chapter 4

"So...a sports car, huh?"

He chuckled, "Yes, but in my defense it's a vintage one I fixed up."

I giggled, “Why exactly are you giving me a ride?"

He casually shrugged still focusing on the road. "Your school is actually on the way to where I work."

I cocked my eyebrows, placing my hands over my chest giving him a stern look.

"What?" he said, looking at me. "You don't like people being nice to you?" Austin asked.

I frowned, “Your mood swings are giving me a whiplash."

"Ok. Fair enough," he chuckled. "I am aware that I may have been a little rude to you the last few times we spoke."

Ok, wow! "Wow, is that like a really lame attempt at an apology?" I asked, slightly glaring.

"You just caught me off guard, that's all."

Why does he have to be on his guard?

"To answer your question from the previous night, I just started working at the local police department. That's why I moved here."

"Oh!" I said. But he isn't wearing a uniform?

As though he read my mind, he replied, "As a homicide detective."

"Wow... I don't believe you."

He chuckled, “And why not?"

I raised my left eyebrow, tilting my head in confusion. "Isn't twenty-one way too young to be a detective?"

"I graduated early and top of my class. I was then promoted to detective after nine months of joining the police force," he replied. "Sorry, there was no way to answer your question without sounding arrogant," he added, turning his head back to look at the road.

I realized that he wasn't arrogant. He just didn't do false humility, and it suited me just fine.

It was the first time I saw him up close and during the day. He was even better looking than what I could see of him before, standing at his window in the dark with a little smirk on his beautiful mouth... He looked more like a model for a Ralph Lauren advertisement than a homicide detective.

I was very aware of his close proximity to me, sitting in his car. I could smell his cologne - he smelled delicious. I shivered.

"Why are you smiling?" He asked, giving me a weird look before facing the steering wheel.

Because I'm happy sitting here beside you, even though I hardly know you. "Oh. Nothing," I said, smiling nervously.

I wanted to know more about him so I decided to ask him a few questions. "Why did you join the police force?"

"Let's just say I have my reasons," he said, coldly.

I was shocked. 'Oooooh, Mr. Mysterious is back in full force. I wonder what does reasons are'. "Ok... so where are you from?"

He looked at me for a while, as if trying to decide how much to tell me. "Actually, this is my hometown. I moved to Queens when I started going to St. Jonathan's University there. I then moved to the NYPD after graduating but I transferred back here when I was promoted to being a detective."

"That's cool. Why are you so...."

"Why am so what?"

I giggled to myself, "Ah! Never mind."

The rest of the ride was silent.

"We're here," Austin said, stopping at my school.

I wanted to continue our too short of a conversation; I wanted to ask him when I would see him again. Oh, why is my school so near? I wailed internally until I realized I didn't tell him where my school was located.

"Wait, how did you know where I go to school?"

"Your uniform."

Oh yeah. Note to self: don't ask stupid questions. "You know, I'm really early for class since you gave me a lift.”

"I'm really early for work too, now that you mention it. Do you want me to wait with you in my car?" he asked. "But maybe not here... I could bring you to my favorite hilltop look-out spot, overlooking a waterfall. It's about a 5 minute drive from here, and I guess I could answer your question from earlier about why I joined the police force," he added, giving me an innocent look.

I've never seen him so sweet and open! This is such a rare opportunity... I want to have as much time with him now as I can. But I couldn't go even if I wanted to because school began in 8 minutes, so there wasn’t enough time for us to get there and come back in time for school.

"Thanks, but I'm going to just head in." I said, getting out of the car and walking to his side of the car. "Thanks for the ride."

He nodded, "Stay out of trouble, kid." And with that he drove off.

Who is he calling a kid? Ugh! He drives me mad! I stomped my way into the school grounds.

"Apparently her mom's an alcoholic," a kid said as I walked into the high way.

"I heard that her dad's banging some girl and that she's not much older than us," Jules whispered to Rose.

"Ewww!" Rose scrunched her nose in disgust.

I was beyond shocked. There were only three people in school who knew about my parents: Bianca, Skylar and Crystal. I realized with a sinking feeling that it could only have been one of them who leaked this. I frowned, my face containing so many emotions. Anger, madness, sadness and most of all betrayal. No time to think about that now - this is a disaster.

"She always seemed so perfect; who knew her parents were such a mess," Max said, knocking me out of my shocked state.

"Certainly wouldn't want to be her right now," Rose said.

My face showed anger. These people used to care about me. Now, they're happy to gossip about me. But I'm the most popular girl in school for a reason; I need to take control of the situation and get them on my side.

But it's pointless anyway, they wouldn't even believe me. Maybe it's better to just ignore them and not add fuel to the fire. I walked past them silently.

"She just heard everything we said, didn't she?" Ivan asked Max.

Hell yeah, I did.

"Dude... I feel so bad," Max said, frowning.

You should.

Walking silently to my locker I saw my three best friends... What happened to us? We used to be sisters...

(Four years ago)

"That ride was amazing!" Skylar squealed. "Let's do it again!"

"Again?" Bianca said, munching on the doughnut. "We already did it three times!"

"If I ride that ride again I might puke out my pizza," Crystal gagged.

We all chuckled.

Crystal cleared her throat. "Anyways, I have an announcement I want to make - I'm going to try out for the cheerleading team.”

I squealed with delight, “OMG, yes!"

"Awesome! I'll try out with you!" Skylar said.

"Yes!" Crystal fist-bumped into the air. "All of you should try out!"

"Ok!" I agreed. "I'm so excited!”

"How about you, Bianca?" Alix asked.

We all looked at her.

"I don't know guys. You know how my parents are..."

"Well, maybe just try asking.... You never know!" I told her.

"Ok, I'll ask,” she said.

We jumped up in excitement.

"I love you, guys.” Crystal said, happy tears dripping from her eyes.

"I love you, too." I told her.

"I love you more." Bianca seconded.

"Best friends for life!" Skylar screamed.

One of my friends was trying to hurt me. I didn't know who it was, but one thing was for certain - I was going to get to the bottom of this, no matter what it costs.