Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Six


    Lila spent Sunday studying and finishing up assignments without even a single thought of complaint. Her conversation with Asher last night had put her in such an excellent mood that she hardly noticed when she was feeling hungry, her focus rivalling even Asher''s.


    It was only when her Mum reappeared in her room, calling her down for dinner yet again, that Lila realised what the time was.


    She shovelled her dinner into her mouth, her lingering questions about the missing case file resurfacing when she laid her eyes on her Dad. She kept quiet, mostly because her mouth was occupied with inhaling as much food as she could handle at once, and bounded back upstairs as soon as she was done.


    Her motivation to continue studying had been sapped once she flopped onto her bed. Now that she had no distractions, her mind was starting to tick.


    She''d hoped to find more information in the case file, but that was clearly a bust. There would be no way that she could go to her Dad''s workplace – not with a legitimate reason, and not one that could entail rifling through his case files with him right there. So, her chances of getting her hands on the investigation into the Forestglade Private Hospital again were nonexistent.


    With that, all she had was the scraps of information that she''d taken pictures of last time. In the days following Jason''s death, had her Dad found something else? Something that tied everything up in a neat bow – enough to celebrate the case being closed? Had something happened with Evelyn – something like her confessing to her involvement in the missing analgesics?


    Besides all of that, what was the deal with the room underneath the morgue? Now that they''d received a coded message with coordinates to it, plus the blueprints, it seemed like someone was telling them to check it out. But why? Who? Were they a benefactor to their investigation, or a hindrance?


    She hadn''t thought about this before, but it was obvious that the person who had provided the coordinates via Mr Snugglebutt had been the same person who had left the documents in the old farmhouse. Someone who was watching them and had been for some time. Of course, Marlene was a good candidate for that but she had an alibi for at least providing the coordinates to them.


    Lila''s phone buzzed, startling her out of her musings. It was Asher again.


    "Hey," she chirped upon picking up the call.


    "Hey," he replied, sounding equally happy.


    "You''re calling a bit earlier than yesterday."


    He laughed with an edge of surprise. "I didn''t realise you''d notice. I really miss you."


    "Of course I would. Not only are you a creature of habit, but I''ve been missing you like crazy too. Keeping an eye on the clock as I waited for you to call like you promised."


    He laughed once more. "Not like calling has been a habit."


    "Maybe it should be."


    "Noted." He sounded playful, and she laid down on her bed, settling herself into hearing his voice. After about an hour of casual conversation, Lila began to feel restless. She really wanted to talk about the missing case file, and what it might mean, but… had the person who was observing them bugged one of their phones? It sounded silly, but it wasn''t impossible-


    "Then, I thought we should start having lunch with Isaac, Elise and Grace again-"


    "Sorry, what?" Lila was entirely thrown by the suggestion, having been absorbed in her thoughts for a moment.


    "Well, maybe once a week or something. It''s been a while, and I think Isaac is feeling put out by it."


    "I guess it''d also be a good way to see whether Elise and Isaac are getting any closer to dating."


    "I was thinking the same. Though… I do like having lunch with just you."


    "You''ll make Isaac cry."


    He chuckled. "You''re right. I do feel bad about not hanging out with him that much."


    "Well, once he starts dating Elise, we can go on double dates. You should tell him that, might get his butt in gear."


    Asher laughed again. "Maybe."


    Lila paused, feeling her bravery return. "Hey, Asher…"


    "Yeah?"


    "I… was wondering…"


    "Uh oh. Go on."


    "Well… we haven''t really talked about… what you did."


    "What I did?"


    "To me."


    It was his turn to pause. "I''ve… done a few things to you."


    She was glad this was a phone call, for her blush would surely make her look like a firetruck.


    "R-Right, but I mean… um, the fact that you touched-" she cut herself off, now unable to finish her sentence, her bravery having failed her.


    "What about it?" His voice sounded strange, as though he had forgotten how to speak.


    "I was wondering… why."


    "Did you not like it?"


    She swallowed. "I really liked it."


    "I see," he replied, his voice still sounding strange – but with a different quality, like he was thinking deeply about something.


    "You see?"


    "I''d been worried that it was too much."


    "It wasn''t at all. I''ve told you-"


    "I know. But since I''m not a mind reader, I still get worried. I''m glad to know that you don''t think it was too much."


    "Definitely not."


    "I''ll keep it in mind."


    "Please do."


    He fell silent for a few moments. She didn''t interrupt his silence, since it seemed like he was still thinking about something.


    "Lila, there''s something I want to tell you."


    "Yeah?"


    He paused again. "I really miss you."


    "You already told me that."


    "Am I not allowed to tell you again?"


    "I never said that."


    He chuckled. "I know. So, I''ll tell you again. I really miss you."


    "I really miss you, too. Did you even get any work done today?"


    "Of course."


    "Good."


    "I… I miss you enough to want to stop getting work done and start hanging out again, though."


    "Asher, that''s a terrible idea."


    He sighed. "I know."


    "There''s only two weeks left before I stay over at yours again."


    "I know." This time, his tone was brighter. She smiled.


    "You didn''t tell me how it went with Alice," he said as if suddenly remembering this.


    "I didn''t, since I didn''t want to distract you. But as it''s Sunday night, I guess it''s okay to get into it," Lila replied with a sigh of her own. "I think it went well. She… went straight to the police station after our chat. At least, that''s where I think she went."


    "She didn''t ask about why you knew where Jason''s Mum is?"


    "Not even slightly."


    "Weird."


    "She''s just not that way inclined. Plus, I think she was focused on the fact that she wanted to talk to Jason''s Mum, rather than why I knew about where she was. I think that in circumstances like that, people let things slip for convenience. Thinking about it too hard gets in the way of the fact that the information is useful, no matter the source."


    "I suppose that makes sense. It just feels like such a natural question to ask though."


    "Are you saying this because my curiosity has rubbed off on you? Since you once told me you''re generally not curious."


    "Huh. That''s true. I''m… actually not sure." He paused before giving a low, breathy chuckle. "Looks like I''m going to be thinking about that for days."


    "Sounds like I stumped you."


    "Sure did."


    She smiled again. "I like doing that."


    "You happen to do it a lot."


    "Oh? With what?"


    "Many things."


    "That''s specific."


    He laughed, this time with a fond heartiness. "It''s hard to just come up with something."


    "Now that just sounds like you''re lying," she said with a similar amount of fondness.


    "Well, fine, you stumped me with how quickly you figured out the coordinates."


    "You already told me that, more or less. Anything else?"


    Whatever he said next was incomprehensible, so she asked him to repeat himself.


    "Just… well, when you… mention things that make me realise you actually like me."


    "Such as?"


    "… When you say you miss me."


    "Sounds like there''s something else you wanted to say first."


    "… There might''ve been."


    "What was it?"


    "I don''t know if I should."


    "What would happen if you did?"


    "Depending on your response, I won''t be able to sleep for different reasons."


    "Huh?"


    His voice was strained as he said, "If it''s a bad response, then I''ll feel like an idiot. If it''s a good response, I''ll also feel like an idiot, but for different reasons."


    "How so?"


    "You can be so relentless."


    "Then relent."


    "I walked into that one, didn''t I?"


    "You''re still avoiding the topic."


    "I''m glad you''re sharp until moments like this." Despite his words, it didn''t sound like a criticism in particular.


    "Shucks."


    He snorted before giving a heavy exhale. "Alright, alright. You''ve worn me down. I was going to say that when you say things like you like the way I touch you, it stumps me. Mostly because it still hardly feels real. That you''re mine, and I''m yours. It feels like you shouldn''t actually like me. Or, at least, not enough for that."


    Lila let his words sink in before speaking, her words so soft that she wasn''t sure he could hear her. "Asher, is there a reason for you feeling that way? That I shouldn''t like you or want you?"


    "Besides crippling self-doubt and feelings of both insecurity and inadequacy?"


    "Asher, that''s serious."


    "I''ve said too much. I''ll see you-"


    "If you''re planning on hanging up right now, I won''t forgive you."


    He stayed on the line but didn''t say anything.


    "Is it something I''ve caused?"


    "Not at all. It''s just me."


    "Is it…" her brain didn''t want to say it, but by the time she realised what she was doing, the words had left her lips, "because of what Holly did?"


    Was there a way to turn back time? Maybe if she hung up, he''d forget that she''d said that. Before she could attempt this, he answered.


    "I was like this before, but she made it so much worse, yes," he murmured.


    Yeah, she''d really like that ''turn back time'' option right about now. But, in its absence, she needed to say something. Was telling him the true extent of her feelings for him the right decision here?


    "Asher, I-"


    "I know what you''re going to say."


    Did he? That''d make it easier if he did, but she''d really like to tell him first rather than him knowing-


    "Something about how I shouldn''t feel that way, since you''re not her. And I know that, and I feel so different with you than I did with her, in so many different ways, but it creeps up still. Especially since we''re together now – it feels like I don''t deserve someone who makes me feel this way."


    "Asher, it breaks my heart to hear you say that."


    "Sorry. I said too much again."


    "That''s not what I meant and, for the record, you haven''t." She took a deep, shaky breath, bracing herself for what she was about to say. "You don''t have to feel insecure or inadequate or doubt yourself. Since I l-"


    "Sorry, someone''s at the door. Just a sec."


    Lila deflated on her bed as she heard him put his phone down. Saying it now wasn''t going to work. It''d sound contrived, like she was saying it to just ''Band-Aid'' what he was feeling. Besides, it might push him before he was ready.


    "Sorry," he said again, this time sounding bemused. "Marlene just gave me some brownies."


    "What?" Lila checked the time – just after 9pm. "Isn''t it a bit late for that? Especially since school''s tomorrow."


    "That''s what I thought." It sounded like he bit into one before sighing. "It''s not the same if you''re not having one, too."


    She laughed. "You''ll just need to bring mine to school tomorrow."


    "Deal." He swallowed before saying, "I cut you off. What were you going to say?"


    "I, uh, was just going to say that I- hang on, do you think Marlene was listening to you?"


    "Huh?" He swallowed again, his mouth evidently full of brownie. "What makes you say that?"


    "Isn''t the timing a bit too convenient?"


    "Of what?"


    "Well… you were just saying something that sounded really…" she trailed off.


    "Sad?"


    "Yeah, I guess. Plus, it''s a bit late."


    "I doubt it. Why would she? She''s got a million things to do. It''s not the first time she''s given me desserts at this time, either."


    Lila pursed her lips. She''d prefer it if Marlene hadn''t been listening in to their conversation, but… there''d been a few odd moments, here and there, where it seemed like she knew exactly what Lila and Asher had spoken about in the privacy of his wing of the house. Except they''d spoken a ton about Marlene – unsavoury things, truthfully – that she''d surely want to quash, like how she possibly murdered Piper with an accomplice. If she was listening in to the rumpus room, she''d try and dissuade them from the idea – either because she didn''t do it, or because she did do it and wanted to conceal it. Right?


    "They''re pretty good, though," Asher''s muffled judgement of the brownies interrupted Lila''s thoughts and she smiled.


    "Did she make them?"


    "Nah. Gabriel did on Friday. Told him off for it since it was his birthday, but he said he needed to make ''em so I''d think of him over his birthday weekend."


    "So you''ve just been eating brownies all weekend?"


    "Aside from following the birthday boy''s instructions, I gotta keep a steady sugar high too," he joked. "Got lots to study for and finish up."


    "Do you think your grades will still be Dux-level?"


    "That''s an ominous thing to say. I bloody well hope so, otherwise I''ll be mad at the fact that I stopped us from hanging out."


    "I hope so too."


    They talked for a while more before Lila started to get sleepy again, which seemed to amuse Asher.


    "Seems like this is where I hang up," he said softly.


    "Don''t say it like that," Lila pouted before yawning. "It sounds so depressing," she added.


    "Alright. Seems like this is where I hang up!" His voice was far more jovial and she snorted.


    "Yeah, don''t say it like that, either."


    "Noted."


    She laughed before yawning again. "You''re right though," she admitted reluctantly. "I''ll need to go to sleep."


    "Goodnight, Lila."


    "Goodnight, Asher. See you tomorrow."


    "See you then."


    "Don''t forget that I''ve banked up two kisses."


    "I''d never forget."


    "Good."


    "You''re so cute," he whispered. "I can''t wait to see you again."


    "You''re cute too, you know."


    "Hardly. Goodnight, Lila."


    "You are!"


    "I''m glad you think so. Makes you even cuter."


    She couldn''t think of a response fast enough.


    "Goodnight," he said once more, sounding incredibly pleased with himself.


    "G-Goodnight," Lila finally said, her face red once again. He hung up and she tossed her phone next to her on the bed as she curled into a ball. How had he managed to make her feel so shy and giddy all at once, right as they were finishing their call? It wasn''t fair – and now she was wide awake.


    ''Faster you go to sleep, the faster you''ll see him again,'' she thought to herself as she now sprawled herself out on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. It helped to settle her once again, her excitement at seeing him overruling the constant hum of her thoughts for the night.


    <hr>


    Asher met Lila at her locker that Monday morning with an elated beam and tight hug.


    "Good morning," she smiled, pressing herself tighter into his chest.


    "Good morning."


    Neither stepped away from each other for a minute or so, until an obnoxious ''ahem'' sounded behind Asher. Lila didn''t even have to look to know that it was Isaac, though she did glare at him after she separated from Asher''s embrace.


    "Morning," Isaac said disapprovingly.


    "Why are you here?" Lila asked, folding her arms in displeasure.


    "Something about an education, I''m pretty sure."


    "Hilarious," Lila huffed, her sarcasm clearly amusing Isaac by the smile that flashed across his face.


    "You two seemed so content just before. Not sure why you''re so upset now."


    "Isaac, I think you should get a girlfriend or a hobby," Lila said with another glare.


    "I have a hobby," Isaac replied nonchalantly. "Being the affection police."


    Lila rolled her eyes as Isaac took the opportunity to cackle maniacally.


    "To me, it seems like you just want to be affectionate with Eli-"


    "Gotta go get changed for PE," Isaac interrupted Asher abruptly, bolting towards his aisle of the locker room without another word. The reason for this was immediately apparent as Elise approached Lila and Asher, her eyes locked onto Isaac''s retreating back.


    "He seems like he''s in a hurry," she commented as she passed Lila and Asher to get to her locker. Lila and Asher glanced at each other before they both gave her a shrug.


    "Big rush," Asher said with a smirk, "we all know that PE is strict with starting times."


    Elise looked confused. "PE is, like, the most lax class for that."


    "Wait a sec – don''t you have PE now?" Lila asked, suddenly excited. "Doesn''t that mean that you have PE with Isaac?"


    Elise''s face flushed as she closed her locker, slinging a tote bag over her shoulder. "I mean, yeah, but I don''t know why that matters."


    "Make a move!" Lila insisted. "He-"


    "Lila, please, I''m not going to make a move on Isaac during PE."


    "You say that like it''s ridiculous."


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "It is ridiculous. I''d just look like an idiot since I already know he likes Anika. Besides, who makes a move during PE?"


    "You''re so stubborn. What''s it going to take to convince you that he likes you?" Lila asked, her frustration painfully apparent with the bite in her tone.


    "So you''re saying he lied to me?" Elise retorted, her own frustration apparent with the way she crossed her arms. "Why would he do that?"


    "''Cause he''s scared," Lila sighed.


    "Of what?"


    "You rejecting him, obviously. Same reason why you''re scared."


    "I think you''re just making this up. I''ve gotta go-"


    "Are you saying that he''s lying to me?" Asher asked, the quietness in his voice making Lila feel as uncomfortable as Elise looked.


    "Not exactly," Elise mumbled, her eyes fixed on the floor between them.


    "Then what? He''s my best mate. He wouldn''t have a reason to lie to me-"


    "Look, just drop it. It''s not happening. See you later."


    Lila gaped after Elise, having caught her wiping away a tear as she hurried past them. Had they pushed her too far?


    "Well, that went a bit shit," Asher said after a moment. He sighed before looking down at Lila. "Let''s get to English."


    With there being no utility in standing around here any longer, Lila followed Asher out of the locker room. She fiddled with her fingernails as she bit her lower lip, her mind filled with worry. After they walked a few paces in utter silence, Asher reached for one of her hands and gently held it.


    "This might not be helpful, but I was kinda the same," he said softly. "Isaac and Daniel kept insisting like we do, but it took a really long time for me to think that it was a possibility. Even then, I wasn''t entirely convinced – especially after your date with Theo."


    "Did it help? The persistence?"


    "It would''ve, except for Theo."


    Lila winced. "Sorry."


    "It''s fine," Asher said, shaking her hand reassuringly. "You said it was a pity date, and it''s not like I made it easy for you to tell me you liked me since I was being such an ass."


    "Yeah, but-"


    "You didn''t know."


    "If I had, I wouldn''t have gone."


    "I know. At the same time though, would we have found out about the-" he cast a quick glance around before whispering, "-morphine ring?"


    Lila hesitated. "Probably not."


    "So don''t worry about it."


    Lila eyed him carefully. He met her gaze before saying, "Anyway, persistence might be what they need."


    "Even if they run away crying?"


    "You think I didn''t?"


    She wasn''t sure whether he was joking until he smirked, his eyes bright with amusement.


    "I still don''t feel good about it," she said. "Elise… keeps telling me to back off, and I haven''t been since, well, persistence and all that. But I really think she means it."


    "Then, I''ll have to work on Isaac and push him a little."


    "He runs away too."


    "Yeah, but I know how to work with him," Asher replied confidently.


    "Has it been working?"


    Asher looked away, seeming more interested in the foliage dotting the path they were walking alongside. "… I may have been hoping that you''d be successful with Elise."


    Lila sighed. "That''s busted."


    "Seems like it."


    "I just feel like this stubbornness is going to prevent them from ever getting together." Lila pursed her lips before shaking her head. "Elise deserves happiness, especially with the year she''s had. She''s such a hard worker, and just with the way she looks at him, I can tell she''d be really happy with him. Isaac''s also a good guy. I think he''d treat her well."


    Asher nodded. "I reckon Elise would be good for Isaac, too. I mean, firstly, he turned his lazy ass into a workaholic at Maccas. Aside from that, I can tell that he enjoys being in her company. He''s always been a social kinda guy, but when he''s with her, it''s like the rest of us could just disappear and he wouldn''t notice."


    "Should we actually smoosh them together?"


    Asher snorted. "If you can imagine a scenario where that would actually work, sure."


    Their English classroom loomed just ahead, its mere presence seemingly causing a shift in Asher. He immediately looked far more serious, though he still held Lila''s hand as they walked through the doorway.


    "Time to knuckle down," he said apologetically as they took their usual seats. She nodded, not trusting her ability to speak.


    It seemed like their classmates were taking this lesson just as seriously as Asher was. The silence was almost unprecedented, broken only by the sound of furious typing. It was a rare enough occurrence that it caused Ms Shard to roam around, looking for students in strife but finding that none wanted to ask for her help.


    Asher''s mood picked right back up again once they were dismissed for their second class. He swung Lila''s bag over his shoulder as they started walking towards the STEM area.


    "Getting through your English work?" Lila asked with a small smile.


    "Yup. Seeing my word count go up is so satisfying."


    "Can''t relate."


    "Really?"


    "Well, I always write far too much for these types of assignments and can never figure out how to cut down."


    "Editing is an art. Probably why people get paid well for it."


    "Do you like editing?"


    "Definitely not. But if you''re concise from the get-go, you don''t need to edit so much."


    Lila made a discontented sound and he laughed.


    "It''s also fine to not be concise. Both have their merits."


    "It''s a pain is what it is."


    Asher laughed again, which caused Lila to crack a smile. They remained lighthearted all the way to their usual break-off point, holding hands as they waited for Isaac to appear.


    He eventually did appear, though he attempted to slip past them. It didn''t work as Asher grabbed a hold of his arm.


    "Isaac," Asher said, his tone serious enough to make even Lila nervous.


    "Yeah?" Isaac replied, unable to meet the gaze of either Asher or Lila.


    "I was thinking of having lunch as a group again."


    Isaac lit up, his usual enthusiasm brightening his smile. "I thought you''d never ask. I''ve missed my buddy."


    "Sorry. I-"


    "Yeah, nah, I don''t need to hear how you''d rather be unsupervised with Lila."


    Lila rolled her eyes, though she could feel her cheeks flooding with warmth in time to the rush of images in her mind.


    "How was PE?" she asked, hoping that the question would stop his eyebrow waggling. It did, though it also dropped Isaac''s mood.


    "Fine," he said shortly. "Let''s get to Chem-"


    "Did something happen?" Lila asked, hopeful that Elise may have tried something.


    "Nothing except a basketball to the shin," Isaac replied with an annoyed edge to his voice. "C''mon, let''s go."


    Asher obediently followed Isaac as he began to march towards the Chem lab. Asher gave Lila a shrug and she waved goodbye before heading to Maths. Evidently, Elise hadn''t made a move on Isaac, otherwise he would''ve mentioned it or at least seemed happier than that.


    ''At this rate, it''d be easier to get two walls to go out than these two,'' Lila lamented to herself as she unpacked her Maths things, waiting for Ms Wang''s instructions. ''Will they ever get together?''


    The answer to this question wouldn''t be found in her Maths lesson, of course, so she focused on that for the time being.


    When she was released for morning tea, Asher was waiting for her as usual.


    "You know, Ms Wang is quite prompt with letting us out on time," Lila remarked as he dutifully took her bag.


    "Yeah?"


    "Just how fast do you sprint?"


    He snorted, letting her take his arm. "Faster than lightning."


    "Seems like it."


    "Speaking of fast sprinters," Asher said, gesturing vaguely in the direction of Isaac, who seemed to be on a mission to get away from them as fast as possible over the bridge, "he didn''t want a bar of anything I had to say."


    "What''d you say?"


    "I basically encouraged him to just try and he refused. It makes me feel like they''ve actually talked about it in some capacity."


    "I guess they have," Lila said thoughtfully. "I mean, they managed to get to a point where Isaac told Elise he likes Anika after she asked. It seems like he hasn''t backtracked from that, either. Do you think he might like Anika and Elise?"


    Asher shook his head. "Nah. He panicked, that''s all – but since he''s got a reputation for being incredibly honest, I doubt he wants to tell her he lied. Probably why he also doesn''t like it when we say stuff that implies he likes Elise. He hates being dishonest and hiding stuff with a burning passion. I was pretty surprised that he''d hidden the whole Banker debt thing for as long as he had – he basically fell apart when he finally told me and even more so when he apologised for hiding it. Not that it really was any of my business except that I didn''t want to see him in strife, which I told him at the time. He kept apologising until I hit him with a cushion."


    Lila exhaled heavily. Admitting to Elise that he lied sounded like an impossible feat for Isaac in that case. "Maybe we should leave it for now. Let''s just have lunch as a group here and there and observe."


    "Alright."


    She glanced at him before holding his arm tighter to her body. "Besides, there''s something else I want to talk about."


    "What about?"


    "About… the results of me using your gift."


    "Ah," his eyes gleamed with intrigue and his tone was as vague as hers as they strolled towards the locker room. "I see."


    Lila tried to remain casual, but her anticipation at seeing his reaction to the news that his Dad''s case file was entirely missing made her jittery. Asher looked concerned, though he didn''t comment – instead, he switched topics, making her laugh with silly jokes, including ones about how he was going to steal the contents of her bag. When she reminded him that he, in fact, had the same materials, he simply pretended not to hear her, which made her snort loud enough to attract the attention of some lifeless-looking Grade 12s.


    All at once, she remembered that, actually, Jason – someone who was by all means popular, either for better or for worse – had been brutally murdered only last week. A whole bunch of Grade 12s had also been expelled just before that; unexpectedly, for the rest of the school.


    She grew quiet, maintaining her grip on Asher''s arm. He looked down at her, his smile fading.


    "Something got you serious," he murmured. She sighed.


    "Well, yeah. It''s hard not to be when walking around out here serves as a reminder that something really dark happened all at once."


    "That''s true," Asher replied, his tone sombre. "It''s… a lot."


    "I just feel like I have a weird disconnect with it all."


    "How so?"


    "It seems like it''s hit everyone else so much harder than it has me."


    "Were you friends with Jason?"


    "Absolutely not."


    "Then why should it have hit you hard?"


    "He was the Head Boy."


    "And?"


    "And surely that should make me feel a type of way."


    Asher gave her a bemused look. "Sure, if you hadn''t known what he was up to for weeks."


    After taking a look around to see if there was anyone listening in to their conversation, Lila dropped her voice to a whisper. "Asher, I thought this when we first heard about it but… did we kill him?"


    "What?"


    "I mean, it was because of us that-"


    "Let''s talk about it in the library," Asher cut her off hurriedly, tugging her towards the locker room. His eyes were swimming with anxiety, and she regretted bringing it up at all.


    He disappeared and reappeared at her side almost instantly once they reached her locker, which she locked as soon as she was armed with her morning tea. They set off, neither willing to speak any further until they were in the safe confines of a meeting room in the library.


    Asher closed the door behind them and slowly sat in front of Lila as she tentatively unwrapped her banana.


    "So, you were saying? You think we killed him?"


    She sighed, lowering her banana. "It''s an insane thing to say, I know. But… it''s been niggling at me. Not only is there crossover in the way they were killed, but also the circumstances – that they''d been expelled… and… that we caused their expulsions."


    "Lila, they were expelled because of themselves-"


    "Only because we were investigating what they were doing. Well, me, for Piper, I guess. P-Point is – it was our information that led to their expulsions. If we hadn''t brought it to the attention of those in authority, they''d both still be Forestglade College students. Would they also both still be alive?"


    "One way or another, what they were doing would''ve come out," Asher said, taking her hands in his across the table. "Just because we sped up the process doesn''t mean that we killed them."


    "There''s just too many similarities to ignore. I keep thinking… who could have done this and why? It''s terrifying, but also the fact that we helped their expulsions along can''t be ignored. I mean, should we go to the Police?"


    "And say what? We think that we killed them because we helped expel them? I doubt they''re even looking at expulsion as a connecting factor. To be honest, that''s just ridiculous to me full stop. Who would even care about whether someone was expelled or not to the point of killing them? It''s also not like they''re the only people to have ever been expelled. I bet there were more students at other schools expelled around the same time, but none of them have been murdered. Plus, there''s Jason''s posse – as far as we know, they''re all alive. Zack may have a question mark, but that''s ''cause he was an idiot, not because he was targeted by a murderer."


    Lila sighed. "You''re right. It just… all seems too convenient."


    "Besides, only your family knows that we lifted the lid on the morphine ring at our school. A whole bunch of people probably know that Piper was expelled because she was stalking us, but the fact remains that your family are the only other people on this planet who know that we''re the source for the takedown of the morphine ring. Unless you''re suggesting your Dad would''ve told other people that it was us? Or that he''s the murderer?"


    "Of course my Dad''s not the murderer," Lila said sharply. "Aside from the fact that he was with me the day and time that Piper was murdered, his sense of justice in the legal sense is far too strong. Besides, what would his motive be to kill Jason? Surely he''d prefer Jason to be alive to answer to his crimes both in the administrative and criminal sense."


    "I wasn''t being serious about that."


    "I know. Still."


    He paused before meeting her gaze with a soft smile. "You''re so cute when you get serious."


    She tried not to blush but felt her cheeks betray her. "T-Thanks, I guess. A-Anyway, um, right. Well. It was just a coincidence, then. That we were the cause behind both expulsions."


    His smile grew wider, as though he''d figured out that she had been flustered by his comment. "Just a coincidence."


    She tucked a stray hair behind her ear, struggling to meet his bright, mirthful eyes. "Okay, well, if that''s settled, then I want to talk about what I found. Or rather didn''t find."


    Asher straightened up in his seat. "Didn''t find?"


    Lila nodded, relieved that his gaze wasn''t one of amusement anymore. "The whole case file is gone."


    "Gone? Like… the contents are gone?"


    "No. The whole file."


    "Is that normal?"


    "I''d never snooped in his filing cabinet before this year, but I saw heaps of closed case files in there. From what he''s told me in the past, the files at home are just backups – or just small snapshots of the file – so he can continue working on them when he''s working from home."


    "Sounds like a lot of admin to keep track of all of that."


    "Dad''s always been like that," Lila shrugged. "He might not be a people murderer, but he sure slaughters trees."


    Asher snorted before growing serious again. "What does that mean? That it''s missing."


    "Like I said, I''d never snooped before," Lila sighed, placing her head in her hands. "I''m sure he''s taken it back to his PI office, but I have no idea why."


    Asher appraised her for a moment before shaking his head. "Is it not because he knows you?"


    "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    "Well… perhaps he thought you''d do exactly what you ended up doing."


    Lila pursed her lips. "I''ve been careful, though."


    "That''s what we thought about our break-in at Marlene''s."


    Lila stopped herself from laughing as her mind conjured up the image of Asher wrangling Mr Snugglebutt. "Mr Snugglebutt ratted on us, for sure."


    Asher snorted again. "Probably. But, seriously, maybe he took it ''cause he knew you''d go looking."


    Lila paused before giving him a thoughtful look. "He confronted me a while ago about snooping around his office. Surely he''d talk to me about it again if he figured it out."


    "So you are obvious when you rummage around in there."


    Lila flushed in embarrassment, rather than shyness. "This was ages ago!"


    "Define ''ages''," Asher grinned playfully.


    "Easter holidays."


    "I guess I''ll give you that."


    "See! I''ve grown since then, so I''m pretty sure he hasn''t noticed me going through the cabinets. I mean, I''ve been going into them so often at this point, he definitely should talk to me about it."


    "At least you recognise that much," Asher smirked. Then he said, "So if we go with your say-so that you''ve been super sneaky, why''d he take the file if there''re other closed cases in there?"


    "I was hoping you''d have a theory."


    Asher looked thoughtful. "If I were to think of a theory, then I''d say he needed to consolidate his office file. When you last saw the file, it still had the stuff we gave him, right?"


    "Yeah."


    "So then he just wanted to tidy up his office file."


    "What a boring answer."


    Asher laughed. "It might not be right, either."


    "Of course it''s right. It''s your theory."


    He smiled at her before frowning. "You said he had a bag at Beans & Biscuits, right?"


    "Yeah. He did."


    "That Marlene picked up."


    "Yeah…" Lila trailed off before leaning across the table. "You think he gave the file to Marlene?"


    "I mean, she works for my Dad."


    "But why''d he have to give it to her like that? He knows where your Dad lives, and has probably been meeting him regularly for the investigation. Besides, I''m pretty sure that clients don''t get given the whole case file. There''s heaps of sensitive info that they don''t need to know in there, like details of witnesses who want to remain anonymous and all that."


    "Right…" Asher continued frowning. "If it wasn''t the case file, then what did he give Marlene?"


    "I still have no idea. I mean, did he give her anything at all? Like, it could''ve just been the bag."


    "Why''d he have to give it to her like that though?"


    "Maybe that''s just how she likes to get stuff. I mean, why''d the antique dealer have to give her the duck like that?"


    "''Cause it was expensive as hell," Asher said before sighing. "It''s… so weird. She''s weird," he murmured the last part so quietly that Lila wasn''t entirely sure that''s what he said. He then looked at Lila.


    "Maybe you should ask your Dad what happens when a case is finished. Like, does he normally give a copy to clients? Or does he just store them forever? Sure, he doesn''t usually take the home files back to the office since the office has a file there too, but his answer might hint at what happened to the file."


    "I''m pretty sure they only get a report and some evidence," Lila replied. She folded her arms in contemplation before adding, "I''ll ask him, though. That''s just what I''ve assumed based on things that he''s said before. Maybe clients get the whole file if they pay a certain amount or something."


    Asher placed a hand on his chin for a couple of moments. Then, he sighed. "Still got nothing else. I just think the timing of it, and when he was at Beans & Biscuits, is too close. You''d only just seen the file, then we were at the café, and suddenly it''s now gone? Especially considering the investigation started a year ago. It''s likely existed in your house for months before you first saw it, so if it didn''t get taken to be consolidated, why''d it disappear now?"


    She tapped her fingers along the edge of the table, gritting her teeth. "I have no idea either. It feels like I have no idea about anything. It''s really bugging me."


    He pulled the hand that was still tapping away closer to him before nudging her morning tea towards her. "Let''s eat. Get some brain power."


    Lila reluctantly heeded his words. He watched her eat for a second before clearing his throat with frantic energy, as if he''d choked on something.


    "You okay?" she asked as he downed his water bottle. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before answering.


    "Yup," he replied, taking an aggressive bite out of his apple.


    "You sure?"


    "Never better. Just, uh, really hungry."


    "Alright."


    She doubted this excuse as she folded up her empty banana peel and placed it in the sandwich bag she''d used to carry it here. She scrutinised him as he averted his gaze before looking back down at the peel. Then, it hit her.


    Clearly, he''d envisioned something lewd. Something that, now that she was thinking about it, made her curious. What would it be like?


    "Uh, anyway, when did you want to have lunch with the others?" Asher asked, cutting her thoughts short. She was feeling incredibly warm, for some reason, and she continued to look at her banana peel. Seeing his face seemed like a bad idea at the moment.


    "Um, I don''t have a preference," she replied, her voice oddly high-pitched. She took a deep breath as she fiddled with the sandwich bag. "Maybe tomorrow or Wednesday?"


    "Wednesday sounds good."


    "Okay. I''ll tell Elise and Grace."


    Was the silence that now stretched between them awkward, or was she just feeling awkward because she''d caught herself thinking about that? Something she didn''t want to express to Asher, since it wouldn''t be something she''d explore anytime soon.


    Sighing, she took a long sip of water, feeling it cleanse both her body and mind. Hanging out with their friends at lunch was quite a timely idea. Closing the lid, she perked up and smiled at Asher.


    "How''d Gabriel like his gift?" Lila asked.


    Asher grinned at her. "A bit too much, I reckon. He started using it straight away. He was annoyed with me when I said you wouldn''t be coming over for a bit – said it was cruel to him since you''d gotten him the gift too. I''m sure there''ll be a heartfelt note in your lunch today."


    "I''m excited to see it in action."


    "You definitely will."


    They exchanged another smile, though Lila''s smile quickly faded as her mind returned to the case file. Its disappearance irked her to no end. The fact that she couldn''t quench the fire of curiosity that had begun to burn a hole in her mind irked her even more. She really wanted to know what Livi had told the Police. Could there have been clues as to Jason''s death in that interview? Or any of the other interviews, for that matter? If there were, then what did that say about Piper''s death?


    What had Piper tried to tell Asher?


    "I feel like you need a break from thinking," Asher said gently, taking her hand. A break from thinking?


    Her mind whizzed through a myriad of scenarios that would give her exactly that, but of course none of them were what he would''ve meant.


    "When I went to grab Gabriel''s gift, I also swung by the board game shop since it was on the way," he continued, pulling out his phone with his free hand. "I saw a couple that you might like…"


    <hr>


    The rest of the day passed by like most, with Lila enjoying Asher''s company at lunch. As he''d suspected, there was a ''thank you'' note from Gabriel tucked in the side of her lunchbox filled with handmade sushi rolls, frosted chocolate brownies and slivers of birthday cake. As they ate, Lila noticed that Asher''s body language had shifted, hinting at the stress that was tapping his fingers and shaking his leg. They once again avoided topics relating to Jason, Piper and her Dad''s investigation, which eventually settled his energy – especially after Lila made him laugh so hard he almost headbutted his lunchbox.


    Throughout the rest of her lessons without Asher, Lila''s mind would drift back to what she''d spoken to him about at morning tea. Despite his assurances that it was all a coincidence, Lila still couldn''t shake the feeling that they had inadvertently led Piper and Jason to their demise due to her nosiness.


    Were the messages – the murders mimicking the three wise monkeys – really for Lila and Asher? One to leave things alone, ignore what was going on and live in blissful ignorance?


    She hoped that the Police were closing in on the killer. After all, if it was a message intended for Lila and Asher, surely the killer would want to target them next?


    On that point – Lila and Asher were clearly being watched by someone; someone connected to Marlene, or at least Mr Snugglebutt. The paranoia that she''d felt when Piper had been stalking them was starting to build once more. She hadn''t felt unseen eyes on her, not for a while, yet someone had taken a picture of them at Beans & Biscuits. Were there ways to figure out who was watching them or at least shake them off? If the messages left behind by the killer, or killers, were for Lila and Asher, then surely their theory about Marlene''s connection to the killings would be-


    "That''s quite a frown," Grace whispered to Lila as Mrs Popovic wiped down the whiteboard in preparation to start a mind map of the events leading up to the Cronulla race riots.


    Lila glanced at Grace, who seemed to be imploring her to let them into what was troubling her. What could she even say? They had no idea about Lila''s involvement in Jason''s expulsion and arrest. Without that information, saying she thought she, or Asher, was going to be targeted by the murderer sounded ridiculous.


    "What''s up?" Elise asked, also in a whisper.


    Lila was tempted to say that she was bothered by Elise still not making a move on Isaac, but she held her tongue.


    "Just getting stressed about assignments," Lila said after a moment. It wasn''t a lie, but it wasn''t what was on her mind. It seemed to pass the test as Elise and Grace both nodded in understanding.


    "Yeah, no kidding. It seems like they''ve ramped it up a whole notch now," Elise sighed with a shake of her head.


    "How are you managing it with Maccas?" Lila asked quietly, jotting down the notes that Mrs Popovic was writing up on the board.


    "Like I always have," Elise replied in a murmur. Lila looked up at Elise, who was dutifully writing down notes as well.


    "I think out of everyone here, you should take the time to de-stress, Elise," Lila said before looking back at her notes. "Take some time to yourself, if you can."


    "I agree," Grace nodded.


    "I''ve got my ways," Elise said simply. "I''ve been working and studying all year, you know."


    "I know, but you should still take care of yourself," Lila said gently. "Don''t want to overwork yourself like you were last term."


    "You don''t need to worry," Elise said firmly, laying her pen down next to her notebook. "Seriously. I''m good. I''ve been using some new strategies to de-stress and decompress so I don''t get overwhelmed. I''ve been learning from last term''s mistakes."


    "Ooh, like what?" Grace asked, her keen interest apparent. "I need some techniques."


    "Just walking more," Elise replied, turning her attention to her notebook with a frown. "I think I wrote down the wrong year."


    "It''s 2005," Lila said helpfully.


    "Thanks. Um, walking more and just taking time out to relax, watch some shows, all of that."


    "How do you manage that without procrastinating?" Grace queried.


    "I figured out that taking breaks when studying makes me more productive."


    "Sounds counterintuitive."


    "That''s one of Asher''s strategies, actually," Lila commented. "Says that breaks are just as important."


    Elise looked smug. "See!"


    "Well, if that''s something that helps Asher," Grace said thoughtfully, "then it must be okay. But how do you get back to focusing?"


    "Remembering why I''m studying helps," Elise said with a nod. "To get into Uni."


    "To do what?"


    Elise faltered. "No idea," she confessed in a whisper.


    "Damn," Grace sighed. "I''d been hoping to get an idea from you."


    "Does anyone have any idea what they want to do?" Lila asked, jotting down new notes.


    "Isaac," Elise replied shortly. "He''s, like, the only person who''s decided what they want to do after school."


    Lila remembered what Isaac had said, ages ago – back when the group got Uber Eats from Livi – about being a chemical engineer. "Does he legitimately want to be an engineer?" Lila questioned.


    "As far as I know," Elise shrugged before frowning at her notes and crossing out what she''d just written.


    Lila glanced at Elise curiously. "What do you guys talk about?"


    "Sorry?"


    "You know. When it''s just you two."


    Elise shrugged again. "Whatever comes to mind."


    "Like… your crush on him?" The words had left Lila''s lips before her mind could remind her that it was a bad idea to bring it up.


    Elise rolled her eyes at Lila. "Definitely not."


    "Actually, I''ve been wondering," Grace piped up, looking at Elise for a moment before scrawling down a point or two from the whiteboard, "how did you find out he likes Anika? Like, you said you asked him – but how did it even come up? Besides, I''m pretty sure that bringing up crushes is almost a universal signal that you like the person you''re asking. He hasn''t picked up on that?"


    Now that Grace had asked, Lila eagerly waited for Elise''s response. Elise bit her lower lip, her eyes fixed on her notebook.


    "I mean, you guys told me I should just before we went on camp," Elise said after a few moments, her mood dropping considerably. "So there was a moment when Lila and Asher were on a walk and you were going to the bathroom and, I dunno, I just… took the opportunity and asked."


    "That''s brave," Lila said, exchanging a look with Grace – one that asked how dense Isaac was. "Grace is right, though. Asking about someone''s crush is basically telling them you like them in most cases. So he hasn''t said anything that makes you think he knows?"


    "Not a thing. Clearly, it''s not going to go anywhere."


    "I think-"


    "C''mon," Elise said firmly, cutting Grace off, "the assignment is due soon and the exam on this is right after that. Can we please focus?"


    Lila exchanged another look with Grace – one of disappointment. They both nodded and the trio worked in silence for the rest of Modern History.


    Once class was dismissed, Lila bid her goodbyes to Elise and Grace before smiling at a waiting Asher.


    "Hey," she said, wrapping her hand around his arm.


    "Hey," he replied, though his voice sounded off. Had something happened?


    "Everything okay?" Lila asked as they set off.


    "Yeah," Asher sighed heavily. "Except… well, some of these assignments are taking more out of me than I thought they would."


    "How so?"


    "The complexity has really kicked up a notch. Or maybe it''s my overthinking twisting it all into knots."


    "You really took the poetry stuff from English in, huh?"


    Asher looked at her in confusion for a moment before smirking. "Seems more like you absorbed what I taught you. That was pretty quick."


    She tried not to show how pleased she was by his praise. "What can I say? I had an excellent teacher."


    "Ms Shard is pretty good."


    "You''re better."


    His face lit up, his blush extending to the tips of his ears. She bit back a smile as he lightly brushed his fingers against her hand.


    "You turned that one around," he murmured, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it tenderly, "and now I''m feeling unbelievably shy."


    She grinned at him. "I''m glad. It''s not fair if I don''t make you shy once in a while too."


    "Too, huh?"


    Lila looked away from him, instead turning her gaze towards the path to the locker room. "You knew that already."


    He chuckled as he squeezed her hand, though she still refused to look at him. "It''s nice to hear you admit it, though."


    She didn''t know what to respond with but was rescued by the fact that they approached the locker room doors. He let her go after promising to return to her after he grabbed her things and she made her way to her locker.


    She exhaled deeply, shaking her head in disbelief. Would she ever get over the way he scattered her brain like this?


    "See you tomorrow, Lila," Elise said as she passed behind Lila. Lila turned to her, grateful for the opportunity to think of something else.


    "See you then. You heading off to Maccas?"


    Elise nodded, hoisting her school bag onto her shoulder. "Yeah."


    "With Isaac?"


    "Yeah. If you''re going to say something stupid about me and him, I''ll hit you."


    Lila smirked. "Message received. Please don''t hit me."


    Elise sighed. "I… I don''t mean to be rude about it, but it hurts."


    "I know it would, but sometimes pushing past that can lead to something good. Clearing the air can feel like a relief, even if it doesn''t lead anywhere."


    "Clearing the air, huh," Elise murmured, her eyes distant.


    "Yeah," Lila smiled. "I mean, that''s what I did with Asher and it turned out well."


    Elise glanced at Lila. "You think I should?"


    "Clear the air? Yeah. Then you know where you stand, at least."


    "I do know, though."


    "Elise," Lila sighed. "I think you should just… double-check."


    "Double-check?"


    "Like, clear the air and see what he says."


    Elise looked troubled by this prospect. She took a deep breath, as if bracing herself to do exactly that, when a voice asked, "Ready to go?"


    Lila turned and saw both Isaac and Asher standing in the aisle. It was Isaac who''d spoken, his expression softening in Elise''s presence. Lila peeked at Elise and saw to her dismay how pale her face was. Despite how Isaac was looking at Elise right now, and the courage Lila tried to instil in Elise, she could immediately tell that her being forthcoming was not happening today.


    "Y-Yeah," Elise said, readjusting her school bag. "Um, let''s go."


    Elise and Isaac waved their goodbyes at Lila and Asher before proceeding to the exit. Lila pursed her lips as she watched them go before giving a heavy, exaggerated sigh.


    "What''s wrong?" Asher asked, offering her his hand. She took it and shook her head.


    "I thought for a moment that I''d made a breakthrough with Elise. It looked like she was going to actually talk to Isaac about her crush on him, but then he showed up and I saw instantly that it wasn''t going to happen. She looked like she passed away on the spot."


    "That''s kinda fair, though," Asher replied, gently leading her to the bus station. "Maybe she''ll think about it. The timing was a bit soon."


    Lila sighed again. "Isaac''s timing has always been a bit inconvenient."


    Asher laughed. "It''s like he''s psychic."


    "Can he just not for once? I''m sure he''d be happier if he''d stop interrupting everyone and making them grumpy. Especially if he''d stop interrupting Elise."


    Asher laughed again. "I don''t think he can stop that, but I''ll suggest it."


    "Good."


    They exchanged a look before bursting into laughter. She squeezed his hand and he squeezed back before swinging it lightly. They walked to the bus station, chatting and laughing some more about topics that didn''t touch on the hopefully budding romance between Elise and Isaac. Truthfully, Lila was tired of it. How far should she push it?


    It was something she''d have to think about later. Instead, she spent as much energy as she could soaking up this time with Asher.


    "Well, this is where I leave you," he said softly once they stood outside her particular bus stop. She glanced behind her, checking whether the teacher on duty would see them. She''d really like those kisses she''d banked up…


    As though he''d read her mind, he caressed her face and said, "Unfortunately, we''ll need to keep those extra kisses for another time. One is all I can manage before looking suspicious."


    "Okay," Lila replied, trying not to sound disappointed. "Can''t have you looking suspicious, since you are suspicious."


    His eyes sparkled with amusement. "So are you."


    "You caught me."


    He lifted her chin, looking deeply into her eyes. "And aren''t I glad for it?" he murmured, kissing her before she had a chance to respond. It was over far too quickly, but Lila didn''t enjoy it any less.


    Her bus squealed to a halt at the station, the door creaking open in invitation. Asher stepped back after returning her bags and she reluctantly said goodbye.


    "Counting down the days," he said. "See you tomorrow."


    "Same here," Lila replied sincerely. "See you then."