Today I felt like I had been defeated but at least I was at home. Where I could be with my family and do my favorite thing in the whole world, eat.
"Hey mom. I'm back from school."
"That's good how are you feeling? Is your friend Benson ok?"
"Oh yeah! You just reminded me. I'll call him right now."
"Shouldn't you call Hazel first?"
"Mom! Benson is the one hurt!"
My mom raised her hands as if she was trying to defend herself. "It's just he's been calling the house phone nonstop. Did you guys have a fight."
"Kinda. But you're right I'll call him."
"Good."
"Right after I call Benson."
My mom rolled her eyes as I hopped up stairs taking the home phone so I wouldn't forget to call Hazel.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"You ok?"
"My head still hurts but I'll be fine."
"You?"
"Why wouldn't I be ok?"
"Zoey are you ok?"
I sighed. I hated how much he was always right. "No."
"Let's talk about it. What's on your mind?"
"I would love to tell you but you already know."
"Come on! You're no fun. How can you be so sure. Maybe I don't. I probably don't know hit me."
"I still really feel bad about what happened back in the abandoned playground."
"Zoey it's nothing really and I'm pretty sure we've moved past this. What is it really?"
"Fine. I feel defeated like we're putting all our energy in this war but we've already lost and the other team is just laughing and enjoying the ride because they know they have already won."
"Let's look at the positives I believe that Chayton doesn't really know how much we know about him."
"Why do you think that?"
"Well he instead of showing up and showing us his face. He hides in the shadows and tries to kill us afraid because he doesn't really know how much we know about him and what he did to Christina. For all we know he probably thinks that we know his name and that he rapped Christiina which is why we are trying to hunt him down."
"Ok then what should we do?"
"For now lets wait it out."
"I don't know that seems like a very bad idea."
"I think we should because Chayton already has a disadvantage."
I sighed and threw my head against my pillow. "And what is that?"
"He already knows how we look like."
"Oh yeah. Thanks to Cedric."
"So let's stay away from all of this for a while?"
"How long exactly?"
"Two days."
"Fine. Feel better."
"Thanks. Bye."
"Bye."
I rolled off my bed anxious. How was I going to not do anything to find truth behinds CHristina's murder? For all I know it seems like everything is coming to me. I was going to call Hazel when my mom called me downstairs. What did she want now?
"Yes mom? What is it?"
"I just wanted to let you know that Christina's funeral is tomorrow before school and if you would like to go you can."
"Yes! I would love to. But how was I invited? I rarely knew her."
"Her parents had sent it to you. I mean you kinda found their daughter on the roof and you were the last person to talk to her."
"Right."
"I'll let work know that I will be late."
"Sounds good. I'm going to go upstairs and call Hazel."
"Finally. Let me tell you. We did not have boys that looked like that back in my-"
"Mom!"
I went back upstairs before I could hear anything else about how handsome my boyfriend was.
"Hi Hazel."
"Hi Zoey, how you feelin?" Why is he always asking me that?
"I'm fine just a long day from school you know."
"I was thinking that before school started that we could go to the park and you can join me on my morning run."
"Actually that sounds great! It would be perfect! And really romantic."
"That and we need some more time together just the two of us."
"I agree. So when do you want to do it?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Uhh...."
"What? Please Zoey. We haven't had any alone time together since our last date and that was the first one!"
"I know! I know. But tomorrow I'm going to my friends funeral service."
"Then How about I just go with you?"
"You mean like together as my date?"
"Yeah why not?"
"Ok yeah. It won't hurt."
"Perfect. I'll come tomorrow morning to pick you up."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Dammit! I didn't want hazel to go with me! I needed Benson because what if something happened with a Chayton Colby and he wasn't there! I guess I'll just have to tell him everything after. I mean it would make more sense if Benson was there because he really understands how much I care about her. But it does have a upside. I get to hang out more with more boyfriend and I haven't really been with Hazel as much.
******
I had decided to go with black jeans and a black shirt topping it off with black converse with black laces. I was already in the kitchen drinking a glass of water. It had felt forever but finally Hazel pulled up in my driveway.
"Ok mom he's here." I went towards the door when my mom stopped me.
"Wait let him ring the doorbell and get you first."
I rolled my eyes and took a seat on the couch.
The doorbell rang and my mom rushed to get it with a huge grin on her face. Hazel was dressed in a black v neck tee, black jeans, a black leather jacket, and black combat boots to match.
"Hi sweetie would you like anything?"
"Hi Mrs. Campbell. No it's fine. I think me and Zoey should start heading to the funeral."
"That's alright just know you're welcome anytime."
"That's great."
"Would you like to come over and have dinner with us tomorrow?"
"Yeah of course as long as it's fine with Zoey."
"Yeah Hazel that would be great! You would get to know my family more!"
My mom put her hands together excitedly. "Great I'll let my husband know."
"Ok mom I think we should start going."
"Of course! Right! Go on now."
"Bye mom."
"Bye Mrs. Campbell"
Then I grabbed my black leather jacket and headed out the door with Hazel. When we arrived I saw so many people I didn't know. That I could have known. Hazel helped me out the car and took my hand as we walked together to Christina's funeral. Immediately when we took a seat everyone eyes were on me and I remembered that I was the one who found her dead.
"Why is everyone staring at you?"
"I was a really good friend of Christina's and I guess they didn't think I would show up cause we didn't really end in a good place."
"Ohh."
"Yeah."
We sat through the service and I watched as who I thought would be Christina's mom crying as she talked about her daughter. She had the same icy blue eyes filled with sadness just like Christina. If she had the same striking pink hair as her daughter she would look like an older version of her. She had mentioned she had a brother but he had not felt like going up and speaking. I wonder who he is. Maybe he could help me figure out what had happened to her. But for right now all I had to focus on was Christina. Today was her day. When the service was over I told Hazel to wait as I went to her coffin. It was a closed casket and it seemed weird for it to be.
"Why is the coffin closed?" I said out loud to no one but to my dismay someone behind me answered my question.
"We didn't want people that didn't know about the situation to panick."
I turned around to face Christina's mom. "Oh Mrs. Taylor! Hi I'm-"
"Zoey Campbell. I know. It's not everyday you get a call that your daughter was murdered on top of a hospital building."
"I am so sorry."
She sniffed. She was still crying. "It's fine sweetie I know it's not your fault."
"Just being curious but what situation did you not want people finding out about."
"They didn't tell you down at the police station?"
I suddenly felt very nervous. "Didn't tell me what?"
"The police never found her body."
"What?!" The world felt like it was spinning. "But but I saw it on the floor."
"Yeah but from a distance that high you could've have imagined it by the shock of blood."
"Yeah yeah maybe." I sat down in one of the chairs and took a breath. "I'm. So. Sorry."
"I just hope they catch whoever did this and put an end to everything."
"Me too."
"Bye Zoey. My daughter would've liked you very much."
Christina's mom walked away and I was still in shock and was going to call Hazel to take me home when I saw Cedric. My anger took the best of me and I walked over him. I grabbed his shoulder and turned him around to face me. Furious I poked his shoulder and shouted.
"How could you do this to her?!"
He looked both scared and surprised. "Me?"
"How could you?!"
Before I could do any further damage and cause a huge commotion. Hazel swept in and guiding me towards the car.
"Zoey what was that?!"
I ignored him. I didn't really want to talk about it. If I didn't I would have to tell him everything and I couldn't put all of that on him. Not right now.
He asked me the question again. "Huh? What happened back there?!"
"I don't know ok! I don't know."
"I know you can't change what happened to your friend but trust me it's going to be ok."
"How do you know that?"
"Because after every bad thing there is always a good thing to make up for it."
"Ok."
Then Hazel took me back home but Hazel couldn't have been more wrong.