After the dance I told Katie that Leon was taking me home, and she screamed and hugged me before running off. The car ride was quiet. Not the cute kind of quiet. The heavy kind. I kept staring out the window trying not to freak out, but my mind would not stop. Did I do something wrong. Was I a bad kisser. Did I kiss him weird. Did my breath stink. I finally asked if he was okay and he just said he was fine while checking his phone. He did not even look at me. My stomach twisted. I thought maybe he regretted kissing me or maybe he did not like me anymore. When we got to my house I said goodnight and he said it back, but his voice sounded annoyed. I stood there watching his car drive away and I felt sick. I could not stop thinking about it. I texted him asking if I did something wrong. He usually replies right away. I kept checking my phone but it said he was not active. I told myself he probably fell asleep.
When I woke up the first thing I did was check my phone. No message from Leon. But there was a notification from the news. Another body had been found. My heart dropped. I clicked it and saw the name. George Tucker. A boy from our school. A grade below us. This was the third body found in our small town. I felt sick. I did not want to leave the house. I kept thinking what if I was next or what if someone I knew was next. After I clicked off the article I checked my messages again. Still nothing from Leon. It said he had not been active since yesterday which was weird because he always texts me good morning. It was already 7:20 and he still had not texted or shown up. So I walked to school like I always do. I did not even put my headphones in. The whole town felt quiet in a way that gave me the creeps.
When I got to school everything felt strange. People were whispering more than usual. I let out a sigh and then I saw him. Leon. Talking to that blonde girl again. The same one from yesterday. I walked past them and tried not to look but then I heard him calling my name. Iris wait up. I turned around and said what in an annoyed voice. You ignored me and forgot to pick me up. I had to walk here. Do you know how unsafe that is right now. There is a killer out there. He said he knew and he was sorry and that he got busy. I told him he could have at least told me. Then I asked who the blonde was. He said she was nobody. I rolled my eyes and he finally said fine she is my ex. I felt my stomach drop until he added that they were only talking about sharing custody of a dog. I could not believe I was relieved over something that dumb. School felt so long that day. Everyone talked about the body found that morning. We even had an assembly. I sat between Leon and Katie. I was tired and leaned my head on Leon. His body was warm but his heart was racing fast. I asked if he was okay and he said he was fine but last time he said that he was not. I asked again and he said he was just worried about the killer. I tried to joke and say I would protect him but he did not laugh. He just stared ahead with this blank look. Something still felt off.
Then everything went silent. The gym doors slammed open and police rushed inside. Everyone jumped. They went straight to the front and arrested the eleventh grade science teacher. Everyone stared with wide eyes. I could not believe what I was seeing. They said he was the killer. A serial killer. The whole school was shaking. After they let us go home the town felt lighter. People were smiling again. Everyone said it was finally over. They caught him. We were safe. That is what we all thought.
But the next morning another body was found.
And that was the moment everyone realized the truth.
They arrested the wrong person.
The killer was still out there.