Who Killed The Queen Bee?

[FLASHBACK]

The party had been in full swing.

Laughter exploded over the music, glitter dust clung to sweaty skin, and the air was thick with smoke, perfume, and hormones. Bianca's house was lit up like a music video-strip lights wrapped around palm trees, speakers bumping house mixes, people dancing, flirting.

In the backyard, two girls-Charlie and Marissa-stumbled toward the water, their heels clicking against the stone patio. Charlie squinted through her lashes, holding her phone up for light.

"Wait... is that-"

A blood-curdling scream shattered the bass.

"OH MY GOD!!!"

Charlie dropped her cup. Marissa backed away so fast she tripped over a lawn chair and hit the ground.

"HELP! SOMEBODY-HELP!!" Charlie shrieked, sobbing now. "SHE'S-SHE'S IN THE POOL! THERE'S BLOOD-THERE'S SO MUCH BLOOD!"

Within seconds, the music screeched to a stop.

Voices raised, questions flying.

"What's going on?"

"Did someone say blood?"

"Yo, what the fuck?"

People started rushing toward the pool. One after another, the crowd grew, until the entire party was gathered at the pool, forming a stunned circle around the water.

And there she was.

Bianca Genova, floating facedown.

Her blonde hair splayed out like a halo around her head.

The pool lights glowed red beneath her-at first mistaken for party lights. But then someone screamed. "That's blood-that's actual blood!"

Someone dropped their phone. Another started crying. A girl in a pink dress puked in the bushes.

Tristan shoved his way through the crowd, breath caught in his throat. "Move! MOVE!" he yelled, elbowing past stunned onlookers.

Then he saw her.His stomach dropped.

"BIANCA?!" he screamed.

He took off toward the pool, but two football players grabbed him, holding him back.

"SOMEONE CALL 911!" Tristan roared, voice raw. "FUCKING CALL AN AMBULANCE!"

Phones were out. Flashes. Videos.

"Yo, someone's gotta get this on TikTok-this is, like, insane."

"Dude, show some fucking respect!"

"Wait-do you think she, like, OD'd?"

"No way, it looks like she hit her head-see that blood?

"Is this part of the party? Like, a prank or some shit?"

"Bro, that ain't a prank! She's fucking DEAD!"

The party lights flickered. The music was long gone. All that remained was the sound of crying, sirens in the far-off distance, and the whisper of rumors beginning to bloom.

[FLASHBACK ENDS]

Monday mornings at Westbridge High were always a drag. Sleep-deprived students shuffled through the hallways like zombies, chugging caffeine and grumbling about their weekend homework. But today was different. There was a weird vibe in the air-something heavy, suffocating. A hush had settled over the crowd as everyone filed into the gym for an emergency assembly.

David Parker slumped against the back wall, arms crossed, hood pulled low over his face. He wasn't supposed to be there-technically, he'd skipped homeroom, but no one noticed him slip in with the crowd. Everyone was too busy buzzing about why Principal Hendricks looked like he hadn't slept in days.

"Quiet down," Hendricks barked into the microphone, his voice rough and cracking. The noise died almost instantly, leaving nothing but the echo of restless feet shifting on the polished floor. "It is with great sadness that I have to inform you all that one of our students, Bianca Genova, has passed away."

For a split second, the world stopped spinning. Then the gym erupted in gasps and whispers-shocked voices overlapping and crashing into one another. Bianca? Cheer captain. Queen Bee. The untouchable goddess of Westbridge. Dead?

David's stomach twisted like someone had jammed a knife into it and twisted. He gripped his sleeves, knuckles turning white. He couldn't breathe.

"Silence!" Principal Hendricks snapped, slamming his palm on the podium. He looked more stressed than David had ever seen him-eyes bloodshot, mouth set in a grim line. "This is a tragic loss for our community. We will be holding a moment of silence to honor Bianca's memory."

The room fell eerily quiet. Heads bowed. Some people whispered prayers, while others stifled sniffles. David stared at the floor, his mind racing with questions. He couldn't process it-Bianca was dead. He still remembered her mocking laugh ringing in his ears, the sticky punch dripping down his face. Just Friday night, she was alive and furious. Now she was gone.

David caught sight of Tristan McRae, Bianca's boyfriend, sitting front and center with the football team. His face was stony and unreadable-like someone had flipped his emotions off with a switch. Beside him, Jennifer Carter, the ex-bestfriend, was openly sobbing into her hands, loud and theatrical.

And then there was Kyle Genova-Bianca's little brother. He was perched on the edge of the bleachers, staring straight ahead like he wasn't really there, his eyes vacant and hollow.

After the moment of silence, Principal Hendricks cleared his throat, his voice softening. "Counselors will be available throughout the day for anyone who needs to talk. Please respect Bianca's family during this difficult time. You are dismissed."

The students began to shuffle out of the gym, but the buzz of whispered speculation was louder than ever.

"What do you think happened?"

"I bet it was suicide. Maybe she couldn't take the pressure."

"No way. She was too much of a queen to off herself. Someone probably did it."

David didn't stick around to listen. He slipped out of the gym, avoiding the clusters of students already pulling out their phones to spread the news. As he walked through the hallways, his thoughts spiraled out of control. Had she really killed herself? Or had something darker gone down that night?

Just as he turned a corner, a ripple of murmurs caught his attention. A pair of uniformed police officers strode through the main entrance, followed closely by a man in a worn leather jacket and a detective badge clipped to his belt. The detective had sharp, calculating eyes and a demeanor that screamed authority.

Phones were whipped out immediately-cameras rolling, fingers flying over screens as the gossip spread like wildfire.

Omg there's cops at school 🚓🚨

WTF is going on? 😲

I heard they're questioning people about Bianca

Do they think she was murdered??

Tristan McRae leaned against his locker with his football buddies, their conversation dropping the second they noticed the cops. Tristan forced a laugh, trying to act unbothered, but his fingers kept twitching against the metal.

One of the officers approached him. "Are you Tristan McRae?"

Tristan raised his chin. "Yeah. What's this about?"

The officer didn't answer. "Come with me."

His friends gawked, exchanging uneasy glances as Tristan was escorted down the hall. Tristan's confident swagger faltered, his shoulders tightening as he disappeared around the corner.

A few lockers down, Jennifer Carter was reapplying her lip gloss when another officer approached her. She jumped, nearly dropping the tube.

"Jennifer Carter?"

She blinked up at him, eyes wide and fake-innocent. "Um, yes?"

"Come with me."

Her cheeks drained of color, and her hand trembled as she stuffed the gloss back into her pocket. Students openly stared as she was led away, some snapping pictures, others whispering furiously.

Further down the hall, Camilla Fernandez and Cleo Araya exchanged nervous glances when they saw the commotion. Before they could slip away, an officer blocked their path.

"You two. Camilla Fernandez and Cleo Araya?"

They hesitated, Cleo's fingers digging into Camilla's arm. "Yes," Camilla finally squeaked out.

"Come with me."

More heads turned as the two cheerleaders were escorted away, their faces pale and tight with worry.

Near the music room, Kyle Genova was standing by himself, staring at the floor, lost in his own world. The detective approached him slowly, as if trying not to startle him.

"Kyle Genova?"

Kyle flinched and looked up, eyes bloodshot and rimmed with exhaustion. "Y-Yeah?"

"We need you to come with us."

Kyle swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he followed the detective. Students whispered behind his back, speculating and concocting rumors faster than wildfire.

Meanwhile, David stood by his locker, swapping out his books, trying to stay as invisible as possible. The noise in the hallway was overwhelming-snippets of gossip blending together into a chaotic hum.

Then, suddenly, a firm tap on his shoulder. David froze, his pulse hammering in his throat. He turned slowly to find a uniformed officer towering over him.

"David Parker?"

David's mouth was dry, but he forced out, "Yeah. That's me."

The officer's face remained impassive. "Come with me."

David's heart felt like it had dropped into his stomach. As he was escorted down the hallway, every pair of eyes seemed to burn into his skin. People whispered and took photos, some pointing, others just staring.

Group chats were blowing up left and right-messages pinging so fast they were practically unreadable.

"Why are they taking them??"

"Omg, do you think they did it?"

"Why are they taking Kyle?? That's her brother??"

"David Parker? That freak? I wouldn't be surprised."

As David was led down the winding corridor toward the principal's office, he couldn't help but feel like he was being walked to his execution. His mind raced, trying to piece together what could have possibly happened. Why was he being questioned? Was it because of what happened at the party?

Whatever it was, one thing was clear-Westbridge High was no longer just a school. It was a crime scene. And David was at the center of it.