•1590 words•

Woah. She's beautiful. The hazel eyes, black hair and that style- They could grab anyone's attention. When you look like Ashlyn Evanston, what can't you do? Correction- when you ARE Ashlyn Evanston, what can't you do? Like come on, who can manage to style a SCHOOL UNIFORM that well? When I saw her, my gob literally smacked. Ugh- pretty girls. That's the thing when you like guys and girls, you just can't choose between them. You do know a pretty girl when you see her though, and you do know a handsome guy when you see him. And that's what I saw when I saw Ash. A pretty girl.
Bisexual things.

Wait. I hope Ashlyn's bisexual. She's like the most amazing, bubbliest, prettiest girl I've ever se-

"Oh hi Ash, what's up?" She comes round the corner so I have to say something.
"Nothing I'm good thanks Brooke. How you doin?"
"Fine thanks and that's brill. Catch you in science yeah?"
"Sure see ya!"
"See ya later!"

When I told her I loved her yesterday I didn't mean it in a friendship way but I don't think she clicked on. She probably won't click on if she's straight but that's something I don't know yet and something I'm too afraid to ask about. I have only known her for a day, if that, so asking her what her sexuality is is pushing it a bit. Do you not think?

I walk over to science and damn. She is a pretty girl. I'm sure we'd be a perfect couple but like, I need to figure out the perfect way to find out her sexuality. That is pretty much impossible, but everything seems impossible until it's done, right? Exactly. Start planning, Brooke, start planning.

OH FOR GOD'S SAKE! Stop overthinking.

Just go over to her in a few weeks or so, start a casual conversation and just slip it in. It took you 4 years to come out Brooke, and she might not even be comfortable with her sexuality or she might not even be sure of it yet! It's none of your business anyway so just keep your big nose out of it.

She's so dreamy though...
Shut up.
Now even that's overthinking. You don't need to get it in a conversation. I'm sure she'll mention it at some point if she's comfortable with it.

Science. Science. Science. If an atom has a charge of +1 proto...

"BROOKLYN JERVEL! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING FALLING ASLEEP IN MY CLASSROOM??"
"erm wha-what? Oh. Exactly that sir."
I hear Ash giggling from across the room. Her laugh is so...dreamy too. Long story short, I got a detention for falling asleep in class and answering back to a teacher.

Look, it's not my fault. I was half asleep so anything could've come out my mouth and it definitely wasn't my fault I was stalking Ashlyn's Instagram at 2 this morn-

So yeah, me and Ash hang out for a bit but I just find it so hard. I've never had a friend before who I've fell in love with. I've never really had a friend for that matter either. I don't really care about friends and if I think about it, Ash isn't really a friend to me. She's a really really bad crush. Or does that make her a good crush? Oh shut up Brooklyn! You know what I mean, she's just a really attractive person okay? I can't even look at her for more than 5 seconds without my jaw dropping, I start drooling everywhere and my eyes look like I'm just gawking at her like she's some sort of famous statue. No wonder I'm so bad at flirting. No wonder everyone tells me I'm bad at flirting. That's because I am, they're not wrong. From that description of my flirting I think you can make your own judgement on that one.

A week passes and I still can't take my eyes of this girl. What is wrong with me? She's probably straight so you've not got a chance with her Brooke. Even if she is straight or even if she's just not into me, at least I can tell everyone I have the prettiest best friend in the world. That's something. I wish the 'best' turned into 'girl' though. Girlfrien-

Wait, what's this? I tilt my head upwards and see a poster on the notice board. The text on the poster read,

'JOIN NEW CLUB
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Tuesday Night
Hall
Want to help solve crimes?
Want help with GCSE criminology?
Just want a bit of fun?
Want to see what it's like to be a detective?
Join
CRIME CLUB
CROFLEYS CRIME CLUB- coming to St Rigfords High School on Tuesday.'

Oh. My. God.
This is my chance. I used to study criminology at another school before Rigfords but I never actually joined a club! Wow.

ASHLYN!

I swear I heard her talking about detective work and crimes the other day during one of our lovely conversations. I have no idea but I have to ask her about this. Please, please, please say yes Ashlyn. I love you (both ways) and I need you to take this opportunity with me!

Hold on. I turn the poster onto the back and it read,

'Those who stand out as good detectives will be passed through to the next round and possibly join the real club eventually. Head over to the club's website at
www.crofleysdetectives.com/joinourclub
For more information.

Insight: There is a partner club in New Zealand who work closely with Crofley's and their crime work. If you advance far in this, you could be flying to New Zealand!
THIS IS NOT JUST A CLUB. THIS IS A COMPETITION THAT CAN TURN INTO A SERIOUS CAREER. PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

Good luck.'

Wha- what in the actual wor- huh?
First of all, NEW ZEALAND? THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WOLRD?
Secondly, you can get a job out of this? Wait this could mean for As-
Thirdly,
"ASHLYN!!!"

If Ashlyn agrees to this, we advance far, become the best detectives and then get a job over in NEW ZEALAND then Ash could escape foster care which is something she's spoke to me about and is desperate to do.
Hold on a minute (again) Brooke. You're thinking too far, too fast. Take it one step at a time. She might not even say yes, yet. Don't bribe her either, don't make her or anything. It's her decision and if you wind her up then you'll lose your friendship and then you'll love someone who you don't even speak to. No. Baby steps, Brooklyn. Baby steps. But this, this is serious.

We have to attend the school's club first before we can audition (and possibly qualify) for the real thing. This is going to take some time. Shoot. We need to get Ash out of her home as soon as we can, really. Brooke, stop. Like we said, she might not even say ye-

I DON'T CARE. I'M EXCITED FOR THIS. I just need it to work.

I go over to Ashlyn at dinner and wave the poster in her face. I'm sorry but I'm just too excited.
"Hey Ash, hey Ash!"
"Hey what's up Brooke?"
"Oh my god you wouldn't believe this."
"Yeah?"
"Well I'm pretty sure the other day you said about criminology?"
"Oh my god I love criminology, I used to study it."
"Yeah me too! But look at this. You will flip. Read the back and trust me, this is incredible. I'd absolutely love to do it if you're down!" I sit there like a little kid with my fingers and toes crossed hoping that she'll say yes. She just needs to. There's no other way about it. Ashlyn reads the leaflet and wow her hazel eyes looking down on that paper it's just so drea-

So, yeah. She reads the paper and she starts jumping up and down like a maniac dog or something. I'm honestly quite scared. It looks like she's having a panic attack or something but no, she's just excited. Like me. I'm excited too.

"Ahhhhhh! I can't wait!"
I told you I'm excited.
"Me too omg this is a dream Brooke! Thank God you picked that poster up! I really hope this works out for us! Eeeeekk!"
I told you she's excited too. I love Ashlyn. Like so much. Maybe too much. Ok, like a lo-

I sit with Ashlyn at dinner the next day as usual and we chat (also as usual) but we talk about the Crime Club. It has so many possibilities it's incredible. Ash said she doesn't even care if her carers don't agree with it. To be honest, I don't really care if mine don't agree either. I'm only staying behind at school another hour every Tuesday. Well that's until we maybe go to New Zealand. But for now it's nothing but a harmless club, right? Yeah, exactly. Me and Ashlyn decide there and then that we both want to go into crime as a career path. Everything to do with it. Obviously everything apart from committing it. I'm so excited to possibly have a career with my best friend and cr- I wasn't going to say crush I was going to say umm... crime solving partner! Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny.

Ash says she wants to take a career in crime and that's that. There's everything sorted. Well, for now at least.

Brooke x