Mysterious Death; Jessie's Diary

ELENA'S POV;

It was a quiet morning, the sun filtering in through the window. I settled down with a bowl of cold yoghurt and some fresh strawberries, ready to delve into the diary and find out more about Brianne and Jessie. As I read, the sweet, tart berries and the cool, creamy yoghurt provided a pleasant contrast, and the words on the page pulled me in.

Opening this diary made me think about what Jessie had mentioned the other day, which was the tattoo, the same tattoo that I saw on Antonio's hands. There was no other way I could describe the issue aside from the fact that my father was part of it all...the entire issue. That was probably the reason he had the files containing details of my father. I knew he wasn't dead yet. But I had no idea where he left to. And this diary seemed like another eye-opener for me...like a remembrance of the kind of man that he was. Not only was he abusive, but he was also someone who ran away from his responsibilities.

****What was lurking through the bushes? What got into the house unknown by the owners? Who tip-toed with a knife held in his hand and his appearance just like that of a shadow? Why was he in here, who sent him, what was he after? I never thought this would be the day. I never thought I would lose Brianne to anyone. The signs were there but we fucking ignored it and treated it like nothing. The shadow did lurk, but this wasn't the first time. And yet...we had fucking ignored it.

I hadn't fucking known till I was told it was in the middle of the night, she stretched and got down from her bed. She needed water to quench her thirst, her flip-flops slapping the wooden floor as she made her way to the kitchen.

Twisting the tap, she got a cup before allowing the water to run into it. Unknown to her, that she was a target.

"Ahhhh."

Her parents had rushed from their rooms due to the noise of broken glass and their daughter's screams. And what they'd seen next...the news caught me. It wounded me...I could barely breathe. She was my only best friend. How could anyone be so heartless? Heartless to someone who was absolutely innocent. How had this person fucking gotten into her house?

But it didn't all start this way though. On the day I got the news, there was something about the morning weather I couldn't quite comprehend. Although it was day, and everywhere appeared bright, it seemed dull, like there was a mixture of loneliness and pain in it. I wasn't feeling myself, I've never even felt myself this past few weeks. Life without Brianne was kinda lonely, I needed her by my side, to keep me company.

But speaking of Brianne, where is she? She was absent from school, which was weird because it was unlike her. She never missed school, not even when she was ill. Perhaps I should branch at her house to check on her, because.... it was as though her absence caused the unpleasant weather.

If not for the light in the hall, I was certain this place would have been worse. Brianne's absence still bothered me, a lot. On a normal note I wouldn't be bothered like this, I wouldn't even mind if Brianne never called or texted. This was different, things felt different and strange.

Even the school felt different, as though I didn't belong here, as though I wasn't supposed to be here. Seeing everything or anyone pissed me, not that I knew why. Besides I'd been going through a lot these days trying to figure out who sent that stupid text to Brianne, and who saved me on that day.

What seemed strange to me was that everyone didn't see things the way I saw them, they were oblivious to the weather. Well, what did I expect? Not everyone would see things from your own point of view. I guess I was just so worried about Brianne'.

"Not now Hay, don't distract me!" I glared sternly at Hay the nerd who walked over to request my chemistry book. I was just too pissed I didn't know what came over me. "Go away!" I would be lying if I said my own words didn't hurt me, I even noticed the hurt on Hay's face when I said that, and it hurt me, bad. I just hurt or perhaps embarrassed the one who counted on me, and saw me only as his friend.

Everybody's attention was on us as I watched him leave, while I noticed some students chuckle mockingly at the way I had shunned him. I wanted to call him back, to apologize, but a part of me was too annoyed to do that.

My gaze travelled, first of all landing on Aiden, Adrian and Dace, on with their daily routine.

Speaking of routine, where was Leonardo? I'd never seen him away from his friends before. Leo, though others may not have noticed, but to me, Leo was not the Leo I used to know, he was no longer the Leo who confessed his feelings for me in eighth grade, which I knew would have faded. We were so dumb then, and now that we were mature, we knew better.

Just then I notice Adrian glancing around. I didn't need an expert to inform me she was searching for Leo. I softly chuckled, when she already had Aiden to herself. After scanning Aiden for a while, I tore my gaze away from him. My phone was the only thing that kept me busy, searching for different kinds of books by different authors. It kept me busy at least.

Taking a deep breath, I rose from my seat, not caring about Aiden and Adrian as I walked out of the class to the hallway. My eyes travelled to each of the lockers before they landed on Leo. He always had to be leaning on his locker with his phone in his hand, his fingers doing the work. I still had my suspicions about him though. After that day, I somewhat couldn't stop thinking about him. My question these days was; was he hiding anything about himself and his life from the outside world? Was there something he didn't want anyone to know?