리틀팍스

_1

One especially hot morning, the me and Jenice was sitting in our seats, steaming from the beating sun. "When is Catherine coming? I'm dying because it's so hot!" I complained as I tried to fan myself with my hands.Jenice shrugged. "I don't know.  Maybe she met Tyler in her way and Tyler fell in love with her! Hmph!" she snorted and crossed her arms and frowned. It was definate that Jenice still hadn't forgave Tyler for confessing his love to her. In our last case, Tyler had confessed his love and Jenice refused. But I couldn't forget the look on Jenice when she refused Tyler. After that day, Jenice kind of looked dazed and dull. It was like Jenice was regretting what she had said to Tyler. Maybe she was regretting that she had refused him and wanted him to be her boyfriend. Or maybe, she was just missing the days they became friends and had fun. Anyway, I was sure that there was something in Jenice that I didn't know about. Though she still hadn't been able to figure it out yet. This weather was driving her crazy and being crazy didn't help this situation one bit. Then Jenice let out a cry of surprise and astonishment. I looked at Jenice in surprise. Jenice had accidentally fall backward while swinging her chair back and forth.

Jenice was sprolled on the ground, and her hair was covered with grass and dirt. I expected her to laugh and brush of the grass and dirt, but she didn't. She just lay there, looking as blank as a dead person. I feared that Jenice had broke her neck or something and was really dead. "Jenice! Are you-" I had barely finished her sentense when a tear came out of Jenice's eyes. She quickly brushed it away and laughed awkwardly. "Just some dirt going in my eyes. I'm okay!" she said and jumped up. I just stared at her. Jenice was always cheerful and charming. But that tear had to mean something was going on with my BFF.

I wasn't usually a caring person. Actually, I rarely showed sympathy to people. I was just a cool girl who was very tough. But the strangness that I saw in Jenice worried me.

"Jenice, Are you sure your okay? I'm your friend! Just tell me what's wrong!!" I said, but Jenice shook her head.

"There's nothing going on. I'm okay."

"Is this related to-"

"Oh, I see Catherine! Over here!!! Why are you so late?!" Jenice just ignored my last remark and waved at Catherine. I looked at my friend. Maybe Jenice wasn't really a girl I had thought she is. Maybe Jenice was the most secretive of most people. I feared that this would might have a big effect on our friendship. A very bad effect.

_2

Catherine was gasping for breath and looked super-excited.

"Guess what?!" she cried as soon as she caught her breath. "I've got a mystery for us! This time, a SUPER RARE one!"

'Oh well.' I thought. They were a detective before friends. So maybe I should let Jenice handle her things. Too much interference might be bad for me and Jenice after all. And Jenice seemed to be wanting that too.

"So, what's that mystery?" Then I noticed that Catherine called it a MYSTERY, not a CASE.

"You know the haunted house just outside of town?" Catherine began, "Do you know that the kids often say there's really a ghost in the haunted house?" Catherine lowered her voice. "We're going to investigate if or if not there's really a ghost in the haunted house!"

"Bad idea." Jenice said before I could say anything. "We're not suppose to investigate something like that. Plus, who are paying us?" she said, crossing her arms.

Catherine just stared at Jenice. I knew how she felt. Catherine had been so busy with academies this days that she had absolutely no time for the detective agency. So Catherine might haven't realized the strangeness and changes in Jenice.

"Nobody." Catherine said finally. "But...but...it sounds fun. Doesn't it?" she said, giving me a pleading look.

"Well...." I hesitated. I didn't really like ghosts or monsters. But Catherine's plea sounded so dramatic and real that it made me feel sorry for her, just thinking about saying NO to her despart plea. I sighed. "Yeah. It SOUNDS fun. Well, what about you Jenice?" I asked.

Jenice just stared at the sky.

"Jenice?!" Catherine shouted.

Jenice jumped but seemed to recover her consciences. "Wha..what?"

Catherine rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. "Don't you remember? What do you think about investigating the haunted house?!Weren't you listening at ALL?!" she said, pounding her chest.

"Oh...right." Jenice said. She seemed to be blank again.

Catherine poked Jenice's arm. "You're strange today. Did you ate something wrong yesterday? Maybe a poisoned apple?"

Jenice just stared.

Catherine's poking got harder. "Did you get it? A memory loss poisoned apple! Hah!"

Jenice just stared.

Catherine's poking got so hard that it hurt just looking at it.

But Jenice just stared.

Finally, Catherine slapped Jenice's back.

That seemed to bring Jenice's spirit back.

Jenice scowled and pushed Catherine's hand away. "That hurt! Why are you bullying me today?! Don't you think you did enough?!"

At first, Catherine looked hurt and startled by what Jenice said. Then her face changed into a scowl. "That's your fault! Why are you so mentally crazy today?! We're in the middle of discussing a very serious mystery!"

"I didn't want to be in this stupid club! You just pulled me in! And now your forcing me to solve some mystery!"

"Well that's your fault! Your the one who suggested to make a club!"

"I didn't even really wanted to make a stupid kiddie detective club!"

"Then your out of this club!"

"That's fine with me! There are tons of clubs which will be willing to bring me in!"

"Then GO!"

"All right, but don't come pleading to join this stupid club again! Bye!"

Then Jenice just ran off. I stared at Catherine. I had never seen Catherine act so...so...furious. Catherine was always bright and smart. It was hard to picture Catherine fuming before today. It was mostly my part to act energetic and offensive. But now, I began to wonder if I really knew much about my friends. They felt so far from me now.

Catherine was still huffing and puffing. Then she turned back and I could see that tears were flooding her face. Then she broke down on the sidewalk, crying.

_3

My thoughts were bothering me. 

My best friends... I thought that I knew them very well. But maybe, I didn't even know them enough to be their best friend. I couldn't help when Jenice was having a serious problem. I couldn't help when my two friends fought. I couldn't do anything when Jenice ran away and Catherine cried. I didn't know what to do when Jenice had sent her a massage that said bye. I didn't know what to do when Catherine had cried all night long on the phone. I didn't know what to do when Jenice hadn't came home that night. And this was bothering me, a lot.