School

Zria and Celeste sighed in relief. They had walked a few blocks away, more like they ran those few blocks. The girls were as exhausted as one could be.

"We never saw anything," Celeste didn't know whether she was bargaining with Zria, or herself. "It could have been fake."

"Does that look fake to you?" Zria yelled from the top of her lungs. Anger had completely taken over her mind. How could this happen to them, to Zach more importantly? What did they do wrong? Zria began to remember what the bloody writing said. You are a he. The words continue to parade itself. They were murdered for being themselves

"No, it didn't," Celeste held out her hand. With each breath her hand shook slightly. "But I don't want to look guilty so hold your head up high." Zria only nodded in response.

They both began to walk their separate ways to their homes.

The next morning, Zria went to school without speaking to anyone. She didn't want anything to slip out. She constantly was reminded of Zach though. Every time someone asked where Zach was, she'd shrug her shoulders and say how the last time she heard one of their family members was sick. Her body still remembers though. The sight of their marked up body hung against the bathroom. No one to help him. Zria began to tear up at the thought, but the sound of knocking interrupted her from doing so. The class atmosphere tensed up at the sight of the police walking in. The way they held themselves just showed that they were willing to murder someone. They pushed the teacher aside to take charge of the podium. The big one, which he believed to be the leader, began talking.

"Attention, everyone," the cop's voice echoed throughout the room. Just the vibrations were enough to make the room go silent. The cop began to walk around the classroom. His hands on his belt made the kids uneasy. What was he planning to do with that? The class thought to themselves as the man looked at each one of the kids' expressions. "The name Zachary damn, does that mean anything to anyone?" The class began to tell the man how Zachary was a classmate of theirs and how they haven't seen him in a while. Zria stayed quiet, so did Celeste. They didn't want any part of their story to contradict anything.

"Zria and Zach were best friends," May yelled from the top of her lungs to the officer. The difference in height was uncanny, but he could have heard her without the yelling. "So if you want to know anything about Zach, ask her." Zria's mind began to wonder when the cop motioned her to follow her. Before she went, she gave Celeste a glance of fear. Each footstep felt like a pathway to hell for her. The silence, the other students of each class looking around, and the teachers that knew her made the situation worse.

"Sit down, Zria," Zria did so thoughtlessly. She didn't want to sweat the small things. She wanted to go. Nothing good would ever come from a situation like this. "Your last name is Gramm, correct?" Zria nodded. Her mouth was too dry to answer anything. It felt like torture just to speak, but she managed to do so for the remaining thirty to forty-five minutes.

"Is there anything else you need?" Zria asked as she began to make her way out of the seat.

"Actually," The cop held out his hand to stop her, in which he succeeded of course. "Some of the things you told me didn't match up with other things I've been told." Zria cold ran dry. Which one was contradicted? Can it be easily changeable or is it a dead give away?

"Oh we-"

"And Celeste Frans," the man interrupted her. He wanted to get his point across and nothing was going to stop him. "How long have you known her?"

"For about a week."

"For about a week, huh," The man nodded in response. Unexpectedly he flashed a smile. "Thanks, I have all the information I need." It was now Zria's turn to do the nodding as she headed out the room to join the others. She sat beside Celeste, who was in art class. She began to notice how the police did not leave for the rest of the day.

"Why are they still here," Zria whispered. The police managed to walk up and down the halls. Their eyes glued to the two. "Aren't they supposed to be gone already?" Celeste hugged the other, which struck confusion in her.

"I think they suspect us," Zria's eyes widened at Celeste's words. Why were they expecting them? Was it what she said? No, how would the other cops get word of it? "They've been following me around all day, eyeing me too."

"What do we do?" Zria's eyes went from the cops to the door. Back and forth. Would it be so bad if they made a run for it?

"I don't know," Celeste stopped hugging the other, so as not to look suspicious. "But I think the other kids in class are catching on." Zria looks around to see some of the other kids whispering to each other. This could be bad. Zria grabs Celeste's hand in urgency.

"After the bell rings," Zria whispered. She signaled her head to the door. Celeste nodded in response. Leaving school in this manner was not something Zria had ever planned. No one would ever think you would have to run away for NOT killing your best friend. Time until then left a sour taste in their mouths. Every time the clock touches a new number. The girls would take a deep breath to try and contain their composure. Five more minutes. Zria would try and convince herself.

~ring~

Both the girls began to make their way to the closest exit, careful to not make any notices of their disappearance. When both the girls made their way outside, they took a sigh of relief.

"Are you okay?" Celeste gives the other girl a concerned look. The truth of the matter is that Zria was not okay. She had been interrogated, suspected, and now was escaping like a criminal. What if we walk in there and tell them what happened? They wouldn't get angry, right? We would give them valuable information regarding Zach and they let us go.

"Yeah," Zria took another deep breath, as if hogging all the air to herself. "I'm fine." Celeste began to say something, but the loud yell took them by surprise. It was a police officer, not just any. It was the big one that interrogated Zria.

"Come on, let's go!" Celeste began to run, but Zria… stood there. She was done. She was done running. She was tired and bored of it all. It didn't stop Celeste from grabbing her and making a run from it. Zria heard the other mumble something under her breath, but didn't hear fully what it was. She did hear the cop curse in ways she didn't know where possible, but the loudest sound that made its way into her ear was the sound of gunshots. She remembers the sight of blood leaking from Celeste's leg. The sight of it caused her to break free from Celeste's grasp. She wobbled a little bit, but managed to stand to her feet.

"I warned you," the cop began to come closer to the two. "You murder the boy did you?" Zria held on to the other. She didn't want to put the other through more pain.