by Blair Burden
“Well, obviously it's not something good. I know I talk too much...but, maybe that's what I’m born to do...” she rambled as she stared at his flashy ring that was missing some diamonds.
“What are you talking about?”
Linda jumped on his desk, and swung her legs like she would do as a child. “I'm not sure.”
Dr. Smith leaned closer into Linda, nearly touching her thigh, “So, I’m not sure we've talked much.”
“What do you mean? I’m in your office at least once a week for dress code.”
“Not for that,” he sighed. “About your family and so on.”
“Um, what is there to know?” she said, as she chewed off her nail polish. “I'm an only child and I live with my drunken father on the bad part of town.”
“That must be sad,” he whispered, in an almost seductive way.
“That's all I really know. That might explain why I crave attention—”
“From men...” he said as if he knew.
“No...from anyone.”
“Interesting....” Dr. Smith licked his lips and Linda felt an odd urge to walk away.
She jumped off his desk and pulled out her wedgie. “I should get going to class.”
“Okay, it was nice talking to you, Linda.”
Without saying another word, Linda ran out the class room—feeling violated. As she turned out the doorway, Michael grabbed her shoulder.
Linda arm-locked him and they headed for English class. As Michael hummed a tune from his iPod, they spotted Hannah waiting outside of Dr. Smith's office. Linda pulled Michael so they could go talk to her, but he pulled her the opposite way instead.
If it weren't for Michael, Linda would be late to all her classes. Some would say she was too social to focus in school. Whatever the complete opposite of a loner was—Linda was that.
“We should really talk to Hannah,” Linda said as they approached their class.
“Lucy text me that she is coming over tonight to tell us some major news. Hopefully, it's worth it,” Michael said. “I'm so sick of being out the loop.”
Linda dusted off Michael’s plaid shirt that had crumbs from lunch on it. She narrowed her eyes, realizing he had worn that shirt two days earlier—but Michael always thought no one would notice because all he wore were plaid shirts and skinny jeans.
Linda tensed up as Michael’s twin brother, Mason came running down the hall. They had a bad summer the year before, after Mason tried to get Linda to kiss him at a party and then started a rumor that she was having an affair with a lawyer. The rumor may have been real, but no one had to know that.
“Hey, baby bro!” Mason said.
“I'm only six minutes younger,” Michael said for the millionth time.
“And um...hi, Linda.”
Without a word, Linda frowned and continued to walk into the class. Mason didn't get it though—he just thought she was playing hard to get. Or maybe that she was so drunk that whole summer, that she forgot about the hell he raised.
“So, um, the ASB club is planning a charity school dance. You think you and your crew can spread the word to all the seniors, instead of us posting posters?” Mason asked.
“Um, yeah, I'll tell people about it,” he said.
“And what about basketball tryouts?” he beamed. “They have tryouts all this week.”
“I'm pooped!” Michael said. “I had swim practice today. I highly doubt I will be doing basketball too.”
“Don't say not this year. Dad wants us to both be on teams for our senior year. And who knows, maybe Linda will actually date you.”
Michael nervously laughed as Mason winked. “Um, well, um...I don't know. Is swimming considered a team?”
“Um...sure?” Mason chuckled.
Okay, maybe Michael had a huge burden on his back, hiding that he may not have been the more masculine son, or the more macho guy. Quite honestly, Michael would rather paint the girls' nails and read fashion magazines all day.
He hid it well, and if someone looked close enough it was all in his walk. He didn't have the stereotypical “gay” voice. The only thing that may have given away that he...didn't like girls...was that he only hung out with girls. And for those who were completely clueless, they just thought he was a womanizer who dated Lucy, Linda, and Hannah.
During class, Mr. Conner put on a movie based on War World II that he had been playing for the last week. Linda dug into her handbag, searching for anything to throw into Michael’s big curls that perfectly sat on his head.
As Michael didn't realize, that she was tugging on his hair, Linda decided to go to the restroom. Mr. Conner really didn't notice if she were gone or not. His main goal was that everyone would pass the final exams.
Linda paused as she walked by Dr. Smith's office and noticed Hannah sitting at his desk in tears. To not look too obvious, she walked by again to get a better look to make sure it wasn't just another blonde sitting there crying.
Nosy like always, Linda leaned down to the door. It was easy for her to do things like that, with her petite frame. She cocked her head into the cracked door, trying to listen.
“...We really cannot be seen like this anymore. It's bad and you know it,” she overheard Dr. Smith say. “I think it's best if we avoid each other from now on.”
“But, it worked,” Hannah said.
“Hannah, do you know what can happen to me?” he laughed.
“No, sir.”
“If anyone finds out about us, then we can be in big trouble,” he said. “If people found out what we did to all those girls, we can be in big trouble. I mean big trouble!”
What the hell? Linda thought as she jumped to her feet. She may have not known what she heard, but she knew what it sounded like. She didn't want to believe what she heard, however, she had no idea what it was she heard. She was like the annoying child that parents despised because they would listen in on their business then try to put the pieces together.
As Linda turned the corner, she bumped into Tyler, a boy known to sell drugs in class and do anything for a buck. Her nostrils flared up as she smelled liquor on his breath.
“Linda?” Tyler said, as he looked at her as if she were the most darling thing he'd seen all day. His hazel eyes perked up and he smiled like a child.
“Hey, Tyler,” she muttered, trying not to seem interested.
People didn't know much about Tyler. He barely started at the end of their junior year. However, everyone knew not to mess with him. It was also no secret that Tyler knew everything. There may be a word for it, but Tyler knew how to read people. Not like an ordinary person, but little things could tell him a lot about a person. For instants, just by rubbing her nose a few times, he got a teacher fired because he called her out about being a cocaine addict. That was why he had the title “creepy Tyler.”
“So, what's wrong with you?” he laughed. “You look like you saw something you shouldn't have.”
Linda stiffened up, trying to put on a poker face. “Eh, not really.”
“Let me guess. It's about Hannah.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“She's been in there a while now. I need Dr. Smith to sign some papers of mine, but she is taking all his time. From the looks of it, he isn't happy to see her,” Tyler said, as if he were uninterested.
“Do you know anything about her being gone for six weeks?” Linda said.
“No...” he beamed. “But, I can find out...if that's what you're wondering.”
“For how much?”
“For you?” he paused, “I'll do it for free.”
Linda leaned closer in to Tyler, “So, do you know anything suspicious about what's going on with the Simon death case?”
“You mean the teenagers who were murdered from our school?” he snapped. “I don't know anything, do you?”
“Yeah, maybe...I might even know who is involved,” she winked. “But, if I tell you, you have to promise me that you'll help me out.”
“I told you I would do anyth
ing for you,” he laughed. “I know too much to tolerate.”
“So, then you know about these murders?” Linda said as she spotted the biker boys coming into the school building late. She hated to admit it, but she dazed off staring at them.
Tyler snapped his fingers in front of Linda. “Ha, not yet, but I guarantee I'll know who did it before these lame ass detectives. I'll give them a real case, like figuring out that mystery meat. These Simon detectives are a bunch of jokes.”
“Ha, I wouldn't know!” Linda laughed. “Why do I have the oddest feeling that Hannah's disappearance is more serious than she is making it out to be?”
“Because it is.”
“What do you know, bro?” she said as his eyes grew large.
Tyler stayed silent as they watched Hannah leave Dr. Smith's office with a huge smile. She flipped her hair like usual and shook Dr. Smith's hand. Linda’s eyes narrowed at the hand shake, then she elbowed Tyler to look closer.
“Hey, Linda,” Hannah said as she passed by her.
“Um, hey,” Linda said. “Something is going on with that girl...and I’m going to find out,” she whispered to Tyler.
“Uh, yeah...me too,” Tyler said. “We should work together. My life is way too boring right now.”
“Touche.”
Linda grabbed Tyler to walk with her outside. As if he were her boyfriend, she held his hand. Some would say Linda may have had emotionally issues due to her home living. She easily attached to guys in general. She may have not been in love with them, but she did want them around her all the time.
Tyler pulled Linda to sit behind the school, with the only thing in sight were trees. He dug around in his jacket with his eyes still on her. She didn't know if she should run from him, because he was being suspicious or stay because she thought he was cute. However, that was how dumb girls died.
“What are you doing?” Linda asked, with wide eyes.
Tyler beamed as he pulled out a bottle of scotch. “Do you want some?”
“How the heck were you hiding that in your jacket? Do you have magic powers or something?”
“It's a secret.”
Linda grabbed the bottle and chugged have of it down. “Don't tell anyone but I sneak and drink my dad's liquor collection all the time.”
“Ha,” he paused, “so, you live over here?”
Hating the subject, she rolled her eyes, “Nope, I live a little further down in the poor area. You know where the crackheads live.”
“Me too...well...not really...but yeah...”
“Where do you live?”
“Um...I don't have one place to stay.”
“Tough subject, huh?” Linda said.
“Yeah, it is.”
“This is why I cannot stand some people like Hannah because she has everything in life. Some would say we are always in competition with each other, but we are not. I just hate that she can go buy a four-hundred dollar handbag and I can't even afford pants. I wear these same shorts almost every day! She has a chef and I don't even have food to go home to.”
Tyler sighed and rubbed Linda’s back. “Yeah, I understand.”
“Thanks,” she whispered as she drank some more liquor.
“So, um how did you meet them?” he asked. “Your friends?”
“Well, I’ve lived in Simon, Idaho all my life. I know, how lame. But, I’ve known Michael since kindergarten. We've been friends ever since. When my dad was sane, they were best friends. Then, we met Hannah in sixth grade. She was the new girl and believe it or not but I was like the goth girl. People stared at me all weird because I had red hair,” she laughed. “Then, we barely met Lucy in the ninth grade of high school. And we all remained friends.”
“That's nice though...to have friends who you trust.”
Linda playfully smacked Tyler, “Were you not listening how I do not trust Hannah?”
“True, but at the end of the day—you're all best friends. And at this point in your relationship with them, if one goes down, you all go down.”
“So, you're saying I should leave Hannah alone?”
“No, I’m saying you should stay on her case. You don't want to go down with her, do you?”
“Hell no!”
“Then, do what you do best. Get all in her business.”
3 | Bad Influences
Lucy wiggled her toes so the nail polish would dry and Michael had his face to the window trying to make out figures through the storm outside.
To get away from their well hated lives, most of the gang spent their after school life at Lucy's home. They were never downstairs because it reeked of a smell like the sewer—they always stayed in her room.
Not only did she live in the middle-class part of town, but she always had the home to herself. She had parents old enough to be her grandparents—literally. Apparently, Lucy said they were both retired and spent their time traveling the world. Occasionally, she claimed she got a postcard from them. She didn't mind it since she was used to being alone.
They all tried to avoid Linda’s house as much as possible because of her drunk dad. Her dad lived off a check because of his mental disorder and he spent most of his time on the porch. And Michael didn't want the girls over for obvious reasons. As for Hannah, no one was ever allowed at her home.
“I'm worried about them,” Michael said as he slid his face down the window. “What if that Simon massacre got them?”
“That is so not funny,” Lucy whined. “I'm sure they are fine. Trust me.”
Michael flipped on the television and turned to the local news. Once again, the teen murder was still headline news. “To think someone in our town is a murderer. Doesn't that scare you?”
“Can we please not talk about this?” Lucy yanked the remote from his hands and turned the TV off. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as she blew on her toes.
Michael leaned his head against the window again, trying to see through the fog. “I'll text Linda. You text Hannah.”
“Why can't you just text them both?”
“Because Hannah won't answer me,” he sighed. “Linda didn't tell me she would be late. She never came back to class after she went to the restroom. What if she got kidnapped?”
“She didn't get kidnapped. The last time I saw her was after school and she was flirting with creepy Tyler.”
“Ew creepy Tyler?” Michael acted as if he were gagging. “Well...he's not bad looking...”
Lucy smiled and patted Michael’s head with her foot. “Will you ever tell your dad the truth?”
“About me?”
“Yeah, about you being gay—”
“Shh, Lucy, don't say that word. It's not easy to just come out like that. No one knows but you girls and I want to keep it that way. I'll tell him when I fall in love.” Michael lied back onto the bed and held a fashion magazine to his face. “I'll tell him when a cute guy asks me out.”
“Ha,” she laughed.
They both turned frightened as they heard loud footsteps coming up the stairs. Although they assumed it had to be Hannah or Linda because they were the only others who had the keys to the home. However, the footsteps didn't sound like the girls.
Linda slammed open the bedroom door, with creepy Tyler behind her. He looked wasted like always, with his eyebrows arched over his eyes—mysterious looking for no reason.
“Hey guys!” Linda shouted, obviously drunk.
“Linda?” Lucy and Michael said as they stared at a bandana tied around her head like a 80s rocker.
“You didn't drive here, did you?” Lucy said. “Or I hope not...”
“Well, um...I forgot?” Linda said as she stumbled to the bed. “This is Tyler.”
“Yeah, we know Tyler,” Michael said as he threw his magazine on the bed.
Tyler didn't say anything, but instead walked over to the foggy window and stared outside. He shook the rain off his leather jacket a few times and looked back at Lucy.
“Do you know if Hannah is coming?” Michael said.
“Gosh, she's so rude when she's drunk,” Lucy muttered to Michael.
“Besides, Hannah is a slut. She is having an affair with Dr. Smith!” Linda slurred. “If anything, she deserves what happens to her.”
“What does that mean?” Michael said, as he walked over to the window next to Tyler.
“I'm not...sure...but it won't be good.”
Lucy stood up and pulled Linda to her feet. “Okay, Michael go run a bath for Linda and I'll get her some of my pajamas. She is obviously under the influence,” she snapped as she stared at Tyler. “Maybe you should go, Tyler.”
Tyler stayed silent like usual and headed to the door. Lucy and Michael both listened as Tyler dragged his feet out the front door and were relieved to see him walking home instead of driving.
Lucy used all her strength to take off Linda’s tight shorts. This wasn't the first time Linda had passed out with them—they always stayed positive though and would never talk about it the next day. They should have though, since she would probably never believe she was that drunk in the evening. Like father, like daughter.
Two hours after giving Linda a shower and tucking her into the guest bedroom next door, Michael and Lucy decided to try and contact Hannah.
They all knew Hannah was always on her phone and she would never let a call go missed—unless she was angry. And if Hannah was angry about something, she usually started the fight. Like, back when they first started their senior year, Lucy quit the dance team and Hannah didn't speak to her for two weeks. They would sit at the same table, but Hannah wouldn't dare talk to Lucy. She was good at things like that—acting as if someone never existed, so her leaving for six weeks and being silent—was no surprise.
Lucy threw her phone across the room when Hannah finally answered on the tenth call—but hung up as soon as Lucy said “hello.”
“She hung up on me!” Lucy snapped as she tightened her robe. “It sounded as if she were at a club.”
Michael rolled his eyes, “But, it's like seven at night. Why would she be at a club? And with who? We are her only friends,” he said. “She is really starting to piss me off.”
