CHAPTER FIFTEEN. The gardens

Emmet finally emerged from the vice principal's office, his usual smirk plastered on his face. There was a hint of mischief in his eyes, as if the suspension was some sort of small victory for him. The bruises on his face barely seemed to bother him.

"Awh, you're here for me, sweetheart?" Emmet teased, the corners of his lips curling up.

Karissa rolled her eyes, but her gaze immediately landed on his busted lip. Her hand instinctively moved to check on him, but the moment her fingers touched his skin, she froze. She quickly yanked her hand back, a blush creeping up her neck as she realized what she had just done. Her heart skipped a beat, and she awkwardly crossed her arms.

"Are you hurt?" Karissa asked again, her voice softer this time, but she couldn't mask the worry in her tone.

Emmet gave a low chuckle, clearly aware of her discomfort. "Nah, it's just a little lip. Nothing to worry about, princess." He winked at her.

Karissa ignored the playful tone, trying her best to stay focused. The entire school felt like it was closing in on them, and the weight of the situation was starting to hit her. They couldn't afford distractions.

Before she could speak again, the rest of the squad rounded the corner, walking quickly toward them. Vienna, Helena and Ginny, all looked like they were in a hurry, the tension between them palpable. They met up just as Emmet straightened, making a quick mental note to check if anyone had been watching them.

"We need to find somewhere quiet," Vienna said, her voice a little more frantic than usual. "Before someone else notices."

Without waiting for a response, they started walking quickly toward the nearest back alley. The area was secluded enough to give them a little privacy, but they couldn't afford to stay for long. The air was thick with suspicion, and Karissa could feel the weight of the lies that were starting to build around them.

As they hurried down the path, Karissa's foot caught on an uneven rock.

In an instant, she felt herself losing balance, but before she could hit the ground, Emmet's arm shot out and caught her around the waist, steadying her with ease. The momentary contact caused a flutter in her chest, but she quickly pushed it aside, focusing on the situation at hand.

"Careful there, princess," Emmet said, his voice low and amused, his hand still resting lightly on her waist.

Karissa rolled her eyes but straightened up, just as her tote bag slipped off her shoulder and fell open, its contents spilling onto the ground. Papers, pens, and random items scattered across the pavement.

Emmet crouched down to help her gather everything, but Karissa's hand froze when she spotted something. There, nestled among the chaos, was a small mirror that had broken into several jagged pieces. She frowned, her stomach tightening as she bent down to pick it up.

And then, through the broken glass, she noticed something pulsing—a tiny, almost imperceptible glow beneath the shards. Her breath hitched, and she quickly snatched the object, tucking it into her palm as if it would somehow disappear if she didn't act fast.

Karissa's eyes darted up to Emmet, who raised an eyebrow. "What's that?" he asked, his voice low but curious.

Karissa's mind raced. The pulsing was far too suspicious to ignore. Someone was definitely watching them. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. They know what we're doing.

She quickly signed to Emmet, motioning for him to stay calm and not to draw attention. "Someone might be listening to us," she wrote quickly. "Act normal."

Emmet didn't miss a beat. "Oh, don't worry, princess," he said loudly, with exaggerated mock seriousness. "I'll buy you more highlighters next time. It'll be the best deal in town."

Karissa slapped his shoulder hard, her nose scrunching as she shot him an annoyed look. "Shut up, Emmet."

The others didn't seem to notice the interaction, too busy scanning the street, but the tension in the air was thick. Karissa could almost hear the faint whispers of their secrets echoing around them. They weren't just trying to figure out who killed Lucas—they were trying to keep themselves from being caught in the crossfire.

"Let's get to the gardens ," Helena said, her voice tight with unease. "Before this all blows up in our faces."

They continued walking briskly, but now the pressure of being watched hung over them like a dark cloud. Karissa's grip on the mirror tightened, her mind racing with possibilities. She didn't know who had planted it there, or why, but one thing was clear—someone was making sure they stayed in line.

And soon, they would have no choice but to uncover all the dirty secrets Lucas had left behind. Secrets they were bound to be tied to, whether they wanted to be or not.

The secluded garden was a perfect place for the group to meet in secret, away from the prying eyes of the school. The sun was starting to dip low, casting long shadows across the winding paths and tall hedges. It was quiet here, almost too quiet, and the perfect place to lay low for a while.

As they gathered around a stone bench, Karissa pulled out the small mirror she had found earlier, carefully inspecting it as she sat down. She still couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about it. The pulsing sensation, the way it had caught her eye—it didn't feel like an ordinary object.

Ginny had taken the mirror from Karissa and was fiddling with it, turning it over in her hands, trying to make sense of it. Her brow furrowed as she ran her fingers over the broken shards, her mind working quickly. "I'm going to my room for a bit. I need some more devices—something that'll help me figure this out." She stood up, her voice sharp with determination. "I'll be back soon."

The group nodded, watching her leave. They knew the clock was ticking, and they couldn't afford to waste time.

"Alright," Vienna said, breaking the silence, "We need to stay sharp. We're not safe until we figure this out."

Karissa nodded and then pulled out a blank sheet of paper, along with some highlighters she had stuffed into her tote bag. She began drawing a simple mystery board—her hand moving quickly as she scrawled out the names of everyone involved ,their connections, everything.

She paused for a moment, looking up at the group. "Alright, here's what we know so far..." She began to list the names in her head as she filled in the gaps. "Lucas, obviously. Then there's all of us..."

Emmet chuckled from beside her. "Okay, Avery Kylie Grambs."

Karissa turned her head in shock, her eyes wide as she stared at him. "Wait, how do you know that?"

Emmet grinned, clearly enjoying the reaction. "I think it's set that I'm Jameson Hawthorne."

The comment hung in the air for a beat, the group looking between Emmet and Karissa. She blinked, unsure whether she should laugh or be concerned. "Wait, so are you insinuating that you love—"

Suddenly, the faintest sound cut her off. A dry leaf crumpled from somewhere in the bushes behind them, followed by a soft rustling. Every single one of them froze, their attention snapping to the sound.

Helena's eyes narrowed, her hand instinctively reaching for something hidden in her jacket pocket. "Must be the wind," she said, her voice a little too casual. She glanced back at the board, clearly trying to dismiss any suspicion. "Let's continue."

Vienna, ever the skeptic, wasn't so quick to drop it. "Are you sure that was just the wind?"

Karissa looked back at the board, trying to ignore the unease creeping up her spine. "Yeah, let's just—wait."

She turned her attention back to the mirror in her hands. "Where did you get the mirror from, Karissa?" Vienna asked, her tone gentle, though there was a glimmer of suspicion in her voice.

Karissa hesitated, looking down at the mirror, trying to piece together where it had come from. "Honestly... I have no idea who gave it to me..." She tapped the mirror's glass, a frown creasing her brow. "Must have been a birthday gift, maybe?"

Then, as if a switch flipped in her mind, she remembered. "Wait. Helena, you bought it for me, right?"

Helena nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I thought you'd like it. It was from that shop in town ... Saint Evangeline," she said, her voice light.

Karissa nodded, relieved that she was able to finally pinpoint the source. "Yeah! That's right."

However, as soon as she spoke the name, Emmet stopped in his tracks, his face furrowing with confusion. "Saint Evangeline?" He repeated the name quietly, as though the words held some sort of weight.

Emmet and Helena spoke at the same time, their voices almost in sync, their faces growing serious.

"It's Lucas's mom's jewelry brand..." Helena trailed off, her eyes widening as the realization sank in.

The air around them seemed to thicken with tension.

"Wait," Karissa said, her voice shaky now. "You're telling me Lucas's mom made this?" Her mind was racing as she connected the dots. The jewelry, the pulsing sensation—it had all been pointing to something. But she hadn't made the connection until now. Saint Evangeline. It had been Lucas's mother's brand.

Emmet cursed under his breath. "This just got a whole lot messier, didn't it?"

EJONA SPEAKS !!

Yes emmet it indeed got even messier .... KARISSA x EMMET are AVERY x JAMESON you cant tell me otherwise

I have not proof read this and there may be typos or stuff that dont make sense cause i changed these characters postions so many times ugh

Thoughts?