BRIDE GATE HIGH

Lives and Secrets

On September the twentieth the day started very different in Springdale. Because the Bridge Gate high was on fire this morning. Everybody who came to school was in shock by this view. Luna, Brandon, Alice, Randy and Melanie hugged each other and watched their school burn. After that day it was decided that students would continue different schools until the school was rebuilt. Luna was sent to Fayetteville, Brandon to Bentonville, Alice to Bella Vista, Randy to Ozark, and Melanie to Neosho. Look at this chance. All the bestfriends were separated to different schools around Springdale. We had to move before today ends. But before we leave, we had some things to do.

LUNA

“This ishappening again. And this time to my daughter.”

My dad said and he was walking around angrily.

“what do you mean again?”

I asked.

“Bridge Gate high school has burned before when we were the freshmans and we were sent to different areas just like you now.”

I was confused I kept listening to him without saying a word.

“when we have returned everything was changed in the school. Students were calmer and more obedient just like robots.”

I bite my lip and think for a minute.

“maybe That’s the purpose. That’s why our school is burned today.”

My dad nod and scratch his hair.

“we will search and find who did it and why. Just be safe Luna.”

He said. I nod and hug him tightly. After packing needed things I decided to take a walk to the bean’s coffee. This place is my favourite coffee shop. I entered and order my cinnamon latte. It didn’t take Timothy too long to meet me there.

“Luna de Rosa.”

I turned and smile at him.

“Timothy Clayton. It’s nice to see you. Yet we have a business to discuss.”

He ordered a coffee and sit right beside me.

“I know that is why I am here.”

“I need that money Tim.”

He nods and sips his coffee.

“yeah, I know. But I don’t understand why you are doing this. Your family is the richest in Springdale.”

I looked around for a while then answered.

“I want my own life with my own family. It’s easy to be a De Rosa but me and my brother choose the otherwise.”

I smiled and sip my coffee. For a while we spoke and sit. We decided on continuing our business considering our new conditions and after an hour he left. I kept sitting in my favorite coffee shop for a while. I was going to miss this place. I looked around and noticed a familiar face in a booth. I smiled and moved there. I sit beside him. He was this handsome guy I saw at the first day of school.

“hi! I’m Luna.”

I smiled and lean my hand towards him. He looked at my hand and then to my face. He didn’t change even a little mimic.

“James.”

He said and shook my hand. I smiled.

“so James, you got a little unlucky because of the latest situations in Bridge Gate high.”

He kept eating his chips.

“I don’t think I’m unlucky. Everything happens for a reason after all.”

He said. I raised an eyebrow and kept watching him. It was obvious that he was a strange guy. For a while I talked about myself and about our school, town, everything that he needs to know. He just listened while eating. He was really not interested in me. I needed to do something to attract his attention. I played with my hair and get a little closer to him.

“tell me James. Do you like berries?”

he stopped eating and looked at me.

“berries?”

I smiled and nod.

“hm berries.”

He looked me over and said.

“I’m more of a tangerine boy.”

My smile faded and I looked down on my hands. He kept on eating his food. I squeezed my knees. I stood up quickly and walked out of the shop.

ALICE

I bit my fingernails and looked at the TV blankly. I checked my ruined black nail polish on my short nails.

“Alice?”

my grandma called from her room. I sip the last of my beer and went to check on her.

“nana?”

she looked at me from her bed slowly.

“oh dear. I need a painkiller.”

I smiled moved near her and kiss her head. Then I went to check her pills basket. No painkillers were left. I sighed and stood up again.

“nana, I’ll be back in five minutes with new painkillers okay?”

she smiled and nodded. I walked out of the home and walk through the pharmacy. I walked in and ask for her painkillers. There was a short girl at least my age in the pharmacy.

“excuse me. My dad is not here. He probably knows who the patient is but I need a proscription.”

She sounded sweet. I lift my head and look at her. She looked sweet too. She had big dark eyes and fair skin. I told the names of the painkillers and she searched them for me on the shelves. I waited a while and she was still searching.

“can you hurry?”

“I’m sorry I’m trying to find.”

I sigh and check through the shelves with my eyes.

“it’s there.”

I point at the medicine. She took it and put on the counter. I put the money on the counter quickly and took the medicine. I was about to leave but she held my hands. I freezed in shock. She looked at my hands in shock. Then she looked at me and quickly pull her hands back.

“I’m so sorry.”

"What about my hands?”

I asked and looked at her. I was surprised by her reaction.

“I think I know you.”

“From where?”

I asked immediately. She bit her lip and looked down at her shoes.

“toilets.”

I snickered. Lift my eyebrows and keep looking at her. She glanced at me once. Her cheeks turned red a little. She was embarrassed by her behavior in the toilet. I just watched her for a while. Then I took medicine and left the pharmacy. Before going home I wanted to stop by somewhere and checked around to see if there is anybody familiar. There weren’t. I walked through the park. When I arrived at the van I knocked the door. Ted opened the door.

“hey Alice. Come in.”

I stepped in the van and closed the door.

“how’s it going Ted?”

he showed the newly cooked meals.

“quite well. Waiting for the hours to pass.”

I smiled.

“hey Ted. You know I am leaving the town. But this must go on. People need us.”

Ted nods.

“yeah, but it is very hard to keep doing this secretly Alice. We need supplies and you will not be able to bring them.”

“Ted, I will send money. Without this van homeless will be hungry.”

“we need help Alice. You can’t find that money that quick and send it to me.”

I stood up.

“we’re doing this Ted. And without any help.”

I walked out of the van to my house.

MELANIE

I packed my bags peacefully and put them near the door. I made my hair a bun and drink some water. I looked out of the window. I was thinking. About my new life in Neosho for a few months. Far away from Jeremy and every other big trouble. I sit down on my bench near the window. I watched the slow raindrops and sigh. My phone started to ring suddenly and I checked it. Ashley was calling.

“Melanie, I’m coming there! Be ready in ten. We’re on.”

I got panicked.

“okay!”

I said and get prepared quickly. I put two knives to my thigh socks and a gun under my shirt. I took my mask and hide it in my leather jacket. She was really here in ten minutes. I got on her motorbike and we quickly drove to the woods. She spoke to me in a low voice.

“found Orlando and tied him in the forest.”

“what if he runs away?”

I was stressed.

“that’s impossible. Trust me.”

We got off as soon as we arrive at the spot she tied Orlando. I walked through him.

“are you Orlando?”

his face was covered in blood. He nodded. I got closer to him and touch his face with my long nails threateningly.

“now my dear Orlando. You have to tell Mel where the hell did you hide my drugs?”

“I swear I don’t know.”

He was scared. I turned around the tree which he was tied.

“Orlando. I know that you work for him and now tell me or we arrange a meeting with your daughter after you die.”

I stopped in front of him and touched his cheek slowly.

“and you know what is so sad?”

he was shivering after he heard about his daughter.

“you will never know what happened to her because you will be dead.”

He started sobbing.

“I will tell everything Melanie.”

I crossed my arms and wait. He confessed that he wasted my drugs into the river. I was furious. A lot. I took my blade and stabbed him from his heart after he confessed everything.

“Once you work for me, you always work for me or die you backstabbing son of a bitch.”

Ashley took the body and dragged the corpse to the river and threw him.

RANDY

I got out of the shower and dry my hair with with the towel. She was all dressed and smoking.

“Randy I have a meeting to attend now. I’ll call you later okay?”

I smiled she came and kiss me on the lips.

“okay.”

She took her bag and walked to the door.

“by the way. I left some cash in case you need it.”

“thank you Jenna.”

She closed the door behind her. I sit in my bed and watch my legs for a while. Then I looked at the money on my nightstand. I took it and put it in my wallet. I got dressed and took my guitar to play a little. For a few hours I played my guitar. My mother was going to come in a few minutes so quickly I tidied around. She arrived in a few minutes.

“Randy, I’m home honey.”

I went downstairs to greet her.

“hey mom.”

She immediately walked to kitchen to prepare us dinner.

“I arranged everything for your new school. It’s gonna be great. And I learned that they have a big music club.”

I smiled and run to hug her.

“you’re amazing.”

She hugged me back and her expression changed in seconds. She looked me over and said.

“there’s something different. This scent is familiar.”

I stepped back and gulp.

“what are you talking about?”

She shook her head an turned back to do what she was doing.

“Nevermind.”

I walked to my room quickly and closed the door. I immediately changed my clothes. I smelled them and noticed that they were smelling like Jenna's perfume.

BRANDON

I knocked the door and waited for a few minutes. Beautiful teacher opened the door and I immediately walked in and closed the door behind.

“hello Miss.”

I smiled warmly. She was very surprised and a little scared.

“I suppose you remember my face from your class.”

She gulped.

“what are you doing here?”

I looked around and walked into the living room.

“ oh! You live alone. This is lovely.”

I sat on the armchair. She followed me.

“ what do you want boy?”

I laughed and looked at her.

“let’s not jump to the conclusion now. What is your name Miss?”

she frowned trying to understand what was my plan.

“Grace. And you are?”

“Brandon.”

She sit down to the couch which stands in the center of the room.

“what do you want Brandon? How did you learn where i live?”

I snickered and leaned back.

“ Springdale is a small town Grace.”

I licked my lips and looked at her in a flirty expression.

“ahh. I hope it’s okay that I call you Grace?”

she narrowed her eyes and looked at me suspiciously. She tied her hands on her chest. I took a card from the pocket of my jacket and put it on the coffee table.

“ we arranged a goodbye party for the students of Bridge gate high in my friend’s place and we invite our favorite teachers too. You’re new in our school and this is a good opportunity for you to warm up to your students and colleagues.”

She took the card and lift her eyebrows. She was thinking.

“at Samuel’s?”

she looked at me.

“that’s right.”

“and why is Brandon inviting me?”

I smiled and lean closer to her.

“oh.. I’m the biggest partygoer in the Bridge Gate.”

She looked at her carpet for a while and nod. Then she looked at me.

“teen parties are not my thing but you and your friends situation is different now so I’ll be there to support you.”

She smiled sweetly.

“I’ll come to cheer you up.”

She looked so genuine and smiled. At that moment a fire started to burn inside of me. I couldn’t move or gulp.

“thank you for your kind invitation Brandon.”

I shook my head and stood up.

“yeah... see you around Miss Fanning.”

I quickly walked to the door. She followed me to see me off. I turned and looked at her for a second. She was still smiling. I swear that she was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. I walked away and she closed the door. I let out a loud sigh and held my head between my hands. I was regretting this but I walked away.