Chapter 3: From Bad to Worse
Elizabeth Brooke McGuire stared at the face of one of her best friends in utter disbelief. In the past twenty-four hours her world had been shaken from its foundation with an attack on her boyfriend and herself. The attacker then dared to call and claim responsibility for her brother's death, threatening her life as well. Now, here was one of her oldest and dearest friends, and she apparently was leaving her life. again.
"Mo. moving?" Lizzie finally managed to spit out.
Miranda was speechless, but finally managed to nod her head yes.
"When?" Lizzie asked, the look of surprise still soundly on her face.
"I. I stop school today. We're leaving tomorrow evening." Miranda said. Before she could explain herself, her boyfriend, one Danny Kessler arrived. He wrapped his arms around his Latino girlfriend and kissed her cheek.
"Hello beautiful." Danny said, and then looked at the group around her. Danny noticed that the teens were all wearing a very shocked expression on their face.
"Guy's, you know we've been dating for over a year, why the look of surprise." Danny inquired.
"Because Miranda just told us.." But before David Gordon could continue Miranda spun around and planted a huge kiss on her boyfriend. The public display of affection earned her several whistles from passing schoolmates and soon a teacher was clearing their throat, signaling that they needed to break it up.
Normally, one might think that someone would finish what Gordo was about to say, fortunately, everyone here realized that Miranda obviously hadn't told Danny that she was moving away yet, and the kiss was simply a distraction. Gordo decided that he no longer wished to be a fifth wheel made up some excuse about going to the science room for extra credit and made a hasty retreat. The quartet then made their way to the cafeteria for lunch. As they entered the room Lizzie grabbed Miranda by the arm and told the boy's that they were going to restroom.
~ * ~
"How could you not have told us you were moving?" Lizzie yelled once the door was closed behind them. She stared angrily at her best friend.
"Because it is probably the worst thing that has ever happened to me and because with everything going on in your life I didn't want you to have to worry about the things going on in mine." Miranda answered.
Lizzie looked at her friend with surprise. She couldn't believe that was her reason for keeping something this monumental from her. Lizzie walked over and hugged her best friend.
"If a best friend can't stop to put the things going on in her life aside to help another friend. What good are they?" Lizzie asked.
Miranda just tightened the embrace. "Did you ever stop to think that I was doing just that?" The dark haired young woman asked.
Lizzie nodded, "Moments after I finished saying it. But still," She stopped to wipe the impending tears from her eyes, "I would have liked to have been there for you." She answered.
"I have to finish my senior year in Mexico. I will be taking a year of College off and then I can come back here and go to school with you." A crying Miranda relayed to Lizzie.
Many tissues, some makeup, and several minutes later the two young ladies looked like they did before they entered the restroom. Danny and Ronny had their food and their girlfriend's favorites as well. Lizzie had asked her best friend when she was going to tell Danny about her moving. Miranda had tearfully told her that the two of them would be having dinner out that night and that she was telling him then. Lizzie had assure her that Ronny would not tell Danny about her moving, even though the two were the best of friends themselves. Miranda was very enthusiastic about that news. Prior to being informed of this Lizzie was having a difficult time persuading the girl to leave the restroom and join the boys at their table.
Sitting down next to their respective boyfriends the two girls grabbed their lunch and began devouring it. The plan was to eat, avoid talking, and leave. Lizzie would remember something back at her locker and Miranda, wanting to make sure no one messed with her friend, would be accompany her.
"Miranda, Ronny and I have to run to gym, we're helping the coaches with freshman football during our free period." Danny said kissing the girl on her cheek.
"Sh. sure Danny." Miranda replied and kissed him on his cheek before he got up.
Lizzie, mouth still full of food felt her boyfriend kiss her cheek. Swallowing her bite quickly, and trying not to choke herself, Lizzie gave him a quick peck and the two dashed off to the gym.
"Are you sure that Ronny won't tell?" Miranda said leaning over to Lizzie.
Lizzie again nodded her head yes.
"Positive?" A paranoid Miranda inquired again.
"Positive." Lizzie retorted.
"Absolutely, positively sure?" Miranda pressed.
"Yes." Lizzie said in a hushed voice.
"Greetings earthlings. may we sit with you?" Larry Tudgeman asked, along with his girlfriend Veruca.
Lizzie and Miranda signaled for the two to join them.
"Where's Gordo?" Veruca inquired.
"He didn't come to eat?" Lizzie asked.
Larry and Veruca shook their heads.
"He said he was just going to get an extra credit assignment." Lizzie voiced.
"It's not like Gordo to skip lunch." Miranda stated for the record.
"It's not like Gordo to miss any meal." Veruca added. The quartet erupted into laughter on that comment. To this day no one was quite sure how Gordo, who put away more food than most Marine divisions, remained so trim.
"So Miranda." Larry began, "when were you planning on telling us?"
"Telling you what?" Miranda asked with her best poker face.
"I was in the office when Ms. Ungermeyer walked out with your transcripts." Larry informed the overly anxious girl.
"I. I don't know. before I moved." She replied unconvincingly.
"When are you moving?" Veruca asked in a whispered voice. She understood that Miranda didn't want this information broadcasted and did her best to keep this under wraps.
"Today's my last day here, I leave tomorrow night."
"Well, we're sorry to see you go." Larry offered. While Larry was a tad eccentric at times he had a good heart and was a very good friend, as was his ladylove.
"Thanks guys. Listen, I hate to eat and run but I have a few more things to do before I finish today." Miranda informed them. She then stood, cleaned off her plate and tray, left them at their designated spots and departed the cafeteria.
"I don't mean to run out on you guys either but I have to take care of some business before class so I'll see you there Larry." Lizzie stated as she disposed of her items and proceeded to the bathroom near the science wing.
~ * ~
Lizzie had just entered a stall when the door to the washroom opened. There were two voices gabbing and Lizzie would recognize them anywhere.
"So what'd you think about that article in that newsletter?" Brooke asked her companion.
"Oh the piece on Lizzie. I thought it was very enlightening, but a tad on the weak side. If she'd listened to me it would have made Lizzie look like the neurotic loser everyone knows her to be." Claire Miller announced, not even checking to see if anyone was in the washroom. "Ohhhh my god, did you see the look on Lizzie's face when Gordo showed it to her, she looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car." Claire answered.
"If Ronny hadn't been there no one would believe that she was attacked. They'd probably think she did it for attention. I mean first her dad is killed by his mistress. Then, her brother and his little skank get wasted by some loser. I mean she probably so high on her own hype that she just hired someone to attack her so she could remain in the spotlight." Brooke snidely stated.
"I completely agree with you. Ever since that little diva trip she had before freshman year she thinks she's just all that." Claire said. "Lizzie needs to be cut down to size some, and I think I'm just the person to do it."
"You go girl." Brooke said. The two must have been there to adjust their makeup because the door opened and suddenly all was quiet again.
Lizzie exited the stall and went to the sink. Of the four sinks in the room only the one on the far left was working. Lizzie used the water to clean the streaks on her face. After being sniped at her entire Junior High School life by the "in-crowd" Lizzie was use to not letting the things that were said by Kate and Claire bother her. This time was different though. This time it was the callous and uncaring remarks about Lizzie's father and brother that truly wounded her. Melina and her brother were a wonderful couple, even if they were a tad juvenile, but her father was not cheating on her mother. The woman who had murdered her father never denied being in a sexual relationship with Sam McGuire, in fact her whole defense consisted of "it was a crime of passion". In the end the woman was convicted, her failed appeal, the death penalty was carried out.
Lizzie dried her eyes and was about to reapply her makeup when she heard a strange sound coming from the stall located two doors over. It sounded like heavy breathing, but when she looked there was no one present. Then, a single boot stepped down. It was a black military style boot. Also, judging by the size of the boot it was a man's boot. The second foot came down and Lizzie heard the latch. The door swung open and someone wearing the same costume as the night before lunged at Lizzie. Lizzie ducked and heard the sound of something metal striking glass. Lizzie scampered towards the door as the shining knife that the person was wielding barely missed her ankle. Lizzie kicked backwards and her foot mashed into the killer's mask. A groan of pain and rage could be heard but by the time the killer recovered Lizzie was on her feet and out the door. In her haste for survival Lizzie, who pulled the door open in a hurry, almost knocked down three underclassmen that were passing by as she exited the restroom. When the passing students looked in the washroom they saw no one present. Assuming that Lizzie was just trying to make a spectacle of herself, as the underground newspaper implied she was, they just ignored the girl and left, completely oblivious to the knife wielding maniac garbed in a Halloween costume, climbing up into the ventilation system.
Elizabeth Brooke McGuire stared at the face of one of her best friends in utter disbelief. In the past twenty-four hours her world had been shaken from its foundation with an attack on her boyfriend and herself. The attacker then dared to call and claim responsibility for her brother's death, threatening her life as well. Now, here was one of her oldest and dearest friends, and she apparently was leaving her life. again.
"Mo. moving?" Lizzie finally managed to spit out.
Miranda was speechless, but finally managed to nod her head yes.
"When?" Lizzie asked, the look of surprise still soundly on her face.
"I. I stop school today. We're leaving tomorrow evening." Miranda said. Before she could explain herself, her boyfriend, one Danny Kessler arrived. He wrapped his arms around his Latino girlfriend and kissed her cheek.
"Hello beautiful." Danny said, and then looked at the group around her. Danny noticed that the teens were all wearing a very shocked expression on their face.
"Guy's, you know we've been dating for over a year, why the look of surprise." Danny inquired.
"Because Miranda just told us.." But before David Gordon could continue Miranda spun around and planted a huge kiss on her boyfriend. The public display of affection earned her several whistles from passing schoolmates and soon a teacher was clearing their throat, signaling that they needed to break it up.
Normally, one might think that someone would finish what Gordo was about to say, fortunately, everyone here realized that Miranda obviously hadn't told Danny that she was moving away yet, and the kiss was simply a distraction. Gordo decided that he no longer wished to be a fifth wheel made up some excuse about going to the science room for extra credit and made a hasty retreat. The quartet then made their way to the cafeteria for lunch. As they entered the room Lizzie grabbed Miranda by the arm and told the boy's that they were going to restroom.
~ * ~
"How could you not have told us you were moving?" Lizzie yelled once the door was closed behind them. She stared angrily at her best friend.
"Because it is probably the worst thing that has ever happened to me and because with everything going on in your life I didn't want you to have to worry about the things going on in mine." Miranda answered.
Lizzie looked at her friend with surprise. She couldn't believe that was her reason for keeping something this monumental from her. Lizzie walked over and hugged her best friend.
"If a best friend can't stop to put the things going on in her life aside to help another friend. What good are they?" Lizzie asked.
Miranda just tightened the embrace. "Did you ever stop to think that I was doing just that?" The dark haired young woman asked.
Lizzie nodded, "Moments after I finished saying it. But still," She stopped to wipe the impending tears from her eyes, "I would have liked to have been there for you." She answered.
"I have to finish my senior year in Mexico. I will be taking a year of College off and then I can come back here and go to school with you." A crying Miranda relayed to Lizzie.
Many tissues, some makeup, and several minutes later the two young ladies looked like they did before they entered the restroom. Danny and Ronny had their food and their girlfriend's favorites as well. Lizzie had asked her best friend when she was going to tell Danny about her moving. Miranda had tearfully told her that the two of them would be having dinner out that night and that she was telling him then. Lizzie had assure her that Ronny would not tell Danny about her moving, even though the two were the best of friends themselves. Miranda was very enthusiastic about that news. Prior to being informed of this Lizzie was having a difficult time persuading the girl to leave the restroom and join the boys at their table.
Sitting down next to their respective boyfriends the two girls grabbed their lunch and began devouring it. The plan was to eat, avoid talking, and leave. Lizzie would remember something back at her locker and Miranda, wanting to make sure no one messed with her friend, would be accompany her.
"Miranda, Ronny and I have to run to gym, we're helping the coaches with freshman football during our free period." Danny said kissing the girl on her cheek.
"Sh. sure Danny." Miranda replied and kissed him on his cheek before he got up.
Lizzie, mouth still full of food felt her boyfriend kiss her cheek. Swallowing her bite quickly, and trying not to choke herself, Lizzie gave him a quick peck and the two dashed off to the gym.
"Are you sure that Ronny won't tell?" Miranda said leaning over to Lizzie.
Lizzie again nodded her head yes.
"Positive?" A paranoid Miranda inquired again.
"Positive." Lizzie retorted.
"Absolutely, positively sure?" Miranda pressed.
"Yes." Lizzie said in a hushed voice.
"Greetings earthlings. may we sit with you?" Larry Tudgeman asked, along with his girlfriend Veruca.
Lizzie and Miranda signaled for the two to join them.
"Where's Gordo?" Veruca inquired.
"He didn't come to eat?" Lizzie asked.
Larry and Veruca shook their heads.
"He said he was just going to get an extra credit assignment." Lizzie voiced.
"It's not like Gordo to skip lunch." Miranda stated for the record.
"It's not like Gordo to miss any meal." Veruca added. The quartet erupted into laughter on that comment. To this day no one was quite sure how Gordo, who put away more food than most Marine divisions, remained so trim.
"So Miranda." Larry began, "when were you planning on telling us?"
"Telling you what?" Miranda asked with her best poker face.
"I was in the office when Ms. Ungermeyer walked out with your transcripts." Larry informed the overly anxious girl.
"I. I don't know. before I moved." She replied unconvincingly.
"When are you moving?" Veruca asked in a whispered voice. She understood that Miranda didn't want this information broadcasted and did her best to keep this under wraps.
"Today's my last day here, I leave tomorrow night."
"Well, we're sorry to see you go." Larry offered. While Larry was a tad eccentric at times he had a good heart and was a very good friend, as was his ladylove.
"Thanks guys. Listen, I hate to eat and run but I have a few more things to do before I finish today." Miranda informed them. She then stood, cleaned off her plate and tray, left them at their designated spots and departed the cafeteria.
"I don't mean to run out on you guys either but I have to take care of some business before class so I'll see you there Larry." Lizzie stated as she disposed of her items and proceeded to the bathroom near the science wing.
~ * ~
Lizzie had just entered a stall when the door to the washroom opened. There were two voices gabbing and Lizzie would recognize them anywhere.
"So what'd you think about that article in that newsletter?" Brooke asked her companion.
"Oh the piece on Lizzie. I thought it was very enlightening, but a tad on the weak side. If she'd listened to me it would have made Lizzie look like the neurotic loser everyone knows her to be." Claire Miller announced, not even checking to see if anyone was in the washroom. "Ohhhh my god, did you see the look on Lizzie's face when Gordo showed it to her, she looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car." Claire answered.
"If Ronny hadn't been there no one would believe that she was attacked. They'd probably think she did it for attention. I mean first her dad is killed by his mistress. Then, her brother and his little skank get wasted by some loser. I mean she probably so high on her own hype that she just hired someone to attack her so she could remain in the spotlight." Brooke snidely stated.
"I completely agree with you. Ever since that little diva trip she had before freshman year she thinks she's just all that." Claire said. "Lizzie needs to be cut down to size some, and I think I'm just the person to do it."
"You go girl." Brooke said. The two must have been there to adjust their makeup because the door opened and suddenly all was quiet again.
Lizzie exited the stall and went to the sink. Of the four sinks in the room only the one on the far left was working. Lizzie used the water to clean the streaks on her face. After being sniped at her entire Junior High School life by the "in-crowd" Lizzie was use to not letting the things that were said by Kate and Claire bother her. This time was different though. This time it was the callous and uncaring remarks about Lizzie's father and brother that truly wounded her. Melina and her brother were a wonderful couple, even if they were a tad juvenile, but her father was not cheating on her mother. The woman who had murdered her father never denied being in a sexual relationship with Sam McGuire, in fact her whole defense consisted of "it was a crime of passion". In the end the woman was convicted, her failed appeal, the death penalty was carried out.
Lizzie dried her eyes and was about to reapply her makeup when she heard a strange sound coming from the stall located two doors over. It sounded like heavy breathing, but when she looked there was no one present. Then, a single boot stepped down. It was a black military style boot. Also, judging by the size of the boot it was a man's boot. The second foot came down and Lizzie heard the latch. The door swung open and someone wearing the same costume as the night before lunged at Lizzie. Lizzie ducked and heard the sound of something metal striking glass. Lizzie scampered towards the door as the shining knife that the person was wielding barely missed her ankle. Lizzie kicked backwards and her foot mashed into the killer's mask. A groan of pain and rage could be heard but by the time the killer recovered Lizzie was on her feet and out the door. In her haste for survival Lizzie, who pulled the door open in a hurry, almost knocked down three underclassmen that were passing by as she exited the restroom. When the passing students looked in the washroom they saw no one present. Assuming that Lizzie was just trying to make a spectacle of herself, as the underground newspaper implied she was, they just ignored the girl and left, completely oblivious to the knife wielding maniac garbed in a Halloween costume, climbing up into the ventilation system.