A month later...

The girls had moved on the best they could. They did this by never mentioning Jessica as if they did one of them would get depressed and the idea of crying in school was something none of them enjoyed. They weren't heartless bitches. They were just desperate to cling onto the small piece of pride they already have.

Hayley sat at the study table, her hands crossed on her lap as she stared down at her open bag on the floor. Her murder book was lying there. Ellie had told her to get rid of it and she'd tried so hard but instead she kept it there in her bag, knowing that no matter who ordered her to she'd never be able to throw it away.

The sound of a chair being pulled away from the table caused her to look up at Carrie, who had just arrived. "Hello you." She said gently, her eyes closing slowly as she took a deep breath and reopened them. A huge, fake, smile formed on her face as she picked up her pen and tapped it against the paper.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"It's been a month. You think they'd have found her by now." She whispered gently her hands fidgeting getting faster as she got more angry at the idea her friend's murderer was still walking around.
"Hayley, it only happens that fast in your detective programmes." Laughing, Hayley placed the pen down and sighed.
"I'm sorry." She whispered running a hand through her hair and then burying her face into her hands as she battled back tears.

Arms wrapped around her and pulled her face into her chest, stroking her ginger hair gently. Everyone knew it was hard for Hayley to show emotion and for her to be there in tears knew that something was bothering her. "Tell me." Hayley pulled away and shook her head.
"No." She muttered before turning to look at her notepad. "Sorry. I'm so swamped with work it's annoying." She teased smiling over at her best friend. Her friend smiled back, her eyebrows raised.

When had Hayley started keeping secrets?