My hands reached out and touched the cool sleek handle of her door and I couldn’t help but shiver under the thrill and nerves of doing this, actually breaking into a room. Could I be charged by the police for this? My lips tipped at the thought as I pressed down on the handle a little bit, trying to be soft and silent despite the reverberating house from the music. My hand shook trying to open the door and it didn’t budge in the slightest but rather made a creaking sound making me cringe.

Bunching up my face I leant my forehead against the sleek wall, my face nudging and rubbing off some of the words on the whiteboard of Cindy’s. It was as I leant against it trying not to sob in hopelessness – the alcohol making it hard to handle my emotions – that I saw it. In the top right corner, half hidden under an edge of a photo was written in thick black letters:

                                        ‘GP+CC’.

It was all the sign that I needed, all the clues I needed to know that I had to get into this room even if it was locked tightly shut. With a new sense of determination I marched down the hall to the next room beside Cindy’s and turned the handle, it instantly letting me step right into the room which seemed to be a spare room. A spare room which was now trashed, the sheets strung in a heap and reeking of sex. Bunching up my nose I raced straight to the window not aiming for fresh air but rather better purposes. Still, at least those lustful teens had left; I didn’t need my eyes scarred any further.

Rolling the window up which looked and felt almost effortless I thrusted a foot out first without any hesitation. I loathed heights with a passion; the thought of heights had my skin crawl with shivers of dread. Yet here I was with a leg out the window and now another coming out as I balanced myself on the ledge of Cindy’s two storey house in the dark of night. I felt like such a burglar and I couldn’t help the thrill and the small smile on my lips at my sly actions and dare devil antics. This simply wasn’t me and yet it was so thrilling!

This actually might work I couldn’t help but muse with soaring hope.

I had though spoken way too soon as my ankles wobbled in my chunky heels on the very thin ledge, it too small to even fit one foot on. My smile suddenly was vanished and I couldn’t help but hate the movies for making it look so easy! I was in a dress for crying out loud and I was having trouble but when Angelina Jolie does it in the movies it’s like breathing! I couldn’t help but curse my stupidity at not having taken off these heels; I had been all too obsessed and excited to even pause to think this at all through.

I clawed at the wall, my fingers curling into the house brick pitifully as my grip was so loose and dangerous I contemplated in just killing the suspense and jumping before I fell or was pushed. Because that’s what was likely to happen, I’d be push. After all, as much as I tried to convince myself that the note I had got was a joke I knew deep down that right now I was on somebody’s radar.

Taking a deep steadying breath my eyes measured the distance from this window to the window of Cindy’s room. It looked as if it was about five steps, four if I wanted to test the boundaries. Yet I certainly didn’t want to test the boundaries, I’d be taking this as slow and steady as could be.

“Okay,” I breathed raggedly “you can do this. You can do this.” I chanted over and over as I took one step, my eyes trained solely on my feet as they shuffled forward, my entire form now shaking as I wish I had done ballet solely for the gift of balance.

How had I found this thrilling?

One shaking step at a time, trying to find my centre of gravity whilst training my eyes solely on my feet I slowly but surely made it to the window and without any clichés of falling or stumbling. I made it with a gigantic smile upon my face and if I had more space I may have also joined in on a victory dance. Instead though I turned facing the window ready to hoist it up, to my pure annoyance it hadn’t come to thought that this window could also be locked until now when I was out balancing in a very thin strip of a ledge. I wanted to smack myself over the back of the head repeatedly.

“Please, oh please.” I sobbed bunching up my face as I struggled to find a happy medium between attempting to lift the window and balance myself.

The whooshing sound and the rattle of the window’s frame moving up was like someone chorusing hallelujah to me as the scent of perfume and just a female scented room attacked my senses. I gasped a sigh of relief as I thrusted one foot into the window; it was in doing so that I caught it in the reflection of the window panes glass. It was the outline of a figure in the backyard of Cindy’s house.

I gasped crawling anxiously into the room not wanting to be seen. I scrambled in, tripping over the windows ledge before I spun quickly around to see if I could still see the outline. Squinting under the limited light I found little apart for a bunch of people from the party on the back porch of Cindy’s house laughing and chatting, there was very little light but the back porches light and a stream of fairy lights along the back porch. I squinted more though, searching deeper into the backyard for the shadow I swore I saw of someone.

My heart thrashed wildly against my chest as horrid dread struck a tangy taste on my tongue, had they seen me breaking into Cindy’s room? Had they or would they tell Cindy? I fretted more and more at the prospect and the more my mind raced the more paranoid I was becoming, the slightest sound or even the sound of my breathing had me jumping startled and on high alert.

“Shit.” I hissed as I realized that I was still standing openly by the window as I freaked out. If they hadn’t seen me before they certainly have now.

Jumping away from the window as if it was on fire I quickly made my way to the far other side of the room where it was the darkest. It wasn’t until I was practically cowering in the corner that I realized where I was standing, I was standing in Cindy’s bedroom. I was right where I wanted to be, I had after all walked along a thin ledge two storeys high! Yet here I was hiding and wasting precious time like a child, the tally of how much I was going to beat the living hell out of myself after tonight was growing drastically and quickly high.

Running my fingers raggedly through my hair I quickly took a deep breath as I gave the room a calculating glance. I couldn’t help but be mighty jealous of Cindy once I glanced around her room. She had everything and anything she’s probably ever wanted and more right here in this very room. I was standing right by her king size bed with a lavish bedspread with a beautiful feature wall behind filled with photo frames and canvases of gorgeous photos. On another wall was a huge walk in wardrobe with an entire collection of heels and boots – the amount kill worthy – and shoes and much more, plus a bathroom off that. On another wall in her room was a desk with laptop and speakers, a TV on the wall and another table full of perfumes and jewelry, everything so beautiful and enchanting. I felt like I was in some royal’s room.

Suddenly I didn’t care about hunting for clues in this room or anything else, no rather I was wishing I had a giant bottomless bag where I could just pile this entire room in and claim as my own. I had always been jealous of girls like Cindy, they had the beautiful looks, the social skills, the popularity, the guys, the confidence and even some had the brains and skills. Yet here Cindy didn’t still have enough as she obviously had the family and the endless access to cash. Why couldn’t my life be that simple? No, instead I was the quiet girl that shied under the simplest of glances, couldn’t talk to anyone especially the gorgeous guy I was crushing greatly on, went by unnoticed as they struggle to get through school – especially algebra – and now having come across the decapitated head of a girl in my year I was practically being hunted down and threatened like some terrible murder movie. My world sucked!

Having my mood plummet by a tenfold in such a short time I sulked as I began hunting through Cindy’s room, trying to be utterly quiet despite the loud booming bass of the music downstairs. I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for but that didn’t stop me from starting to hunt for something or anything. Those odd words on the whiteboard were reason enough for me to be entirely suspicious of Cindy let alone her odd behavior though few times I had seen her. By now I was beginning to think that after all maybe it wasn’t all in my head, maybe there was something going on. So I began to hunt, pulling out draws in her desk, looking on her shelves and bedside tables, trying to access her computer – which failed due to being password secured – and hunting in the bathroom and any other odd places like underneath her mattress or under the bed in the dark room.

I don’t know what I expected to find, I mean it wasn’t like I was going to find a note where she had scrawled on paper ‘that’s right, it was I who killed Georige bitch’. No one was that stupid, besides you wouldn’t hide the evidence in your room or house, it’d be the first place somebody would look. Not to mention – as gruesome as the thought was – for Georgie’s death to occur and for head to be…disconnected from her body there’d have to be a fairly sharp weapon of use so it’s not like anything in her room would be evidence despite maybe a machete or axe, something that would obviously stand out.

After searching though I couldn’t help the self doubt that began to bubble and splutter inside me, I had found utterly nothing. Not to mention by the things I saw on her walls, in photo frames and even in other places and such, random photos, messages and scrawls she didn’t seem like the hulk at all. far from it actually, when it came to her friends – especially her best friend Georgie – she seemed to be the most loving and favorite one of them all, hell she seemed like somebody I’d want to be friends with despite her never wanting to be friends with me due to social status and all that crap.

Nevertheless I had to remind myself that looks were always deceiving, not sometimes but always. I mean, I had always thought Kate was a crazy bitch when I first met her about how open and honest she was, not to mention some things she’d say. It was almost as if she’d at any moment throw you under the bus by how independent and strong she was, she needed no one. Yet here I was seventeen years old and she still had yet to actually throw me under the bus, in fact she’d throw herself under a bus before she ever threw me under. Then there was Gav, the perfect example of total heartthrob who was popular and yet somehow those gorgeous eyes of his found mine and seem to honestly want to stay there. It was more reason for me to believe that looks were always deceiving.

I had wound up in the end utterly empty handed, there was utterly nothing here and I knew deep down that the chances would always be slim. Yet I knew if I hadn’t have looked tonight after finding those initials I sure as hell of came back another time to hunt and maybe those constant thoughts would plague my mind. Because even if I had found nothing it still didn’t make me any less suspicious of Cindy. As of now she was on the top of my list and I was more than willing to uncover the truth if it meant not only getting the target off my back but also uncovering Georgie’s killer. After all, they’d have to be the same people right?

Sitting the photo frame back down on Cindy’s desk of Georgie and Cindy when they were five in pink tutus and glitter I sighed heavily ready to leave and get the hell out of here. I was more than willing to go downstairs and drink to forget all the drama that had just escalated in a very short time. For just a moment I wanted things to calm down so I could just pull myself together and get some bearings. Yet it seems like my life never was going to calm down if the next sound to reach my ears were any proof.

“Shit.” I hissed at the sight of Cindy’s bedroom door knob rattling and twisting, my heart leapt up into my throat and I froze utterly petrified with wide eyes, I felt as if someone else had punched me in the gut.

I don’t know how long I stood there watching the doorknob move for and time had honestly slowed down. I needed a huge slap in the face to be pulled together to get the hell out of here and I don’t know how I pulled myself together or where the figurative slap in the face came from. I honestly didn’t care now though because I needed to get the hell out of here and the only way out was back where I had come from.

Yanking up the window rather loudly I cursed at the loudness before I quickly and easily slid out of the room, the cool whip of the breeze instantly drawing goosebumps along my skin and making me shiver violently. I was more scared of staying in that room than I was of climbing out of that window carelessly and with a large chance of falling to my death. My movements were more desperate and quicker, I didn’t take my time and that was risky but I wanted out. Standing out on the ledge in the dark and balancing I slammed the window down and moved out of sight just as the door was opened and suddenly light was coming out through the window.

“Too close. Too close.” I panted, gasping as my heart raced in my chest, ready to break a rib.

I clung to the ledge trying to figure out where I was to go now, everything was a lot darker and I was startled at how much time must have passed since I had found my way into Cindy’s room. The room I had climbed out of the window of to get to Cindy’s room was a no go zone if the now loud moans and groans coming from the window were any proof. I certainly didn’t want to interrupt their so called moment.

Instead I made my way further down the ledge and passed that room moving quicker than before. Maybe it was the adrenaline that I was running off that made me move quicker, faster and made me less afraid but rather burning to solely get down off this ledge and even long out of this area, I wanted home and I wanted to be there right now. Something of this entire night had set me on complete and utter edge and standing right now two storeys high more than ever did I feel irked and paranoid.

I didn’t realize why I was feeling off guard until I had coaxed my way slowly down to ground level. I had moved further around the ledge moving in dolly steps until I was passed all windows and could slide down to the porches roof as it sloped down like a slide off of the second floors ledge. Sliding down until I was now on the top of the porches roof I climbed down one of the porches posts until I was landing awkwardly on the backyards lawn, my ankle rolling in making me cry out softly in pain at the surely sprained ankle.

The backyard had been deserted by the time I had climbed out of Cindy’s bedroom window and the back light was now turned off. It was increasingly eerie being in the dark and deserted backyard where I could hear everything despite the music still going on inside. I wasn’t sure how long I had been gone for, hell it could have been quite some time for all the places I had searched in that room. I was sure though that the party going on inside was winding down and that only gave me more reason to move despite the paranoid feelings assaulting me, the hair on the back of my neck rising to attention. My body was taught and tense and the rest of me was on high alert, a sensation I hadn’t felt before.

Something wasn’t right.

Before I could pause to hesitate I raced down along the side of Cindy’s house, down the side fence and out the side fence. The thick trees surrounding her house and behind didn’t make it any better, her house was in a private part of town, a wealthy area too where they had more privacy. That more privacy just happened to be a deep pine plantation somewhat like the woods and I couldn’t help but feel like I was living in the most clichéd horror story.

It was painful to race down the side of the house on a weak ankle, it stung in protest and I favored my other foot. With each step I took my face bunched up in a grimace to the point where I was ready to start crying in pain but I couldn’t stop, I needed to keep going. Coming out onto the main road I couldn’t help but feel somewhat relieved, I could see Cindy’s neighbors along the street and it made me feel ever the slightest safer with the few scattered street lamps down the street.

I hissed in pain as I made my way down the street slowing down to a casual walk so I could catch my breath and pull my reeling thoughts together. I panted softly, trying to angle my foot just right so it didn’t hurt as much as I tried to walk in my heels. Giving up as I got down to the bottom of the street I sat down in the gutter and decided to take off my heels. I had never experienced such a harder task in my life than sitting in the gutter in a short and nice lace dress and try to take off heels whilst still not flashing anybody – I knew nobody was there but still, who knows what Cindy’s neighbors were like.

I couldn’t help the blissful sigh that passed through my lips as I pulled my foot with the sore ankle out of my heels. The feeling was utter bliss and I couldn’t help but imagine or crave for the beautiful innocent plush bliss of curling up in my bed and sleeping my problems away.

Grabbing my last heel I pulled off my other heel just as I heard it, there was the soft crackle and crunch of debris behind me. I couldn’t help instantly tensing, my spine straightening instantly as I tensed, on edge. Instantly though the hair on the back of my neck rose, the feeling of paranoia and being irked instantly assaulting me just like before all over again. I wasn’t one for spidey senses and all that sort of jazz but I certainly knew something wasn’t right and when I heard the sound of something crunching all over again I definitely knew I wasn’t safe either.

I didn’t know what to do; my heart was thrashing against my chest wildly as I held my breath with protesting lungs. If I ran it’d be obvious that I knew something or someone was there and yet I certainly wasn’t going to just sit here and let them attack me or worse. I had to move and that’s exactly what I did, trying to act as casual as possible I stood up and began to walk down the street towards home which was going to be over a ten minute walk. I tried to act indifferent as if I didn’t think anything of around me and that I was a naive stupid girl that walked home every night at midnight like in those awful movies.

I couldn’t help but add to the tally of another self inflicted bashing on myself to come, I had decided to walk home at the dark of night and not once had I thought to simply go back inside and find Kate or even Gavin. Were they still waiting for me? Maybe even worried now as they searched for me? Why had I been so utterly stupid? I had not for the slightest of seconds thought about them, or even thought of just calling my parents. I didn’t even know where my clutch was which held my phone, the last I saw it I had given it to Kate to nurse and then she had disappeared and I had gone of dancing. My head was a tumbled swirl of thoughts that I didn’t know what was up and what was down. All I knew was that something wasn’t right and I needed to get away from here, especially away from Cindy.

Reaching the end of the street I paused trying to be silent as possible, even over my breathless breathing. I tried listening out for any possible sounds to prove to me that not only wasn’t losing the plot but that I was also being followed. I knew there was a high chance that it was paranoia and I knew there was even a greater chance that common sense would tell my stalker – real or figuratively speaking – would stop when I stop simply so he wouldn’t be sensed.

Biting back a sigh of frustration I continued to make my way down the next street trying to keep my throbbing ankle unnoticeable, I didn’t need to give them a clue into my weaknesses or a reason to step up their game. If they knew my ankle was sore maybe they wouldn’t hesitate in killing me or worse.

I kept walking and trying with all my might to act casual and light, it was my body language that was going to give me away. Yet once the sound of it reached my ears I couldn’t hold back those biting fears, my body straightened and tensed frozen as I caught my breath and my heart instantly froze as if death had literally taken claim of me. That wasn’t the worse thing, no the worse thing was the bile that rose in my throat as the sound of my stalkers ringtone reached my ears.

“We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one. We’re going to catch a big one. I’m not afraid!”

In that moment with those frightening words echoing off the deadly still street all around me I couldn’t hold it in any longer, I could bite back the fear anymore as the tangy taste of danger exploded on my tongue. Without a second to hesitate or pause I was racing down the street, my legs pushing me as fast as possible and beyond belief as I raced down the middle of the street under the soft glow of the street lights. The adrenaline and the fire burning in my veins numbed the rest of me; my ankle in that moment was entirely forgotten. My scorching lungs in that moment was bliss compared to the gut wrenching fear taking claim of me as I pushed myself harder as I heard the loud slap and footfalls behind me.

I gasped pushing pass the burning deep within me, gasping back against the pain and the pure heartbreaking fear that felt my whole demeanor breaking and crumbling. I could feel the deep pool of salt building in my eyes, searing at my skin and blurring my vision. I pressed on further as the image of Georgie’s head flashed before my eyes, would that be my future if I was caught? Would someone else find me Monday morning at school in the sanitation bin in the school’s toilets?

The possibility only had me racing further down the street.

The sound of a car’s horn reached my ear and had me squealing in fright as I jumped off toward the side of the road, my ankle collapsing under the weight as I fell in the street’s gutter, the breath knocked out of me as my eyes fluttered dazed and feeling heavy and heady with the weight. My sight was unfocused and everything around me seemed to be catching up upon me, my throbbing ankle, the stitch in my side and even my scorching lungs and heart, burning and gasping for oxygen as my eyes focused in and out to the point I thought I'd collapse.

However I pushed myself to stay awake, forcing myself to stay as centered as I could despite the world spinning beneath me. I couldn’t let myself to succumb to darkness because as soon as I did whoever was chasing would have me right where they wanted me.

“Steph? Steph what happened?” I could vaguely hear the muffled voice full of earnest questioning that attacked my senses.

I moaned squinting harshly as I tried to see and focus on the figure before me, the tangy taste of fear rising deep within my mouth as I fretted over who was before me. My gaze focused in and out as the adrenaline of it all caught up upon me leaving me feeling drained, I squinted harder as my gaze caught the sight of black ruffled hair and a strong jaw line structure. My eyes narrowed further trying to piece this all together like some epic jigsaw puzzle and finally it did because once my hazy eyes sought out those warm brown eyes I instantly knew who was crouched before me and questioning me earnestly.

“Gav?” my voice a wispy breath.

He nodded earnestly “Hey, it’s me, I’m right here.” He reassured me gently as suddenly the blissful touch of burning warmth was pressed to the side of my face.

I leant into the side of his touch as my eyes flickered under the touch and strain, I was feeling if anything drugged and I didn’t know why. How was I going to get up for school in the morning?

“What are you doing here?” I breathed raggedly.

The soft groan of Gav met my ears as his arms were suddenly wrapping around my waist pulling me up and into his arms. Greedily and with no resistance in the slightest I let my body fall into his warmth as he practically carried my weight as I leant into his side. My head was spinning and I didn’t know if it was the adrenaline wearing off, the fear draining me or even the alcohol all consumed giving me a heady head.

With the help of Gavin he helped me into his Ute and quickly he had the heat blasting in the vehicle and the doors such. Reaching on the floor of the seat he pulled out a gigantic jumper and before I could even protest he was pulling his spicy manly scented jumper over my head as if I was baby that needed to be nursed.

I moaned in protest as he tugged on the jumper “Gav I am fine.”

Gav snorted “You’re freezing, not to mention you were racing down the street in the middle of the night.” he muttered his voice disgruntled “Now,” he began his voice softer and sweeter “are you going to tell me what on earth is going on?”

I groaned as I sat up straighter and subconsciously drew Gav’s jumper tighter to me and letting it wrap around me “Where’s my shoes?” I mumbled, furrowing my brows.

Gav snorted again just as the soft hum of his Ute met my ears and yet we weren’t going anywhere “Of course all you care about is some heels.”

I couldn’t help the small smile that curled upon my lips “They aren’t just some heels thank you, those heels cost me a fortune. Do you even know how much those shoes were?” I demanded raising an eyebrow at him.

I couldn’t help the growth of my smile as I watched Gav’s lips tug up “I don’t know, how about the price of this Ute? I don’t get you girls you know, you pay a fortune on all those kind of things and what, wear them for one night and that’s it?”

I laughed softly “I don’t know what you want me to tell you, the price just seems worth it when you wear it and you feel like the most beautiful girl on the planet. I guess it’s simply just the price you pay to feel like a princess just for one night.” I shrugged “I mean you can’t deny that you guys don’t waste money on things we find pointless, like maybe video games?” I taunted turning towards him as I began to relax, the warmth and not to mention the safety ringing me a centre of gravity.

Gav smiled softly at me with a soft and rich chuckle “I still don’t get it, I mean you could be wearing tracksuit pants and your oldest shirt and you’d still be more stunningly beautiful than any girl dressed up like an overdone prissy so called princess.” he struggled to find words, nevertheless I still couldn’t help but giggle.

“So what are you getting at? You telling me it was pointless for me to dress up tonight because I didn’t even look good?” I challenged him with a pointed mock glare.

Gav shook his head quickly “No.” he rushed out quickly as if he was jumping on hot coals “I didn’t mean that at all.” he stuttered like a fish out of water.

I giggled giving him a playful shove “I’m just messing with you, you can relax.”

He sighed heavily in relief making me smile more as he shook his head in amusement. He turned to face me, his thumb stroking my jaw and I couldn’t help the slight tilt of my head into his touch. His skin wasn’t smooth rather it was rough and yet it was warm and smooth, it was a blissful mix that had me craving for more as his tantalizing spicy scent attacked my senses.

My eyes fluttered just the slightest to meet Gav’s gaze, his face was closer than I thought and I couldn’t help but feel dizzy as I was sucked into those warm chocolate eyes. He reached out for my hand as he talked to me “I wouldn’t say in the slightest it was pointless, what I’m saying is that any day you’d look utterly-“

It is funny how quickly the compliment and affection you were craving for could instantly be swept out from underneath, just as it’s in reach. I was waiting holding my breath for those beautiful words, those clichéd overused words and yet despite words that any girl craves to hear. Just as quick as it was suddenly coming my way – despite how long I had waited – it disappeared as quickly as snapping your fingers.

“Holly shit.” Gav cursed startling me out of my weak dreamy haze.

“What?” I questioned, my voice rising in alarm.

“Your hand is bleeding!” He cried in worry that despite the situation warmed me.

“Wh- Oh!” I cried startled as I glanced down at my hand and sure enough right along the palm of my hand was a deep gash that was still bleeding despite the dry blood also staining my pale skin.

“How on earth did you do this?” Gav cried as he reached for a compartment in his car and pulled out some things.

Must have been climbing down off the ledge I thought bitterly to myself, though I didn’t say it out loud. Now having found and realized I was bleeding did the pain creep up on me.

I hissed as Gav pulled out a bandage and wrapped it around my palm “Sorry.” He murmured softly, his head bowed as attentively he played doctor to my hand.

I shook my head “It’s okay.” I breathed biting back another yelp as he tested the tightness of the wrap.

Gav shook his head sadly “How did you do this? What happened?” he persisted as he stuffed his things back in the compartment.

“Why do you carry that stuff around?” I couldn’t help but wonder out loud, not to mention it was the perfect distraction.

Gav shrugged “You never know when you need it, not to mention mum practically forces all that sort of stuff down my throat, you know what with her working with your parents at the hospital.”

I sighed on a chuckle “You got to love having doctors and nurses as your parents.” I mused grimly as I thought of the little things mum always persisted I carried around with me.

Gav chuckled grimly “Damn straight.” He muttered as he put his Ute into gear and began to indicate out onto the street, the silence lapsing in around us as I settled into the seat and in his jumper.

“So,” he murmured softly breaking the silence “you’re going to tell me what happened?” he persisted.

I swallowed nervously realizing he wasn’t going to let this up but rather he was going to keep pestering me and I honestly couldn’t give him answers, so I had to scramble for some lies or simply shrug it off, play it cool. So that’s exactly what I did.

I shrugged trying to keep a stoic face “It was nothing, I’m okay.” I breathed softly.

It was Gavin’s turn to snort and I couldn’t help but note he had been doing it a lot tonight “Sure,” sarcasm as thick as thieves “you do realize Steph that you went up to go to the bathroom over two hours ago?” he asked his voice rising slightly in not only alarm but also frustration, he knew something had happened and yet he wasn’t getting answers but rather was getting left out in the cold.

I couldn’t help the slight grow to my eyes; I had been gone for over two hours? Time surely had flown indeed I couldn’t help but note as I desperately clawed for ideas, an excuse.

“So?” he pressed desperately not giving up.

I sighed “Look I, I went to the toilet and I…” I trailed off, struggling to find an excuse “I ran into some people, got distracted and then I ran into Cindy.”

“Cindy?” he asked frowning at that “What’d she want?”

I shrugged “I don’t know, I don’t think she likes me.” I said, at least a part of this story being the truth.

“Yeah? I heard she’s be taking Georgie’s death the hardest out of them all.” he murmured softly, his voice sad and somber.

I nodded “I don’t know, I ran into Ben, he was a mess.”

Gav nodded “Yeah, I’ve heard that too. Not to mention her parents, it must be awful to go through.” he murmured softly beyond words to describe what they all must be experiencing. But was what Cindy experiencing was truly sadness and mourning?

“So, what else happened?” Gav murmured softly waking me from my tumbled mess of doubts and uncertainty.

“Uh,” I began wondering where else next in this web of lies “I don’t know, Cindy got to me so I left, you know to get some cool air. Out there I just decided to go home, go to bed what with school tomorrow and all.” I shrugged trying to aim for indifference.

“Okay, so why were you running for then? Not to mention with a sore ankle?” he asked again his voice growing worried and anxious, this somewhat protective anxious streak comforting to me.

I laughed with no trace of humor “I was walking back and I thought I saw something, I don’t know, I just got paranoid and scared what with all going on and I just started running and I fell and rolled my ankle that’s probably when I cut my hand too.” I murmured the lies frighteningly becoming easier “That’s it, nothing to worry about.” I brushed off.

Gav sighed softly “I don’t know, I saw you running and looking so petrified and I couldn’t help but think back to that day at school…outside the girls toilets and all.” he murmured softly, avoiding saying outright the day I found Georgie’s head.

I shrugged not knowing what to say, I wasn’t exactly going to start spilling my guts and suspicions about all that has been happening when I wasn’t even sure what was happening. So like usual I had to play it off, brush it off “Well it’s okay, it was just me being paranoid.” I laughed it off weakly not needing much acting skills right now when it all came naturally. Still I couldn’t help but feel quite relieved when we turned onto my block so I could escape discussing tonight any further, I was dealing with the lies and guilt overly well.

Pulling into my drive way it was dead silent as I looked at the house, the lights basically all off despite the lounge room and the front porch light. I smiled softly at the prospect of curling up into bed and sleeping this all away, there is no place that feels safer than home.

Gav turned off the vehicle and we both turned to face each other as I smiled faintly at him, his eyes were sad and I couldn’t help but ask “What? Why so sad?” I asked giving him a playful dramatic pout.

Gav chuckled weakly, his heart not in it “Just you, how brave you are.” He murmured softly making me blush under his intense smoldering gaze “Steph? You know you can come to whenever you need somebody, right?”

I nodded softly, my heart fluttering inside my chest under his warm glance “I know.” I murmured shyly as I glanced down, tugging a curl behind my ear.

“Good.” He murmured softly as he picked up my hand to check on it again “And be careful next time alright?” he murmured softly.

I smiled softly “Okay, oh and here.” I murmured reaching for his jumper.

Gav shook his hand pulling my hands away “No, leave it. Like I said, it looks good on you.”

I blushed under his gaze “Thank you.” I murmured softly, tugging on the sleeves of the jumper “For everything.” I whispered softly as with a new sense of bravery I leant forward placing a kiss on his cheek.

I pulled back to see Gav’s eyes blazing with happiness “Anytime, I mean, what are friends for?”

And just like that as I made my way up the garden path and inside as Gav waited outside ‘till I was safely inside was I struck back into reality. All hope diminished when his words only slapped back into the truth and real world leaving me bitter and heartbroken, all hope gone.

Friends, that’s all we’d ever be.

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