Where's My Dolly?

Hey readers I have a new chapter for ya! Shouldn't be too long before the story comes to an end. Big thanks to all my reviewers!

Anyway, let's get going with this new chapter :D

Chapter 11: A Witness

May went to school early today with Dawn's mother Johanna tagging along to pick up her daughter's belongings from the art department. In the room, May felt it hard to remain there without thinking about Dawn; she would never go in the art department without Dawn due to her strong dislike towards the subject. May politely excused herself from the room while Johanna packed up some stuff into the cardboard box.

May left the art department, through the maths department and stopped along the balcony of the second floor for some air a she tried to stop herself from feeling the hurt of losing her best friend; her only friend that she could tell absolutely everything to, her future maid of honour. She tried so hard to shake the thought of her out of her head but nothing seemed to work. She felt the first tear of the day trickle down the velvety skin of her cheek then a sudden warmth that brushed it away.

"Just let it all out." Said Drew, who appeared seemingly out of nowhere to wipe the tear from her and wrap a comforting arm round her. He let May cry on his shoulder until she calmed down from her hysterical state. "Feeling better now?" He asked her.

May nodded and muttered a quiet "thanks" as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hands, smudging the little make up she wore in the process of doing so. "I better get going." May forced a smile to show Drew that she was feeling fine and tried to dismiss herself when a he stopped her.

"Do you need help?" He asked her, his hand griping her hand lightly. If May wanted, she could easily pull away but instead she nodded and let Drew follow her back to the art department.


Leaf sat at the dinner table by herself. The professor was still not back and neither was Daisy, who had called to say she wasn't going to be back for a few days. Gary on the other hand had still not shown up to breakfast yet but Leaf did hear him in his own room this morning after he had left her room and migrated back to his own.

Leaf's mind drifted back to last night and smiled at the thought of Gary being back, completely unharmed with an added bonus of a plan. She couldn't hide her smile, and flashed it to the empty chairs round the table, completely unaware of what was happening around her, even when Gary entered the room.

"You're awfully smiley today," He said in her ear, snapping Leaf out of her daze, before continuing into the kitchen to grab some bread and shoving it in the toaster. "Care to share?" He asked her from the open window that connected the kitchen to the dining room. He was leaning on one of his hands as his elbows rested on the counter of the window.

Leaf stuck her tongue out at him instead of answering.

Gary smirked at her. "So mature." Gary commented sarcastically, causing her to laugh. "What were you actually smiling about?"

Leaf though for a moment. Tell him or not to tell him? The latter was probably more fun. And entertaining. "Nothing in particular." She replied casually.

This time Gary raised an eyebrow at her. "Mm-hm." He commented as he took his perfectly browned toast from the toaster. "In which case I won't tell you something else I know that you don't." He said as he dipped his knife into the jar of strawberry jam.

His last words caught Leaf's attention. She looked at him, curiosity was written across her forehead and her tone when she said "talk to me" showed her eagerness to know what he knew.

Gary pretend to give telling her his newly found information some thought but spilled when Leaf shouted at him to just tell him. He really loved to poke at her curiosity sometimes. "I'll tell you on the way to school."

Leaf pouted. She was probably going to have to wait until he had finished his toast before they left, and knowing Gary, he was going to take his time; even if it meant being late.


To Leaf's surprise, they weren't late. They made it to school with more time to spare than she thought so as a result, they stood by their lockers for as long as possible, trying to avoid homeroom for as long as possible. Leaf and Gary were in conversation when Drew approached them.

"Morning." He greeted.

Gary nodded and Leaf smiled.

"As I was saying, Gary, we need to go to art and get the dolly." Leaf said.

"We will but I'm wondering why Drew has a wet patch on his shirt. Drooling much?" Gary pointed to the spot he was talking about.

Drew looked down. "Long story but I got a bit of research done." Drew said, catching the two brunets' attention. They looked at him, giving him a look to urge him to elaborate. He understood and was about to do so when they were caught.

Caught standing by their lockers looking like they were engaging in idle chit chat when they should've been in homeroom doing whatever it was they did in there. Usually Leaf would be chatting away while Gary not so subtly eavesdropped. Drew on the other hand was in a different registration class and usually spent his time silently thinking up of ways to annoy his favourite brunette, though, he'd never call her that to her face – or call May that to anyone for that matter.

They headed off to their respective homerooms without hearing what Drew had found. That was going to have to wait till later. Longer than they thought.

"Who did you ask Drew to research?" Leaf asked, she never did ask him last night, she was too busy wondering why he hadn't asked her to do the identity snooping. "And what's this thing you know that I don't?"

Gary smirked at that second question. "Leaf, I know a lot of things that you don't." He replied, ignoring her first question.

"Now's not a good time to tell you but I'll tell you later." He said and Leaf groaned. "But the guy I asked to research Drew to research is Tim Well." Gary answered.

Leaf thought for a moment at that name. It sounded awfully familiar to her. "The very famous and incredibly rich Mr Wells? The one who owns the Celadon department store?" she questioned, "Why him?"

"I have my theories." Gary said as they entered homeroom to see May looking upset still and Lt. Surge looking. . . Angry. But that was nothing new. "But again, I'll tell you later."

Leaf nodded and turned to May, putting a comforting arm around her and giving her a hug. She knew now wasn't the time to talk about such things. May could probably use a break from all the news. "Are you okay, May?" she asked her. Leaf had to admit that she was surprised that May returned to school so quickly.

May nodded. "I'm fine." She whispered so quietly that Leaf, who was right next to her, could only just make it out.

Leaf continued to hug her friend as she conversed with Gary. "What do we have first?" she asked him.

"Chemistry." He replied.

Leaf nodded. "May, why don't we walk you to class." Leaf suggested and her friend nodded. "What do you have first?"

"Biology." May replied, quietly like before.

"If we go to the science department via the art department we can pick up your doll." Gary suggested and Leaf agreed.

And that was the route they took when homeroom ended. The three of them walked along the balcony through the maths department and into the art department but to Leaf's surprise, the entire doll display that Dawn had set up only days ago was gone – not even the blue sky backdrop was present. It looked odd to see many fancy displays then suddenly a break in amongst all them where Dawn's one previously was.

"That's funny," Leaf started, "Everything's gone." Leaf said, confused.

"Johanna came in today and picked up all of Dawn's things. She must've mistaken your doll for one of Dawn's and taken it. I'll get it back for you." May said. This was the most she had spoken at once since Dawn had died.

"Thanks May." Leaf said as she hugged her friend before continuing her escort to class.


Gary had called for a group meeting about their latest findings and Drew had offered to hold it at his house, which seemed slightly out of character. But nonetheless, they went along with his offer. Gary drove them there and once they were there, they went in and sat in Drew's room where they would not be disturbed by his mum or dad or whoever happened to be in.

This was the first time leaf had been in Drew's room. It was quite tidy, a lot tidier than she expected, especially from a guy. All the books were place neatly in line on the bookshelf, his bed made and crease free (but not after Gary sat down) and his curtains were drawn back, revealing the double doors that opened to reveal the balcony.

Leaf stood at the balcony of his lavish home and looked outside onto the main road, watching the beautiful array of flowers in the front garden, the animals run across the road in anticipation of their owners return from school and the bus drop off the students from their school. She loved how she didn't need to take a bus anymore, not that she did in the first place. The house across the road looked familiar to her. And so did that car. And so did that-

Suddenly they heard a scream.

Gary and Drew immediately ran over to the balcony and glanced out. The scream was long and most likely ear piercing if they were up close.

Drew almost instantly turned away from the balcony and headed to his room door after he heard the scream fade. He knew it came from the house across the road.

Gary and Leaf followed him but he was running fast, missing out steps as he descended the stairs and ran towards the door which was open, probably from his parents when they ran out the house. By the time he got there a crowd had already gathered round the house and there was someone at the door, trying to open it but to no luck. The door was locked. The man eventually resorted to trying to ram the door down using sheer strength.

When Leaf stepped onto the front lawn of the house, it triggered her memory; she recognised this place right away. This was where Dawn lived, when she was still alive. But that scream didn't sound like it came from a woman in her forties'; it sounded like it came from a teenage girl. And that's when it hit her. May was in there retrieving her doll. Leaf's eyes widened at that realisation. She hurried over to Gary and Drew and informed them, "That's May in there!"

As soon as dew's brain managed to process Leaf's words. He instantly made his way over to the door, suddenly much keener on helping than before. The man managed to ram the door down just as Drew got there. The two of them entered with Gary and Leaf following swiftly behind and what they saw in there was not pretty.

There was blood on the floor next to the woman with the beautiful blue locks and in the corner of the living room was May, curled up in a ball with her hands over her ears while her eyes shut as tightly as possible. In front of her was Leaf's doll which Johanna had probably handed to May but dropped when she found Johanna lying on the floor. Or that's what the scenario before them looked like.

She was in shock. She was having a panic attack. But why? May had never suffered from anything like that before, not that her friends and family knew of and they knew everything about her.

But what they didn't know was what May shouldn't have seen. And it didn't look like they were going to find out any time soon.

The man checked Johanna for a pulse while Drew went over to May, and pulled her into him. Even though her shaking had calmed down a bit, she still wouldn't move he hands from her ears or open her eyes.

Leaf, Gary and Drew looked at each other, the same thought hitting them. The meeting was going to have to be postponed while they comforted May, who may know something they don't.


… So May's in shock :O And is Johanna dead? But most importantly, did May witness the murder?

Hope you all enjoyed it and don't forget to review if you want to find out!

~ silver-hedgehog