31st of January, 7:05 am
TILLY'S POV
I rolled over in my bed, my alarm playing 'Left Hand Free' from my phone. I wince my eyes open, pressing the stop button on my phone screen. I lean over to grab my white school socks, slipping them on my feet before climbing out of bed, feeling the tiles beneath my feet. I take my blue school dress from the back of my chair and throw it on top of my pyjama shorts. I slip on my white fur mat and then catch myself on my dresser, grabbing my hairbrush from on top of it. I brush my hair and pull it into a low ponytail before spraying my victoria secret body mist over my uniform. I unplug my laptop and slip it into my school bag and carry it downstairs to where my dad was making breakfast for me.
D: 'There's a note here for you' he says as he slips the letter towards me and I take a seat on the kitchen island.
T: 'It's not another note from mum, right? I'm not answering anymore of her letters. If she wants to talk to me, she can come back home' I say before taking a big swallow of my apple juice
D: 'She's got another family Till, and no, it's not. It has no return address' I roll my eyes as I take a big bite of my dad's toast.
T: 'OK, I'll open it on the bus. See ya' I shove my apple in my mouth and grab my bag from below me and grab the letter with the other hand. 'Bye Dad! Love you!' I yell as I close the front door and walk a couple of meters to where the school bus was waiting at the communal stop.
I see the bus up ahead and stick my arm out before it pulls up next to me. As I find a seat at the back, I start to open the letter.
My parents are guilty, not of my disappearance, but of far worse damage.
I never wanted things to change but here it is, everyone and everything has changed and will continue to change. Elliot and Alannah will soon break up, Mia will reveal feelings that she thinks she's been hiding for a year and you, sweet, sweet Tilly, you're going to be the one who shifts the friend group completely.
Hope you have fun at school today
Sincerely yours
y/n xo
I was pretty shaken up for the rest of the day but after reading that, I picked up on a few more things through the day. I noticed the differences. I noticed the tension, the weird looks between each other, the secret conversations. I sighed as I closed my locker and started to walk out to the oval where the group was, Elliot and Alannah sitting closer but their hands on top of each other as they leaned on them, no one could tell from where they were sitting though. Mia was sitting further away from Alannah than usual, talking with Grayson but still shooting Alannah dirty looks as she laughed with Elliot. I took a deep breath before walking up to them.
T: 'Is this what it's going to be like now?'
M: 'What are you talking about?' she winced as the sun hit her eyes
T: 'You know exactly what I'm talking about. Mia, Alannah, sort out your shit'
A: 'You can't really talk because you weren't even at the conference yesterday. Hmm? Where were you?'
T: 'I had family stuff...' I mumble.
E: 'Well we all kind of have family stuff but I guess y/n comes last'
T: 'Elliot, you're only taking Alannah's side because you two are dating'
G: 'Wait what-'
M: 'I fucking knew it'
A: 'Clearly not. You were dumb enough not to say anything'
M: 'I was being a good friend and not exposing your relationship' she shoots me a look and I cross my arms.
E: 'Clearly not a good enough friend to believe that y/n is still alive'
M: 'I'm only stating the truth-'
A: 'Well the opinion was kind of irrelevant wasn't it-'
E: 'Why do you always have to disagree on every fucking thing Mia-'
Grayson and I look at each other as my mouth drops and they all scream over the top of each other, what did I just do?
T: 'Can you guys just shut up?' I say but not loudly enough as they kept talking and pointing fingers at each other.
I guess y/n was right when she said I was gonna fuck things up for the friend group. I feel overwhelmed and I felt myself start to walk away slowly. I hear Mia groan and then see a shadow quickly approach me.
M: 'Sorry that so out of hand...Things have been kind of edge lately...'
T: 'Yeah, I can gather that' I chuckle as the bell rings for the end of lunch.
ELLIOT'S POV
E: 'Well, I mean, the girls practically forced me to watch Outer Banks'
G: 'The girls meaning Alannah?'
E: 'Yeah but I just don't see the obsession with JJ!'
G: 'Neither! Like, John B, he ain't even that cute'
E: 'Honestly Pope all the way'
G: '100%'
We laugh when we hear a knock on the door. I yell at the door to tell them to come in and we both turn our heads to see Alannah come inside laughing with Ruel, and she goes straight to the kitchen.
E: 'There's nothing in here to eat'
A: 'I'm fucking hungry'
She rolls her eyes and closes the fridge before walking about into the hallway and nearly bumping into Mia who had come in quietly with Tilly after them both.
R: 'Why are we all here?' he says as he makes eye contact with Mia
G: 'Yeah, why are the girls here? I thought we were going skating? He says to me, still sitting on the couch next to me
A: 'Well Elliot was supposed to take us shopping' she crosses her arms and sits down at the kitchen island.
E: 'None of that is happening. Except skating after' I chuckle
M: 'So why are we all here?' she says, getting back to the point
E: 'Our group needs to get their shit together, especially right now. With y/n's parents and them coming close to a trial and determination, our friend group cannot turn on each other?'
G: 'What are you talking about? Our group is fine'
T: 'It's really not..' she says and everyone turns to her. 'Look at us, I agree with Elliot. Mia and Alannah are practically at each other's throats about the notes and pretty much everything else, Grayson and Ruel are still pissed at each other about Coco and Grayson kissing and Elliot and I are stuck in the middle of it'
M: 'Don't act so innocent Tilly, you're the one that snapped at us at lunch'
R: 'Wait, what happened at lunch?'
A: 'Tilly had a go at Elliot and I and exposed our relationship!'
R: 'Wait, are you two dating?' his mouth drops open a little.
T: 'Yeah, they have been, in secret'
E: 'It's been 3 days, chill'
T: 'Look who's creating shit now?' She crosses her arms and leans against the wall.
R: 'Will everyone just shut the fuck up!' everyone quickly becomes quiet and looks at Ruel 'Look, Grayson and I are fine, I'm over it, right?' he looks at Grayson who nods 'I don't really care that you and Elliot are dating, but keeping it from me, that's what upsets me and look how it's treated you now. You girls need to go shopping, sort out your shit ok? I don't want the basis of the group falling apart before the trial. Go.'
The girls all share a look before walking outside and we all give each other fist bumps and high fives.
TILLY'S POV
I sit in the driver's seat as Mia slips next to me and Alannah goes into the back seat.
T: 'I'm not starting this car until you two talk. I'm sorry to lash out at you two but it's getting too much for me. I just took out on the first people I saw, so I'm sorry but now it's your turn'
A: 'Look, I know you don't think that y/n is out there.... But I do, and if you want to have that belief, that's ok with me, just don't bring down the group with the negative thoughts'
M: 'I was only trying to be realistic but yeah, I'll try to shut up..' she chuckles and Alannah smiles
T: 'See? That wasn't so hard' I smile and they both smile but roll their eyes
A: 'Hurry up and start the car, I want bubble tea'
RUEL'S POV
E: 'OK, but mate, look at this shit' he yelled from the other side of the park.
He put it under his foot, flying down the ramp and coming towards us. He goes up the ramp, attempting to flip the skateboard mid air but missing the landing and then grabbing on the top of ramp by his hand as he skateboard rolled away.
R: 'Next time buddy, you'll get it'
He rolled his eyes and ran off to get his skateboard
G: 'So, um, are we good?'
R: 'Yeah, I said at the house, we're good'
G: 'I don't know, I just...I guess I thought you were just saying we were good to make a point' he chuckles and I smile
R: 'No seriously. Bros' I hold my hand out for him to shake and he smiles and takes it. 'Watch this' I smile and run off to Elliot. 'Mate, let me try, k?'
He rolls his eyes and moves out the way as I jog up the ramp and take his black skateboard. I threw it under my feet and swept down the ramp and started approaching the ramp where Grayson was still at. I flipped the skateboard under me, lading it and then rising back down to where Elliot was.
E: 'Fuck off, as if you did that'
ALANNAH'S POV
I wait outside of Cotton On as Tilly and Mia come out with their paper bags.
M: 'So those scrunchies were apparently $15 even though it said 3 for $10 but whatever'
T: 'Yeah I'm pretty sure you got a range of scrunchies from all over the store...'
M: 'It should just be storewide, makes it easier for us' I chuckle at her as I throw my empty bubble tea cup in the bin.
T: 'Ooh, look at these cute earrings' she stops at one of the pop up shops in the middle of the shopping centre as I walk around to the other side where I looked at earrings.
M: 'Alannah, come here' I look up as she stands next to a small poster.
'All donations to help the case of Y/N Lewis would be appreciated'
T: 'Excuse me, are you donating to y/n's case?' she says to the woman who sat fiddling with a necklace
L: 'Oh, yes, I am. Such a tragic case, have you heard about it? It's everywhere right now'
A: 'Yeah, y/n was our best friend..'
The woman's face falls and gives us a sympathetic smile
L: 'I am so sorry girls...I really hope that thing gets sorted soon' we share a smile with her as I walk back to the earrings and pick out a rose gold pair of studs.
A: 'She always loved rose gold...' I hand her $40 and the earrings for her to put in a bag. 'Keep the change, it's a donation.' I smile as we walk away from the shop and I put the earrings in my bag.
I hear all our phones ping at once and I pull out my phone
M: 'Group chat message?'
A: 'No, Facebook update page on y/n...Her parents trail have been moved to a later date...They've been let out on parole'
T: 'Wait, hold on. So they have let out 2 possible murderers just walk around free?'
M: 'OK, lets not jump to conclusions here'
A: 'We can't have the mindset that she's dead, ok?'
M: 'Exactly, and at least this might give us a chance for her to talk to us'
T: 'True. Should we visit tomorrow?'
A: 'Yeah, sounds good but let's not invite the boys, might be overwhelming for them'
T: 'Especially Ruel, alright, my feet hurt, can someone take me home' she laughs and we all nod.