The Detective Game

Josh was sitting down at the table by the window in the library waiting for Emily. She was late, like always. He sighed, knowing full well that he had about another ten minutes before she would walk through the door. She was predictable when it came to things like this. So, instead of wasting his time, he opened the biology textbook that they had to read for class and began reading the chapter that had been assigned for homework, not noticing any one or thing until the sound of his best friend’s voice came breaking through his focus.
“Josh, I’m sorry I’m late but I was talking to Katie and she mentioned something about fundraising for the new books for the languages classes, and I just had to ask a few questions for the newspaper and I totally lost track of time.” Josh looked up from the book to see Emily frazzled and disoriented. He closed the book and noticed that her bushy ginger hair was down. She had forgotten to grab a ponytail holder again this morning. Like always, he had one on his wrist, which he handed her as he said,
“It’s fine Em. Let’s just get to work, okay?” She nodded enthusiastically, pulling her hair back out of her eyes.
“What was it again?” She asked, setting her plethora of random extracurricular supplies down on the table.
“The thing about the thingy.” He said, digging into his bag, looking for the sheet, but Emily had it out before he did.
“Right. You are very nondescript. It says here that we have to write a 7-page essay together about the themes that connect the books we have read so far this year. There are no real requirements, other than the length and that we have to work together. Sounds easy enough.” Em said within the span of a few seconds. Josh refused to understand how she was so…co...

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...here by where the noise had come from, and Emily wouldn’t let it go. Josh stood back and watched as she interrogated a girl he had seen, but never known.
“Hey, Courtney, did you hear that before?” She started off saying. Josh almost laughed. Subtly wasn’t really Em’s strong suit.
“Yeah, and it wasn’t me. There’s nothing for me to even make that loud of a sound in here, even by accident.” Josh noticed that she got defensive quickly. He didn’t know her, but by the way that she had tensed up, he assumed that she wasn’t always like that. Josh was also inclined to believe her, but there was no one else around, which Emily played on.
“Look around us Cor, no one else is here.” She said with a slight smile, thinking that she figured it out.
“There was someone else here, only a few moments ago. Girl looked a lot like that boy there.” Courtney said, pointing at Josh.