Going too far..

Next morning, Piper's residence...

Morning Dad, Piper mumbled as she walked drabbily past him to the kitchen

Morning sweetie, he replied, mom said you didn't sleep here last night

had a school project, stayed at a friend's, she replied abruptly while working on a sandwich

you look tired, he said observing her, did you catch any sleep at all?

She stared at him with dull eyes, about to respond,

...and your eyes look swollen, he added..they look like you were crying or something.

I'm late, she replied, I think I'll take my breakfast-to-go.. grabbing her bag, she made her way to the door

Piper.., her dad called, after she turned to face him, he continued, you can always talk to me if something's wrong, you know that right?

I know, she replied, munching her sandwich,..bye dad, she added as she walked out not waiting for a reply...of course he noticed, she thought..curse his psychology degree!..

Cedar Creek Drama room...

We sat around the drama room during lunch with dull faces, no one bothered to say a word for obvious reasons..

You said you'd stop crying while we left Zack's, I said facing Piper

And I did, She replied moodily

she didn't..

I see none of us caught any sleep, I added, facing the others

How could we, after all that happened yesterday, Liana replied

Okay enough of the dull talk, Sebastian spoke up, yesterday's gone and so is Adrien, the question now is, what do we do with the recording Amari made?

Hand it over to the police ofcourse, Liana responded

If we're doing that, then we have to get ready for questioning, Piper replied, we'll also have to explain how we got access to Keanu's video, plus we broke into Kai's house...

All that doesn't matter right now, Liana cut in, we've known who the killer was a while ago, we just needed proof to back us up, which we now have, and that's all that matters, So we're giving it to the police, She said sternly.

We're Not, I spoke up, making them whiplash towards me

Sorry?,Liana asked confused, We're not or you don't want us to?

That's the same thing, I replied

No it's not Amari!, She huffed, and you can't just conclude for us, you're not 'our Boss'

Neither are you, I retorted

that's okay, you guys, Sebastian said glancing at us both as we stared at each other

What are you insinuating Amari?, He continued

There's something I didn't mention about my meeting with Kai yesterday, I replied facing them, I didn't find Kai, he found me, he sent a note so I could meet him, he could have easily gotten away with what he did without us spotting him but he didn't. He decided to open up, fully aware that I was recording the whole time,.. he said we deserve to know, he felt sorry about accusing Michael, I know because I could read him.

Good for you Amari, Liana replied unmoved, I'm glad you can read him now but it doesn't change the fact that he took lives!, six young lives!, She yelled

Did he even show any remorse for his crimes? Piper asked

I couldn't reply

It wouldn't matter even if he did, Liana said, it's not just about us or what we think, it's about doing the right thing, there are people waiting on us, on the police for justice, Peter for example, and you want us to keep back what we know.

Liana's right Amari, Sebastian added, we should hand it over to the cops, it's the right thing to do.

I sat thinking of the right words to say, yeah but the police are already onto him, I replied, they're gonna find Kai and question him, and he'll probably even open up to them since he was willing to tell me, we wouldn't even need to show the police anything.

Lia, Seb and Piper stared at each other before glancing back at me.

Since when did you start thinking like this, or did Kai say something else we're not aware of?, Sebastian asked puzzled

No, I already told you guys everything, I replied

Then why're you covering for him? Liana asked visibly annoyed, why are you shying away from the moment we've all been waiting for, what exactly is the real reason?

Because!...Noone's looking at it from Kai's perspective,I replied...His only brother and best friend was bullied by his mates, heartbroken by someone he loved, lost his best friend and finally killed himself turning him into the Kai we know now... I paused a little, I'm not saying he was right to kill people, people who weren't actually innocent by the way..I turned to Liana.. but fortunately, the Police are already on the right track, we know they're going to find him eventually, all I'm saying is, we should stop with our meddling and leave the police to their jobs.

Seriously? Liana said advancing towards me

I swear I could have found this attractive given we were in different circumstances..

And you couldn't say that before we broke into his house, She continued, or before we went on that exhausting road trip, a trip you made us take in the first place after 'You' found out he was going after Adrien!, You never stopped then and now that we have exactly what we need, you're asking us to back down!

Tell me something Amari, she continued, if you didn't want to expose Kai, why did you record him in the first place, she asked standing face to face with me while Piper and Sebastian arched curiously from behind.

I still couldn't reply

I remember her burial, Liana continued, looking up, I still couldn't believe she was gone, I had to touch her to make sure she was really in that coffin, I stared at her deceased yet gentle face in tears when I vowed I was going to make him pay, not just to make sure he gets caught but that I would have a hand in his arrest.

I'm sorry Liana, I spoke up,but..

I'm giving our only proof to the police Amari, whether you feel like it or not, she cut me off.

well I'm sorry but you're gonna have to find another proof for them, I replied and began to walk out of the room, feeling heavy stares on me.

I hope I'm doing the right thing...

In Class...

I stared at Kai's empty seat as different thoughts flooded my mind

What happened to you Amari?, Piper suddenly asked

I turned to her confused

It's like you've gone soft, she continued...and I know that feeling you're having so well, it's the same way I felt when I defended him that day, you feel sorry for him,..more like pity him and you're feeling it so much you're not thinking about anyone else involved in this and what they're going through... What about Sophie, she trusted you with information about her sister that she rarely talks to anyone about, why'd you think she did that?, she probably saw the passion you had, that we all had, to find the killer and she found it promising, if she calls to ask how our trip went after finding out Adrien's dead, what're you gonna say?, that you realized that Sierra deserved what happened to her?

And don't you think Kai knew what he was doing when he told you he was sorry about using Michael as a cover up, don't you think he's playing you like he played me? she asked.

I would've known, I replied, I told you I could read him.

Hey, hey..news!, I've got news! Sebastian interrupted turning our way with a nervous look.

What is it?, I asked

The police received a call from Mr Anaki, he replied

Kai's Dad? Piper wondered aloud

Yes!, Sebastian replied, he said he came home from work earlier than usual only to find Kai looking lifeless on the floor, with a bottle containing a whitish substance lying next to him.

Arsenic!, I exclaimed, the same arsenic Keanu killed himself with

No!, no,..Not suicide again! Piper said, burying her face in her palms, while tapping her feet nervously

MISTER AMARI JOHNSON, PLEASE REPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE!, the school's PA system suddenly rang out

Wait, what?, what's going on, I didn't do anything wrong, why would I be summoned to the Principal's office?...Liana!, I suddenly realized,...

She's told them, I said to Piper and Sebastian, who stared at me just as suprised,... I know she's adamant on giving them the recording, but I didn't think she'd give them my name,.. isn't that going too far?

I think it is, Piper agreed still tensed up

But you have to go either way, Sebastian added.

I walked nervously through the hallway as I approached the Principal's office, ...am I in trouble, I've heard it's considered a crime to hold back useful information from the police, what's my punishment gonna be,...it can't be a jail term ,can it?

Amari!!, a familiar voice shouted from behind, turning back, my gaze rested on Liana coming from the opposite direction..

It wasn't me, she said equally nervous, I heard you being called to the Principal's office, and I know what you're thinking, but it wasn't me, I didn't tell them anything about you or your involvement with all this!

I stared at her thinking..if she didn't, then who did?....