By Monday everyone had heard about Casey and Steve getting murdered outside Casey's house. Annie didn't know how to feel. She was so mad at her dad for saying no, but obviously now knowing that if she was there she would have died. Bile started to rise up the back of her throat at the sick and twisted ways both Casey and Steve died.
Their organs strewn across the large property. Cringing at the thought of discovering the massacre. She liked scary movies as much as the next girl, maybe even more but the idea of having to live in one sent her on edge.
This entire town was messed up anymore. First Syds mother now Casey and Steve? Shaking her head, some of her dyed red hair fell in her eyes once again, pulling her headphones over her ears. Annie played some Metalica to shake the shudder that was creeping down her spine.
Pulling out her book Annie read through the halls, avoiding random teenagers who had stopped in the middle of the hallway for no fucking reason. A skill she had learned over the years because she'd be damned to put her book away when she was invested.
One by one students were being sent to the Principal's office, being interrogated one by one to see if anyone had any reason for the murders of Steve and Casey.
When it finally was her turn she took her seat in the chair offered. Dewey, Tatum's brother stood off to the side and gave her a small smile. "Hey Dewey," she tried to be happy to see him. He always did make her feel happy and loved. Dewey was also pretty hilarious.
"It's Deputy Riley today Annie." nodding her head Annie forced a laugh past her lips "Right, sorry."
Shaking his head he couldn't help but smile. Out of all Tatum's friends Annie had to be one of his favorites, she was a sweet kid and he knew she didn't have anything to do with the murders. She was too good for her own good at times.
"How're you doing today Annie?"
Sheriff Burke asked trying to seem pleasant. "To be honest, not so good. Everyone's talking about my friend's guts being thrown around her lawn."
She gave a half smile trying to keep a brave face but it was clear to all three adults that she was anything but fine. "Right, we're going to keep this brief Annie, the police just want to ask you a few questions. Okay?"
Nodding her head Annie gripped the edge of her book, playing with the pages, the sound having a soothing effect to her psyche. "Annie how close were you to Casey Becker?"
Her shoulders slumped forward "We weren't considered best friends but we were close. We were actually supposed to have a sleepover that night...my dad said no because my grades aren't the best."
Sheriff Burke nodded "And can anyone verify that you were at home that night around 9:00?" nodding my head "I was in my room most of the night studying. You can ask my dad."
"What do you do in your free time?" Shrugging my shoulders "I usually would hang out with Randy. We usually watch a lot of movies together and we work together at the video store. If I'm not with Randy I could be with Syd, Tatum, and the gang."
"And when you found out you couldn't be with Casey on Saturday night how did you feel?"
"Annoyed. My dad doesn't ever let me do anything spur of the moment, I have to plan things out weeks in advance which made it hard to spend time with Casey."
"What would you and Ms. Becker do when you could spend time together?" Shrugging her shoulders Annie glanced up at Dewey who gave her a comforting smile "We mostly just talked. We made future plans to go road trip to Disney, the outer banks, anywhere. We always talked about going to the same college and getting an apartment together."
"Right, well we're very sorry for your loss Ms. Wilkens." nodding my head "You're free to go."
Standing from her seat, Annie bid goodbye to the men and walked back to class. She contemplated skipping or not but ultimately chose to return to class. She hadn't missed anything. Today was more of a free period for everyone because of the murders.
At the end of the day, Annie found her friends sitting out by the fountain. Stu and Tatum sat awfully close together with Tatum almost sitting in Stu's lap. Billy had his arm wrapped around Syd's shoulders as she leaned into his chest. Randy sat on the fountain wall tossing popcorn in his mouth. Everyone seemed to be talking about the murders.
"Hey guys," taking a seat on the ground, the concrete felt warm against her skin of her legs. "How was your interrogation?"
"Eh you know same old bullshit. Did they ask if you knew how to hunt?" Scrunching her eyebrows together Annie could only stare at Stu confused "No, they asked how I felt when I said I couldn't sleep over Saturday."
Sydney and Tatum shot up surprised "You were going to sleep at Casey Beckers place Saturday?!" Tatum exclaimed horrified. "Almost did, you know my dad he's a dick...guess he was right for once..."
"Oh Annie!" Annie's hazel eyes widened in surprise as Tatum almost practically forced herself on Annie's lap hugging her as tightly as she could. "I'm so glad your dick of a dad didn't let you go! I don't know what would happen if we didn't get to see you anymore!"
Making a face Annie pulled away "Tate calm down I'm not dead."
"But you could have been!" Making a choking noise Annie looked to Stu who seemed to be enjoying her misery. She glared at the taller male for doing nothing. Everyone laughed at her. "Thats it you're coming to my house tonight."
"Dude you know I can't, my dad doesn't let me do anything last minute." Shaking her head Tate pulled away looking up at Annie pouting "Why can't you live with your mom? She lives right near Stu doesn't she?"
"Easy, she doesn't want me." Annie grinned "She and my dad Parents Trapped us, Cindy wanted Derek and Dad wanted me."
The pitiful looks stared down at her making Annie annoyed "Agh don't look at me like that." she snapped glaring at her friends. "Oh Annie," Tatum whined, pulling the girl into another bone crushing hug "Tate let her go," Stu laughed, finally deciding to help his friend out, pulling his emotional girlfriend off Annie.
"So why did they ask if you liked to hunt?" Sydney called bringing the conversation back to its original topic."
Annie felt her guts twist in her stomach thinking about the horror Casey had gone through. "It's cause their bodies were gutted." Randy smirked.
Pulling your book back out Annie tried to block the images pouring through her skull. Her fingers playing with the paper once again trying to send calming thoughts to her brain. Billy let out a scoff hopping down from the fountain and sitting beside Annie, relaxing his arm behind her body making his presence known to her. "Good job idiot,"
Randy shrugged his shoulders, he saw how Annie was and gave her an apologetic smile "Sorry Annie,"
Nodding her head Annie knew she could never hate Randy, he was pretty amazing over all. Just a little clueless at times. "They didn't ask me if I liked to hunt." Sydney frowned.
"Me either." Annie felt Billy chuckle beside her, the warmth from his skin came off him in waves. That uneasy feeling formed in the pit of her stomach being so close to him again. 'You're perfect,' a frown made its way to her face. What was that even about? Why would Billy say that to her? Not to mention he almost tried to kiss her, like what the hell! He's in a relationship with Sydney! Why would he want to kiss her of all people?
Everyone watched Stu stand up and walk along the fountain as if he was doing a trapeze stunt. "There's no way a girl could have killed them."
Rolling her eyes Annie looked at Tatum and Sydney. They both had the same look of annoyance written all across their faces. "Thats sexist."
"Tell me about it." Annie huffed. "Besides, didn't they ask you anything since you used to date Casey?"
Stu only shrugged his shoulders "We dated back in sophomore year Annie," He made a crazed look next staring at her, getting overly dramatic holding his hands to his chest, his face morphed into somewhat offended. Yet his eyes, his eyes still held that crazed look in them. "You think I could have done that? How low do you think of me Annie?"
Annie frowned shaking her head "Thats not what I meant, and you know it." she let out a small huff annoyed that he was acting this way. He was probably going through something to make him feel so hostile towards her, but still. It hurt to have her friend snap at her.
"She dumped you for dear old Steve though, right?" Randy smirked, rubbing his hands together, an evil idea forming in that big head of his. "Hey!" Tatum shot up glaring at Stu annoyed "I thought you dumped her for me?"
"I did!" Stu defended himself glaring at Randy. Randy was a distance away from the tall quarterback "He's full of shit."
"So did they? Ask you since you dated the victim?" A headache was brewing at the base of Annie's skull with this entire conversation "Alright cool it Randy," Billy rolled his eyes leaning closer and whispered something in Annie's ear "You really want to date someone like that?"
Snapping her head in his direction she saw the lazy grin across his handsome face. "Oh fuck off Billy." she grumbled looking away from her friend. Her heart was pounding in her chest rapidly. She wanted to go home at this point.
Tatum leaned over placing a big kiss on Stu's cheek, distracting him from his anger towards Randy. "Stu was with me Saturday night." she grinned giving her boyfriend 'fuck me' eyes.
"Oooh," Randy gasped mock understanding in his tone. "Was that before or after he sliced and diced?"
"Fuck you, nut case," Billy snapped wrapping his arm around Annie's waist, his smirk grew feeling how stiff she felt with his touch. "Where were you Saturday?"
"Working, thank you very much. Annie called out." Randy replied with a big grin on his face that he had the perfect alibi. "Why'd you call out Annie? Hiding something from us." Giving a blank look to her crush Annie tried to resist rolling her eyes.
"Yes Randy. I somehow snuck out of my house and went to Casey's house. Ripped her to shreds and got home without anyone noticing. You've figured it out. I'm the killer. The murder weapon is under my bed still stained with the victims blood."
Billy and Stu snickered, shaking their heads. "Okay enough, everyone knows little Annie couldn't hurt a fly." letting out another scoff Annie stood from her seat. "Whatever, I gotta head to work. You comin Randy?"
Nodding his head Randy grabbed his things. "Yeah, lets go. See you guys."
Randy and Annie walked side by side away from their friend group. When they were a safe distance away they started speaking again about the murders. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Nodding her head Annie played with the pages of her book. "Yeah I'll be fine. We weren't best friends but it sucks that she's not here anymore."
Randy looked down at the book in her hands looking away as he spoke again "Haven't you read that five times already?" Smiling to herself Annie glanced over at Randy. "Well it is my favorite."
"I thought Texas Chainsaw was your favorite scary movie." Annie couldn't help but laugh. He was right Texas Chainsaw was one of her favorites. She loved the idea behind his story and Bubba Sawyer was a complete sweetheart when it comes to his family. He's honestly her favorite character besides Freddy.
"Yes Texas Chainsaw is one of my favorites, but Silence of the Lambs is amazing, feminism, romantic, mystery. It's incredible and Hannibal could psychoanalyze me any day." Randy chuckled shifting closer as they walked.
Both teens could be seen with a faint blush coating their cheeks.
Annie felt happy being with Randy, she wished she had the courage to ask him out on a date but she was just too damn scared. She wished she could be brave like Ash, have the courage to walk up to him and just say what was on her mind and the two could start dating.
Shaking her head Annie just tried to enjoy this moment with Randy. Maybe one day, but not now.