Eight years ago the lives of the Cortez and Song family changed forever. Alexandra didn’t know Alice Cortez, but what she did know is that she was kind– or so they say. October of 2002 the month that changed Westmore forever is what they called it. Westmore is a small town in north Chicago, a small population, which meant everyone knew each other. Alexandra was only eight when it happened but she remembered that night clearly, every detail. 11:03 p.m. was when Alice went missing, on October 15th her parents reported her missing, never coming back home. Days later, her body was found in the river.
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‘But she was only sixteen.’
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Is what people always say. What was the cause? Her best friend Elijah Song, Alexandra knew who he was. His little brother is in the grade above her and his younger sister is in the same grade as her. But here in Westmore the Song family are backstabbing monsters. Alexandra didn’t know why they never moved, not that they had to. But she had two theories, one was that half their family has moved from Korea to Westmore, or two they’re scared of what people might say. She never knew why they only showed sympathy to the Cortezes; the Songs lost their child too.
Soon enough Alexandra was snapped out of her thoughts when her mom woke her up.
“Alexandra! Wake up.” Her mom yelled which made Alexandra also scream.
“Shit… Sorry, you scared me.” She said sitting up in her bed. Her eyes adjusted to the dim glow of the afternoon sun, shining through her window, making her dark red walls look brighter and her comforter look like gold. Her mom sighed, “Katie’s down stairs. Hurry!” She said standing up. Alexandra stood up faster than the speed of light, almost falling over. She got ready and ran down stairs.
“Hey, Katie.” she said, giving her a big hug.
“Hey, Alex! God can’t I go around town without hearing ‘Killer’s sister. What a freak’ for a day?” She rolled her eyes, and Alex laughed as they walked out the front door. Katie Song, Elijah’s little sister and her best friend. Though everyone judged Alex for being friends with her, that didn’t bother her. And neither did it bother Katie getting called ‘The Killer’s Sister.’ Katie was the type of person that didn’t care what people said about her, she was just carefree. On the other hand, Andrew was way different. He was quiet, has always been. But right after Elijah died he’s quieter than ever.
“So have you started the project? If you’re wondering and of course you are. Mine is based on global warming.” Katie said with a grin on her face, awaiting Alex’s response. Alex stays silent for a moment, not being able to phrase it. An awful silence fell over them, dogs barked, kids laughed and whined in the distance crying for their parents. Alex’s mind went blank, forgetting where she was for a moment. Soon she felt a light tap on her shoulder. Once she turned around her eyes widened, she couldn’t believe it. But soon she snapped back into consciousness.
Andrew…
Andrew….
Andrew…..
“Andrew?” She finally said. Her eyes locked with his. Her breath got caught in her throat. Andrew looked just like Elijah but just with a slight difference and that was Andrew’s mole under his right eye. Andrew met her eyes, his gaze was tense but soft.
“Hey Alexandra. Long time no see.” He said with a smile on his face, the same exact smile she had almost forgotten about. The last time she saw that smile was the week before everything happened and before Elijah killed himself. He looked so carefree Alex couldn’t decide whether she was looking at Elijah or Andrew.
“Yeah….Yeah long time no see.” She laughed awkwardly. Heading over to the car, Katie was already inside sitting in the passenger's seat. Alex got in and still was a bit shocked.
“So why are we going to the plaza again?” She asked. Katie looked at her through the rearview mirror.
“Well I’m meeting with someone from school for my project and Andrew wanted to show you around, to a new book store.” Alex just nodded as she looked out the window. Once they got to the plaza, Katie got off. While Andrew and Alex parked by the small cafe. “So new book store it is?” She said getting out of the car. Andrew nodded, as they started to walk down Main street. The summer air felt nice, but for Alex it felt like any other air. Except for the Autumn air, especially in October. Besides, they only had three weeks before school started. Andrew stopped making Alex crash into his back. He was looking far into the distance, at something. “Uh, Andrew?” Alex asked. She followed his gaze and she landed on a girl, laughing with her friends. Her eyes flicked between Andrew and the girl.
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“Andrew?” She poked his arm.
“What- Oh sorry… Just that I know her. She's one of the top students at school and… well my ex. That’s Sophia Blackburn, she moved from England two years ago.” He said looking back at Alex. An awkward smile crawled onto his face.
“But it's fine. Anyway c’mon, we don’t have all day.” Andrew took a hold of Alex’s hand making her heart skip a beat. As they walked past Sophia and her friends, they looked at them in disbelief. Sophia snickered. “Hey aren't you the girl who’s doing the project about eight years ago? So stupid like everyone wants to forget about it. And here you are trying to bring it back.” She said, crossing her arms. Andrew glared at Sophia, and Alex, just rolled her eyes. “ Sophia, were you here eight years ago during October, when she went missing? I don’t think so. And if I want to make my project about it then fucking deal with it.” She raised her voice, a rare thing she did. Sophia raised her brows and scrunched her nose.
“Well fine maybe I wasn’t but just forget it ‘cause we all know Elijah killed Alice. And now who knows if Andrew will do the same thing. If someone in the family is a monster, someone else will be a monster.” Sophia said walking away. Andrew stood there, his eyes widening, as his gaze hit the ground. Alex felt her blood boil inside of her, but she tried to calm down. She breathed in slightly. And exhaled, softly.
“I'm sorry. Well c’mon we don’t have all day.” She said, she gave him a reassuring smile. If you didn’t know from a distance you would think they’re just another high school couple, but in reality they’re really close friends. Well that’s what they say… They walked towards the store again, they arrived in front of a building that read, ‘Books & Records’ Andrew pushed the door and let Alex walk in. She entered the building, it smelled like pages of old books, a smell she had always loved. All around her was where she belonged, in between the books. That’s what she would always say. “I’m going over there.” Alex told Andrew as she walked to the section dedicated to Alice specifically, she would always laugh softly to herself as she walked past it, thinking why Westmore would dedicate a section in every book store just for Alice. But today was different, she wasn’t just walking past it no, today she was in between the shelves looking at every title and author, something that would help her research. Her eyes landed on one book on the farthest place of the shelf, she reached for it and grabbed it in her hands. This was the only section of the whole book store that wasn’t just used books. But she preferred the used books, and felt more like herself when she would read those swoony romantic novels. Or when she would read nostalgic-fiction books. She never knew if that was the name for them, but she liked calling them that. That’s how she escaped reality anyway, since her dad died when she was four in 1998. But now in 2010 she sometimes forgot what he looked like. Maybe that’s just something that dies with you once you’re older. Is what she told herself. She’s sixteen now, her memory always short.
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The only time she remembered those days were when her mom would occasionally show her pictures of when she was little and he’s there in the frame with his wide smile, holding Alex in his arms, her mom along with Alex’s big brother Max. But Max is nowhere to be found, he’s somewhere on this earth, just a lost human who ran away from home. At just twelve years old. Alex never knew why. But ever since then, nothing in Westmore was normal. Just like what happened in 2002.
Alex read the cover. “October and the night that changed Westmore forever by Elizabeth Blackburn huh? Didn’t know Sophia’s mom knew about that night if they only moved here two years ago. Who knows…” She took the book and continued her search for something else that could help her with not just her project but her own research. A lady in her mid thirties greeted them at the register. But once she saw Andrew her smile faded into a frown.
“I think you can read? There’s a sign outside stating no songs in the store.” The lady said, as she scanned Alex’s book. “So I’ll need you to return these to their rightful place.” She handed the books Andrew had chosen back to him, but Alex rolled her eyes. “Well, Linda.” She said reading the nametag on the ladies blouse. “I can happily pay for them here.” Alex said, grabbing Andrew’s books and placing them back on the counter. Linda scoffed and scanned them. As they walked out, Andrew still had his gaze to the ground, Alex grabbed his arm to get his attention.
“What?” Andrew answered sternly, retrieving his arm from her grasp, a slight pout on his face. Alex looked at him with a hint of confusion, but annoyance in her expression. She sighed.
“Look, I’m sorry for what Linda said to you, but you have to sometimes stand up for yourself. I’m not always going to be here for you.” Alex gave him a reassuring smile, and continued to walk as he started to walk slowly behind her. They walked all of main street up and down about six times, while they waited for Katie to finish.
Andrew made one of his unexpected stops again, but this time Alex, didn’ crash into him.
“Alex.” He turned to look at her, and she looked up. “I have two questions. One, why did you pay for them? And two, why did you get a book about that night? Just. why?” He said with a confused look on his face, Alex stopped herself before saying something she didn’t want to say but then she looked at him.
“For my project, y’know the end of the year every junior, and senior does every year. But as well I need to find something, something specific that will not just help me for a grade. But to prove that-” Soon she got interrupted for the third time today by Katie, she returned with a bag in her hand and a wide shining smile on her face. She waved her hand at them, as she jogged.
“Hey guys. I got food.” Alex smiled, and Andrew just rolled his eyes. They walked back to the car, the sun was setting in the east and Alex felt something strange, like one of those feelings you get when someone is watching you.
It felt extremely weird, she turned around to meet someone's gaze, a man in his mid twenties, his expression was cold and skeptical. She couldn’t quite make out his face, but he wasn’t from Westmore, she knew everyone here, every face, and every citizen. He met her gaze and he looked kind of scared but also as if he knew who he was looking at, he pulled his hood over his head more and walked away into the crowded area of north main street. Andrew and Katie were already in the car as always, and Alex got in her face was normal, but her eyes told a different story.
“What’s wrong?” Katie said while handing Alex the Ice Tea she had gotten her. Alex looked up her expression a bit blank and Andrew noticed her.
“Harper.” Andrew said, hearing her middle name snapped her back into reality.
“Sorry what?” She said, grabbing the cup out of Katie’s hand. Katie went back to her normal position and Andrew sighed.
“You’re acting weird…” He said his gaze on her as he turned in his seat to face her.
Alex took a moment to respond. “I think someone’s following me…” She said drinking some of her tea, and Andrew scoffed. “What do you mean someone’s following you that’s bullshit, we’ve would’ve seen them. Or well. I would’ve seen them since Katie’s too distracted.” He said, and Katie rolled her eyes. Alex kept, looking out the window, her usual self nowhere to be found. They drove off.
“Alexandra, explain right now. What..Or who did you see?” Andrew asked a hint of concern but he also demanded her to answer. Ale looked up, her leg started to jump up and down, as she fidgeted with her hands.
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“Well, we were walking and I felt someone looking at me. Once I turned around, I met someone’s eyes, I couldn’t make out their face, but they’re not from here. But they’re in their mid twenties at least. All I saw was green eyes, and the sunset reflecting on them that’s all. And then they disappeared into the crowd.” Alex said her voice was a bit shaky. Andrew frowned, and turned the car, making both Katie and Alex startled. His grip on the steering wheel was tightening by the second his knuckles whitening.
“Andrew?” Alex said. Andrew got out of the car and slammed the door. Katie looked at Alex, and Alex shook her head and got out of the car.
“Andrew what’s gotten into you?” She said placing her hand on his arm, he looked down at her again, frustration in his eyes. He sighed in defeat.
“What’s gotten into me? He said with a sarcastic laugh. “I’m just worried, what you’re doing isn't safe, I don't want you getting hurt.” He looked at Alex as she nodded.
“Understood, but I know someone’s following me. They know who I am, what I’m doing. I’m certain so I have to be careful and you’re going to help me prove Elijah is innocent once and for all.”
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