CHAPTER ONE
pip fitz-amobi needs to mind her business

MARLEY HASTINGS HATED TO RESORT TO ANGER, BUT PIP FITZ-AMOBI NEEDED TO MIND HER BUSINESS ABOUT THINGS THAT DID NOT CONCERN HER. All summer, she had successfully avoided any bouts of unnecessary stress, a prescription her personal therapist/pseudo brother, Ravi Singh, had given her when she cried to him how bad she hated going back to college. 

(She always did call him a hypocrite, especially because he too had dropped out and had yet to progress on with his life.)

But, low and behold, when she came back from the shops on August 1st, she was met with a sullen Ravi, who wasn't salty over the fact Marley forgot his favourite packet of cookies. Instead, his crestfallen face was easily traced back to a stuck up A+ student who clearly wanted to milk a tragedy for extra brownie points from the exam board.

Marley tried to be tame with how she spoke, but she couldn't help the insults that spewed from her lips. Poisoned words fell from prejudiced lips, though Marley could not care at all.

She could've said so much worse.

"Honestly, she licks Mr Ward's ass, so it doesn't surprise me she's allowed to do such a sensitive topic." Marley snickered to herself, finding herself funny, although that was cut short when she heard Ravi exhale softly. His breathing always did become more stuttered whenever the topic of five years ago tinged the atmosphere.

The sensitive topic she was referring to specifically related to the empty bedroom that resided next to Marley's room.

Sal's room.

Pip Fitz-Amobi, in all her stupidity, was doing her Extended Project Qualification on Sal Singh and the stupid murder that happened five years ago that the police technically had not solved. There was nothing to write about it, other than Sal is a victim of miscarried justice and coincidences being used to fill the gaps a detective somehow could not fill.  Marley didn't care, but she cared that Ravi was clearly bothered by it.

So she did what she always did when he was upset.

She offered violence.

"Or we could maybe do a rewatch of some 2000s classics? Legally Blonde? Clueless?"

Or a comfort watch party.

But Ravi shook his head once again, which made Marley's eyebrows cross together in a confused knot. Since when did he refuse such a generous offer? It was unheard of, something Ravi simply never did unless there was a reasonable explanation behind it. Ravi must've seen Marley's confusion, because he immediately began to quietly elaborate. "No— I don't think Pip means harm. She said-"

Marley cut him off immediately. She didn't mean to be rude, just her brain was running at 100mph and if she didn't say what she needed to say, then she would forget what she wanted to say. "She shouldn't be shoving her nose into things that don't concern her! After all, she's just doing this because—" Marley cut her ramble off midway, looking up and seeing Ravi's sad eyes soften. "Sorry, go on."

"She thinks Sal might be inno—" His voice caught, choked up as he held onto the the kitchen counter as though a single word had winded him. He didn't dare say the word, it was cursed in the Singh household, a taboo none of them spoke out of fear of correctness. Ravi hunched over, burying his face from prying eyes with a downcast shadow. Without any invitation, Marley did what came natural: she immediately rushed up from her seat and enveloped him in a hug, rubbing soothing circles on his back despite how uncomfortable she felt.

She always did hate hugs.

"Hey, deep breaths." She chuckled lightly, her body swaying Ravi back and forth. He had swayed her back and forth so many times to that exact melody she swayed him to. Marley did wonder if Ravi recognised it. The way she drew silly portraits in his palms to calm in. He had done it for her so many times, now she was just repaying the favour. "You okay?" He nodded, though still looking away. Marley didn't care though, she just wanted him to be okay. "You were saying?"

She felt his hand tighten around her own, squeezing it. "Maybe this is what he needs. Maybe Pip looking into his case will-- maybe it will be right." His grip on her lightened, the pair no longer hugging.

"Sal needs to rest in peace." Marley whispered softly. She jumped up to sit on the kitchen counter, being at eye level with Ravi. "If you wanna do this, I'll be here for you. If you want me to beat some sense into Prissy Fitz Amobi, say the word and she's a dead girl walking."

Ravi shook his head. "You're a good friend, Mars."

Marley gave a playful smile. "I am your only friends, Rav." She snickered to herself, wincing when he punched her lightly. "But, I guess so are you."

"Do you think I'm being stupid? Letting Pip- you know - doing an interview?" Ravi looked at her, with big pleading eyes that were desperate for Marley's honesty. "Maybe I should just-- let Sal rest..."

Marley lightly snickered. "I'll admit, Pip isn't the world's greatest person to have investigate. But, Ravi Singh, you would be a fool to give up."

He laughed, shaking his head back and forth.

Marley gave his hand one more squeeze. "Some things are just worth fighting for."

Some things really are worth fighting for. It was late. Marley knew that, though she couldn't tell what the time was anymore. Her phone was on, yet the numbers were blurred. Maybe she was that tired that even her eyes were verging on sleep themselves, awaiting to betray her and blink a new day in. Marley Hastings did not care though, it could get pitch dark inside and outside, and she would still be awake.

She sat criss-crossed on top of her duvet, a thin blanket wrapped around her body. Nights were growing warmer, more uncomfortable, and Marley hoped that September wouldn't be the same. Yes, she was a Summer bitch, proudly born on the 23rd June, but autumn was truly in her heart. But, that was besides the point, what mattered was her phone and the contact her thumb hovered over. She knew the outcome, it was always the same no matter how hard she tried. Yet, a small part of Marley wanted it to be different.

"Just one try," she whispered, tightly shutting her eyes. Her heart ached, clenching in her chest at the silent promise she made.  "One try and I'll sleep." She tried to convince herself that, though she knew that the number one always led to the number two and so on. With a frustrated sigh, she pressed down on the 'call' button, raising her phone quickly to hear the ongoing rhythm of beats.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep

Beeee—

The same message Marley had heard before played into her ear. "Hello, you have reached the voicemail of Georgia Hastings. Sorry, I must be busy, please leave a message after the beep."

Beep.

Marley coughed into her elbow, eyes already teary. "Hey mama, it's Marley, I—uh— just wanted to hear your voice." Her voice had gone unimaginably quiet, a soft whisper that seemed to hesitant to publicise. "I'm sorry for last time I saw you. I didn't mean to snap... I don't know why I did. Can you give me a call when you hear this? I really wanna see you and dad... and... Max too." Marley wiped away the tears falling down her cheeks, sniffling slightly. Her voice croaked as she spoke once more, "Goodnight mama, I love you so much."

Her finger hesitantly hovered over the red button, finally pressing down with an exasperated sigh.

She would call her mother a total of ten times and she would send ten voice mails.

i adore marley sm guys you don't understand <3333333333 also istg holly better release the trailer for the series soon or i am gonna spontaneously combust