Two

The school bus pulled its brakes in front of Rosaleen, pulling her out slowly from her drowning thoughts.

She headed into the bus and took a seat at the farthest end, far from other bustling kids.

She looked out of the window with a tender expression on her face.

The warm air brushed past her face and she smiled softly.

The birds' chirping reminded her of freedom, and she admired and desired freedom.

*********

There was nothing new; nothing changed.

The blocks were the way they used to be.

The air was the usual — full of so much fragrances.

She headed into the school the way she used to — quiet and observant.

" Rosa!"

Rosaleen stopped and turned around with a start.

Ronnie strode towards her, looking dainty in his uniform.

His cologne wafted through her nose, and it seemed to be the only tangible fragrance that filled her nostrils.

Rosaleen stared at him.

Previously, she had asked him why he didn't call her Rosaleen like the others, but he had not given an answer.

" I know that look," he crowed and brandished her a smile, a reassuring smile for what Rosaleen didn't know.

He gave her a slight punch on her arm, the way he did with other girls.

" It's Rosaleen," she pointed out and held her book tightly to her chest.

" It's Rosaleen for you and everyone else who calls you Rosaleen. It's Rosa for short. I love to call you Rosa, and it suits you better."

Those bubbles in her throat returned and the knots in her stomach churned.

She utterly went speechless.

Ronnie grinned and his lips curled up in amusement.

He fought with every fibre in his body to not let that embarrassing laughter escape from his lips.

Rosaleen glared at him.

Her lips pursed in repulsion.

" Why don't you ever speak, Rosa? You're just like a quiet wallflower observing everyone else, even though plenty thoughts are bouncing around in your head."

Rosaleen hissed in — exasperation?

She didn't know, but she continued to narrow her eyes whenever Ronnie made an emphasis on her name, on Rosa.

He was always saying her name even when it wasn't necessary.

Rosaleen thought inwardly.

Maybe her new name wasn't so bad.

At home, she was the only one who didn't have a second name; the only who was called Rosaleen.

Megan was Meg at home, but she was Rosaleen.

Just Rosaleen.

It just hits different to be called two names even though they were the same in every way.

" You ran off last Friday, didn't you?" he asked and drew closer to her.

Rosaleen stuttered.

Maybe she wouldn't have stuttered if he hadn't come closer to her, if he hadn't made their bodies collide.

" We were supposed to visit the museum together to make the research on that artifact for our homework," he rephrased.

" I didn't run off. I'm sorry if I jeopardized your plans, but I had an emergency."

Rosaleen trudged further as if trying to outwalk him, as if trying to avoid that conversation which she found unnecessary.

" Have you heard?"

Rosaleen shot him an inquiring glare.

" Heard what?"

" The janitor's death. Mysterious things are beginning to happen in Baronville. The entire school knows about it. Everyone's talking about it. They said he was well until few hours to school closure.

" Principal Powers said he was poisoned until discreet marks were discovered on his body. Coupled with the fact that Jason Joe, his protege, was seen around the murder scene, some students still do not think it's Jason that murdered him."

Rosaleen stiffened.

A sickening wave of terror welled up in her stomach.

" Principal Powers has decided to not get the corps involved in the matter because of our safety, but, she has organized a secret team that will watch over us. You might even get questioned by another team later today."

" Where's the janitor's body now?" Rosaleen questioned and still clutched her book closer to her chest.

" Currently in the morgue."

A momentary look of discomfort crossed Rosaleen's eyes when Ronnie crowed and landed another slight punch on her arm.

" People die anyways, so don't get all sad. You remember Kai, don't you?"

Rosaleen nodded but she didn't stop.

She continued to walk on.

" Kai recently returned from his surgery trip, and he's doing just fine. It seems like everybody is sick these days."

Rosaleen responded in her usual silent hmm.

Maybe it occurred to Ronnie as exasperating, she didn't know because he pressed his lips together.

It didn't matter.

She saw Zara striding towards them in exuded confidence. She stood tall and her movement was firm.

Zara flashed her a smile as she click clack clicked towards them, her shoes making that sound.

She embraced Rosaleen tightly and they shared a short peck on their cheeks.

Zara's smile was child-like and her laughter was unburdened and light as she shared her holiday experience with them.

Her breathy laughter filled the air, and soon, the entire girls surrounded her.

Some girls showed off their new diamond earrings that had cost them a fortune, their fortune.

*********

Tranquility returned to the atmosphere as the teacher scribbled her final words on the board.

It was the end of class and she assigned everyone to their partners for the homework.

She placed Ronnie, Rosaleen, Zoe, Zara and Audrey in the same team.

The janitor's death became the topic of the class as soon as the teacher stepped out.

Everyone said it.

Even in the toilet, they were all chirping like birds.

They talked about it as if it was the biggest event, and Rosaleen was getting sick of it.

*******

The front door responded to the breeze by the squeaky sounds it made whenever the breeze blew past it.

Rosaleen closed the door as soon as she stepped inside.

She heard the first hum which seemed out of pleasure as she drew nearer to the kitchen.

The hum came fluently, like a favourite melody, like a melody that gave peace to the soul of the weary.

But the hum stopped when she saw her shoes.