Chapter 2

The next thing they knew the girls were wrapped in towels and waiting for the officers to tell them exactly what happened. Summer was shivering to her bones, not knowing if it was because she was cold or because of the horrible thing she saw. She could feel Marissa tremble beside her too. They both sat on the short stone wall that went around the sand of the beach. Summer had a feeling that ants were still crawling around but that was the least of her problems.

"I thought people felt miserable a-a-and s-s-sad when they see someone they know dead," Summer chattered to Marissa. "But that was so freaky. I don't think I'll ever f-f-forget it."

"She used to be our best friend," Marissa said quietly. "I never forgave her for what she did. Do you think I should have?"

An Officer came over towards them and flipped his notebooks open. He had that serious stern look like every otherordinary policeman you would run into.

"Which one of you is Marissa Cooper?" he asked.

Marissa raised her hand. "I'm Officer Jake Warner," he flipped out his wallet. "Can you identify this girl?"

Summer and Marissa exchanged glances. They didn't know who should be the one to answer him. "She's Holly Fischer, she use to be our best friend. Something Happened," Summer told him.

"Can you please tell us what happened to her?" Marissa asked wretchedly.

"She drowned out at see but there are plenty of possibilities how. She could have drifted out to sea while surfing—"

"But Holly doesn't surf," Summer argued.

"Or she drifted out to sea by trying to swim—"

"But she knows how to swim. She's like one of the strongest swimmers I know, knew!" Summer protested again. Summer still remembered when Marissa, Summer and Holly were the coolest girls on the block. Summer met Holly when she was trying to swim out at sea alone. Summer had some trouble and was wailing around in the water till Holly told her to stand up. It was a very funny moment.

"Can you please let me finish?" Jake Warner asked. Summer tightened her grip on Marissa's arm. "Was Holly a troubled little girl? She could have committed suicide or someone could have drowned her out at sea."

"We haven't spoken to her for about a year," Marissa said. "We don't know anything about her."

Marissa couldn't help but cry. Like a good friend would do,Summer rested her head onto her shoulder. Jake Warner asked many other questions, some were easy and some were difficult. They even told him about the time Holly tried to steal Marissa's boyfriend. Somehow Marissa ended up looking like a loser and Holly was still as popular as ever. Summer, Marissa and Holly use to be the most popular and hottest girls. They were like the three girls in Never Been Kissed. Summer just wished she could go home, drink some non-fat hot chocolate, and forget that his day ever happened.

Summer had never seen anyone look that frightening before. Well, she never saw anyone dead before either. Holly looked like she had come out from a horror movie but this wasn't just any horror film, this was reality and it was live. The horror genre was definitely not Summer's cup of tea.

Is Officer Jake Warner right? Summer thought. Could someone have murdered Holly? Summer shook her head at the thought. No one would want to kill her because she had nothing that they wanted. Unless they wanted her family's money, but wouldn't they kidnap instead of killing her? There was no way Holly drowned in the sea. She was a very strong swimmer and summer vacation just got started. There was no blustery weather in the summer of Orange County. Even when it's winter, Orange County still feels like twenty degrees.

"Do you know if Miss Fischer had any enemies? Any rivals at all?" Jake Warner asked them.

"Besides me, no, not that I know of," Marissa answered. Then she quickly added, "But I didn't kill her. I would never do that."

"Mmm hmm," Jake scribbled down some more notes.

That man better not be scribbling down that he is suspicious of us. If he was, Summer would throw the towel off her, snatch the notebook and throw it in water. That won't change his opinion on the girls but at least he won't remember some of his information.

"Is there anything else you would like to tell me?" Officer Warner asked for about the millionth time.

"No," Summer shook her head, feeling annoyed. "Not any more because we told you just about everything. How many times do you have to ask us that?"

"Summer!" Marissa blurted out.

The Officer just laughed and put on a smirk. "I want to make sure I got every bit of information as possible so I could solve what happened to Holly Fischer."

Summer wriggled in her seat. He was right. It is really important that they find out why Holly died. The only conclusion Summer could think of was that Holly killed herself. But why would Holly kill herself? She was popular and the boys all have a thing for her. Holly was living a normal teenage life just like Summer. They were basically the same people except one was blonde and had pretty blue eyes. Holly was having the best time ever. At least that's what Summer thought. She never spoken to her after that incident so she never knew what was going on with her. She didn't even know who her friends might have been. Her friends . . .

"You have to ask her friends," Summer said.

"Can you name some for me?" Warner asked with a pen in his hand, getting ready to write whatever it is that the girls had to tell him.

"No, I don't know their names. But they are all blondes. It's like a whole group of blondes that hang out together at school."

"I'll make sure to look out for a group of blonde girls at your school," Warner said in a bored tone.

"What a smart mouth," Summer muttered under her breath

"What was that?" Warner enquired.

"Nothing," Summer replied.

"I know it sounds silly Officer Warner but Summer is right. There's only one group of pretty blonde girls that hang out together at my school," Marissa said. "They know their fashion, and make-up is their best friend. It's hard to miss them."

"Thank you girls," Jake Warner finally closed his notebook and stuffed it in his inside pocket. "We'll take care of it from here. If we find out what happened to her, I'll give you girls a call."

Suddenly a black BMW beeped ahead. Mr. Roberts, Summer's father was here to pick them up.

"Want to sleep over at my place?" Summer asked Marissa.

"I was waiting for you to ask me that." Marissa forced a smile but Summer knew that Marissa had to use all her strength for that tiny little smile.

When the girls arrived back at Summer's house, they went straight to Summer's bedroom. Summer wanted to forget this day ever happened, so tomorrow night, she promised to head back to the dance club (whatever it was called) and put on her favourite new earrings to show off to Terry. Terry was definitely cute, a perfect guy to replace Seth. Seth, Summer sighed. She truly needed him at this moment even if she didn't like to admit it herself. Especially tonight. She didn't think Seth would even care if Holly was dead, he hated her anyway. He never used to like Marissa either until Ryan started dating him.

After Summer changed into her pyjamas, she took out her purple jewellery box while Marissa went into Summer's closet to change.

While she was rummaging for her favourite earrings, Summer didn't precisely know what she felt about Seth. She hated him for hurting her, again. However she still loved him, which is what breaks her heart the most. How could he do this to me? Summer thought. This comic was coming in between their relationship. But if he chose to publish his stupid comic other then being with her then there might not even be a relationship to come between anymore—

Wha-

Summer took out every single earring she owned. Then she pulled out every draw of her dresser and yet, she still didn't find what she wanted. No, no, no, Summer thought to each earring she looked at. Anger and fiery rose to her cheeks as each second went by. Finally she had enough and slammed her hands down on her dressing table.

"Where is it?" Summer shouted.

Her favourite pair of earrings. They weren't in her jewellery box or anywhere else. Summer turned around to look at the rest of her room. Something caught here eye. There were wrinkles on her bed, as if someone not long ago had just laid his or her body there. She moved her hands across her bed to smooth it out and it felt warm. Like it didn't happen long ago. Chills crept up Summer's spine. Could this day get any creepier?

Summer shook her head. It was probably her step mom. She couldn't believe her step mom came into her room and took her favourite pair of earrings, and lie on her bed. Except, she never goes into my room and she hates the things I wear, plus she's a neat freak. So it still doesn't make sense to me.

Marissa came out of the walk in closet and gazed at her best friend. "Hey I heard you shouting, what's wrong?" Marissa asked.

"Um, nothing," Summer replied. Summer must be tired and can't think straight. She'll understand what's going on in the morning. That is, if she wakes up before noon.