June
Everyone was glancing at me the rest of the school day, even the kid who slept the entire time. I didn't like the attention; I tried not to interact with anyone in school, but it was unavoidable now. Now everyone was talking about me. I was their gossip topic once again, and I had only been there for a grand total of three days. After the bell rang, I went to the gym first. If I did, then Hue would be at ease. He would then most likely forget I planned to talk with Cas. Once the game picked up, I left and went to the art club, where Cas was waiting for me.
"I knew it. I am so smart." She seemed surprised that she had guessed what I was trying to hint at her.
"Where else would we talk? Come, sit." We sat on the floor, backs against the shelves.
"So I guess Hue has caught you up, correct? Also, I'm sorry for going back there," I pointed, "I didn't know what would be there. I guess it was a bad idea on my behalf."
"It's cool. The supervising teacher had a lot of questions, but if I'm good at anything, it's making up a story."
"So lying?"
"No, I prefer to call it storytelling."
"But? Okay, besides the point. Thanks for showing him where I was. He wouldn't have been able to find me. I tried to talk, but I couldn't breathe then his voice disappeared. I thought he left me." Cas rested her hand on my shoulder.
"That's because he did." I choked on the water that I had been drinking. Cas laughed.
"Calm down, calm down. He left to get help, that's all. I don't think Hue is the type to leave someone, especially someone he likes."
"Likes?"
"Not in that way, but it seems he's protective of you. He's the most popular kid in the school and very social, but he doesn't get involved in things often. Drama just doesn't suit him, but he defended you, right?
"He told them to stop acting like dogs; I thought that was funny. What's her deal anyway?"
"Mina? She thinks she runs this place because her dad is the mayor but not a lot of people like her. They tolerate her and act nice so she won't send her minions after them. Of course, she has friends, but they are just as stuck up. The rich kids that girls flock around because I guess they think that will make them more popular. Also," She turned to look at me. "You need to be careful. You really shouldn't have started anything with her because she always finishes it. Whenever people don't bow down to her, well, she changes that quickly. The only person that she can't seem to beat is Hue. I guess she knows if she did anything to him, everyone would turn on her. He's practically untouchable, so stay near him. They can't hurt you as long as you're with him."
"Hurt me? I see. That's the kind of people they are."
"yeah."
"I'll be fine," I turned my head and smiled. "Now, back to what we're here for. Anything you want to ask because I'm sure there is."
"Lots, but only if you're okay with that."
"Sure, too deep in this now to be in the dark."
"Okay. So I guess my first question is, how did you get here? Did you just appear here one day?"
"I went on a walk for a couple of hours before nightfall because I wanted to watch the stars but ended up here. There was a voice. A man told me I needed to find something but wouldn't tell me what. After a short while, he stopped answering, so I started walking and found the cottage. I promise I was only there for the night when Mina found me. I didn't know it was his house. Actually, I didn't even know he existed. Just my luck. As Mina said, everyone thinks I'm a freak, creeping around in a dead guy's house."
"There are probably very few people that think that. It's just that your new is all. By the way, how did you know about that room? Only the art club officials know about it, and you've only been here for three days?"
"I guess I'm just observant. It seemed odd that the corner was untouched, so I went closer and saw a little gap not covered by the boxes. So I moved some things in a way nobody would be able to tell anything changed."
"Wow. You really are something. Or maybe my art club members are just oblivious. What was back there?"
"You don't know? I'm guessing it's just all his art."
"Well, I know that much. I mean, what was it like?"
"There were a lot of colorful paintings, some of the cottage and a forest scene. Nothing much. I hate to ask," I paused, "but could we go back there again? He is my uncle, after all."
"June. I don't think I can allow you to do that. The supervising teacher is mad at me already. I can't afford to be yelled at again."
"Please. I need to know the truth." I begged.
"Do you mean you still don't see it?" She looked at me seriously.
"See what?" I knew what she meant. She thought I was crazy.
"You still don't see what really happened? June. It's all out in front of us."
"Listen, You didn't know my mother, and if you did, then maybe you would understand why she didn't do this. I know her better than anyone. She did not kill her own brother." Tears welled up in my eyes. Nobody believed me; or my mother. Nobody does, and nobody ever will.
Except me
"I will do anything to prove it, even if it kills me. You can think what you want. You can think I'm weird and delusional. But I know what's right and wrong, and my mother didn't do anything wrong. She never would."
"June...."
I walked out of the club room and went home.