Disclaimer: don't own the mentalist, make no money etc etc etc, I really don't like writing this disclaimer, it is very disappointing, like I need reminding.

Grace sat in English, looking out the window, she thought about how nicer day it was, she thought about prom, hell, she even thought about Shakespeare or whatever Mrs Darren was trying to teach, anything to keep her mind away from her aching ribs. She glanced at the clock and groaned, it must be broken, they weren't even half way through the lesson! She let her head hit the desk, but jerked up as a series of shots echoed throughout the school.

'What the fuck was that' Wayne said

His question was answered by a scream. The shots were from a gun, and their school had most likely become a murder scene. The teacher acted fast and shut and locked the door, turned off the lights and gestured for the class to shut the windows and pull the curtains. A few of the girls were texting, but got their phones taken away. Everyone had to put their phones in a box to stop communication, everyone sat in silence, wondering who had been hit, and what was going to happen next. Wayne had protectively slipped his arm around Grace; Patrick was unsuccessfully trying to do the same with Teresa.

'What's your problem, do you have a wedgie or something? She asked

'Um, yea' he lied, realising she wasn't interested; Grace picked up on this and tried not to laugh.

After what seemed like hours of waiting, the local police unlocked the door and let them out. They abandoned the card game they had been playing and walked out, shielding their eyes against the light.

'What has happened?' Mrs Darren asked the cop

'Three casualties, cheerleaders, down in room 42, they were smoking, whoever did it, knew they were there' he said gravely

Mrs Darren sucked in a short breath

'Names?' she said nervously

'Flora Lloyd, Annalise Grey and Tori Phillips'

The teacher steadied herself on a chair

'I taught them, they were such good students, are there any leads?'

'No, I'm afraid not, whoever did this hid any trace of evidence possible, and we are having a search of the school at the moment, but to no prevail'

They left the conversation at this point, being dragged off by Teresa.

'What the hell, where are we going?' Wayne asked confused. Teresa had him and Patrick by their wrists and Grace was still holding onto Wayne's hand, Cho followed along behind.

'Something isn't right, I am beginning to agree with your hunch yesterday Patrick, can you remember what cherrios were on what side? She said

'Ha, I knew I was right!' he said

'Just tell us who was on what side' she said exasperatedly

His impeccable memory remembered every detail

'On one side were Flora, Tori, Annalise, Brianna and Elle; on the other side was Claire, Courtenay, Becky, Gemma and Bree, the major and minors on the squad, maybe it was over the pyramid, the three that were killed were the best on the squad'

'We should keep an open mind, where do you think someone would hide shell casings?' she said

'I'm going with the cheerleader thing, so the girl's locker room' Patrick said

'Ok, so we are going there then, and if you find them, for the love for all that's holy, don't touch it, just to state the obvious' she said. This was directed at Patrick, who picked up on it immediately

'Oh come on Teresa, I'm not that stupid'

She raised an eyebrow.

They searched through the locker room and Grace was getting bored, she had picked up on the fact that Teresa wanted to be a cop, but this sort of thing should be left to the professionals, but being the polite person she was, she didn't say anything. She sat down on a bench and noticed a pink piece of paper scrunched up on the ground. She picked it up and 3 shell casings fell out. She gasped and got down on all fours and looked under the small gap between the lockers and the floor, where more shell casings and bullets lay.

'Teresa!' she called 'I found them'

They all came rushing to see. Dumbstruck that they hadn't seen them themselves

'What is on the note?' Teresa asked

She grabbed a paper towel and carefully turned it over

Flora, Tori, Annalise, I am not sorry that you died, you are selfish, stuck up slutty bitches and don't deserve anything you have gotten by lying cheating and stealing, you slutty fucking whores, by the way, Brianna and Elle were on our side, everyone has been plotting against you this whole time, so good luck in hell, not that you will need it, you fit right in there! Yours gravely, which is where you are now, everyone who has ever hated you, basically the entire world

'Well, I think we show the police this, and they officially have a suspect' Teresa said finally

'Agreed' they all said at once

They showed the police and were interviewed and finally left the school and started to head home when Patrick spoke up.

'There is no school tomorrow, so how about we all have a sleep over at mine and discuss today's happenings' he suggested

Grace stiffened, it wasn't that she didn't want to, she knew if she mentioned the mere fact he was indeed a he, her dad would spazz out, but as always she had a plan, Teresa's was across the street, she could go there first and walk to Patrick's.

'I would love to' she said, before turning to Teresa

'Would I be able to get dropped off at yours, my dad isn't exactly keen on boy girl sleepovers' she asked

'Sure thing, I understand, if Patrick didn't live across the street, I wouldn't be able to either' she smiled

'Great, I will ask'

Grace walked home, hoping she would see Autumn along the way, but didn't, she hoped her dad wasn't home, she was surprised nobody had text her to see if she was ok, the shootings weren't exactly top secret, most the district knew about it. She turned onto her street, and breathed a sigh of relief; her dad's car wasn't in the driveway.

'Mom, where are you?' she called out

'Grace, is that you?' she called back

'Yes, have you heard about what happened at school?' she asked as she walked into the living room, her mom had a bottle of whisky on the table, it was empty.

'Yes, it's just terrible isn't it?'

Grace felt a pang of anger and upset, why hadn't her mom asked if she was ok, Grace had text Autumn and yet her own mother didn't care

'Weren't you worried about me?' she asked hurt

Her mom hesitated

'I was, but I couldn't find my phone and couldn't remember your number'

'You should stop drinking mom, it's bad and we need your help around the house and other stuff'

'I don't drink that much, besides, I do help'

Grace decided to leave it at that, and changed the subject to tonight's sleepover.

'Seeing there will be no school tomorrow, I was wondering if I could sleep over at my friend Teresa's house, I can make tea now and you can heat it up later' she asked

Her mom thought for a minute.

'Very well then, if you make dinner'

'I will' she said as she headed to the kitchen

She took out her phone and text Patrick

'Hey, I can go tonight, what time?' she sent to Patrick

After a couple of minutes her phone vibrated.

'Anytime, Teresa is already here, Wayne and Cho will be here in an hour'

'I have to do some things before I come'

'Sure thing, see you then'

She got down the slow cooker and started to prepare dinner.

A/N sorry about the delay in uploading etc, I got writers block and played continuous games of solitaire. This chapter was so hard and I don't like it that much, so I shall work extra hard on the next one. Review please, it actually makes me write and distracts me from solitaire. =]