“Okay, fine. I'm here, Mom,” Christina said, rolling her eyes for effect. “What's this ‘important’ news that you made me miss my sleepover with Jessica? She’s supposed to come over tonight."

Kim looked at her daughter with pained eyes. How can I tell her? she wondered.

She shook her head sadly and continued to make waffles, which were her daughter’s favorite breakfast food. When Kim reached for the whipped cream, Christina knew something was wrong.

Christina's eyes widened as she whispered, "Mom? What’s wrong? Just spit it out."

Kim sighed and turned to her daughter. A tear slipped out and slid down her cheek. She took her daughter's hand and said, "Honey, Jessica never showed up after school yesterday. She was found in the woods, strangled to death.”

After hearing the most shocking news of her life, Christina had to mentally prepare herself to face the pitiful stares of her peers. Walking through the school halls, all she could see were people pitying her for losing her best friend.

Then Christina saw him, Eric, her best friend and also Jessica’s boyfriend. No one was aware of Christina’s long-term crush on Eric, not even Jessica had known.

As he started to walk over to Christina, and she got nervous. What was he going to say?

"Hello," he says.

“Hey, how are you doing?” replied Christina.

"Not well. I just want to find whoever did this to her and make them pay," he said.

Putting her hand on his shoulder, she told him, “It’s going to be okay; we’ll get through this tragedy. Together.”

He gave her a brief smile and put his arm around her shoulder as they walked to class.

Later in the day, Christina was at home cooking some dinner for her mom when she got a call from the detective who was working on Jessica’s case.

"Hello. Is this Christina?" he asked.

Christina was nervous as to why he might be calling her; maybe they’d found a break in her case and know who killed Jessica!

"Yes, this is she. What can I help you with?"

"We need you to come down to the station and answer a few questions.”

Now Christina was really nervous. They couldn’t possibly think that she did it, could they?

"Oh, yes, I’ll head right down."

After that, she hung up the phone and prepared herself to head down to the station and talk with the detective.

As she walked up the steps to the police department, she kept trying to think of what possible questions they might ask and how she might answer them. Walking in, Christina was greeted by Detective Adam, who was the one working on Jessica’s case.

He ushered her into a room, which Christina assumed was his office, and told her to take a seat. After she was seated, he asked her the question Christina had been dreading the most.

“So, where were you on the night of Jessica's murder?”

Christina said, "I was in bed, sleeping, of course."

For another ten minutes, he kept asking questions, before he told her, finally, that she could leave. As Christina was leaving, she saw Eric being pulled into another room.

What was he doing here? Why was he being questioned? The last time she knew, he and Jessica had been as close as before they started dating. So seeing him in the police station was kind of… interesting and confusing for her.

Christina tried to listen to what they were saying, but she couldn't make it out. As she was leaving, however, their voices started rising, and it sounded like Eric and Detective Adam were yelling at each other.

Christina continued home; her mom had texted her earlier and said that she wanted her to stay home. In Christina’s opinion, she thought that her mom was worried that what happened to Jessica might happen to her as well. She knew her mom cared about her a lot, and Christina didn't want her to worry, so she decided to do what her mom asked.

Once she got home, Christina continued working on the homework that was due the next day. It kept her busy, and it kept her from thinking about what happened to Jessica. However, she couldn't help but wonder who had killed her and if they would ever be caught.

The next day at school, Christina walked in and there were a whole bunch of police officers. They were questioning everyone.

“There's a guidance counselor who has been put in charge in case anyone wants to talk,” she overheard one of them say saccharinely.

In her opinion, she thought it was stupid. Yeah, Jessica got herself killed, but come on, people! Move on. Everyone dies. When Christina got out of class that day, she saw that detective Adam was waiting for her.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I'm sorry Christina, but you need to come down to the station. We need you to answer a few more questions.”

Christina asked, "Am I in trouble? Do I need a lawyer? "

"Just come with me."

Down at the station, Christina was back in the office, and was surprised to find her mom already there.

“Mom? What are you doing here?"

Detective Adam closed the door before she had a chance to answer. “Christina, sit down. We need to talk to you."

Her mom looked as white as a ghost.

Detective Adam said to her mom, "Do you want to tell her, Kim, or shall I?" Christina’s mom looked at him, then looked at Christina then back at him. Was he normally this casual with his clients? Kinda weird he was calling her mom by her first name.

“You should probably tell her. It might be better coming from you,” her mom answered shakily.

So, Detective Adam looked at her and said, "Christina, we know you killed Jessica."

The young girl began to shake and tried to deny it.

“What do you mean?? Jessica was my best friend; why would I kill her?"

Detective Adam looked at her severely. "Christina. Yes, you and Jessica were best friends. However, your mom and I know you liked Eric for a long time. According to your mom, Eric was supposed to take you to the school dance coming up, and you were dating, so it made sense that he should take you. However, when he dumped you, he chose your best friend. When you saw Jessica, you got angry, and your mom said that Jessica was supposed to come to your house that night, but she didn't.

“When your mom asked you why Jessica wasn't here when you returned, you said you got into a fight. Is that correct? " Detective Adam watched as Christina turned white. Christina looked down and looked at her mom, then back at her feet.

"Yes, that's correct." Christina whispered, "I got mad at her. I started yelling at her. We were walking through the woods when she just slipped because I actually punched her, then she was on the ground and I got on top of her and the rest was a blur. I guess I just… strangled her. "

Detective Adam leaned back in his chair “I see.”

Christina looked at her mom, and then looked back at Detective Adam's desk. "What happens now?"

Detective Adam looked at Christina’s mom and said, "Well, Kim and I actually have something… else to tell you. I am your father, and you are my daughter.

Christina looked up in shock. "What are you talking about?"

She knew that her mom was married, but her mom never talked about her dad. Christina thought they were divorced.

“Your mom and I have been keeping our marriage a secret because of my job. But I have been keeping my eyes on you. And I'm here to help you. Long story short, you're not going to go to jail...”

“Wait!” Christina interrupted. “What do you mean, I'm not going to jail? I literally just admitted to killing my best friend."

"Just leave it to me," Detective Adam said. “As far as I'm concerned, I can just say that Eric killed Jessica, and we can leave it at that. "

He stood up, along with Christina’s mom.

“Don't worry, I'm here to protect you. Just leave the rest to me."