On news channels, in newspaper headlines, on street posters. On that solemn winter morning, the whole world first learnt the name of one dark haired teenage girl. A girl who would become a central figure to what would be a decade long mystery.

At 12:30 last night, a body of a 17 year old women was discovered. The daughter of London's international relation's governor. And a student of the controversial Buckingham academy. Maddie Blythe.

The gates of the academy were flooded with news reporters as early as six, and detectives at twelve were brought in to question the students on what was now apparent to be, a murder case.

To the advantage of the detectives, the students of the academy knew her well. How could they not, when she was the leader of the infamous Blythe girls. The tall, black haired, blue eyed goddess. Only second in looks to Apple, a necessary detail all the guys seemed keen to share. Those 'Blythe girls', however, were much harder to track down. And it was only three hours after they arrived at the school that they had found them, in the headmistresses office, with handkerchiefs in their eyes and their lawyers on stand by.

They didn't get much out of them. Two of the girls being pretty occupied comforting the blonde. And were inevitably forced to hand in the towel for the day and leave them to their grief. They didn't, however, leave empty handed. On their way out, a handsome black haired boy, in a dark leather jacket, gave them a tip that would become instrumental to their case. A night ago, an illegal barn rave had taken place around where the victim had been found. And it was reported, that the Blythe girls had attended this rave together.

"Fucking imbeciles," Eliza weeped into her palms. She was now a far cry from the usual ditzy blonde. Transformed into a haggard and spastic shadow of herself. Her blonde locks were un-styled and dead around her shoulders. And her eyeshadow had smudged her beyond recognition, like some pampered up Qingling panda.

"How could they not know what happened? Why the fuck are they wasting their time here?"

Eliza was the most attached to Maddie out of the three. For while they were a group, Apple and Betty had gotten particularly close, and Eliza and Maddie were childhood besties.

"They fucking took my Maddie, and those idiots are here hassling us about her enemies? Well of fucking course she had enemies, she's pretty, rich, and popular." Apple and Betty just held her, and let her continue her blather. It was always strange to hear how logical Eliza could sound when she was sober. Ninety percent of her life was spent 50 inches deep into ketamine.

Betty replied in a half sob, "It's okay Lizzy, she's in a better place now."

"Like hell she's in a better place! She was fucking murdered!" Eliza stormed out of the room in tears. And Betty ran after to comfort her.

"I just want you girls to know. Anything you need..." Apple looked back at the headmistress. Zipped up to her chin in black, in the most modest outfit Apple had ever seen her in. She had mascara running down her cheeks as if she'd been crying. But Apple knew it was all bull shit. Mrs Briar didn't give two shits about Maddie. She was her least favourite. More likely she was crying over all the shit press the school was getting again. It was the second death this year now.

"I know Miss," Apple smiled at her, before she left through the door to follow after her friends. Since seeing the headline on that bar TV, Apple hadn't been able to keep her hands from shaking. Hadn't been able to sit in the dark without startling at every shadow. Hadn't been able to even breath every time a teacher, a lawyer, a detective, came in to talk to them about Maddie.

Maddie Blythe was someone strange. Almost as strange as Apple. They had history. Had met before high school. Which was rare for Apple.

Not even a term had past in her last year of middle school before Apple had left. That incident had changed everything. Had fucked with her father's business. Had been talked into the ground by newspapers. And had gotten her shipped off to the bigger apple to finish middle school in boarding. When she came back, they left for the other side of London, where nobody knew them. And unfortunately, Butler and his possy's families seemed to have had the same idea. Trying to keep their kids from getting locked up and all.

"Where is she?" Apple asked when she reached a near by bathroom. 

Betty pointed to a stall tattooed 'shit faced', where muffled moans spilled from under the door.

Apple sighed, "Lets leave her for now, get her some hot coco, the cafe's open." Apple dragged Betty by the arm before she even got an answer. They walked down the halls in the strange absence of pubescent hubbub, classes being cancelled for the day due to the murder.

Betty was still sniffling beneath last night's makeup when she began, "do you think that," she choked on her sniffles, and wiped snot with her manicure. "Do you think that, just maybe, this could be our fault?"

Apple stopped them dead in her tracks, and turned to look Betty in the eyes.

Betty felt a shudder go up her spine. And all her muscles tensed as Apples grip on her arm hardened. She had never seen Apple look like that. So grave. So murderous. Red seemed to gleam from eyes.

"Never say that shit to anyone, you hear?" her voice barely concealed her anger.

Betty just nodded. Too stunned to do anything else. Her tears had dried right up. Apple never got angry. Not at her.

They continued in silence until they reached the school's cafe. A bricked up hell hole with a few circular tables set up.

"Hey there ladies," Reggie called to them with his usual swagger, getting up from his table of friends to saunter over.

"I swear to god blondie, one perverted comment and I'll gut you," Apple's tone could poison a druggie, she really wasn't in the mood to take Butler's minions bs, especially not today.

"Woah there princess, I came to see if you guys were doing okay," he looked down at Betty, still sniffling in Apple's arms.

His arrogant smile softened a little. "Come here," he opened up his arms at Betty. She didn't hesitate. Didn't give two shits if he just wanted her to give him head. She needed this. She slipped from Apple's arms and ran straight into his, burying her short black hair into his chest. All the waves of tears she had been holding for Eliza's sake crashed down at once.

"It's okay baby, let it all out," Reggie held Betty like she was more then just a booty call, coddling her out of the cafe, and into the hallway, leaving Apple standing there alone.

"Hey if you need a shoulder to cry on too, my lap is always open," another of Butler's goons hollered, and the table roared together.

Apple just flipped them off, and turned to the queue. She wasn't interested in catching the eye of the dark haired asshole she knew was also there. And she had much bigger problems now then a Russian hottie. Much much bigger. Her mind moved a million miles a second.

Where was she again? Apple and Maddie had history. They had gone to the same middle school. Maddie was a strange girl. She was the reason Apple had gotten introduced to Eliza and Betty. She was pretty, and popular. Everything Apple wanted to be. Apple admired her. Like a lot. The group was happy together. And all was well. Until it wasn't. Until last year. Until they began to hate each other almost as much as Cassian and Apple hated each other. And then everything wasn't so well anymore.