Chapter Two: The True Question is who is it?
When the bell rang, it was time for lunch. I went to the cafeteria and grabbed my lunch with Stu and Randy and met our other friends outside at our usual spot by the big fountain in front of the school.
We were sitting on the edge of the fountain, taking up the half of the space. Billy, Stu's best friend, was on the right side of the fountain, with his girlfriend, Sidney sitting between his legs. Next to her was Tatum and then Randy. I was sitting in front of Stu, leaning on his legs.
Just before we could talk about anything that has been going on, Mr. Humbry comes over the loudspeakers.
"Remember your principal loves you and I want you to be safe. All students are encouraged to return home promptly from school grounds. Avoid strangers, walk in twos and threes." He ends with that.
"Today has been one hell of a day, don't you think?" I ask, no one in particular.
"Two of our classmates were murdered. What do you expect, rainbows and kittens?" Randy asks, criticizing me.
I slapped his arm.
"Of course not, I just uh, I don't know."
"What kind of questions did they ask you guys?" Tatum asks, changing the subject slightly.
"They asked me if I knew Casey." Sidney talks first.
"They asked me too."
"They asked me, what I was doing and where I was last night."
"Hey, did they ask if you liked to hunt?" Stu asks Billy.
"Yeah, they did. Did they ask you?" Billy questions back.
"Why would they ask if you liked to hunt?" I ask, looking at my boyfriend.
"Cause they're bodies were gutted." Randy comments.
"Thank you, Randy." Billy said, sarcastically.
"They didn't ask me if I liked to hunt." Tatum says.
"Cause there is no way a girl could've killed them." Stu says.
"That is so sexist." Tatum said, sounding offended.
"The killer could easily be a female, Basic Extinct." I tell him, backing Tatum up.
"That was an ice pick, not exactly the same thing." Randy says.
I give him a smug look.
"Yeah, Casey and Steve were completely hollowed out. And the fact is it takes a man to do something like that." Stu said.
"Or a man's mentality." Tatum mumbles.
"How do you... gut someone?" Sid questions, looking uncomfortable about her own question.
We look at Sidney.
"You take a knife and you slit them from groin to sternum." Stu explains.
I look to him and hit him on the chest.
"Hey, it's called tact you fuckrag." Billy argues.
"Hey Stu, didn't you used to date Casey?" Sidney asks.
My turn to be a little uncomfortable.
"Yeah, for like two seconds." Stu replies.
"Before she dumped him for Steve." Randy states. "And are the police aware you dated the victim?"
"What are you trying to say, that I killed her?" Stu questions, getting hostile.
"It would sure improve your high school "Q"."
"Stu was with me last night." I tell him flatly.
"Yeah, I was." Stu says.
We gave each other a kiss.
"Was that before or after he sliced and diced?"
"Knock it off, Randy," I tell. "Where were you last night?"
"Working. Thank you." Randy states.
I looked at him confused.
"Oh, at the video store? I thought they fired your sorry ass." Tatum questions.
"Twice."
"I didn't kill anybody." Stu states off.
"Nobody said you did. " Billy defends him.
"Thanks buddy."
"Besides it takes a man to do a thing like that." Randy mocks in a weird voice.
"I'm gonna gut your ass in a second kid." Stu threatens.
Randy gets up and leans over Stu and me.
"Did you really put her liver in the mailbox? Cause I heard that they found her liver in the mailbox next to her spleen and pancreas."
"Randy you goon, I'm trying to eat here." Tatum says, throwing her sandwich in the wrapper.
Randy reaches over Tatum to get her food.
"She's getting mad alright. You better liver alone. Liver alone!" Stu jokes.
But it wasn't a joke to all as Sidney gets up and leaves. Billy leans over and hits Stu, as I did at the same time.
"Liv - - Ow! Liver. Liver. It was a joke."
"Still doesn't help," I tell him sternly. "You know all this is giving her mixed feelings.
I notice he wasn't looking at me directly, but at Billy. Billy noticed me looking at them, then looking over his shoulder to see, Sidney, walking back into school.
We finished our lunch, as the bell ring for the five-minute warning before classes started again. Stu and I were walking hand and hand heading to computer class.
"Hey, so I have practice tonight. Are you going to be okay till I come over later?" Stu asks.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I actually have to work tonight; I'll be off at seven though."
"Oh alright, be safe."
"I always am."
We give each other a quick passionate kiss before we enter class. Class well, it was class. More assignments as usual, it is our senior year after all. You'd think they would give a little slack.
Sixth and seventh period rolls around in a blink of an eye. I walk out of, biology with, Tatum and Randy. We walk to our perspective lockers and gather our things. Tatum turns to me.
"Hey, I know you're work tonight. But Sidney is freaking out on staying at home alone. I'm going to dance practice. She'll be staying at my place while her dad is out town. My mom said you're more than welcome to stay as well. Anyway, I was wondering if you can go to Sid's and stay with her till my practice is over?"
"I don't get out till seven, Tatum. I'll try to make it over there I suppose. Can you tell Stu what's going on. I was supposed to meet him after work."
"I'm sorry. But I'll let him know."
She scurried off to her dance practice. Catching someone out of the corner of my eye, I look over to see Randy, standing next to me.
"Well, I know one thing we both know." He speaks.
I give him a questionable look.
"Yeah, what's that?"
"We both won't be getting anything tonight. I won't be alone in that boat now."
I scuff at and start pushing him out the door.
"Tiff, easy now."
"You asked for it."
I get into the side of his 1980 century, Buick, after throwing my bag in the backseat.
"Randy, do you ever clean this thing out."
"Once a week."
"It looks like you clean it out once a month."
"Thanks, Tiff."
"You're welcome, that's what friends are for." I smiled.
He shakes his head and starts the ignition. We arrive at work, and it was a little busy for a Wednesday afternoon. Our boss was running the counter and he sees us coming in.
"Good you two are here. Tiffany, run the register and Randy, stock the shelves. Also," He points his finger at him. "Better not be causing a scene, the next time I fire you, it's permanent." Larry tells him.
Randy walks over to me.
"Ouch." I tell him. "He is right though, Randy, you need to chill when it comes to talking about movies."
I put my code in the register and clean up around it.
"You're just like me when it comes to them too." He defends.
"I don't start shouting in the store though." I give him a stern look.
We look at each other, not moving, staring at each other unblinking. Suddenly, someone was clearing their throats. I look towards the source and see there were a couple from school looking at us. Taking one last look at, Randy, I smile at them.
"Hey, sorry about that. Did you girls find the movie you want?"
"Yeah, we did."
"Great, let me ring you up."
I brush my bangs behind my hair, looking behind them, where Randy was, he already has a cart of movies with him and stocking the shelves. I go back to the task at hand and ring the two girls up. I grab the tape from the back room, put it in its case and into the bag, handing the movie back to them. The workday went by quickly as school did. Even with the events still rolling around of, Casey and Steve's homicide investigations still going, the killer at large still, it was a decent day. Things here were slow at the sometime. It was a little pass six o'clock now and there wasn't another soul in sight, besides Randy and Larry. Which the later was leaving for the night.
"Alright you two," Larry starts off, throwing his jacket on. "Close and lock up in the hour. Want you guys to be safe. Have a goodnight."
"You too!" We shout at him, as he leaves.
We sigh and go ahead to finish stocking the rest of the movies up and other shelves too.
"Do you want me to drop you off at Sid's, after we get off?"
"Sure, I just have to grab a few things from my place beforehand if that's alright?"
"No problem."
"So seriously, who do you think the killer is?" He asks.
"Randy, it could be anyone." I shrug, putting some bottle soda into the fridge.
"Was Stu really with you last night?"
"Come on Randy, yes he was. He isn't the killer. Why do you think he is?"
"I don't."
"You keep accusing him."
"I'm sorry."
"What?" I was shocked he said that. "Come again." I tease.
"I'm sorry."
"Randy Meeks, is apologizing. Never thought I would live to hear the day."
"Shut up."
We both laugh. I look up at the clock on the wall reading, six-thirty. No one else was on here and Larry did say we can close at seven.
"What'd do you say, we leave this for tomorrow and just close up for the night."
"What the hell. Why not?"
"Thank God. "
I count the register quickly and put the money in the safe in the back office. Locking the safe up, I turn off the lights, close and locked the office door. Randy was waiting at the register with our coats.
"Thank you." I say, taking my jacket from him.
We walk to the main door and shut off the lights. I shut the door after Randy walks out and lock the main building door. We get back into his car, the condition of it still grossing me out.
Making it to my house in fifteen minutes, with the traffic even. I run inside and grab my night bag from the downstairs closet. I go upstairs, went to my dresser pulling my pajamas for the night. I pull out a pair of jeans ripped overalls and other undergarments for the next day. Walking into the small walk-in closet, I pull off a white and green stripe long sleeve shirt from the hanger, along with a black leather jacket.
Stuffing all that into my overnight bag, along with my hairbrush, deodorant and toothbrush/paste. After zipping the bag up, I grabbed my favorite pillow and made sure it was in between the straps. Making sure the lights and stove were off and locking the back and front doors of the house. I made my way over to the driveway and get into Randy's car.
"Took you long enough." He complains.
"Oh, shut up," I look down at my watch, seeing it was a little after seven. "Shit, we need to get going."
"My point exactly."
He starts the ignition to the car, as I pull my seat belt on. Man, as if this night didn't get any worse.
"What the hell?" Randy asks, seeing all the police cars that were surrounding Sidney property.
"Thanks for the ride, Randy. I'll see you tomorrow at school."
"Want me to stay?"
"No, I'll tell you tomorrow. Night Randy, drive safe."
"Night, and call if you need anything, alright?"
I give a smile and a nod, as I grab my bags from the backseat. I rush over to the police tape and tried to go under it to get into Sidney's house but was stopped by a police officer.
"Whoa mam, you can't cross here."
"I'm a friend to, Sidney Prescott, please let me through."
"Tiffany?"
I look to the right and see, Dewey giving me a questionable look. I stop my struggle against the officer that was holding me. He steps away as Dewey approaches us.
"Dew... Deputy, what happened?" I ask my older cousin.
He pulls me aside, away from the media and cameras. We talk in hush voices, for anyone to not overhear us.
"The killer was here," I felt my face drain of its color. "Everything alright, Sid's fine. Few cuts and bruises is all."
I sighed out in relief. But that wasn't the only information he had.
"Your friend, Billy, he was here after the attack. Sidney thinks it was him."
I give him a questionable look this time.
"What do you mean, didn't she call him after?"
"No, she said that he climbed through her window and a cellphone dropped from his jacket."
"Why should that matter, almost every kid in our class has one now."
"The killer made a call to her before he attacked her. We just have to make sure."
"I was supposed to be here. How long ago did it happen?"
"Thirty minutes ago. Give or take.
"I could have helped her, been here for her."
"Hey, for all we know, you could have been hurt or worse killed."
"At least Sidney wouldn't have been alone."
We sighed.
"Come on, she's over by the ambulance. I'll take you to her."
"Thanks, Dewey."
"That's Deputy."
We smiled at each other, and he escorts me over to the ambulance Sidney is sitting in.
"Sid." I rush over to my friend. "Are you, okay?"
She doesn't answer, just gives me a nod. But I can tell that she was still in distress.
"God Sidney," We look over to see Tatum running over to us. "I'm so sorry, I was late."
"Tatum, I'm sorry too," She looks over to me. "I had to run home before showing up here. I literally just arrived myself."
"Tatum, you can't be here it's an official crime scene." Dewey tells her.
"She's here." Tatum refers to me.
"It's okay." Sid tells him.
"Her dad's out of town she's staying with us tonight. So is, Tiff."
"Does mom know?"
"Yes dufus. Let's get out of here."
I look at Dewey, giving him an apologetic look. Sidney and Dewey head off in his squad car. As Tatum walks away with Sidney to the squad car, my attention is being pulled to what Dewey is handing the sheriff.
"By the way, you wouldn't believe this."
Dewey hands over some kind of white mask that has a black covering for the rest of the head. It had wide black open eyes and a wide black open mouth. Just looking at it is giving me the chills.
'That's what the killer is wearing, creepy.' I tell myself.