I couldnt find the mystery forum. I am new to writing mystery this is all i have so far.
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I won’t say who it was, but I know who killed Julie Ann. I can tell you that he was in love with her but the love was unrequited. I can tell you that she detested him. I can tell you that I am best friends with him. That is all I can tell you because of the secret bonds of friendship.
We were told about the most famous high school student’s death three days after it happened. The thing that shocked me the most wasn’t the fact she was dead but how wrong the principle was about what had happened.
“We are very sorry for the loss of Ms. Harders. She was an exceptionally talented young student.” Mr. Green, our principle, crackled over the load speakers.
“Ms. Julie Ann Harders was found dead two days ago. The time and cause of death are yet to be announced. She was located north of the river. She was tied to a tree. If you know what happened to her, please let us know.”
First of all she wasn’t tied to a tree, she was hanging from it. Also it was on the South end of the river. As for the time and cause of death well that like I said before is to be kept a secret.
Our class stared at our third period teacher, Mrs. Ingle. She was just as amazed as we were. Her thin jaw swung open. Her frail fingers found their way to her mouth as she covered her lips. When the announcement was over she turned to us. She didn’t say anything. After a very awkward silence she turned to the board and wrote down the assignments. We worked in silence until the bell.
I met my best friends outside the class room. We all ironically had fourth period Study Hall together. Jeremy, Andrew and Jacob walked with me. I didn’t speak. I was afraid if I did I would announce who killed her. We sat at our usual table in the library. Instead of goofing off like we usually do we all sat in silence, studying.
After lunch which consisted of muttering and stares at our table I was on my own. I moved through the day not speaking unless I was spoken to. As the last bell rang I ran out of the classroom. I met up with the guys half a block from my house. We continued to walk in silence until we got to my home.
I walked through the front door without telling my mom I was home. Not a good idea. She practically jumped out of her apron when she saw me getting a coke from the fridge.
“Oh my, Andrea what in the world are you doing home. Shouldn’t you be at Jeffery or Anthony or whatever their name’s are house?” My mother said frightened. She didn’t like the fact all my friends were guys so she barely bothered to remember their names.
“I don’t know, I wanted to come home. By the way Jeremy, Andrew and Jacob are here. We are going to be up in my room doing… school stuff.” I walked away before she could say anymore.
Up in my room we sat on the numerous beanbag chairs that littered my floor along with coke bottles and candy wrappers. Jacob was the first to speak.
“So did you hear about the new Slip Knot that is coming out?” Jacob was your typical A class rocker. Leather jacket; band T-shirts, ticket stubs from the numerous concerts he has been to. You name it he’s got it. If he wasn’t jamming to some new or old band he was quoting various lingoes from all of his favorite songs.
“No, you know none of us listen to that music.” Andrew pointed out.
Andrew is Jacob’s best friend. Andrew is also the exact opposite from his bud. He is more into his saxophone than the guitar. He prefers the monotone of jazz to the thrashing of metal. Andrew wears more subtle clothing jeans and shirts. Andrew would never be caught dead at a rock concert. The person who is most like me is Jeremy.
Tall and masculine Jeremy stands at six foot five. He likes all music. He wears sorry to say but the ugliest clothes. Clothing that is too horrible to describe.
Then there is me. I am tall and thin. I run faster than half of my friends. I prefer hard rock like ACDC and KISS to the Mozart’s or Motorhead. I dress like a boy, look like a boy by my monthly gifts and budding chest is telling me otherwise.
We have been best friends since the beginning of elementary school. I moved to Michigan from California in the second grade. I have loved it here ever since. Jacob became my friend first. When he saw me with my hair cut short and an ACDC shirt on he automatically assumed I was a boy. When he heard me respond to whether or not I thought Ozzy should have left Sabbath he was surprised to hear my voice not be monotone like most men.
“Wait, you’re not a guy?” he asked in shock.
“No.” I wasn’t sure whether or not to be offended.
“So you’re a girl who likes rock? Weird.” This was in second grade, of course the shirt I was wearing was my dad’s old shirt, but it was what connected me to Jacob.
When I went into music at the community center I met Andrew. I played the flute, guitar and piano. Although I was only good at the flute he and I became the best of friends only to later discover he was best friends with Jacob. Jeremy later joined our group in fifth grade.
Jeremy was the new kid. I felt sorry for him. He was bigger built than most of the kids. I decided to talk to him. We found out we both love running and our music tastes are similar. When introduced to Jacob and Andrew, Jeremy fit right in. We went through everything together. Then we were in junior high.
Julie Ann; Miss Popular, Miss Beauty, and Miss Talent. Every girl wanted to be her or kill her. Every boy wanted to date her or kill her. Sadly some of those boys that wanted her were Jeremy, Jacob and, Andrew. I went all through junior high with my best friends talking about Julie Ann.
Finally high school arrived and the boys were no longer obsessing about the princess of popularity as much. They focused on higher standers. Like the senior girls. And here we are now. Andrew, Jacob, Jeremy, and Andrea.
“Whatever, it is supposed to be the best thing out.” Jacob continued.
“Anyways do you guys know who it is?” Andrew asked.
I wanted so badly to scream yes. Tell the world who it is, and why they did it.
“What do you mean?” Jeremy said.
“Who killed her?” Andrew replied.
“So why don’t we… err get started on you know homework?” I said nervously changing the subject.
Instead of pressing the talk of death we talked of history. As a senior in high school I was the only girl in my group to have AP classes. My books were thicker and we went through everything faster. I liked it. It was a challenge. It kept me focused. It was especially good now what with Julie Ann.
“Done” I said as I pulled out my AP Science book. Jeremy has AP science but that is it. I continue on with my work. I finish all my homework before the boys. I lie down. I lie there thinking. Thinking of Julie Ann, Jacob, Jeremy, Andrew, School, Music, and running. I like running. Fast, track, long distance, short distance, any kind of running and I’m in. I wish I could run like Jeremy. Run like a football star. That is what Jeremy is. Staring Quarterback.
Coach said he was perfect for the job. Big boned, bulked, and brainy. Everything a Quarterback needs. The only thing he is missing is the girls. I have seen the other players. Unless their practicing or playing they want absolutely nothing to do with my best friend. Same with the girls. Unless he is in uniform or lifting they can’t stand to look at him. I like him. I never tell anyone but I really like him.
“Done.” Jeremy says smiling. He and I go out to the backyard through my window. We sit on the grass.
“So.” He says.
“So, well…” I reply neither of us knows what to say.
I stand up and swing on the tire swing that hangs from the giant willow tree in my back yard.
“Do you want to go running?” Jeremy asks. He is standing right in front of me.
“Sure.” I jump off the swing and climb through my window Jeremy following me. We let Jacob and Andrew know where we are going. I tell my mom as we walk out the front door.
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The neighbor hood where I live is small but not too small. There is a park. I start jogging, keeping a steady pace. Jeremy runs beside me. Our breaths in tune. I smile. We usually run for and hour or so. I pick up pace. Jeremy does too. Now at a mild gallop we begin to race. We stay next to each other for a while. Then it gets to me.
The fever; the running fever. It reaches to your soul and beats through your heart. You let it infuriate your skin and you’re off running. I get the fever every time that I run. Just as any other runner would. It knocks the wind out of you if you let it. The running fever.
“Slow down.” Jeremy says as we round the park for the fifth time. Normally he is ahead of me. I decide to ditch him and run even faster. My feet flying off the ground.
Then when I least expect it I am rolling on the ground.
I knew it was Jeremy that pushed me to the ground. The tackle he used was a football tackle and the weight of him on my chest told me he was bulking up even bigger. He got up as soon as I was down. When I didn’t get up, he lied down next to me. We laid there just looking at the clouds overhead. Catching our breath.
“What took you so long?” Jacob greeted us as we walked into my room. I shrugged. I had my mouth full of granola and another can of coke in my hand. I sat down on the floor and popped open the can. Jeremy sat next to me a can of coke and a carrot in his hand. We sat and we talked. We laughed and we burped. Andrew and Jacob got soda and candy. We ate and we goofed off. Everything in the world was left outside of my room. When the time came my mom shooed them out of the house. My father would be home soon. I sat on my bed alone after they left. I wanted to run some more but I didn’t. You can’t catch the running fever if you’re running alone. I waited for my dad to get home.
He never showed up. My father left us that night. No warning. He left everything with us. His clothes, his money, everything. My mom sat at the table and cried. I sat in my room and practiced guitar. I played “Stairway to Heaven”, “Every Rose has it Thorn”, “Sad Songs”, and “Candle in the Wind”. I called Jeremy. I told him to come over through my window. He didn’t ask, he just came.
“Lets run.” I said as he stood outside. I climbed out and hopped the fence that stood between the world and my house. I just took off running. I didn’t start slow or gain speed I just ran. I didn’t know where I was going. All I knew was that I was running. I liked it. I caught the fever running. I didn’t stop. Jeremy tried to catch up but he couldn’t. As I rounded the park he stood their waiting. When I came to him he grabbed me. I wriggled. He held me even tighter. I wore myself out. He let go. I didn’t take off again. I stood there in silence. Then like an ocean on a shore the tears came.
“He left.” I sobbed into my best friends shoulder. We were leaning against a tree.
I said nothing else. I just cried and Jeremy held me there. I felt safe. I cried until I was all cried out. Nothing left but dry eyes and a tear stained face. We got up and didn’t speak, we just ran. This time together, it felt right. I thought about the song by Poison. “Every Rose has its Thorn.” My dad told me what it meant. It meant that no matter how bad something may be or how good it may seem there is still something better or worse. That was my dad’s and my interpretation of it.
Jeremy ran home with me. I said goodbye to him at the door. I walked through the front door. It was unlocked. I think my mom was hopping my dad would come back. I hopped so too. My mom was in her room no doubt crying in a pillow or on the phone. The lights were off except for her room. The sliver of yellow let me know she was still awake. I managed to get into my room without being caught.
I really enjoyed this! PM when you post more please