CHAPTER THIRTEEN. Andrea Bell

Under the cloak of night, Vienna's phone vibrated silently in her hand. She glanced at the screen and read Karissa's text: "Ginny found the locker code. Cameras are off—15 minutes max."

A shiver of anticipation ran through her. The corridors of Meryton Academy were hushed and deserted now, illuminated only by the flickering fluorescent lights. Every step echoed off the walls as she hurried toward the designated locker in the hallway, her pulse drumming in her ears.

Waiting outside the locker, Ashley shifted impatiently. His eyes, usually calm and collected, burned with a restless energy. Together they fumbled with the code that Ginny had provided—a series of numbers whispered to them in secrecy. With a soft click, the locker door swung open to reveal nothing more than a few ordinary items: some old textbooks, a jumble of personal notes, and miscellaneous school supplies that seemed entirely mundane.

Ashley's frustration mounted as he scanned the contents. "This can't be it," he muttered, voice low and tense. In a sudden burst of anger, he slammed his fist against the back panel of the locker. A sickening crunch followed, and a deep dent marred the otherwise unremarkable metal.

As the impact echoed down the empty hall, a hidden false wall gave way beneath his blow. Behind the panel lay a narrow gap, a secret compartment concealed behind layers of standard storage. With hearts pounding, Ashley and Vienna exchanged a fleeting glance—the urgency clear in their eyes—and together, they pried open the concealed door.

Inside, nestled in the darkness, lay a single, unassuming notebook. Its cover was plain, almost banal—a soft, worn leather that hinted at years of use. Yet, in that moment, it was everything. The notebook was the key, the missing piece in the tangled puzzle that had ensnared them all.

Without a word, Vienna's hand trembled as she reached for it. Time was slipping away; the soft hum of distant security systems and the low murmur of night patrols were constant reminders of their limited window. Clutching the notebook to her chest, she and Ashley hurried back through the corridor, their footsteps quick and silent against the polished floors.

Every shadow seemed to stretch longer, every distant sound amplified in the stillness of the night. The weight of their discovery pressed upon them—a mix of hope and dread intermingling in their racing hearts. The notebook was more than just paper bound in leather. It was a secret that could unravel the mystery behind Lucas's death, a silent testament to a web of deceit they were only beginning to understand.

As they reached the safety of the dormitory, Ashley shot a wary glance over his shoulder. They had done it—if only for a brief moment, they had pulled back the curtain on a secret too long hidden. The notebook, now secure in Vienna's trembling grasp, was the next step in a dangerous game, one where every move could tip the balance between truth and devastation.

The next day, sunlight filtered through the high windows of the cafeteria, casting long, shifting shadows across the lunch tables. Helena, Vienna, and Karissa sat together at a worn wooden table in a quiet corner, a thick notebook spread out before them. Between bites of their lunches and whispered conversation, they began flipping through its yellowed pages.

Helena rubbed her temple in exasperation as she scanned the trivial entries. "There is nothing here!" she exclaimed in a low, frustrated tone. Her finger traced over a list of mundane tasks:

Tuesday

Sports class presentation Call mom J.E @ 5

Thursday

Ugh, I hate Mr. Clerk Math homework scribbled number

Saturday C.P @ 5

Sunday

Call home W.A

"It's just a planner," Vienna murmured, yet even she looked uneasy—like she was waiting for something more to reveal itself.

They turned the page, and the date caught their eyes: October 31st – Halloween Party. Underneath the date were hasty scribbles: "Get mask," followed by a row of letters, punctuated by a solitary star: KSLH.

Karissa's hand flew to her mouth as she gasped. "Why would there be five letters with no explanation? And on Halloween—the very day I...," she paused, her eyes blazing with sudden clarity. "They're initials! Acronyms—abbreviations. Someone's hiding something in this."

Vienna, curiosity piqued, flipped through a few more pages at random. "Look here," she whispered, pointing to another entry where a string of letters was scrawled in the margin: V.B, H.N. Her voice trembled with a mix of excitement and dread. "They match up with names we know..."

Karissa sighed, a wry smile breaking through her frustration. "Guess all those mystery books did come in handy after all."

At that moment, Rebecca—ever the enthusiastic true-crime aficionado—appeared at their table. "Hi guys!" she chirped, leaning over to get a better look at the page labeled "C.P." She gasped dramatically, eyes wide with excitement. "Are you all making an Andie Bell diary? That is so cool! It's a smart way to write 'car park'—like a secret code!" She giggled at her own joke before giving them a playful wink and sauntering away, leaving a trail of murmured comments in her wake.

Vienna burst out laughing, then gasped again. "Car park! Rebecca is right—it does make sense." The remark hung in the air, a fleeting spark that lit a fire of realization among the trio.

The tension at the lunch table was thick, the weight of the notebook's cryptic messages hanging between them. But before they could delve deeper, a shadow passed over their table.

Emmet.

He moved with a lazy confidence, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, his sharp gaze flickering over their little group before landing on Karissa. He leaned down, voice barely above a whisper as he murmured near her ear, "You need to smile more."

Something about the way he said it—like it wasn't just an observation, but a reminder—made Karissa's lips twitch into a small, almost involuntary smile. It wasn't forced. It wasn't sarcastic. It was just... there.

Vienna and Helena exchanged glances, both caught between awe and curiosity. Emmet had barely acknowledged them, his attention fixed solely on Karissa.

And then, just as the moment settled, an unwelcome voice cut through the cafeteria air like a blade.

"Look, it's the psychopath and her two besties."

A boy stood a few tables away, smirking, loud enough for the surrounding students to hear. A few chuckled, some averted their eyes, but most watched with thinly veiled anticipation.

Emmet turned, the shift in his demeanor so sudden and sharp it was almost frightening. His usual air of nonchalance evaporated, replaced by something darker. He took a slow step forward, his head tilting slightly.

"You wanna talk?" His voice was calm, eerily so. Then he took another step. "Talk to me." Another. "C'mon, big man. What? Are you scared?"

The smirking boy hesitated, his confidence faltering for just a second—long enough for Emmet to act.

His fist connected with the guy's jaw in a brutal, precise hit. The impact was sickening, a dull crack echoing through the cafeteria. The boy stumbled back, knocking into a table as students gasped, some jumping out of their seats.

Chaos erupted. The boy recovered and lunged at Emmet, but Emmet was quicker, dodging with ease before landing another punch. A tray clattered to the floor, food splattering across the tiles. Students scrambled away, some filming, others shouting, but none stepping in.

It was over in seconds.

A sharp voice cut through the noise.

"Enough!"

The vice principal stormed toward them, eyes blazing with fury. "Emmet! My office. Now."

A hush fell over the room as Emmet stepped back, rolling his shoulders like he hadn't just turned a school lunch into a full-blown fight ring. Blood dripped from his knuckles, smeared along his jaw from a cut lip.

As he was pulled away, he glanced back—right at Karissa.

And then, with a cocky, bloodied smirk, he winked.

EJONA SPEAKS!!

Can someone find me an Emmett?! Anw heres the long awaited chapterrr