Party Crasher

“This one?” Sahara asked, pulling out a red bodycon dress.

“Yes, definitely!” Simone quickly replied, staring at herself in the mirror, only to see messy hair and sweats.

“Are you getting ready anytime soon Simone?” Sahara screamed from the bathroom. “Grab a dress or something from my closet, heels are in the hallway! But hurry, we have thirty minutes till we leave!” Simone walked excitedly towards Sahara’s closet, never once wearing her clothes before. The dress options were immaculate, from Parda to Chanel. Yet, none of them Simone saw were her style. “Ouu... This one is so you! You got to wear it.” Sahara reached for a black laced-up dress, and quickly shoved it into Simone’s arms. “Go try it on, please.”

“But...But... It’s not me.” Simone quietly responded. 

“Ugh, don't be silly. You’ll look gorgeous.” Sahara smiled, teeth fully shining in the reflection of the light.

Both Simone and Sahara were looking stunning, as they approached the driveway of Logan Lynch’s house. Everyone within a mile radius was turning their heads in awe of the girls. The silver Mustang didn't help the staring. 

“Oh my god, why is everyone looking at us?” Simone questioned.

“Because we’re shiny ‘hot’ new toys, Simone. Why else would they be looking at us? It’s not like we look like garbage,” Sahara blurted out loud. The loud roar of the car's engine came to a stop. Sahara and Simone both got out, random guys surrounding them.  “This is where we split up. Text me if you need anything, even if it’s just about your drink being made wrong. If all else, meet here at 12 and we’ll go to In and Out. Loves ya” Sahara screamed, as she walked into the endless void of people coming from the house.

Simone had no clue what to do, this was not her scene. So she walked to the back yard, hoping not many people would be around. To her surprise there weren't many people, just stoned teens sitting by the back door. Simone bypassed all of them to walk to the fairly lit up garden. As she sat down on the bench, just to pull out her book and read. A voice came through the bushes, “ Wuthering Heights,  that’s an interesting choice. I figured you would be more of the romance novel type.” 

“Who’s there?” Simone said alarmed.

“Aha, don’t mind me,” the voice quietly said.Logan Lynch then appeared. As he gently sat down beside Simone, trying not to scare her. “ I’m not the biggest party person, especially when I didn’t invite half of the people.”

“I get that, I’m only here because of Sahara,” Simone stated. Logan could hear the awkwardness in her voice. “She says this type of stuff is good for me, not my ‘nerdy’ stuff. She even put me in this horrible outfit, and I just don’t know what to do here.”

“I get that, but you do look very pretty,” Logan mentioned while he blushed.

“Thank you, but I have to go home,” Simone said as she got up and texted her best friend. She walked to the end of the driveway, waiting on Sahara.

Then from the void of people, Sahara walked out. You could tell she was drunk, her hair and makeup was a disaster. She stumbled all the way down the driveway, crashing into Simone’s arms. 

“Where have you been Simone?” Sahara muttered her words.

“Talking to Logan about how this wasn’t either of our scenes. He’s actually really nice, might ask him to hangout again,” Simone said, a slight smile showing.

“No, you can’t see him. I’ve liked him for years and you know that,” Sahara stated.

“We’re just friends, calm down,” Simone responded.

“ It’s never just friends, friends end up being lovers. So you CAN NOT see him again. If you do we are no longer friends and all the stuff I ever gave you comes back to me,” Sahara demanded.

With that, Simone smiled and walked down the street. She was finally free, free from Sahara’s control. Sahara began to bawl, not understanding any of it.

***

Simone woke up to an abundance of knocking on the front door. Figuring it was just Sahara hungover and forgetting her key, she rolled over and went back to sleep. Feeling comfortable with the fact one of her Moms' would get the door. “Sweetie there’s someone here for you,” her Mom hollered. Simone rolled out of bed, grabbed her phone, and ran down the stairs. While still in her childish pyjamas, a police officer stood in front of her. 

“I have a few questions regarding you friend, Sahara Vasquez.”

“Umm, what's going on?  Is Sahara okay?” Simone began to cry, starting to become overwhelmed. 

“Simone, please go get dressed and we’ll talk in the kitchen,” Simone's Mom said.

Simone walked upstairs, tears flowing. Her makeup from last night smudged. She quickly got some jeans and a hoodie on, wiped her tears and walked down the stairs. She knew she had to be brave, Sahara probably just stayed at the party last night. 

“We found Sahara’s car, two miles out of town. We found traces of blood. I was told that you were the last to see her.” 

“The last I saw her we had a fight and then I went home. I assumed she just went back in to find Logan, since she liked him,”  Simone stated.

“No one saw her inside, since you left. But if that’s all you know you’re going to have to come to the station for further questioning.”

***

Sahara Vasquez, 17 has been missing since 22:00, on August 23 2020. Car has been recovered with blood fragments. Main suspect is best friend Simone Austein, 16. It was on the news, in the paper, and even on social media. Simone hadn’t left her bed since the day the officer began to question her. Although she didn’t do it, everyone believed she did. Simone began to actually believe she did it, even though she was sober and remembered everything that happened. 

“Okay sweetie, you have to go do something today. You need out of this house, out of your room,” Simone’s Mom began to mention.

“I’m just not feeling it today, I don’t have anyone to hang out with anymore.”

Just like clockwork, the phone rang. As Simone’s mother ran down the stairs, to answer the annoyingly loud phone. Simone rolled back over and pulled the blankets over her head.

“Simone it’s for you, you’re going back in for questioning. Get out of those smelly sweats,” Simone’s Mom screamed from the kitchen. She rolled off the bed, chip crumbs falling to the floor. Simone picked up the dirty Lululemon leggings off the floor and put them on, she then ran to the closest to grab her Harvard hoodie. Just like that, Simone was brought in for questioning, again.

“Simone, where were you precisely at 10:00pm on August 22nd?”

...

“Okay, an easier question. Did you murder Sahara Vasquez?”

...

“Simone, we need answers,” the officer proceeded to say.

“Actually, it smells like rotten fish in here and you have yet to allow me to ask for a lawyer. So no you do not need answers until I have a lawyer present. Is that correct?” Simone stated. 

“So we will get you a lawyer. Just understand that you will have a trial. That you will have a court date, and that you will likely be charged with the murder of your ‘best friend’,” the angry officer declared. As the frustrated officer said the last word, Simone’s lawyer walked in the interrogation room, so they started to question Simone about what happened that night. Simone gave her detailed account of everything that went on that night when her best friend disappeared. The police thanked Simone and let her go home as at that time they had no reason to hold her per what Simone’s lawyer stated.

***

Simone walked into the huge school. Almost everyone was staring at her, besides Logan Lynch. Logan was purposely looking the opposite direction, almost as though he knew something. Yet no one knew anything, not even Simone. As she walked through the hallways, on her way to AP chemistry, she felt uneasy.  Everyone hated Simone, and they made it obvious. As she walked into the class everyone stared, even the teacher. 

“Simone, you’re wanted in the office.”

Simone walked out of the class, dreading what was coming next. When she got into the office there was a letter for her. Not even the principle wanted to speak to her. The letter read : As we have noticed, it has been too soon for Simon Austien to come back to school. It is a concern for the students and staff that she is attending. As of tomorrow, Simone will be attending online classes. This way she will not be a distraction to other students, and her busy life won't be affected by classwork. 

Simone entered the all-gender washroom, tears streaming from her eyes. She stared at herself in the mirror, not understanding how much of a disappointment she is to everyone. “Everyone hates me.” 

“I don’t,” the voice of Logan Lynch came from one of the stalls. He opened the stall tear coming from his eyes. “I don’t want you to hurt, like I don’t believe you did anything. Actually, I know you didn’t do anything. You loved Sahara, she was your best friend.”

“I know, and I didn’t do it. I went home after our fight... over you. She really liked you Logan, she really did.” His tears became stronger, even his face became red. “But I have to ask, how do you know I didn’t do it?” Logan stayed real quiet and started murmuring. Simone was hardly able to understand. But then he got the guts to say why.

“Because...Because... I did it... I killed Sahara... Well I think I did,” Logan said. He got up, wiped his tears, and walked to his class. Simone was left confused, sitting alone in the back stall, crying. Yet Simone knew she didn’t do anything, but didn’t expect Logan to have done anything.