They sorted through hours and hours of evidence, trying to figure out the connection to who was behind all of this. While my dad and the others were busy with that, we were all hanging at my house.
"So, did they find out anything?" Jasmine asked.
"No one saw anything," I said.
"Typical small town bullshit," Luka said as I sat down next to him.
"Well, at least you weren't being suspected of murder," Niko said. "Although this is fitting."
"Don't be too broken up about this," Luka said to him.
"Trust me; I'm not. Don't get me wrong, it sucks, but it's also a relief," Niko said.
"I just think it's odd. The victims have all been girls then the Deputy. Creepy," I said.
"Well, it's not like the killer is just going to walk up and knock on the door announcing themselves," Damon said. Just as he said that there was a knock at the door causing us to jump.
We started laughing as I got up to answer the door. There stood a guy from school dressed in a delivery uniform. I recognized him from my class, "You're Patrick."
"Yeah, and you're Malia, right?"
"Yep, that'd be me."
"Whew, I got the right house."
I gave him a look as he handed me a bouquet of red roses. I signed for them.
"See ya around, Malia."
"Later, Patrick."
I closed the door and in the bouquet was a note.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
My heart beats just for you.
Love Luka
I walked in and set the flowers down, then gave him a kiss, "I love them."
"Well, I figure since frick and frack over here wrecked part of our weekend, it was at least I could do," he smirked.
I smiled at him.
*******
The next day at school, everyone was getting antsy as it got closer to Christmas break. I think it's because we couldn't do much except go to school or home. After a while, that tends to get boring except for Luka and me, who found alternative ways of keeping ourselves entertained.
We opened the door to the janitor closet and looked around then when the close was clear we hurried to class.
"For someone that likes privacy, you sure could have fooled me," I whispered.
"Yeah, well, it's not like we can do anything at our houses considering your dad carries a gun."
I looked at him, "Yeah, but so does yours."
"Who would call your dad and let him know."
"Good point."
That was a little obstacle for us, trying to find "alone" time, but we managed one way or another.
Luka even drove us to a secluded spot, and we climbed into the back seat. Our clothes quickly found their way off, and we were fast going at it. I don't know if it was the thrill of getting caught or what, but it made it way more exciting.
After we finished, we laid in the backseat covered with a blanket.
"At some point, we are going to have to figure out another place. I think our parents are getting suspicious of us," I said to him.
He looked at me, "Well, then if that's what's going to have to happen, then so be it."
He smirked, and I giggled.
"Malia, they can't stop us from being together even if they try. Look at Romeo and Juliette."
"Luka, they both died," I said, giving him a look.
"Good point. But you know what I mean."
I sighed as I propped myself up and looked at him, "I know."
"Hey, you and me against the world," he said.
"You and me," I echoed as he leaned up and kissed me. I couldn't imagine my life without Luka. He has become such a big part of it.
*****
As we got closer to Christmas break, the students were getting restless, and so was the killer. During class, Cheryl went to use the bathroom; only she didn't make it to the toilet before someone grabbed her and placed their hands over her mouth.
They leaned into her ear and whispered, "Scream, and I will break your neck, right here, right now."
They dragged her away as she struggled.
After class, I went to my locker to get a book, and Luka walked up behind me, scaring the living daylights out of me.
"Luka, you ass. Stop that," I playfully smacked him.
"Maria wanted me to invite you to dinner tonight."
"I see you finally kissed and made up with them."
"Not quite, but at least if you are there, then I don't have to worry about them yammering away with questions at me," he said.
I gave him a look, "Give them a break. That happened a long time ago."
"Yeah, well, it doesn't excuse the fact that they lied to us," he said.
"Yeah, but they only did it to protect you," I said to him. He shook his head, and I leaned in to kiss him when we heard a crash, along with falling glass and something hit the floor.
We stopped and looked to see none other than Cheryl dead in the middle of the hallway floor.
We looked at each other as Luka said, "It looks like the killer strikes again."
I looked at him and back at the body.
******
We all stood around as they loaded the body onto a gurney and covered it. Dad walked over to us, "You guys okay?"
"Yeah," I said.
"Mr. W., what happens next?"
"Considering this is a crime scene now, everyone sent home, and school will close until after Christmas break."
"Do you have any leads?" I asked him.
"We're close. Mal, whoever is doing this is waiting. It's like they are one step ahead of us."
That thought wasn't reassuring. The killer was watching, and there were so many questions and no answers. They sent us all home, but since Luka invited me to dinner, I went over to Luka's house. Joe had to work late so it ended up being Maria, Niko, Luka, and I.
We all sat at the table and ate quietly. That was weird. I expect Luka to be quiet, but Niko never was. I wonder what was up with him.
"So, Malia, Joe tells me that your eighteenth birthday is coming up," she said.
"Yep. Christmas Eve," I said.
"I bet you're excited," she said in between bites.
"It's kind of cool. Mom and dad usually do something special for me," I said with a smile.
"Missy and Gabe have always been sweethearts," she said.
"So, what are your plans for Christmas?" I asked her.
I was looking at her, and the guys shot her a look, "Oh, probably a quiet dinner at home."
"You're not going to spend Christmas with your family?"
"No," she said quickly. "They usually go hunting." They both facepalmed themselves as I turned and looked at Luka, who quickly recovered.
"You didn't mention anything to me about hunting."
"Well, that's because it's just a guy time," Niko said, cutting him off.
"Right," Luka said, giving him a sideways glance.
"Oh. Okay," I said as I went back to my food. My boyfriend, who I love dearly and gave myself to on his birthday, is going out of town on mine. Interesting.
Luka kicked Niko under the table, who yelped.
We all looked at him, "Sorry, thought I felt something run across my leg like a big ass rat." He shot a glare at Luka, who shrugged.
This dinner was by far the most bizarre dinner I ever had. My dad came by and picked me up after dinner. I kissed Luka, and then he closed the door behind me.
He turned to Niko, "A rat? Really?"
"What did you want me to say it was bigfoot?"
He gave him a look.
"And by the way, Maria, thanks for saying we were going hunting, now my girlfriend thinks I'm a dick," Luka grumbled.
She gave him a look, "I'm pretty sure when you give her your special present; she's not going to be mad for long."
"God, I hope so because Malia is pretty scary when she's mad," he said.
"I don't remember Malia being mad," Niko said.
"I have once, and that was enough for me," he said.
"Huh. I would like to see this."
"God, you're an idiot some times," he said, shaking his head and going upstairs.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"Never mind, Niko," Maria said, laughing to herself.