The Rose Murders | Original Story

TWELVE

Albert Miller has been my best friend as well as on and off again boyfriend for years. My parents see him as the shame put on our family. I don't know why they are so prejudice nor do I really care what they think. Alby was one of the most decent guys I know. 

Last year Alby's music and lacrosse careers both took off like crazy which forced us to break up, but there's no hard feelings between us. I try to make time to hang with him when he's home. He's been home a week now and JJ has kept me so busy that I haven't had a chance to see him. 

"Well look who it is." Alby said as I walked up the driveway. "I thought you forgot where I lived, girl." 

"Me? Forget this shack of a house? Never." I said with a grin. "Tell me, Albs, why are you still living here when you're rich now?"

Alby stood from the porch swing, a contagious grin plastered on his face. "Because I like my house, little miss mansion in the hills." He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed. 

I hugged back. "Little too tight. Can't breathe." 

"Sorry." He let me go. "I heard about Evan and Esme. I wanted to call, but I didn't know what to say." He kissed my cheek. "Plus I know how your parents feel about you having contact with me."

I shook my head. "It's okay I understand and I don't care about them." I sat on the swing then patted the spot next to me. "Listen, Alby, I came to ask you about someone."

He sat and turned to face me. "If it's about getting you in contact with Leonardo DiCaprio I already told you it's not possible." 

I rolled my eyes. "It's not about him for now."

"Okay then shoot."

"You remember JJ Brooks?" 

"Yeah, the brother of the kid who killed him. Sure I remember him." Alby nodded. "He's a weird kid. When I would pick you up, he was always sitting at that lakeish area watching us." 

My heart broke a little as he said those words. Was what Lizzy had wrote really the truth?

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, playing with the strings from the rips in my jeans. "I mean what if it wasn't safe?"

"That's why I started beating you there to make sure you were never alone." Alby told. "I didn't want you to freak or anything." 

I checked my phone to see six missed calls from JJ. "Alby?" 

"Yeah, L?" He gave me a puzzled look.

I slowly turned to face him. "I don't want to die." I said, a sob racking at my throat. 

Alby pulled me close to him. "Never. I would never let you die." He kissed the top of my head. "What's really wrong, baby?" 

"I did something bad, really bad." I confessed. "And now I don't know what do to." 

+++

JJ was waiting for me on the steps when I arrived home. "Where have you been, Elena, I've been worried sick about you." He said, a slight tone in his voice that I couldn't determine. 

"I'm sorry I ran out on you like that, but Kaylie had an emergency and needed me." I lied. "Something about a date with Lizzy and not knowing what to wear." I pecked his lips. "You know how girls are." 

JJ followed me into the house. "Of course, I just wish you had picked up the phone because I thought someone had taken you or something." He wrapped his arms around my waist. "Tell me, darling, did you ever figure out who sent the sheep's liver?"

Suddenly I regretted not taking Lizzy's advice about telling JJ about the liver. He didn't need to know that I had received the sheep's liver besides it didn't involve him really. 

"No I haven't." I said, shaking my head. "I don't want to talk about that right now, JJ, I want you to take me upstairs."

He picked me up. "Upstairs?"

"Yes please."