Random

The pen scratched across the paper, the aggression in her movements and the tears that blurred her vision stopped her from staying on the faint blue lines. She couldn’t believe what they’d done. Going on holiday? ON HOLIDAY! Without her. Without Ellie. Without Lily. Disgust ran through her as she threw the notepad against the wall. The tears weren’t sad ones. They were angry tears. Tears of hate. Tears of pain! The book lay open on her sister’s bed, the latest entry open for them all to read..

So they thought they’d be able to get away with it. Not tell us. Just vanish off the face of the world. I’d like to see Carrie try. I mean, we’d get suspicious when the stupid geek didn’t spend every minute of them four days on the fucking computer! I knew Jessica was a bitch. Everyone knows Jessica is a bitch. She’s out for one thing. Herself. She always has been and probably always will be. Me and Katie have never seen eye to eye so for all I care, she could go and party in the sea. Catch pnuemonia because of the cold water. Darius should have known better and should have convinced them to tell us but I’d never expect him to. I hate them. I hate her. I hate her. I hate her. I hate her… I HATE HER!

That page was later destroyed and found in tatters in the bedroom bin by her sister, Laura. However the words “I hate her” had been bolded and still seemed to be the only words in tact.

A page of the book had “I HATE HER!” written over and over again. Not that anyone else would know. Or who HER was?

***

“You can’t really want us to have fun here, can you?” Hayley snapped at her parents.Apparently the parents had cooked up a night out for all the girls and Darius just so that they could have a laugh again and realise that they still had life left to live for. That Jessica and Katie would want them living life large.
“Fun is only mildly putting it.” Her mother said handing her some spending money before thrusting her out the door.
“If Harrison rings…”
“We’ll tell him to call back.” Her mother said laughing closing the door behind her. Hayley groaned looking down at herself in the tight green dress, silly heels and her hair done up. She hated going out.

***

With the help of alcohol they’d all relaxed and were moving to the beat of the music. Hayley and Carrie laughed as they moved against each other. Their hands linked as they looked at each other. The two lesbian lovers were back in town. Everyone was moving together.

Dancing. Laughing. Singing. Having a good time.

All the girls were being flirted with by other men in the club. Hayley and Carrie were separated, being forced to dance with men. Hayley laughed as she moved dirtily against the stranger, her arms wrapped around his neck. The look of happiness on her face was making her friends all smile as they danced with their own partners.



The guy sat in the dark shadows of the club, his hand attached to his face as he watched her move with the man. He knew he couldn’t trust. Tomorrow…

Tomorrow, he’d teach her a lesson. One she’ll never forget.

Stepping Up

The (once eight, now six) girls sat at their table at school. The sympathy of all the other students annoyed them all. They heard them whispering, talking about it. Hayley had been sat in a toilet cubicle listening to two girls talk about it…

“Did you hear about the Katie girl?” The voice asked, the sound of a lipgloss pen squelching into it’s tube made Hayley roll her eyes.
“Burnt down in her house.” The other one said with a slight hint of amusement in her voice. “I can’t believe that’s two of them down.”
“I know! The quiet ones! Seriously. You’d think the murderer would at least go after the losers.”
“Talk about insensitive!” Hayley growled as she stepped out of the toilet cubicle, her hands turning the taps on the sink and let the nuke warm water run over her hands. “The unfortunate fact is murdering the nice people not you fucking bitches!” She growled angrily before storming out of the toilets.

… people should just get attacked at times for their insensitive comments that apparently makes them feel good. So some people use jokes to cover up upsetting subjects but that was off the mark. She sighed as she ran her hands through her hair.

“What are the funeral arrangements?”
“To dig a hole and throw her in.” Hayley mused lightly before shrugging. “Her mum is sorting it out. I think Gina is taking over.”
“Oh what a shock…” Ellie sniped before leaning back against her chair. All their faces were fresh from make-up today because they didn’t know when they were going to burst into tears and ruin their mascara and eyeliner.
“God knows why she thinks anyone should care. She didn’t even want to come to her party!” Carrie snapped angrily biting her lip lightly as she noticed Gina walking towards them.

Gina Gilly was a first class pain in the arse. With long brown hair that was always greasy looking and always down even though it had never been straightened (therefore was always kinky because of when she wore bobbles) that looked disgusting and you just wanted to run a comb through it (or even better shave the damned thing off). Her face was always caked in make up at irrelevant times. She preyed after men like women of the night. Her nose was too big and was always in everyone elses business. She knew more about everyone else did than everyone did!

“Hey guys. I thought I’d come find someone else who was just as upset about this whole business as I am.” SHe whispered in an overdramatic voice. Hayley raised her eyebrows at Ellie before laughing.
“Keep looking then.” She whispered harshly.
“Excuse me?”
“You wasn’t Katie’s friend. You are no ones friend. You only ever care about yourself.” Lily shouted finally feeling good that she could let her anger out at this cow.
“How dare you!”
“We dare.” Keeley whispered. “We cared about Katie. And you just want to get all upset so that people rush over to you and ask for a story.”
“So why don’t you do us a favour? And get lost!” Roxie whispered looking up as Gina stood at her shoulder.
“If that’s how you want it…” She whispered her voice whiney as if hoping they’d change their mind.
“It’s how we always want it.” Gina turned round and stormed off.

“Katie would never believe we finally stood up to that bitch…”

What?!

She fell down onto her bed, tears falling down her cheeks as she realised that the last thing she and Katie had down were affirm how much they hated each other (being civilised was their game). To now learn that Katie was dead and Hayley could never apologise for the slanging matches, the bitter comments and the simple fact she hated her was going to drive her crazy.

She curled up in a ball against the corner, clinging to her teddy bear as she chipped the black nail varnish off her thumbnail. Who was out to get them? Who was inside her head? More importanly why were they inside her head? What the hell did they get out of it?

There was a knock at the door and looked over, tears blurring her vision (times like this she praised her allergy to cosmetics) and smiled as she saw Harrison. “You didn't have to come...” She whispered through her tears, running a hand over her face so that she could move her fringe out of the way. He moved over to her and cupped her cheek in his hand.
“I'd come running for you every time.” He whispered taking hold of her lips gently.
“I'm so lucky to have you.” She whispered back clinging to him as she felt more tears being released over the fact another one of her friends was dead.

She looked over at him, saw the hurt in his eyes (probably due to the fact this was the first time he'd seen her cry) “I'm sorry. You was meant to be going to a party tonight.”
“Who wants to go to a silly party when they're girlfriend is off having fun elsewhere?”
“Even that's not happening now.”
“Well come to my party. Take your mind off things.”

Hayley knew she should say no. Mourn a little over Katie's death. But it was no real loss to her. Katie detested her more than she detested... whatever it was she detested (okay, Hayley really was at the bottom but let's not go in that) and she found herself wanting to please Harrison. “I'd like that...”
“Go get your gladrags on.” She smiled as she stood up from her crouched position, kissing his cheek lightly.

***

Ellie sat on her bed, her pink laptop rested on her knee as she looked at the letter she had ust written. It blamed Hayley for the two murders. In her head it all made sense. Motive, reasoning, time... But could she really blame her friend? That one person who sat there and listened to her through thick and thin, understood what annoyed her (hey, they survived church together – that's an annoying thing). She looked at the open e-mail where she was going to post it to someone (anyone) just so it felt as if she cuold let it off her chest.

She pressed the backspace button.

And cried as she watched the message get deleted character by character.

Question Time

Police sirens startled them and they turned round to see the police car stopping in the car park across the road from them. A groan escaped the lips of Lily as she noted it was the same on who’d spoke to them about Jessica (she tried desperately to remember his name but couldn’t so she gave up). He spotted them and his face fell grim as he started towards them.

“Oh God.” Hayley snorted as she also spotted him dodging the cars and noticed that he was actually quite attractive in a uniform man kind of way (basically she’d screw him if he promised to wear the uniform). “What’s he want now?” She grumbled moving her bag further up over her shoulder as it was starting to get heavy.

He stepped into the building and looked around at them all. “I’m afraid you won’t be going to Katie’s house for your barbecue.”
“Are you stalking us?” Ellie asked raising her eyebrows as she pursed her lips. This was getting weird. Who normally had police officers following their every move.
“No. I’ve just been called by the police at Katie’s house.” The girl’s all rose from their feet, their heartbeats speeding up as they looked at them.
“Has something happened to Katie?” Carrie whispered biting her lip gently, not wanting to know the answer (even though she already knew the answer in her mind)
“Her house was burnt down.” He looked over at them, saw the tears starting to build in their eyes (he should have done this somewhere else was his only thought as he saw the other people in the interchange staring at them). “It was arson.”
“Someone really was after her.” Keeley whispered looking down at her hands.
“You promised her!” Carrie turned to look at Hayley, her eyes open in horror. “You promised her she was going to be okay.”

Looking down at the ground, she ran her hands through her hair and felt tears starting to fill her eyes. She had promised. She had swore that there wasn’t some psycho out to get them. How stupid was she to make that promise?

Her phone buzzed and she reached into her pocket.

A message of Harrison (inside her mind she was smiling) as she opened the message and felt more tears fall.

Hope you have a great time tonight. Don’t get too close to the BBQ fire. I know how clumsy you are. Fire burns. I Love You. X

Looking up at the police officer she shook her head. "Why is this happening to us?"
"To you guys?" He asked looking over at her, his arms crossing over his chest.
"You have to admit, Officer. Two of our friends are dead." Lily stepped in and looked at him. "Why?"
"We don't know."
"Well why are you wasting your time here with us!" Ellie shouted angrily at him not caring about the scene she was making (women started to mutter about teens today and Hayley found herself wanting to beat them one), all she cared about was her friend's.

"I have one question for you all."

Those few lines caused all of them to take a deep intake of breath as they waited ("on the edge of their seats") for it.

"Another shell was found at the crime scene. What could that symbolise?" Hayley pursed her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest, her glare aimed at Carrie.
"They went on holiday. Maybe they picked up some crazy stalker without realising."
"They?" The officer asked (eventually they'd ask his name as he knew they didn't remember)
"Jessica. Katie. Carrie. Darius." Ellie voice aloud, the disgust present in her voice as she also glared at Carrie before turning to look back at the nameless officer.

The officer picked up on that. Two of them were dead. Shells being left behind.

They had a lead.

Where's Katie?

The six girls crowded at the bus interchange, their happy laughter echoed through the small building (irritating a few of the people standing by but they just didn’t appear to care) as they looked at their watches, waiting for Katie to meet them.

They’d planned on going shopping today to buy essentials for their birthday BBQ. It was going to be the basic stuff (meat, chocolate and alcohol) and then they’d all set off down to her house and party until the early hours of the morning due to the fact Katie lived in the middle of nowhere without neighbours (no one to complain about noise levels).
Impatience was starting to set in as they tapped their feet against the cheap marble floor. Ellie groaned as she realised she’d stepped in disposed gum and it was now stuck on the bottom of her brand new heels (£12 in Garage. It had been decent she’d though). Sitting down on one of the hard benches, she used a spare penny to scratch it off. Using every insulting word about the stupid idiot you’d thrown the intruder to her shoe on the floor.

“She’s not normally this late…” Hayley started wrapping her arms around herself shuddering (eventually she’d realise she was stood under the airvent, right now she was too busy moaning). Keeley laughed as she looked over at her.
“You have no right to talk about punctuality.”
“Hey. I’ve been getting better recently!” Hayley said laughing as she ran a hand through her straightened hair, staring at the buses that were coming and going.

The bus Katie should have been on arrived and Hayley sighed moving outside the main door to get phone reception (what was the use of phones if you could never get signal in dire emergencies?). Dialling in Katie’s number, she gave the other girls eyes when she reached the voicemail.

“Katie. Where the hell are you? We’re all bored out of our minds waiting for you! Ring me when you get this!”

***

The police officers moved up to the bedroom, shocked to hear the twinkling of a mobile phone. The sound took them towards a drawer. Pulling it open they found an unharmed mobile and diary (lucky really, as they could now see what was meant to be happening). The mobile’s screen said that a Hayley was ringing for her and the officer sighed.

“The second one from that school.” He muttered noticing the emblem on the front of the diary.
“And apart of that group…” The second officer grumbled pointing at a cindered photo. Bending down to pick it up, he saw it was a small photo of four friends on a beach somewhere. The first victim was smiling at the camera, her arm around the blonde’s shoulders.
“Where are the rest of them?” The detective asked.
“Someone obviously took the photo…” (they just didn’t realise that friends could be cold enough to leave half the group out on a group holiday…)

Katie's Comeuppance

The girl sighed as she moved around her bedroom, panicking about her upcoming birthday celebration. All her friends would be here expecting an amazing barbecue that she couldn’t hold because her mother had suddenly decided to spring on her that she was going away for a fortnight. How selfish was that?!

Flopping down on her bed, she hid her face in her folded arms as she thought of being in this large house on her own for a whole two weeks. Normally she’d have had Jessica over to keep her entertained but that wasn’t going to happen now, was it? She sighed as she thought she might invite Lily. Lily was always good at keeping people entertained and would probably scare away and scary monster. Hopefully.

Downstairs, not that she’d noticed, a figure was walking around in the dark. They were being weighed down by the heavy petrol can they held. Their eyes glinted in the moonlight as they gently spread the thick liquid over the furniture downstairs moving towards the stairs and splashing it up to her bedroom door. Smiling they gently painted the door with petrol. A small smile spread on their face as they heard the faint sound of her crying.

Moving back downstairs they moved to the back door where the trail of petrol started, pulling out a box of matches, they coldly lit one. Flicking it down on the ground, the glint in their eye brightened as the orange flames aggressively consumed the treat they’d handed it. They left in a hurried pace.

Katie sighed as she smelt something burning. Lifting her head from her hands she screamed at the amount of thick smoke consuming her bedroom. What was happening here? She moved to the bedroom window as she saw flames flicking underneath the door. A liquid was also there and she didn’t want to get closer to examine it because she immediately knew what it was.

“She promised there was nobody after us!” She screamed banging her fists on the window. “She promised!” She screamed again and again until she got weaker, her body slumping down on the floor as she continually spluttered from the smoke that she’d inhaled. “She promised…” She croaked as her last words, her eyelids closing as she blacked out.

The arsonist stood in the back garden, the glint still in their eyes as they stared up at the window. Happy to watch her collapse. To know that her life was over. To know she’d paid as well…

Acceptance

She fidgeted with the long white dress she wore, wondering if she could pull off the black polka dots. Deciding she could she ran a hand through her freshly curled hair and looked over at her sister. “Why am I so nervous?” She whispered running her sweating hands over her skirt, swerving from her sister’s slap.
“Because it’s you. Fuck knows why you took drama.”
“Because I’m amazing at it.” She said pouting sexily and digging her hand in her hair, posing.
“You bighead.” She said throwing her pillow at her causing Hayley to laugh as she winked at her.

The car pulled up outside and out stepped Dale, Lacey’s boyfriend. Hayley smiled over at him before letting him into the living room. “I’m here for the big unveiling.”
“What? You two are meant to be coming to the damned restaurant.”
“We have better things to do.” Her sister taunted wriggling her eyebrows, causing her sister to wrinkle her nose.
“I do not want to know…”
“Well you have a boyfriend now, you’ll be doing it soon.” Hayley raised her eyebrows before smiling.
“Some of us can keep our knickers up for longer than a month into a relationship.” Lacey laughed before clicking her fingers and pointing at her sister.
“Touché!”

“Wow Lacey, you are as beautiful as your sister.”
“If not more attractive.” Dale slimed as he held onto Lacey as if scared she’d feel attraction to Harrison. Lacey smiled nodding her head.
“Oh, Hayley. We date such charmers!” She laughed as she took hold of Harrison’s hand.
“Ready to face the music of my friends?”
“Born ready…” He whispered taking hold of her lips gently before leading her out.

***

The girls all stood outside the restaurant looking at her. “Are you okay?” They asked a fretting Carrie who was pacing backwards and forwards.
“No! Our friend is dating some guy off the internet that she’s met twice! And we’re all meeting him for dinner! Hello, he could be a killer!” They all turned to glare at her.
“This isn’t telly.” Ellie snapped angrily rubbing her arms to protect her from the cold.
“And Hayley isn’t stupid!” Lily also pointed out.
“Don’t ruin this for her, Carrie.” Katie muttered running a hand through her blonde hair.
“You mean you guys are actually going to accept him?”
“Yes.” They all chorused looking at her, their eyes determined as they glared at her. She just sighed angrily and continued pacing.

***

“Thankyou for this.” She whispered when they left that night. Her friends had been nice, except for Carrie, and she was so thankful to him for sticking with her. He looked over at her, his hand brushing her shoulder gently.
“Don’t worry. I’d do anything for you.” She laughed gently before leaning over and taking his lips with hers.
“Thankyou, Harrison.”
“My pleasure, Hayley.” He whispered against her lips, his hands raking through her hair. “Can I see you next weekend?”
“I don’t see why.. Oh, no. I’m at Katie’s house. Sorry.” She said before kissing him again. “Weekend after.” He nodded resignedly before leaning back against his chair.
“Sounds fine.”

Somebody's Out There

They crowded round her that next morning at school. She looked over at the ceiling as she clung to Gemma, who was always there to solve her problems. “Someone attacked Scotty?” Ellie asked for clarificiation, trying to think of what cold blooded bastard could attack a dog. Katie nodded, her eyes filling with tears as she leant her head against Hayley’s shoulder.

“Something’s happening here guys. Someone is seeking us out.” Katie finally managed to whisper.
“What the hell makes you say that?” Hayley spat out angrily, her hands shaking as she bit her lip gently. She’d long since considered that. Someone was definitely in her head.
“Come on Jessica was murdered and then Scotty was attacked!”
“Could be a total coincidence, Katie.” Carrie whispered biting her fingernails. Katie shook her head as she gently rose from her chair, Gemma following suit.
“I refuse not to see it.” She whispered before leaving, Gemma following like the little lap dog she was.

Lily and Ellie looked over at Hayley, who just shook her head. “It’s just a coincidence. This has nothing to do with us.”
“What are you saying?” Keeley asked.
“There is not some mad axe man out there hunting us down. This is not some horror book.” Hayley muttered gently holding Keeley close to her, her eyes haunted. She understood why Katie was upset, if anyone had hurt her dog Rookie, she’d be upset. He was her best friend.
“It sure looks like one.” Roxie whispered before standing up and heading to class.
“Yeah it’s almost as if someone has a greater power over us.” Lily muttered linking arms with Ellie and leaving. Hayley smiled at the other two girls.
“Want to walk to lower?”

***

“God she feeds on people’s misery!” Hayley spat angrily about Gemma to Harrison, her internet friend. He looked over at her, smiling softly.
“You sound as if you could do with her killing not Jessica.” Hayley smiled at him realising that he could make that joke as he didn’t know any of them.
“I just don’t get what it is that makes her like that! She’s just always there! I swear, she just makes the problems worse!” She said throwing her hands in the air aggressively before laughing at the fact she had caught his face. “Oh my god, I am so sorry…” She whispered leaning over and wincing at the fact that she’d caught his face with her hands.

Taking hold of a tissue, she leant in and dabbed at the cut. “I’m sorry.” She whispered laughing gently before stilling as he took hold of her wrist.
“I know how you can make it up to me…” He whispered moving up and slowly curving his hand around her cheek. Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes slowly closed as she licked her dry lips. It seemed like forever before his lips gently touched hers, coaxing hers into kissing him back. Dropping the tissue, her arms gently went around his neck as she kissed him back, not caring that this was a guy she hardly knew. All she cared about was the closeness, the attention and the idea someone liked her for her!

Eventually they broke away and he chuckled, his fingertips gently caressing her heated cheek. “You’re beautiful.” She shook her head as she ran her hand through his dark hair, teasing the tips.
“No I’m not but I’ll gracefully thank you for the comment.” She whispered kissing him again gently.
“You have to realise that you really are something special. Just because your friends take you for granted. I mean, why do you even bother with that Carrie?” She smiled as she shook her head.
“You’ve got to meet them…”
“Is that an invitation?” Hayley laughed.
“Why would I want to introduce you to my friends?”
“Because don’t girls normally want their best friends to meet their boyfriends?” She smiled as she bit her lip lightly.
“Is that what we’re doing here?” He took hold of her hand and gently pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
“That’s what I like to think.” Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close to her.

Katie's Shock Discovery

The blonde girl sighed as she ran a hand through her wavy locks, her little black cocker spaniel was skipping off ahead in the woods and she had a huge fear that she was going to lose her beloved pooch. “Scotty!” She called stumbling over some twigs as she scanned the road frantically, hoping to God that he hadn’t wandered off the path.

No one ever wandered off the path in these words. It always scares people because you either get lost or you’re attacked by your paranoia and you think people are going to jump up behind you and attack you. Which isn’t going to happen. This area was a nice one and it was too quiet to be harbouring psychotic killers.

She called his name again, listening to his little woof. She panicked as she didn’t hear it. She decided to stand still and see if he’d come back to her.
She didn’t know how long she’d stood there waiting on baited breath for Scotty to bark. Her heartbeat had started to race as she moved around. She started calling Scotty’s name more frantically, rage rushing through her at the idea her dog would ignore.

A whine echoed through the woods and she froze, her heartbeat racing at the sound of her dog’s pained whimpering. She followed the sounds and saw him lying in a clearing, his small body shivering. She knelt down next to him and gently stroked him, her hand moving away covered in a sticky crimson liquid.

Someone had beaten her dog.

She screamed in anger. “Where the fuck are you, you bastard?”

Looking down at Scotty she saw something attached to his tail. A little white piece of paper.

“You’re next. Katie.
All my love.
X”

Her heartbeat raced as she collapsed on the floor. Who would do such a thing to her dog?

Who would want to injure her in anyway?

They Meet

The thick ginger hair ran down her back as she walked through the busy shopping centre. Her fingers were clasped together so tightly that her knuckles had turned white but she knew she wasn't going to turn back now. She took a deep breath as she stepped into the small cafe and saw him sat at the couches. Just like he'd promised to be.

He was a dashing guy with uncut brown hair that flopped into his boyish blue eyes, she could tell they were contacts from how bright the blue was. His lips were kissable and stretched widely into a grin. His body was rather muscular and Hayley could imagine being curled up in the strong arms she could see beneath the short white shirt sleeve. All in all, her internet friend sure as hell blew her breath away and she could feel her stomach muscles tighten and heartbeat race as he looked over at her smiling.

It had to be the wrong guy. No way this delicious piece had fallen for her. When he stopped in front of her, she was finding it hard to stand as her legs were like jelly. "Hey." She managed to whisper her hand reaching out to grab onto a chair as she felt faint.
"Hayley, you're more beautiful in life than on a camera." He whispered softly in her ear as he took hold of her arm and led her gently to the couches.
"And there is no way you fell for me." He chuckled.
"I do look like the shallow type but there was something about the way your ginger hair refused to sit flat, the way your misty blue eyes twinkled when you teased me. Then there's the dimples..." His eyes darkened with desire as she laughed with embarrassment, the dimples appearing.
"Great. So you appear to love everything I hate."
"Isn't that how it always works?" He challenged sitting opposite her. Hayley smiled softly, heat flooding her cheeks as she realised that he didn't change in person.
"Always."