Simon Death High

by Blair Burden

  “That's why you guys weren't invited,” Linda snapped. “You should just pull over, Adam.”

  “But, I can't see anything,” Adam cried. “What if we crash?”

  “Stop being a punk and just pull over into the woods,” Tyler snapped. “Do it already!”

  Adam obeyed and nervously drove the car into the woods. As he continued to drive, his wheel popped as he drove over a sharp branch. “Damn!” he cried. “This can't be serious.”

  “Please, tell me you have a spare tire!” Lucy cried.

  “I don't think so,” Adam said as he parked the car and turned it off. He sighed and began to think if he had a spare tire in the back. He tried to think back to when he visited South Simon and knew a gas station was not too far from where they were. “I'm going to go walk down to the gas station down the street. Anyone wants to join me?”

  Everyone stayed silent as Adam jumped out the car and pulled out his flashlight. They watched him until he was out of sight as he walked.

  “What are we going to do?” Michael said, afraid he was talking to himself because everyone was quiet. “Hello?”

  “Ah!” Linda screamed and everyone turned to her, as if they could see her. “Someone just cut me!”

  Hannah pulled out her cell phone and put the light on Linda, “What?”

  Linda shoved Hannah away with her bare feet and hopped over onto Tyler's lap. “You have blood on your hand! It was you!”

  “Oh, no! It wasn't me. I was sitting on my hand—my period must have came!” Hannah cried.

  “Ew,” Michael muttered. “That's nasty.”

  “You just cut my thigh,” she cried. “Look I’m bleeding and it hurts real bad.”

  “Are you sure it wasn't your bag?” Lucy rolled her eyes. “It has all those sharp rhinestones.”

  “Why are you always defending her?” Linda said.

  Hannah began to laugh. “Why would I cut you? I can't even reach that far. I’m on your right side and the cut is on your left thigh.”

  “Don't look at me,” Tyler snapped. “I wouldn't hurt you.”

  “Hmm...” Michael said as loud as he could. “Sometimes I wonder...”

  Tyler turned to face Michael, “What does that supposed to mean?” he snapped. “You think I would hurt Linda?”

  “Maybe,” Michael said.

  “What are you trying to say?” Linda said.

  “He knows what's up,” he muttered.

  Hannah tried to pull Linda in for a hug, but she pushed her away. Linda leaned back onto Tyler but then jumped back and fell onto the floor of the car, hurting her butt. “What is that in your coat?” she gasped and crawled closer to Hannah.

  “Huh?” Tyler said and grabbed his jacket pocket.

  “You heard me!” she screamed. “It felt like a gun!”

  Hannah and Michael screamed, “A gun?”

  “Okay,” Calm as possible, Tyler pulled out his gun from his coat. “Let me explain!”

  “AH!” they all screamed.

  “It was you! You're trying to kill us!” Linda snapped. “You are the killer.”

  “I knew it!” Michael said. “That's why you hang out with the police officers so they won't suspect you—”

  Tyler began to chuckle. “You guys, let me explain—”

  Without thinking, Linda took her foot and kicked Tyler as hard as she could in the face. His head snapped back and hit the window. The car was now quiet.

  Adam ran back to the car and opened the door. “What is going on?” He turned on the car light inside and everyone stared at Tyler. “Um, is he dead?”

  Linda poked his stomach and he was still breathing. “And, to think all this time I thought it was Hannah and Dr. Smith—”

  “What?” Hannah gasped as she placed a towel under her. “Why would you think that?”

  “I heard you and him talking about all the girls and how you couldn't be seen together. I don't approve that you guys are together, but as long as you're not the murderer—”

  Lucy began to laugh, “Oh my gosh!”

  “Wait, hold on, you think I’m dating Dr. Smith?” Hannah laughed. “This whole time you thought I was with Dr. Smith!”

  “Well, because you are,” Michael said. “You even told us.”

  “I saw you two at that bar or something,” Linda said.

  “And, I saw you in the car with him earlier today,” Michael added. “Isn't he the one meeting us here?”

  “You guys have everything wrong,” Hannah laughed. “What you heard the first time, Linda was not about the murders, it was about the dance team. You can't tell anyone this, but Dr. Smith used school funds to provide tutoring for the dance team and by us new uniforms. The state grew suspicious when he was asking for more money after they saw us at dance camp with new stuff.”

  “But, why would he do that?” Michael said.

  “Because we thought it wasn't fair that the football, basketball, and cheer teams were getting all new stuff and we have had the same uniforms since freshmen year.”

  “So, you're not dating him?” Linda said.

  “No, ha...that's gross,” she shivered.

  “Then, who were we talking about?”

  “I'm dating this...guy...he's kind of famous.”

  “Huh?” Linda and Michael said.

  “Well, I left to California to support my dad in his trial against fraud. I didn't want to tell you guys because you guys always think of me as perfect. I didn't want you guys to know how terrible my life has been. That's when I met Christian—”

  “You don't mean Christian Monroe do you?” Michael said. “That abusive actor, right?”

  “Yeah, and so that's why I couldn't bring him around,” Hannah said. “And he doesn't abuse me if that's what you're wondering.”

  “And Lucy knew this?” Linda snapped as she nodded. “Why didn't you tell me?”

  “I thought you knew,” Lucy said. “I just thought you were being crazy Linda again with all your theories. I didn't know it was this bad.”

  Linda hugged Hannah and gave her a kiss, “Wow, I feel so stupid.”

  “I'll be back,” Adam said as he got out the car.

  “Okay, can we talk later about this nonsense.” Michael leaned over the seat and began to dig around Tyler's pockets. “We need to get rid of him!” Gently, he pulled out Tyler's wallet from his pocket and handed it to Linda.

  Her eyes narrowed as a detective's badge was the first thing she saw. “Dammit, we made a mistake...” She looked at his ID and his age was really thirty-four—Tyler Jenkins from California. “He's an undercover detective?” she questioned.

  “Huh?” they all gasped and put their hands out to see the badge.

  Hannah scratched her head in confusion, “So, he is working with the police? He thinks I was with Dr. Smith too? Ew!”

  Linda smiled and tried to wake him up. “Now, I know why he didn't want to kiss me!”

  Michael rolled his eyes, “Who cares!”

  Hannah grabbed Linda’s wrist. “Hey, this is the same—”

  “Apparently the jocks do it.”

  Hannah looked out the window to see where Adam was. He was still checking out the car. “Did Adam do this to you?”

  “Um, yeah.”

  “Why is he even here?” Hannah snapped. “He's a little sketchy.”

  Linda raised one eyebrow, “You're funny, you think Adam is sketchy...since when?”

  Tyler jumped up and began to kick his legs, ready to protect himself. “...I swear, my gun doesn't have bullets, but if you hit me again—”

  Quickly, Linda put her hand over Tyler's mouth shutting him up. “You're a cop,” she nodded and smiled. “Why didn't you tell me?”

  “I was trying to,” he snapped. “I'm undercover, I can't just tell you that sort of stuff. I thought you guys would be mad at me.”

  “So, you know a lot about the murders?” Hannah said. “Like what do you know so far?”

  “I can't say,” he said and tucked his gun in his pant
s.

  “Please! Tell us, or we will tell that you're a cop!” Hannah yelled. “Tell us!”

  “Okay!” Tyler snapped. “I never thought I would be intimidated by a cheerleader.”

  “I'm on the dance team, just to correct you.”

  “Who cares!” Linda said. “Tell us what you know, Tyler.”

  “Well, we discovered that the person who are doing the murders is connected to the Mandy Perez case—”

  “The chick who died last year. Her?” Michael said as he stared at Hannah, which he knew she knew very well.

  “Yup,” Tyler nodded. “And we also realized it's not the work of some random person, but someone who attends the school.”

  “So, like a student?” Linda said.

  “A very psycho student,” Michael said.

  “And it's not me,” Hannah said. “Just putting it out there.”

  “Well, at this moment...it can really be anyone. I mean, everyone is a suspect at this point. Even you guys,” Tyler said. “But, let's not talk about me being a cop.”

  “Can we tell Adam?”

  “He doesn't like me,” Tyler said. “He's the last person I would want to know. Let's just keep this between us. Plus, I liked you guys even though I think I can be your dad.” Tyler chuckled and put his wallet back into his pocket.

  Adam got back into the car, “I think I fixed the car,” he cheered as he turned it on. “We should stay at a motel until morning.”

  “Luckily, we have no school Monday,” Hannah said.

  “It's not like we were going,” Adam said.

  “What does that mean?” Tyler said, as he lifted one eyebrow.

  “We will be having way too much fun!” Adam said as he drove back onto the road. “If you're not completely hung over when I’m done with you, I’ve failed my job.”

  Linda rolled her eyes, “I don't drink.”

  Hannah and Lucy laughed realizing Linda was trying to seem innocent since learning that Tyler was a cop. “Sure...”

  “Not anymore. I don't want to end up like my dad.”

  “So, what happened when I was gone?” Adam said. “I hope I didn't miss anything important. You guys worked everything out?”

  “Of course—we are best friends,” Linda said. “We were just all a little confused. It's not a big deal.”

  Tyler chewed on his tongue as the silent built. He tried to read Linda’s expressions but he could barely see her. He put his hand on hers and squeezed it tight.

  “What?” she whispered to him.

  “I'm sorry I lied to you.”

  “It's okay. I feel a lot safer now that you're with us.”

  9 | Black Roses

  After catching Tyler up on Hannah's situation, Linda hurried to Hannah's bag that was on the bumpy bed and began to search through it. Michael, Tyler, and Lucy ran over to her, trying to see what she was looking for.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Tyler pushed Linda away from the bag. “Are you crazy?”

  “I still don't believe her!” Linda said, as she heard Hannah get into the shower. “She is lying to us.”

  “She's not lying,” Tyler snapped, as he shoved Linda away from her stuff. “Hannah isn't the one.”

  “Yeah, Linda, she isn't the one. I can't believe you would think that,” Lucy said.

  “Oh shut up, Lucy!” Linda snapped and shoved her away. “Why the heck are you always defending poor Hannah? Do you know something, like always, you bitch?”

  “How dare you!” Lucy shoved Linda in the neck, “What the hell are you trying to say?”

  “I'm saying that you always know the inside scoop but tell us when it's too late—when the damage is done. What if you're working with Hannah and killing those people? Are you going to kill me next? Or maybe Tyler first because he's a—”

  Tyler kicked Linda in the leg as Adam came back into the room. “He said we can have the other two rooms. So, we can pair up—”

  “I'm with Hannah!” Linda said quickly as if someone wanted to be in the room with her.

  “I'll stay in this room with Adam,” Tyler said.

  “I guess I’m stuck with Lucy,” Michael moaned.

  “You say it like it's a bad thing,” Lucy said as she gathered her things to go to the next room.

  Hannah opened the bathroom door, with her hair dripping wet, “What's going on?”

  “You're sharing a motel room with me,” Linda said as she grabbed her hand. “Bestie.”

  “Um...okay?” Hannah said as she followed Linda to the motel room next door. She kicked open the door. “I can't help but be freaked out by this motel.” Hannah turned on the flickering lights of the motel room and threw her bags on the bed. “This room just looks like hundreds of people have been murdered in here.”

  “Are you sure you're not with Dr. Smith?” Linda asked. “I just knew it was you two.”

  “No! How can I prove I’m not with him,” she snapped. “Do you want me to call Dr. Smith...not that I have his number. Plus, Dr. Smith has a girlfriend.”

  “And?”

  “I'm not, Linda. Let's changed the subject,” she paused, “like how creepy Tyler is a cop. That makes him hotter since I thought he was disgusting. Didn't you think he was disgusting?”

  “Yeah, to think all this time he was knowing all the bad things I do. I can imagine how many students he's had arrested. He knows that I drink...wow.”

  “I'm sure I know why he's really here,” Hannah mumbled.

  Linda walked over to the bed Hannah was sitting on, “What do you mean?”

  “Well, of course he's been investigating all of us without us even knowing. Before he was with us, he was hanging out with the jocks, then, the band geeks, and some of the dance team members. He knocked me off his list, you, Michael, and Lucy, but not Adam.”

  “So, you're saying he's here for Adam?” Linda gasped.

  “Well, when some of the jocks were questioned by the detectives last week, Adam somehow disappeared. He'd been hanging out with them for the last five months. That's when he began floating around to different cliques. Susie, was on the dance team...rumor is, she was dating Adam—”

  Linda jumped as she heard a loud knock on the door. She pushed Hannah to answer it, but Hannah said no as she realized it was Adam at the door. “I'm not answering it!”

  He knocked again, this time more forcefully. “Hey, Linda!”

  “What if it's him?” Linda whispered. “What if he's the murderer.”

  “Just say you're naked and getting ready to take a shower,” Hannah said.

  “Yeah, like that would stop him.”

  Adam continued to knock, “I just wanted to let you guys know that we are going to roast some marshmallows out in the woods in ten minutes. You guys are welcomed to join!” he shouted and then walked back to his motel room.

  “We need to tell Tyler what you know,” Linda said.

  “He knows already,” Hannah said. “If he's a detective, he knows everything.”

  There was another knock on the door, and the girls realized that it was just Michael. Hannah hurried to open the door and Michael came storming inside.

  “Hey girls,” he said as he sat on the bed. “Ew, I hope this bed doesn't have bed bugs. That would be gross—”

  “I thought you guys were going to roast marshmallows?” Linda said.

  “Who?” Michael said.

  “You all!”

  “Not me. I think Lucy went with Adam—”

  “Is she crazy?” Linda said. “Why is she with him?”

  “What is going on?” Michael said. “I'm out the loop again!”

  “Adam is apparently a major suspect,” Linda said. “Why did Tyler allow him to come along with us?”

  “Maybe because Tyler knows, duh!” Hannah said. “It was his idea to make us all come. If it weren't for Tyler, you would be alone with Adam right now.”

  “You guys really think he would do something like that?” Michael laughed. “He's way too cute, plus, I think he's gay.
”

  Linda rolled her eyes and put her boots on, “I'm going to go get Lucy and make her come back to the motel with us.”

  “I'll go with you,” Hannah said as she put her furry boots on.

  Michael sighed as the two girls arm-locked and walked outside. He locked the motel door behind them, afraid of any person in sight—however, there were no people.

  Linda walked swiftly as Hannah felt like she was being dragged along. “Where are they?”

  Hannah began to sniff like she were a police dog, “Just try to smell the marshmallows.”

  “I can't smell anything but dirt and trees.”

  Hannah covered Linda’s mouth as she heard Lucy laughing. It was an odd sound because Lucy hardly laughed. She was the type of girl that when she thought something was funny she wouldn't laugh loudly aloud. She would just say, “That's funny.”

  Linda pulled Hannah behind a huge tree and peaked their heads and saw Lucy and Adam. “What are they doing together? I hope they are not planning to get back together.”

  “I can't tell,” Hannah said as she narrowed her eyes.

  Lucy began unraveling what seemed like a wire. “Why are you even here? You're mine!”

  Adam cleared his throat, “Lucy, not this again. Just stop being like this. Linda and Hannah are just my friends.”

  “Hannah is a bitch. She knows way too much,” Lucy said. “Linda too.”

  Adam pushed Lucy away as she tried to kiss him, “Can you just stop it—”

  “What was that?” Lucy said.

  “I think it's just a bird,” Adam said as he leaned in again.

  Linda gasped and Adam turned his head quickly in her direction. He couldn't see her but he knew she was there. Her heart felt as if it were about to explode out of her chest as they stayed silent. Within a blink of an eye, Hannah hurried and ran back to the motel as silently as she could. Linda hurried behind her and soon caught up with her.

  “Oh my god!” Hannah screamed as she ran back into the motel for Michael. “M, put some shoes on we have to go!”

  “What? What is going on?” Michael said as his heart began to race, knowing something was wrong.

  Hannah searched the room for her cell phone, just to realize she had no service. “Let's just go!”

  Linda ran into the motel room where Tyler was sleeping and jumped on the bed trying to wake him up. “TYLER! Tyler!” she screamed as she shook him. “Oh no!” She turned Tyler on his side and white foamed came out his mouth. “They drugged him!”