Broken

Chapter 13

Ethan

The gates were opened and students were rushing out. As I try to calm down my breathing, I look around. Where do I start? Everyone's in a rush. There are some group of friends here and there.

Then at the corner of my eye, I spot a girl with dreadlocks sitting on a nearby bench reading a book. She has her bag next to her so I assume she's from this school. I walk up to her.

"Hi, there!" I say nicely.

She looks at me with a blank expression, frowns and diverts her gaze.

" No, no, no, you misunderstood. I'm not trying to hit on you. I just wanna talk." I say as I carefully sit next to her.

She looks back to her book " what is it? I'm busy so make it quick."

Rude.

"Is it true about Morgan being a serial killer?" I ask her.

She makes a confused expression " Why are you asking me? Don't you watch the news? It's everywhere."

" Yeah, you see she's my classmate. She always seemed like she was doing just fine. I can't imagine what would make her do something so horrible." I lie with a straight face.

She closes her book and looks at me" If you were her classmate why did I not see you in class since we started school? I'm our class representative. And she was anything but fine." So she was having a hard time at school too?

" Right! You caught me! I'm from the class next door and was just curious. Sorry about lying. But I don't remember Morgan having a hard time." I try to seem deep in thought.

She sighs " Don't you know? Well, I guess there are still somehow don't. She was being bullied by Jessica and her friends. They did it so often...I just left the classroom whenever they began." She looks at her book sadly. I can tell she feels guilty.

" Her friend must have been devastated," I say. I also need to find this BFF.

" Friend? No, she never had any friends. No one wanted to get close to her. " she says.

" Wait...Are you sure? She didn't have any friends? Not even one? Everyone has at least one." I said. That can't be true. That day when I met her, I could have sworn she had a fight with her friend. She was in a hurry too. Could it be that this friendship was secret? That or I simply guessed it wrong that day which I highly doubt. I trust myself more than anyone!

"Not even one. Even if she did I'm pretty sure this friend would have left her so she doesn't get tangled up in all the bullying." She says and stares off into a distance.

I follow her eyes and spot a group of 3 girls near a vending machine.

" Are those the bullies? " I ask.

" huh? Oh, yeah...it's them." She says as she looks down at her watch.

" Look, I don't know what you're after but I gotta go now so-" She begins but I cut her off and get up.

" Yes! Of course. Thanks for everything. Bye~"

Leaving her on the bench with a confused expression I run up to the so called bullies.

" Hello ladies! Might I have a bit of your time?"

The 3 girl all look at me awkwardly

"Umm...who the hell are you?" The red haired one asks.

" Oh, I'm one of Jessica's acquaintances." I lie with an innocent face.

Shit! Which one is Jessica here? Did I mess up?