Chapter Text
“Class dismissed, have a good weekend!” Mrs.Mavie exclaimed. I filed out with everyone, trying to stay somewhat in the middle so I wouldn't be alone. The bus ride home was like every other day, but I kept catching a glimpse of the same tall blond headed women that seemed familiar, although I couldn't figure out why. My bus ride takes forever since I'm one of the last stops to get off, and I saw that lady somewhere around at every few stops. When I got home, I went straight to bed like I almost always do. If anyone ever tries to tell you that high school is the best time of your life, they are lying straight to your face. Going to school, especially with having only one friend, makes me so tired that I crash from the moment I get home at 4:15 pm to at least 9-10 pm. Well I think I sleep. Sometimes when I wake up I will have on a completely different outfit or it will be three days after I originally went to sleep. I never think too much about it though because he says that it's normal or that I just have a bad memory. Since he is my only friend, I believe him because I have no one else to ask.
“James! Did you seriously fall asleep again?” Claire snapped, leaning on my door. “Sorry, but you know I always go to sleep after school,” I mumbled, still trying to stay awake. “Well yeah but I woke you up an hour ago,” She responded, glaring at my desk where my notebook sat open. “Oh. Guess I went back to sleep,” I said. “That's fine, just get up. Also dinner will be done in about thirty five minutes. I even made your favorite!” She exclaimed. “Thanks sis, I will be down in about fifteen,” I responded, forcing myself to sit up fully. She walked away, her feet slightly stomping down the stairs.
“Did you notice that?” He whispered. “Her glaring at my notebook, yeah. It was weird she never looks into my room,” I added, rubbing my eyes so I did not fall back asleep again apparently. I really thought I had woken up earlier, otherwise my notebook would have still been in my backpack because I did not get it out when I first got home. “Did I get my notebook out before I went to sleep?” I asked. “I’m pretty sure you did,” He muttered. I glared over at my desk, deciding to walk over and put the notebook away. I stumbled over there, still half asleep, when I noticed another note written. “Hey, there is something else written on here,” I exclaimed. “Really? Is it like the one from this morning?” He suggested. Honestly I ignored him. I glared down at my desk, the notebook reading “Don’t trust her. You know what she is doing.” Then, right underneath that, in bold words it read, “JUST REMEMBER!” I was totally freaked out to say the least. “What does it say?” He demanded. “Nothing, it's just some scribbles.” I responded. I didn't want to tell him after his reaction this morning.
“James!” Claire screamed, “Dinner is done,” "I'm coming!” I hollered back. I walked down to the kitchen, still thinking about the message on the notebook. I wonder who wrote them, why they did, and what or who they are about. Why was Claire looking at the book, what does she know that I don't. Claire was already at the table, two plates of chicken and rice sitting on either end. “There you are! I really thought you had gone back to sleep,” She teased as I sat down. “Yeah sorry about that sis. I guess I did fall back asleep the first time.” I said back, smiling like we always do with each other. “You ok, you seem off today? Did something happen at school?” She pestered. I almost choked, not even able to hold back my cough. “Uh yeah no, school was fine. We just took notes all day.” I mumbled. Why is she asking about this, I thought. She never asks about my day. “Well that's good!” She said, forcing a smile, "I'm glad you had a good day.” We ate the rest of dinner in silence, the loudest thing was the usual static on our broken television.
After dinner I went back upstairs. I sat in the middle of my bed, and opened my notebook, which I had put under my pillow after Claire left my room. I studied the handwriting for a minute longer, not being able to recognize it, I decided to go to sleep. “James, are you ready for school yet?” Claire hollered from the kitchen. I rose up, rubbing my eyes. “Yeah I’m getting ready now,” I yelled back. After getting dressed ,I stumbled down the stairs still half asleep. As I was walking out the door I caught a glimpse of Claire's shoes. They were sitting on the shoe rack as normal, but they were muddy. I looked at him and said, “That's weird right? It didn't rain yesterday did it?” “No, but it did rain at like 2:30 this morning.” He responded, looking around me trying to avoid eye contact.
When I got to school, I could barely even walk through the hallways. They were always loud and crowded, but never to this extent. It wasn't the kind of yelling loud either. The silence and whispers were somehow louder than all of the hollering “Did you hear about that girl in the next town over?” Someone whispered. “I heard that the cops found a lock of fake blond hair in her hands.” Another added. “Her brother said she thought she was being followed in the weeks leading up to the murder.” A kid from my science class noted. “Hey what girl are they talking about?” I asked him. “I have no idea. Honestly I didn't even know a girl had gotten murdered last night.” He replied. Stuff never happens in our small town or near it so I understand why everyone is talking about it but how did I not know.
In English class I pulled out my notebook and turned to the next free page. We were taking notes for our upcoming test again, when I turned to the next page I saw another one. “James .