The killer stood in the darkness of the alley facing the QA hospital. Fuck! Alison Greene hadn’t died. That wasn’t good news at all. That meant that Alison could testify to the police. And then everyone would know who had murdered Melanie Griffiths. No. That just wouldn’t do. Alison was still unconscious. The killer gambled with two ideas. Going in to kill Alison would be too dangerous. The detectives would come to investigate, find finger prints, DNA and stuff like that. On the other hand, inducing amnesia in her would have to be the best thing. She would forget the past 24 hours as if they’d never happened. The killer moved towards QA hospital and walked to the reception.

“Hi. I’m here to see my sister, Alison Greene? She was stabbed earlier today. I was informed she’s receiving treatment here.”

The receptionist smiled. “Just a minute.” She headed for some files and returned a while later. “I’m sorry. Alison’s family has been here all day with her and we had to tell them to leave. Why weren’t you here with them?”

“I just got in from London when i heard the news. I have to see my sister, please.”

“It’s quite late, unfortunately. You could come back tomorrow. Alison Greene needs her rest right now.”

“okay.” The killer tried to look like the disappointed sibling. Sighting the file that the receptionist had been going through, the killer asked. “Could you direct me to the toilets please? I’ve been travelling all day and well, nature calls.”

!the receptionist had a sweet smile on. “Sure. Right down the hall, last door to your left.”

“Thank you.”

Just then, the receptionist looked away and the killer grabbed the file and walked steadily down the hall. Alison Greene’s room was room 1258. The killer reached for the ‘premedicant’ midazolam loaded injection. It would induce amnesia in Alison, making her forget all that had happened in the past 24 hours. Alison Greene would never know what hit her. This was easier than anticipated.

Cambria McAdams literally dragged herself to school the next morning. She was so tired; she could hardly keep her eyes open. She saw Macaulay staring at Derek Grey as he took his books out of his locker. Poor Macaulay. She had a lot of penance to do for the insult she had given to her. Cambria got out her books and headed for geography class. Just then, she bumped into Derek. It was the opposite of the basic high school crush story where the boy was usually the one to bump into the girl, but the basics were the same...his books fell and she bent down to help him get them.

“Thanks.” He said.

Cambria caught Macaulay’s stare and watched as Macaulay hurriedly looked away. Wasn’t Mac supposed to be in the hospital with her dying friend Alison?

Cambria was the very quiet type of person, but her urge for vengeance got the better of her. She stretched her hand. “Cambria McAdams. I’m sorry for bumping into you like that.”

Derek took her handshake. “Derek Grey. You are most forgiven.” He had a cute smile and lovely dimples, Cambria had to admit. He looked at her skinny arms clutching the heavy geography textbook. “Need any help with that?”

“Sure. Thanks. I just need to go to the girls’ room. I’ll be right back for geography. Save me a seat will you?” Cambria couldn’t believe she was the one having this sort of conversation with a person, let alone a hot guy.

“Sure. See you then.” Derek headed towards the class. Cambria raced for the girls’ bathroom and brought out the book tucked under her shirt. When Derek’s books had fallen, she’d spied a pink fur-covered book, which was odd. It wasn’t everyday that someone saw a boy with a girly book. Curiosity had gotten the better of her and she decided that the best thing to do was to steal the book and check its contents. The first page made her heart skip a beat. In uppercase letters was the name MELANIE GRIFFITHS.

Cambria shut the book abruptly. Her heart beating incessantly. She opened it again. How did Derek Grey end up with Melanie’s diary? Did Melanie write every single thing in her diary? Had he read it? Because only then would he know the truth. The thing she had done to Melanie. Cambria didn’t have the gall to open the diary again. She shoved it into her bag and raced for geography class. Accidentally this time, she bumped into someone again. Cambria saw the shoes first, they obviously cost nothing less than £70. She didn’t need a rock star to tell her who it was.

“You are definitely doing a lot of bumping today, Cambria.” Macaulay said, picking up her books.

Cambria rolled her eyes. She didn’t see Macaulay as the acutely jealous type, but then she had been wrong about a lot of things about Macaulay.

“I was running because i was late for geography.” Cambria retorted.

“figures.” Macaulay said with her landmark sarcasm. “When you’re stalking Derek, well...you expect to be late don’t you?”

“I am not going to even discuss this, Macaulay.” Cambria walked on towards her Geo class and then stopped. “There is something I’d like to discuss with you though. And since your buddy two shoes best friend for life BFF is dying, i guess you would be free to actually have the conversation with me.”

Macaulay wondered why Cambria had to use so many words to describe Alison. It was quite ruthless of her to use the term ‘dying.’ Alison was going to be okay.

Mac nodded and said okay. She would give Cambria a piece of her mind after she heard what she had to say. It was probably important because Cambria hardly said anything.

“Lunch time?” Macaulay asked. Cambria nodded and entered into the classroom.

Macaulay stared at the clock all through geography and chemistry, wishing lunch time would come already. She noticed things she didn’t normally notice about her classmates because she was usually too occupied listening to the teacher. Abby Stevens deliberately opened her legs in class because she wanted to get Ben’s attention. She didn’t know what anyone could possibly see in Ben though. He had a brain the size of a peanut. Ben Trojan’s mission in life was obviously to taunt the nerd patrol guys and he spent all his time throwing papers at them like a ten year old. All the nerd patrol guys always sat at the front row except Kevin. It was quite obvious now because Kevin liked to look at Fanny Bridges boobs and this particular seat at the back gave his the much needed access. Fanny Bridges was painting each of her fingernails a different shade of pink. After that she texted Mohinder, who was devastated to receive a message a class, telling him that he would be doing her homework this weekend. The idiot had agreed.

The bell went. Macaulay raced for the cafeteria. She saw Cambria walking in that her usual sluggish way and felt irritated. Hurry up already. She wanted to shout. She noticed then that Cambria was looking even skinnier than before. The poor thing was losing so much weight. Was Cambria gyming again?

“Hi. You got here fast.” Cambria said, sitting down.

Cambria was so skinny that Macaulay was actually scared that she would snap while sitting down.

“Yeah. I was really curious as to what you had to say.”

Cambria reached for her bag and got out the diary. She handed it to Macaulay.

“A book?” Mac asked.

“Open it.” Cambria said drily as if Mac wouldn’t know what to do with it.

“Melanie Griffiths diary? OMG Cammy how did you get this? If the police find out you’re in possession of this, it can be really incriminating.”

“Me? I’m not the one in possession of it. I found it with Derek.”

Cambria watched blood drain from Macaulay’s face.” Derek’s just new here. How could he be with Melanie’s diary? He doesn’t even know her....” Macaulay’s voice trailed off. She stared at Cambria for what seemed to be the longest time, making Cambria feel uneasy.

“What do you know, Mac?”

“Derek does know Melanie Griffiths, Cambria.” Macaulay sounded so upset by that realization.

“What? That’s impossible. He’s been here only a week. He came after Melanie died.”

“I don’t know how or why. But he does. His first day here, he told me that he had to find who’s responsible for the death of Melanie Griffiths. Don’t you think it’s weird, Cam? Just coming after Melanie died and knowing her name?” Macaulay covered her face with her palms. “I can’t believe i was stupid enough to fall for him.”

“You fell for him?” Cambria acted dumb. Seriously, did Macaulay think it was such a secret? “Do you think....you don’t suppose he’s behind all this do you?”

“I don’t know. All i do know is if he know what happened to Melanie, then he would know what happened to Alison. He would know what happened to my best friend.”

Cambria stared at the table, using her hands to draw circular patterns. She raised her head just in time to see Macaulay turn the pages of the diary.

“No! Don’t read it!” she shrilled.

“Haven’t you read it?” Mac looked taken aback by the sudden order.

“No i haven’t and no you won’t either. This was Melanie’s private thoughts, Mac. If anyone should be reading it, it’s the police. But then, we don’t want to incriminate Derek so just give it to me let me return it to the safe confides of his locker.”

“Come on, Cam! Why are you talking so fast, like your nervous?” Mac asked. “Look, i may like Derek and all, but I’ve known him for what? 1 week? I’ve known Alison all my life. If he’s behind this, i want justice.” Her speech gave her even more motivation. “I’m going to walk over to Derek and ask him how the hell he got Melanie’s diary. Are you coming with me?”

Cambria suddenly looked unsure. “I don’t want him to know I’m the one who stole the book.”

“You didn’t steal it, Cam. You just couldn’t hide the injustice!”

“Mac, spare me the Ghandi speech, okay? I don’t want Derek Grey hating me for finding him out. You want to be a judge, fine. Tell him you found the book.”

“Fine! Coward!” Macaulay snatched the book and marched up to where Derek was seated. Cambria shook her head. Macaulay couldn’t see injustice even though it hit her straight on the head.

“Derek?” she hit his shoulder.

“Mac. Hey. Haven’t been seeing you around lately. What’s up?”

“My best friend Alison Greene was stabbed yesterday.” Mac looked into his brown eyes. He first looked as blank as potato skin, and then a worried line crossed his features.

“I’m so sorry, Mac. Is she okay? Are you okay?” he looked genuinely worried. Macaulay tried not to let herself fall into the beckoning brown pools of his eyes. Think of Alison! She told herself.

“Recognize this?” she dropped the diary on the table.

Derek looked surprised. Not alarmed, just surprised. “Where did you get this from?”

Mac laughed bitterly. “I should be asking you the very same thing. Who the hell are you, Derek Grey? And how did you get Melanie Griffiths diary?”