Runners

The gang retreats back to Liz's house. First appearance of Stan Alexander. The group must come up with ideas to understand what's going on, but Rod might be losing his grip on reality

Chapter V
Runners

“Its 1:06. We have like 10 million more hours to go.” Liz whined as they walked slowly out the building.
“But today we get to go to the Lake house.” Alan moved back and forth.
“I still can’t believe you parents said yes.”
“Well..., my father Eddie is a happy man.” Alan began talking in a Shakespearean accent. “But it was my mother who I had to get trust from.”
“Well, Lorraine and Albert are killing me.” Tim moaned.
“Sounds like Tammy.” Richie and Steve did a high five.
“You boys are so theoretical. Do you guys talk about anything other than sex, money, and drugs.”
The boys exchanged silent glances.
“No.” Steve said.
“Not really!” Alan exclaimed.
“But I love you.” Tim kissed Veronica on the cheek.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Liz rolled her eyes and pushed through them. “Rod, I don’t want you going out there. Here, I made a list of all the guys in the group I am fine with dying.”
“This should be good.” Richie whispered to Tim as he rolled his eyes.
“Richie.” Liz said calmly.
“What!” He screamed. “After all the crap I didn’t do for you- you- you b***h!”
“Alan.” Liz said calmly.
“I was so expecting Steve.” Alan whispered to Tim.
“And Steve.”
“What about Tim!” Richie began waving his arms.
“I knew it. He's cheating on you Veronica, I promise you.” Steve took a deep breath and rolled his eyes.
“You’re overreacting.” Veronica laughed.
“Looks like Alan, Richie and Steve are going out.” Veronica opened the front door and they walked outside.
“The body is still there.” Alan whispered.
“I don’t think I want Steve out there.” Tim said nervously. “I don’t know what I would do if he died.”
“Aw, Timmy save that speech for the wedding.” Richie laughed.
Tim faked a smile and flipped off Richie.
“You already know.” Steve put his arm around Tim and laughed.
“So this is where the body was.” They stopped over the body. She was still panting.
“Of my f*****g gosh, Michelle!” Rod bent down his knees.
“That’s Michelle?” Tim’s eyes got big. “Oh my gosh.”
“She must have dyed her black hair” Alan mumbled.
“Someone get help!” Rod wiped a tear away. “Michelle I’m here.”
“Killer.” She painted. “There’s- a killer.”
“Where? Who is it?” Veronica asked.
“Someone call the f*****g hospital!” Rod screamed. “Someone...” Rod wrapped his arms around his sister. “Michelle.” He whispered.
“I got it.” Richie ran back to the building.
“Wait no!” Liz screamed. “How do we explain the killer?”
“We couldn’t anyways because we don’t have an explanation.” Veronica replied.
Richie continued running.
“We are going to catch this thing Michelle.” Tim spoke slowly.
“Killer.” She panted again. “Killer.”
“We know its a killer.”
“Die. I’m going- to... die.” Then she closed her eyes.
“No!” Rod screamed. A light rain began to fall. “Michelle no!” Rod didn’t care- and Tim didn’t blame him. He began to cry. A full cry.
“Alan and Steve go in there.” Veronica whispered. “Find that killer.”
“Gotcha.” Steve and Alan dissapeared in the forest.
“Should we carry the body?” Liz asked.
“No! Don’t touch her.” Rod growled. Liz bent down and wiped a tear away from Rod’s face. “Don’t touch a thing.” He cried again.
“Its okay.” Steve whispered to Rod. “Its okay.” He brushed Rod’s hair back. “We’re going to find and get this thing.”
“C’mon, I’ll take you back to my place.”
“We all should go back to your place, will your parents mind?” Veronica asked.
“Of course not!” Liz tried to smile. “I’ll make you hot choclate and warm bread.” Liz kissed Rod on the cheek. “C’mon, I’ll take you home. We will meet you guys there.” She said to Tim.
“Fine with me.” Tim and Liz helped Rod up to his feet. He let his little sister slip from his arms, and Liz walked slowly with him and she walked shaking.
“Don’t worry Michelle.” Veronica bent down with Michelle.
“Guys. Everything is gone!” Alan ran back. “Everything, all the furniture in there is gone!”
“Dude. I’m just going to believe that everything was in there and its really gone.” Steve said.
A loud sound alarmed them. The ambulance.
“Guys lets go. They can take it from there.” Veronica got to her knees and the group walked back to the car.
Tim watched as they took Michelle's body out on the stretcher. Steve pushed Tim into Liz’s car.
“Fun!” Veronica jumped in the passenger seat and everyone else in the back.
“No, not fun.” Tim looked at Rod who was in a ball shaking in the middle. Alan wraped his arms around him.
“Drive.” Steve demanded, and Liz stepped on the peddle.


At Liz’s House;

“Sweetheart why are you back early?” the voice of Liz’s mother stunned Tim. It was high and annoying just like hers.

They were all sitting on the couch watching TV.
“We got bored, mom.” Liz rolled her eyes and buried her head in Tim’s lap. He exchanged glances with Veronica. This cannot be good.

He didn’t deny the fact that he was beginning to have feelings for Liz. After they both showed their vulnerability towards each other in the forest it seems like they only got closer to each other. Something Rod and Veronica will certainly not get used to. Especially Rod.

“Oh, well... I will make you guys strudels with hot chocolate, how does that sound?”
“Perfect.” Veronica nodded. Liz’s mother strolled out peacefully.
Then it was dead silent.
Tim didn’t know whether to start the conversation- and if did he didn't know what to say. What was appropriate to say, and how to say it. Things weren’t horrible at this point and all Tim knew he was being punked by some high school drop outs. But there was also the reality that held reasonable factors in this situation. Like Michelle's body, and the custodian house. Or what about that bloody hand print on the door where they found Steve? He guess everyone forgot about it. He didn’t blame them- so much happened after that, it didn’t matter anymore. He only felt sympathy for the people stuck in the school still... Tammy... Ha! Let Tammy die. Tim smiled at his thought.
“What are you smiling for, buck-o?” Steve raised an eyebrow.
“Just had a funny thought, that’s it.”
“Like what?” Liz popped her head up.
“Nothing.” Tim forced a smile.
“C’mon, tell us.” Alan budged on.
“It had to of been funny for you to smile about it, Tim.”
“Yeah well... you all are just trying to keep distant from the reality by distracting yourself.” Veronica spoke quietly. “I say we talk about it- Michelle's body.”
“Oh my gosh.” Rod put his hands over his ears and began shaking, rocking back and forth on the floor. Liz moved down towards him and wrapped her arms around him.
“Should we go to Lake house?”
“If there is a killer on the loose we should get out of town.” Richie suggested.
“How do we know this killer is Alan Crandall?” Liz asked.
“We don’t, were assuming. I still think its a prank.” Richie laughed and smiled at Alan who was smiling back at him.
“Listen fly away queers.” Steve cleared his throat. “We go report this crap to the police and get on with our lives. We’re seniors, we cannot be held back by murders.”
“That was the stupidest thing you have said all night Steve.” Veronica laughed.
“Actually...” Tim started then stopped again. “Never mind.”
“Oh C’mon Timothy!” Alan said. “Tell us.”
“Tammy. We use Tammy as bait to see who this real killer is. If she dies then we go to the police, good?”
“Good.” Everyone but Steve said in unison.
“No!” Steve yelled. Liz’s mom came back in and gave each of them their strudels and hot chocolate, then she left. “Tammy is my love, I’m not going to let you kill her.”
“So were Brenda Ward and Lori Turner.” Veronica rolled her eyes.
“Then there was Sandra Parker.” Richie added.
“And Mary Reed.” Alan laughed.
“Let’s not forget your little crush on Dawn Martinez.” Everyone laughed.
"Dawn was more than a little crush, she was my longest lasting girlfriend, 2 years." Steve sighed. Tim could see in Steve's face that he still loved her. "Besides Alan, what happened with you and Samantha Garfield? I know you guys have been broken up since November, but why?"
"We argued way too much the 2 weeks before it happened. We still like each other as close friends though. Hell, we still screw each other time and time again." Alan grinned.
Rod took his hands from over his ears and smiled.
“What’s going on Rod?” Tim playfully punched Rod on the shoulder.
“Nothing.” Rod let out a deep breath. “Parents getting divorced, murderer on the lose, little sister murdered...” Alan interrupted.
“Well technically we don’t know that she's dead.”
“Alan, shut up.” Liz finally spoke up.
“Rod control your bossy princess.” Richie rolled his eyes. “Someone let the rich b***h out her cage early.”
“Bet it was Rod.” Alan laughed.
“Now we know who let the dogs out.” Steve smiled.
“Guys, c’mon.” Tim budged in. “Leave Elizabeth alone.”
“Oh Prince Timmy came to the rescue.” Richie raised his voice to a high pitch tone. “Oh Timmy.” He made his voice sound British. “Timmy, save me!”
“Haha!” Alan and Steve began laughed. Veronica did a small chuckle.
“Guys shut up!” Liz screamed.
“Now Princess Liz is here to save her Prince charming. Please, I know something is going on between you guys.” Richie made his voice go back to normal.
“Nothing is going on.” Liz looked at Rod.
“Ha, yeah.” Veronica whispered. “Let’s get back to business.”
“This is business. Tim are you and Liz....” Steve trailed off.
“No. No. No!”
“Okay then.” Rod cleared his throat. “Let’s get back to business.”
“Haha.” Richie and Alan began doing side talk, while Liz was talking to Rod and Veronica and Tim did a silent stare at each other.
In that short stare Tim read all her thoughts. Are you cheating on me? She asked him. Never. The flashback was from sophomore year when Tim had taken Tammy to the Winter formal dance. That flashback was powerful to Tim. Just like this moment is. Are you cheating on me? Her expression read. Tim didn't know what to say. He technically wasn’t, but that wasn't to say his thought about Liz were clean either. Never. Tim shook his head and Veronica smiled, then began talking to Richie.

Tim felt his world spin as his mind zoned out. He didn’t want to go back there- the day. The day where he really did cheat on Veronica. The day she confronted him and he lied. There were many things about that day that remind him of today. But he had other things to worry about. Liz’s father slamming the kitchen door open zoned Tim back in.
“I brought a friend! As soon as your mother said you were back Liz I had to pick up Stan.” A pale white boy with shaggy dirty blonde hair walked from the kitchen.
“At 2:30 in the morning dad, really?”
“Oh I was over his house anyways. His father wanted to try me at poker.” Liz’s father did a small laugh. “Anyways its better than the wannabe Beatles star in the corner next to you.”
“Honey that’s Rod.” Liz’s mother shouted from the kitchen.
“Oh.” His father paused then laughed again. “Ew.”
“Sorry sweetheart. We’re going to bed.” Her mother dragged her father up stairs and disappeared into a bed room.
Stan sat down caustically on the floor in the middle. Then it became quiet as everyone looked at him.
“Sacrifice.” Tim said.
“Sacrifice.” Everyone but Stan agreed.
“What on Earth does that mean?” His cluelessness on the subject made Tim laughed.
“Nothing.” Tim responded. “Do you know someone named Tammy?”
“Tammy Harrington?”
“Wow! Rich boy gets out.” Rod laughed.
“Yes, me, my sister and two loving parents love to hang out as a family.” Stan smiled.
“That’s all going to go downhill.” Rod moaned. “Your mother will cheat on your father will the mail man, get pregnant and then your little sister will be found dead in the woods.” He took a deep breath.
“Story. Of. Your. Life.” Alan and Rod picked up their glasses and toasted.
“Stan! Go home!” Liz squealed. “You are not needed here!”
“Wait- your sister was found murdered?” Stan looked at Rod.
“Yep, about an hour ago.”
“What do you think happened?”
“Well when your little sister is found beaten to a bloody pulp and has a knife jabbed in her neck you tell me what you think happened.” Rod rolled his eyes. “Anyways I’m over it. I just want to get wasted.”
“Whoo!” Tim and Steve clapped their hands.
“There is the Rodney we know!” Richie laughed.
“Rodney?” Veronica laughed. “I always thought your name was Roderick.”
“Ew, only losers have that name.” Tim said.
“My father’s name is Roderick.” Stan sneered.
“Tim’s point, exactly.” Liz smiled at Tim.
Oh the feelings coming back...
“Thanks Richard.” Rod laughed.
“Don’t forget Timothy.” Veronica raised an eyebrow and looked at Tim.
“And Steven!” Tim eagerly pointed to Steve.
Then they were all laughing and throwing strudels at each other. Well, everyone but Stan. Stan was in the corner thinking, thinking hard. Tim was no mind reader, but if suspects were up for murder, Stan would be number one.
“Okay.” Veronica calmed everyone down and began talking. “We leave for the lake house at 4 p.m.”
“Correct.” Alan replied.
“We come back next Friday?” Veronica asked.
“Yep, earlier if one of us gets knocked up.” Richie laughed and looked at Liz, then Tim.”
“Funny, a*****e.” Tim threw a pillow at Richie.
“Anyways!” Liz waved her arms in the air. “I seriously think that we shouldn’t go. We have a murder on the loose and we are suspects now.”
“No, we are eye witnesses. Get it right.” Alan corrected.
“She’s right, though.” Rod agreed. Shocking... “We should go somewhere far, far away.”
“Whose going to pay for our plane tickets?” Veronica asked.
“Liz.” Richie suggested as Liz punched him on the shoulder. She looked pretty hot when she just punched him... “Ow! Oh yeah, and it has to be somewhere I can find some of my mary-ja-wana.”
“You mean marijuana?” Veronica asked calmly.
“You say potato I say potato.”
“You said potato twice.” Tim smiled.
“Shut up, I hate you all, gosh.” Richie buried his face in the pillow.
“It has to be someplace far, and someplace with weed.” Veronica repeated. “Lets go to Mexico.”
“Haha!” Stan finally spoke up and laughed. “If a murder is on the loose what makes you think he doesn’t already have the equipment to hunt you guys down. If he saw you he’s after you, easy as that.”
“Well... rich boy does have a point.” Tim whispered.
“My eyes hurt.” Liz complained.
“Then go to bed, babe.” Rod put his arms around her.
“Well what would you do.” Richie popped his head up.
“Do what I call a run.” Stan did a sleazy smile. “Runners.”
“What the hell is a runner?” Veronica asked.
“Runners defeat the killer. Always.” Rod whispered. “I know where your going with this Stan.” Rod spoke casually. “I don’t like it.”
“Easy.” Stan ignored him. “Out of the five of you i assume 2 or 3 of you will come out dead. Based on your weakness I think Tim might be the first kill.”
“Okay, a*****e.” Tim rolled his eyes.
“Runners set up the trap for the killer, then run.” Stan smiled bigger. “Runners defeat the killer, always.” Then Stan got up and walked into the kitchen.
“That guy is freaky.” Tim whispered. “I think hes a killer in his own way.”
“I agree.” Liz whispered. “Guys guess what is almost here!” Liz screamed.
“Our deaths?” Richie asked calmly.
“No! Yes- No! My birthday! Tuesday is my birthday!”
“Oh snap!” Richie rolled his eyes. “Shut up.” He moaned.
“Hey, f**k off.” Rod stood up. “I hate the way you guys talk to Liz like she's some type of little girl!”
“She is a year younger than all of us; to me she is still just a child. But who am I to talk? I’m still a child at heart.” Veronica smiled.
“Richie and Alan and Steve.” He corrected. “You guys better get it together because Liz is going to be with us for a while.”
“That’s what Alan said about Sam.”
“Oh Samantha.” Alan groaned. “She was nice.”
“Yeah a*****e and I didn’t hurt her like you are hurting Liz.”
“Sam was not an annoying rich girl.” Steve corrected. Rod rolled his eyes and sat down next Liz again.
“Whatever.” Rod sneered.
“Anyways Sam and Alan really broke up because.” Richie laughed. “She’s a lesbian.”
“Ha.” Tim chuckled. “That’s what caused you to break up with her? I don’t know about you but-” Tim paused and looked at Veronica.
“Mhm.” Veronica smiled.
“Nah, we were just arguing so much.” Alan's voice fell. “But its fine.”
“And Steve, what about Dawn Martinez?” Tim asked. He knew Steve still loved her. He knew his feelings for Dawn would never go away.
“Dawn-” Steve laughed. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“What did Stan mean about runners?” Richie whispered and changed the subject.
“I don’t know- but I think we should find out.”
Then silence took over.