Bubblegum Girl

'So they expect you to ditch school?'

'They said it's a life and death situation. Something about where-I-was-on-the-night-of-I-don't-even-remember-when.'

'They want to question you too?'

'I know, right? Seriously, you expect me to remember what I did probably weeks ago?'

'And meanwhile, while they're playing detective, the killer is moving on to the next target.'

'I can't even believe those two, Sin. Anyone with enough sense would know that these cases are way above this Department's paygrade.'

'And I'm sure this country wants answers.'

'Don't forget solutions. But yet here they are, summoning innocent teenagers for interrogation.'

'They've probably never handled a murder case before.'

'Like seriously!' She waved her hands in disbelief. She sighed, sharply. 'I just want to get this over with, get myself off of their suspect list and just move on with my life.'

'Don't worry, Claire. It'll all be over soon. They'll find out soon enough that they can't catch this person and they'll be forced to bring in the professionals.'

'But that's also a long shot, Sin. Don't forget that this murderer hasn't left any evidence. They're like some sort of ninja or something.'

He laughed aloud. 'A ninja? So you believe in ninjas?'

She grinned. 'Sin; I will bash you. I will bash you, Sin. I will give you a good thrashing, Mr. Murphy.'

He raised his hands apologetically. 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry! But ninja though? With the smoke bombs and everything?'

She joined in the laughter, now playing with her hairpin. 'I really enjoy talking to you, Sin. You're the only person who understands me. I had been friends with Sabrina and Doreen for five years and yet I failed to see that it was all just bogus. A friendship of lip gloss, boy hunting and disgusting perfumes. But you…' she grinned at him. 'My parents don't understand. They refuse to see what a good…a wonderful thing we have.'

He smiled. 'You're also…uh…the only person who understands. My aunt has recently become sceptical of your intentions but…' he shrugged, 'I'm cool with you.'

She gently took hold of his pinkie finger and began to rub it smoothly, staring into his eyes.

Usually, such an action would make him feel greatly uncomfortable. But not anymore. He was right were he wanted to be.

Clarissa's eyes immediately expanded. She took out her phone again. She stood up. 'I'm sorry, Sin but I'm going to have to rush to the station or I'm going to be late. I wouldn't want Sherlock and Watson to add a charge of punctuality on my long list of motives for killing Justin.' She made for the door.

Sineas nodded at her before she walked away. He grabbed one of his books and placed it on his desk. He decided to take advantage of his free time to prepare for the Physics in-class exercise. He felt something soft against his right cheek, then a click-like sound. He looked up and saw Clarissa walking back to the door again. She smiled broadly at him, waving her hand at the same time from outside. He smiled and waved back.

She closed the door.

Sineas stared back into his book. He took one glance upwards. Trevor had finally given up on his intimidating look. Sabrina and Doreen were deep in conversation just in front of Trevor's desk. Sineas looked behind Justin. Bubblegum girl was staring back at him.

She was lazily lying back in her chair almost exposing to Sineas what was going on between her legs. Her mouth was carefully and obviously working on a piece of gum. She blew a bubble and like a gunshot, it exploded. She got up and began walking towards his seat.

To Sineas, she looked like an underage hooker ready to offer him her services. The legs! It was all because of the legs!

When she finally arrived, she sat at the edge of his desk, to his right, her hands placed between her bare thighs. She blew another bubble and it blew up a little too close to his face. She looked at the door for three seconds then back at Sineas. She smiled…sort of. 'Your boo?'

He frowned. 'My what?'

'She your girl? Clarissa?'

'My…how, what..?'

'It's cool, Murph. Love is natural. Love is sweet, or as the hippies say; it makes the world go round.'

'Can I help you?' he asked her bluntly. He wasn't up for a conversation.

'I don't think so. I just came here ta say hi. You know, when I first saw you I thought ta myself; "whatta freak". When you refused ta help me put up Justin's posters I thought ta myself; "whatta freak". But when I heard you spit on that pulpit I was like; "what a legend!" '

Sineas' face turned rigid. Not out of anger but perplexity. Her language was hard to keep up with.

'I'm saying, Murph, that your speech was on point! It was dope! I thought you ripped it off a rap song.'

He was no longer sure where this conversation was going. He wasn't even sure this was a conversation at all.

Bubblegum girl looked around guardedly. She reached into her right jacket pocket and pulled out a clenched fist. She looked around again. She slid a piece of crumpled paper at Sineas. She said, 'Put that in your pocket, quick,' she whispered, her eyes still shifting all around the room suspiciously.

'What is it?' he asked her quickly opening the piece of paper. It looked like a letter.