Student Amy Gardener testifies to her last sighting of River Griffiths

After River Griffiths's disappearance a week ago, we at the newspaper committee reported on speculations that arose. Rumors were spreading that a student witnessed the senior, Griffiths, being taken, and we have since identified the alleged witness to be junior Amy Gardener.

It is important to note that all of Gardener's statements are witness testimony, meaning they are allegations yet to be proven. Any accusations made have yet to be validated in the court of law.

On Monday evening, September 3rd, Amy claims to have spent her time after classes with Griffiths and now deceased Tiffany Stewart in the performing arts building. River was preparing for their first rehearsal in the upcoming play, in which they were playing a lead role.

“In the middle of a conversation, River said they had to take a call,” Gardener alleged, “so they left while Tiffany and I stayed behind.”

According to Gardener, this was the last time anyone saw River Griffiths alive.

“Tiffany and I began looking for River, and I saw a strange black truck parked outside,” she said. “When I walked up, there were two occupants holding River’s body.”

Many details Gardener shared of the horrific scene are not included here due to EHS restrictions.

“I knew they were dead, and I knew one person responsible was a student. I saw her face. The other drove off with River’s body. I had a confrontation with [the student], but they fled the scene shortly after.”

Gardener believes that other recent events are connected to this same student, saying, “I didn't witness it, but I am confident.”

In regards to the fight that broke out yesterday afternoon involving Gardener, she claims that the other student involved was not the same student she witnessed last Monday. “As far as I know, she had no hand in River's death. She seemed to have been blindly defending her friend, who is the true criminal.”

The supposed criminal's name will not be released unless she is willing to interview with us and consents to have her name published. Until then, remember that everything you hear is rumor or speculation. No accusations have been confirmed with valid evidence, and there is no proof that River Griffiths is deceased.

Please report to the newspaper committee in room 238 with any information regarding this topic.

Camilla maintained a neutral expression as she set her phone down.

The stares she had endured the day after the fight only worsened as a video including Amy's vocal accusations started to spread around the school. And although Camilla wanted to be grateful for the neutrality of the Tiger Times paper published the next day, it only added fuel to the fire. Not only were the rumors being spread further, but they were now put into context.

Meagan joined Camilla for their first class of the day, just as uneasy as she'd been since the fight.

She took her seat across from Camilla, saying, “It's still weird not having Michelle here.”

Camilla nodded. “It's much quieter,” she noted with a laugh.

“I'm sure she'd have a lot to say right now.”

“I'm sure she'd be spamming the group chat right now if she wasn't grounded.”

Meagan shook her head. “It's just not like her to get into a physical fight. I mean, she's very vocal and brutally honest, but she's not violent.”

“I guess she has her limits.” Camilla shrugged. “I don't doubt I would've reacted out of character if I'd been face-to-face with Amy, especially if I knew the lies she would say.”

Meagan looked away. “I wish I had been there to stop her.”

Camilla frowned, unsure who Meagan was referencing. “Who—”

“Camilla,” the teacher interrupted with a snap. “Class has started. Stop chatting, and pay attention.”

The teacher's eyes were fierce. Camilla looked back with shock. Despite her frequent misbehaving in her younger years, she tended to avoid trouble now that she was in high school. In fact, teachers often favored her, so it was rare for her to be disciplined even when she was off-task.

With a clamped fist, Camilla pulled out a notebook. Instead of writing anything legible, she scribbled sporadically, fighting from detailing how she wanted to hurt her teacher.

She noticed other teachers became less patient with her in the past week. None had lashed out at her until now, but it was still notable.

Surely the “rumors” hadn't spread that far.

As the lesson went by, Camilla avoided taking notes; she knew she was capable of retaining and recalling the information without that. Still, her temper lingered. She always managed to conceal it well, but lately it proved challenging.

In the middle of the lecture, an administrator entered the classroom. The teacher was cut off, and Camilla soaked in the satisfaction of her being interrupted.

It didn't last, however, as the administrator said, “I need to see Camilla Green.”

Her heart thumped louder as she approached the door. Was she in trouble 1for the fight? Or was it the video? Were the police waiting right outside the door?

As she exited, an unfamiliar face came into view. The boy had pointed, dark eyes, plump lips, and a prominent chin. His nose was accentuated by a nose ring in the shape of a hoop, and he had matching earrings with a golden hue, complimenting his caramel skin. He was dressed nicer than Camilla would expect from a student, but then again, she had never seen him here before.

“Camilla,” the administrator began, “this is André Garcia, a transfer student joining Edwardsville as a junior.” André's deep eyes locked on hers. “André, this is Camilla Green, the junior class president.”

André smiled warmly, saying, “Nice to meet you, Camilla.”

“It's nice to meet you, too,” she responded with a poised grin.

The administrator clapped his hands together. “Okay, Camilla, you'll show André around, help him find his classes, and get to know him. André, take notes. Camilla is a bright student.”

Camilla stood straighter. It seemed some teachers were still on her side.

“Will do,” André said. Without another word, the administrator left them alone.

Glad to have a distraction from her previous anger, Camilla started the tour immediately.

“Where did you move from?” she asked first.

“Chicago,” he responded, walking alongside Camilla with a laid back demeanor.

“Oh, that's cool. Was that, like, three hours?”

“A little over four hours. It wasn't too bad though.”

Camilla drifted a bit closer to him. “What brings you to Edwardsville? Did it just draw you in?”

They laughed. “I'm sure there are so many things that could've drawn me in. But, no, mom just found a nice job here.”

“I see. Have you met anyone yet?”

“Besides the neighbors, no. You're the first person.”

Camilla smirked and leaned closer. “I'm more than happy to be the first.”

André's brows lifted briefly, but they returned to his usual rested position. He did not respond, but he seemed entertained.

It was common for Camilla to flirt with men like André, but it was rare for them to be unresponsive. He didn't seem to oppose the move she made, though. His apparent amusement made her more determined to mess with him.

He was attractive enough to aim for Camilla’s affection, although it was unavailable. She had no desire to get attached—and she knew she wouldn't—but she found no issue with treating André like Jared.

Except Jared was much more attached to Camilla.

As she showed André around Edwardsville High School, she took advantage of every opportunity of subtle flirting that came her way. André appeared to soak in the attention with little initiation. As they bonded, however, he began returning her comments with similar energy.

Her advances could easily be mistaken for friendliness, so Camilla made sure to keep it that way. Despite her disinterest in him, it was nice to speak with someone who knew nothing about the rumors surrounding her. She could only hope André would remain oblivious.

As they turned a corner, Camilla spotted Jared waving at her. She chuckled and sauntered towards him. His excitement turned into confusion upon seeing her guest. Even from a distance, Camilla noted the cautious look Jared gave André.

“Skipping class again?” Camilla called, nearing her ex.

Jared smiled slightly. “Listen,” he began, “you'd skip too if you had to read Shakespeare.”

“You act like I haven't.”

Jared's gaze softened as she stood face-to-face with him. The moment André slipped into view again, he leered over.

“Who's this?” Jared asked.

“I'm André,” he greeted. “New student.”

Jared frowned. “Jared Acker.”

André tilted his head. “Your name sounds familiar. Are you on the football team?”

“Yeah. How’d you know that?”

“I think the coach mentioned you to me. It was either that or I heard it in one of the clips I saw of your games. I wanted to see how good the team was before I joined.”

Camilla gasped with exaggeration. “You play football, too?” André nodded, and Jared eyed her with shock. “That's so great! I know a few players, but I'm also close with my fellow cheerleaders.”

Those girls were the only ones relentlessly sticking up for Camilla. After the video of the fight surfaced, it became clear that her former “friends” were not as loyal as she had hoped. When she made eye contact, they would drop their gazes to the floor or pretend not to see her.

The cheerleaders, however, shared their support for her at yesterday's practice. In recent days, they had become her own cheerleaders.

André grinned, saying, “I’m glad I found some connections, then.”

“This is going to be so much fun,” Camilla gushed, fingers briefly landing on his arm. It was a quick motion, but she was sure Jared took notice. “Are you playing in the game this week?”

“Nah, but the coach said I have a chance next week. If I’m good enough, you’ll see me there.” André shifted to Jared and offered a fist to him. Jared hesitantly bumped it with his own. “I'll see you on the field.”

Jared did not respond.

André nudged Camilla, saying, “I’m going to run to the bathroom. I’ll be back.”

As soon as he was out of earshot, Jared leaned in towards Camilla. “Thank God he left,” he said. “I’ve been needing to speak with you.”

“Why can’t you speak with me in front of André?”

“Well, it’s… it’s about Monday.”

Camilla perked up. “About our conversation? Or about….”

“About the fight.”

Camilla held her breath. Jared had been left in the dark about Amy for the past week, but thanks to the video, even he heard the accusations.

Despite her faltering eye contact, Jared maintained his gaze, asking, “Is that what you and Michelle were talking about?”

“Sort of.”

Jared hesitated before leaning in. “I'm sure this is all complicated and stressful. I don't know much, but I do know that what was said about you after the fight is not true. And I will stay by your side, defending you, for as long as you need me.”

Camilla's light eyes locked on his, but she could not reply. André returned, carefree and cheerful. With a brief wave, they departed.

Finding André's second class, the two paused.

“I hope you enjoyed your incredibly formal tour,” Camilla said with a giggle.

He laughed with her. “I did enjoy it. I think I'll like it here.”

“It's a lot different from Chicago, I'm sure.”

“Yeah, but I have high hopes.”

“I'm glad. I'm sure there are plenty of things to hope for.”

André hummed in agreement, not noticing her implications. Having fulfilled her fun for the day, Camilla left him and returned to her classroom as students exited in a hurry.

Meagan stepped out and caught Camilla’s gaze. “Hey,” she greeted, “is everything okay?”

Camilla smiled, saying, “Yeah. There's just a new student. Nothing to worry about.”

“Oh, well, good.”

The two drifted down the hall, mostly silent until they stopped at their lockers.

“I was reading the Tiger Times paper in class,” Meagan said, “and I read something that I thought you might want to hear.”

Camilla looked up with a cautious eye. “I read it, too. I already know that they interviewed her, and honestly, it can’t get any worse than the video.”

Meagan shook her head and closed her locker door. “That’s not what I was going to say. Did you read the end of the article?” Camilla furrowed her brows.

With a sigh, Meagan leaned against the wall. “It suggested that you interview with the newspaper committee.”

Camilla shut her locker door, too. “Yeah, I read that. I don't know if that's the best idea.”

“I think you should do it.”

Raising an eyebrow, Camilla faced Meagan. “What makes you say that?”

“Well, they're an unbiased party trying to report all of the facts and all of the witness testimonies. I think it would help share your side of the story and put more people at ease.”

“But if I interview with them, they'll release my name.”

Meagan shrugged. “Everyone's already convinced that you're involved. If anything, it might help.”