnormal?"

"No, nothing like that. It's been normal. Just school and hanging out with friends. Nothing creepy or weird of any kind." Adora answered again and Burke nodded.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──