Invisible String

It had been a full week since Amy had passed. Her funeral was scheduled for next week, alongside Hannah's. Both parents agreed that it was appropriate to postpone and have a joint burial. Nobody knew whether the girls knew each other or had ever met before. However, given the circumstances, the parents believed that having one was preferable to having two.

Sasha had been contacted by the police, who requested that everyone gather at our apartment for a brief meeting to discuss the potential connection between the killings. I had no idea why they needed to notify us, but it was nice to hear about the connections.

"Is everyone here?" Cara surveyed each of us. We were encircling the coffee table in our living room. I took a seat on the floor in front of Sasha. She sat on the couch and played with my hair.

"I think we're just waiting for one more person." Detective Reynolds reports. I scan the room and see that everyone has already arrived. Who should we be waiting for?

"But we're all here?" Jamie mentions to the detective.

"We asked an additional individual to come—this person could have a possible connection to the girls." I cocked my head back slightly so Sasha could get more of my hair.

After waiting another five to ten minutes, there was finally a knock on the door.

"Ah, thank god!" Ingrid called out—I'm sure everyone, including the cops, was relieved not to hear another surf story from Jamie.

Cara leaps up from the couch and dashes towards the door. We all made guesses about who the potential suspect could be.

"So I win." Cara reveals that Jaden was standing in the doorway. She was the only one who voted for Jaden; I voted for Lucy because she was another popular cheerleader—that's what I assumed the motive was. The murderer hated cheerleaders.

"Let's get started then!" Detective Whitemore clapped his hands together to attract attention. Jaden casually walked into our apartment and settled next to Jamie. It was the safest place for him.

"We will just get down to the nitty-gritty." I cast a quick glance at Reid, who was staring at Jaden.

"We believe there's two possible scenarios that the killer could be using as their motive."

"And what are those motives exactly?" Sasha asked the question everyone wanted to know.

"The first motive is cheerleader-based." I mentally cheered in my head, thinking I might have been correct. "The killer might have developed a hate for cheerleaders and the hierarchy that college and high schoolers have."

"You've gotta be kidding me?" Reid mumbles under his breath.

"The second motive is something we all agree upon at the station." We all concentrated on the detectives. Reynolds exchanged glances with Reid and Jaden before returning his gaze to Whitemore.

"It's you two." Whitemore extended two fingers to Jaden and Reid. They exchanged puzzled looks.

"What do you mean, us two?" Jaden spoke for the first time since arriving. I averted my gaze as soon as he fixed it on me because I was unable to tolerate him much longer.

"We connected some dots, and we've concluded that you've both dated Hannah and Amy." It was my turn to feel confused.

"Wait, when did Jaden date Amy?" Jaden sucked in a breath and hid his face behind his hand.

"About a month ago." At that moment, my heart broke once more. I had had enough of his nonsense and the fact that he shared my air.

"You're joking right?" I asked him while he was still hidden.