The Night of May the 13th

SARAH bade goodbye to Josh and watched as he left in his Honda Civic. She smiled. She loved him. Even though it had been too soon for them to start dating. But he had charmed his way into her life and her heart.

He was one of the things she felt was gonna be stable in her life along with her friends. She smiled at the memory of her four friends. Since she came here they had been exceptionally nice and wonderful to be around.

Her phone rang and she saw it was Lisa calling. She immediately answered.

"Hey Lis.", she said.

"You know that name is for only Hugh to call.", Lisa replied.

"Yeah yeah, whatever."

"Remember we are going shopping today. And you're gonna tell me what it is that had been bothering you.", Lisa said and Sarah's smile fell.

She felt like a bad friend. She had been keeping a lot from Lisa these days. First what she found out about Carter and Gwendolyn, then there was Sidney's baby, though that was not her secret to tell. And then, Raven.

"Yeah sure. We'll leave in an hour.",

"Okay bye.", Lisa said and hung up. She had to tell Lisa. Everything.

After some time, she was getting ready when her phone rang and it was Sidney this time.

"Hey Sidney.", she said.

"I'm just calling to tell you that I've made my decision and I'm going to go to the hospital.", Sidney said and Sarah stopped smiling.

Sidney going to the hospital meant one thing. She was going to abort the baby and she shouldn't do that. That baby has the right to live, sure Sidney was the mother but she shouldn't make such a huge decision without thinking it through and being sure it was what she wanted to do.

"Sidney just calm down. You don't have to be so rash."

"I'm not being..."

"Look why not you come by my place today and we'll talk. Let's just talk and whatever you're decision is, I'll stand by it. Okay?", she said. There was a long pause.

"Fine and no cookies. They can be really tempting.", Sidney said and then hung up and Sarah's smile was back.

"I smile a lot.", she said to herself. But that was when she realised she had to cancel out on Lisa. She looked at the clock. Forty minutes had passed. She'll have to call Lisa and reschedule. They could do it tomorrow. Plus it was getting dark anyway.

So she rang Lisa.

"Hey, Lisa. Sorry, I can't go again today.", she said.

"Aww. Why?", Lisa whined and Sarah imagined her pouting. She hated having to lie to Lisa.

"It's just I'm really tired. And if we go now we'll come back late and I won't have time to rest.",

"Okay. But we still gotta talk.", Lisa said and before Sarah could reply, someone rang the bell.

Was it Sidney? Was she that close by when she called?

"Um Lisa someone just rang the bell so I gotta go and yes we'll still talk.", she said and then hung up. She walked over and opened the door to a very stressed Hugh.

"Oh hi Hugh.", she said and he walked past.

"Hi.", he said and headed straight to the kitchen. She followed him and saw him get out an alcohol bottle.

She heard him mumble something about his watch and he took it off and slammed it on the table and she heard the glass crack.

"Woah what's up with you?", she asked as she rested on the counter and faced him.

"Work. And this stupid watch keeps slowing down. It got me thinking I still had time today when I didn't. And when I checked my phone I was way behind schedule.", he said and took a large swing from the bottle.

"Could you help me fix it?", he asked and she nodded. She was quiet adept at fixing things.

Hugh kept his eyes on her for a bit. She seemed worried so he decided to ask her about it.

"Hey Sarah, are you okay? I know the lunch with Josh's parents went to hell and you didn't want to talk about it but I'm here to listen anytime.", he said gently.

Sarah thought a little. Hugh was a close friend to her but even as close as he was she couldn't tell him all that was bothering her. All she was juggling with at the moment just seemed to much to handle. She was starting to understand why her mum didn't want to even talk about this place, much less move back to it.

She had even began considering moving back to the city but even though it hasn't been long since she moved in, she had already formed strong relationships with many people, relationships that would break if she should up and leave.

Hugh held her hand before he spoke.

"If there's..."

"Thank you Hugh. It's just... I kinda have a lot on my plate now. Yes the lunch wasn't... nice at all but I mean it when I say I don't want to talk about it. It's a fact that Mr Winter would never like me but Josh and I are the two people in this relationship. We were able to move past it and that's enough for me.", she said and gave a small smile.

Hugh was still observing her, wondering if he should prod further but he decided not to and returned her smile.

"Did you come with your car?", she asked diverting the topic.

"Yeah why?", he asked.

"So you're gonna drink and drive.", she said.

"No I'm gonna drink and then go and drive.", he said and she chuckled.

"I think you should just sleep at Lisa's. She's your girlfriend and she's right next door.", Sarah said.

"No. I have to be somewhere tomorrow and I don't want her knowing.", he blurted and it was obviously because of the alcohol. It was starting to kick in. His tolerance wasn't so high but yet he always drank.

"Hmmm. Someone's being a bad boyfriend.", she said.

"Me?! No, I'm not. And if you're a good friend then you wouldn't tell her I said that.", he said.

"Sure. But I'm serious it's not good to keep stuff from her.", she said.

"No, it's nothing so serious. Plus she wouldn't be bothered.", he said.

"Whatever. You're getting drunk. Why did you even come?", she asked.

"Woah. Sorry for deciding to stop by and check up on my best friend slash little sister.", he said and reached to play with her hair but she pulled back and his hand dropped. Then he made a sad face.

"Nope. You aren't messing with my hair today.", she said but smiled nevertheless.

"But you're gonna sleep anyways and your hair's short so it's not gonna be stressful to brush it again.", he said.

"Says who.", she huffed. "You just insulted my hair.", she added.

"How?", he whined.

"You said it's not gonna be hard to brush meaning it's fake. Cause it's only fake hair that's easy to handle.", she said.

"But you just said it now in your statement.", he said a little smile playing on his lips.

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did. You said, I quote.", he paused to clear his throat. "It's fake.", he said mimicking her and she laughed.

"Was that supposed to be me?", she asked and he nodded. "We'll you're a very terrible impression of me. And I said that because you implied it.", she said and he groaned.

"Too much grammar.", he said.

She smiled and came closer to ruffle his hair.

"Oh you think you can ruffle mine and I can't do the same.", he said and reached to ruffle her hair. Then they ended up playing and messing with each other's hair.

"God. You look terrible.", he laughed.

"At least I'm not going out. You look like you lost a fight.", she laughed. "To a cat!!", she added and laughed more. He put up an annoyed face but later ended up laughing with her.

"That's why I came here. 'Cause I know you'll always make me smile.", he said.

"That's because I smile a lot. You should too.", she said.

"I don't know how you do it.", he said feeling tired. He had to get driving before he would start feeling sleepy.

"Okay I'll be off now and don't worry, the moment I feel dizzy I'll stop and sleep in my car.", he said.

"That would be better but I thought you have to be somewhere tomorrow?", she asked.

"It's nothing serious, remember. Bye.", he said.

"Bye.", she said as he walked to the door and left. She didn't bother locking it 'cause she knew Sidney was gonna come soon.

And true to that the bell rang sometime after.

"The door's open.", she called out and then the door opened and Sidney walked in. She looked angry and Sarah knew she had a lot of convincing to do.

"So how are you feeling?", Sarah asked thinking if she could make Sidney feel lighter.

"You said we should talk.", Sidney said and Sarah sighed.

"At least sit down.", she said.

"No I don't want to.", Sidney replied.

"But you're pregnant.", she said.

"Not for long."

"Oh, Sidney come on. That baby deserves to live. It hasn't even entered this world and you want to take that chance from it.", she said referring to the baby with it since they didn't know the gender and Sidney wasn't too keen on finding out.

"Exactly, it hasn't entered and I don't want it to. This place is not where one can have a child, especially if it's one out of wedlock.", Sidney said.

"I know what you're thinking. What if Eugene doesn't accept you and your image is tainted, but look around, there are a lot of people with so-called tainted images. Ana who didn't finish school, Flint who is a scumbag. Gwendolyn and Sandra are bitches. But they still go ahead.",

"That's because none of them is carrying an illegitimate child Sarah. You wouldn't know how it feels when everyone keeps talking about me and the child with nothing but disgust. And I can't put my child through that.", Sidney said and Sarah smiled which confused Sidney

"Why are you smiling?", Sidney asked.

"You just said your child. You called it yours.",

"That's because it's mine.", Sidney said in a duh tone.

"Yes you're starting to love your child and that love can be the strongest, once the child has your love, he or she wouldn't be worried about what others would say.", Sarah said.

"No Sarah. I've made up my mind and I'm very sure about it. I'm gonna abort this child.", Sidney said and Sarah was quiet for a long while.

"Fine. But before you do so just try and really think of what I said.", Sarah said and Sidney nodded lightly before turning to leave but Sarah called her back.

"I just remembered you left your necklace at my place last time you came here. I'll go get it I'm coming.", she said and Sidney finally sat to wait for her.

Sarah headed to her room and gasped when she saw the silhouette of a person sitting on her bed. She quickly turned on the lights.

"Raven?!! What are you doing here?", Sarah asked as she went to get the necklace while looking at Raven who didn't say anything.

"And how did you get..." she stopped mid-sentence when she saw her bedroom window open. Why did she come in through the window?

"I noticed you had company and I wanted us to have a very private discussion.", Raven said coldly and Sarah immediately knew what Raven was talking about.

"Aren't you supposed to be with Betty and her friend?", Sarah asked.

"Mrs Larr headed to see someone and Betty and her friend slept very early. Right after eating might I add.", she said.

"Did you put something in their food?", Sarah asked.

"Now why would I.", Raven said tilting her head.

"I don't know cause you've been acting very strange since you told me..."

"To stay away from Josh. Yeah.", Raven said and Sarah rolled her eyes. Ever since she and Raven had argued, things had been different.

Raven finally told her that the reason she didn't want her dating Josh was not that she didn't like him but because she loved him.

"Now Sarah I'll tell you again.", Raven started, standing up. "Stay away from Josh. I've loved him and I still love him. He just..."

"Hasn't noticed. Is that what you want to say? He has known you since high school and knowing Josh if he was interested he would have told you.",

"He's interested, he just doesn't know it.", Raven yelled a little.

"Raven you need help. I get it, you've been through a lot and you're very confused, if you just...."

"I am not going to visit a psychiatrist cause I'm fine. I know Josh has a thing for me.", she said.

"A thing!! Raven, he doesn't like you. You should get that through your head.", she said and then something snapped in Raven.

She became so angry she slapped Sarah and the necklace fell from Sarah's hand to near her drawer.

"Oh you shouldn't have done that.", Sarah said and lunged for Raven. The two started fighting and mainly pulling at each other's hair.

Raven was able to give Sarah another slap and Sarah punched her. Raven tasted blood but continued. They kept fighting and Raven pushed Sarah. She slipped and hit her head on the edge of the bed.

Ouch! That hurt a lot, she thought. But she stood up nevertheless. Raven was her friend but she needed to put her in her place.

They kept fighting till Sarah pushed Raven who tripped and fell back on a wooden chair and it broke. Raven was beyond angry. She felt like ripping Sarah's head off.

She looked to her side and saw a piece of wood from the chair. She grabbed it and before Sarah knew she stabbed her, right in the neck.

Raven's eyes widened a bit and then she pulled the wood out. Sarah's hands went to her neck which was now bleeding profusely. Dark spots danced around her vision.

She heard Raven muttering something and then she fell with her head facing the door. The last thing she saw was Sidney and her last thought was if Sidney was in on this.

She didn't have time to think much about it as she breathed her last breath.

"What have you done?", Sidney asked with her hand over her chest. Sarah was dead. She was dead and there was a lot of blood.

"You've got to help me.", Raven said.

"No. I won't."

"You have to. I know you're carrying an unwanted child and you know how this town is about abortion.", Raven threatened.

"You can't use that against me.", Sidney said but the look Raven gave her scared her shitless. "Don't touch anything and make sure not to step on the blood.", she said and Raven moved away from the body slowly.

Raven looked down at her hand and the bloodied wood. Then she looked back at Sidney.

"Not a word to anyone. Or else you'll be next.", Raven threatened and then left the way she came, through the window.

Sidney just stood there. Then the blood started flowing in her direction. This was bad. This was very bad. She checked to see if anything was incriminating.

But she didn't see anything, not even her necklace which she had forgotten was the reason she waited in the first place. She heard someone call out Sarah's name and she knew that would be Lisa.

She saw the window still open and then she climbed out through it and then ran. Ran away from the hideous sight that she knew would forever torment her.

The way Sarah's eyes looked at her before they lost their light.

And that's it, guys. I legit stayed up till eleven pm to finish this chapter cause I was having so much inspiration and now I'm glad I did. Now you know everything. I want to know your thoughts on this chapter. Was Raven your suspect since the beginning and how do you feel about what she did?

The next chapter's the last. I know you would be looking forward to it so here it is.

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SJ💝