You're Mine

Chapter Seven: Finals Beware

          Mr. Brown was the first arrest they made that week. Rumors spread like a wildfire as to why it happened. Some said that he flirted with the wrong girl causing someone in his fan club to go crazy. Some speculated that the flirting was taken a step further, and he had to cover it up. By Friday, everyone knew the truth. He and Kayla were together as lovers. However, the biggest secret was she was carrying his child, and they were engaged. Once the truth got out though it was over for Mr. Brown when they released him. He looked completely broken as he left campus. 

         The second arrest happened the following week while we began studying for finals. Carter Andrews was taken during English on Tuesday. Half the school knew before the class was over. Everyone at school knew before noon. More rumors occurred and to make matters worse bets were being placed. Everyone was trying to figure out why he had been arrested in the first place. Carter was known as the nice guy who was always helping people in need. He was involved in clubs and even did private tutoring. When they released him Thursday morning, everyone had learned that he was a stalker, especially to Kayla. He had hidden pictures of her on his computer, and they found texts of him threatening her since she rejected him. He had no choice but to leave campus due to the bullying he was receiving afterward.

         We're now three weeks into the investigation. I'm sitting at the cafe as Kara and Ash order what they want. I'm gazing out the window watching people walk by. Some are in a hurry like they're late for a meeting. Some are holding hands with their lovers as they stay in their little bubbles. Then there's a few who have the same lost look on their face that mirrors my own.

         "Penny for your thoughts?" Ash asks me as he sits down with his coffee.

          "Everyone is acting so normal. I mean our school is still on lockdown with what we can do and how we can leave. We even have a curfew for our little college town, yet people are out smiling and laughing like everything is okay," I huff out.

         "Ever think that they're just returning to their lives? They're trying to move on, but they're also noticing it's not the same," Kara says. "Think about it, people are just trying to return to their lives before all this. If they kept too much of a guard up, everyone would turn on each other," She finishes explaining to me. 

         "I guess I hadn't of thought of it like that," I respond as I prop my chin on my hand, "Maybe I'm just overthinking especially with finals around the corner."

        "Speaking of finals, you two ready?" He asks us as he takes a sip of coffee.  

          "I think I'll pass them. I don't know about making perfect scores though," I mumble the last part. 

          "Look we both know you two will be fine. I just want them to be over, so I can party," She says with a big smile. "Winter break needs to hurry up and get here."

         "We only have three more weeks," He says. "What are you two doing for it?"

          "I'm going home for once; mom wants to do a grand Christmas party. With tons of guests, food for days, and fashionable dresses, I can only hope it will be fun," She sighs as she says this.

          "Sounds better than my break, I get to go home and meet all of my father's business and lawyer friends. I'm supposed to tell him which I'll be working for," He groans.

          "Both of those sound fun," I tell them with a soft smile.

          "Well, what will you be doing?" He asks me again.

          "The same thing as last year, I'll be in my apartment with my tv and Chinese takeout on Christmas," I tell them absentmindedly.

          "What?" She says in shock while looking at me.

          "Um, what? I thought you were going to try and make plans with your brother," He starts to say before I cut him off.

          "Guys! He took off almost three weeks of work. He and I already talked, and I might go and visit him. So for the time being, I'll just be chilling as a party of one," I tell them with a shrug.

          "Oh my God, Cassie you are a genius!" She excitedly tells me. "Come home with me so you can meet my mom. We can pig out at the party, and you being there will make it fun." She grabs my hand. "Please say you'll go, please!"

         "Kara, I would love to go, but I have nothing close to fancy enough for that type of thing," I tell her.

         "Well I'm feeling like chopped liver," He says with a pout.

         "Okay, we'll do this then. Cassie comes home with me, and I'll take you shopping beforehand. Ash, you come over a day or two early and party with us. That way you can see your father and us. You can stay until New Years or go home," She says. "I've got it all figured out."

         I bite my lip as I think it over. This would be a lot more fun than staying home alone. She is also a lot closer to Alister then I am, so it would be easier to see him for the holiday. I want him to know that I was being serious when I made that promise. I also want him to know I am working to get better. With a smile, I look at her and say, "Sounds like a plan to me."

         She grins and looks at Ash, "Well?" She asks him.

         "I just texted my dad to run it by him. I'm sure he won't mind," He tells her as he puts his phone away.

          She's about to say something when we hear a yell come from the table next to us. I look over and see that they are looking at their phones. "Another arrest has been made," A dude with a football jacket says too loudly.

         "It was a false alarm," A girl says sitting at the table next to him. "Plus, that was totally old news." She flips her hair over her shoulder.

          I roll my eyes as I get up. "I'm heading home. I'll see you guys later, okay," I tell them as I head toward the door.

         "You better text me when you get there or else," She yells as I walk out the door.

         The walk home feels longer then it usually does. I don't know if it's because of all the thoughts racing through my mind. Winter break is around the corner, finals are approaching fast, and we have a killer on the loose. I sigh as I turn the corner to my apartment only to freeze. My front door is wide open. "No, no come on," I say as I run up the stairs to it. My stuff is thrown everywhere. Papers, notebooks, and novels cover the floor. My furniture is flipped over and picture frames lay scattered around. My kitchen is in despair with broken dishes and food on the ground. I freeze as I hear the floorboard creak in the hallway. "Hello?" I call out. "The police are on their way!" I reach for my phone and dial 911 as I look for a weapon. I see a steak knife and grab it as I hear my bedroom door slam shut.

         "911 what's your emergency?" I hear from my phone.

          "I would like to report a break-in," I whisper. "They're still in my house, please hurry." I look down the hallway as I take a step back towards my front door.

          "Ma'am, I need you to get out of the house, if you can. If you can't, I need you to get to a safe location," The operator tells me.

         My bedroom door swings open, and I see a figure standing there dressed in all black. They have a hood over their head with only their showing, their bloodshot blue eyes. They open and close their fist as they stare at me. Next thing I know, they're charging at me so I drop my phone to prepare for an attack.

        "Ma'am? Ma'am? The police are on their way," She tells me through the phone.