Hey there and welcome back to my blog! So, I'm back with another short story series!! I think the last time I did a short story series was at the end of December, and that was my Christmas short story. I was really proud of that short story, and I'm excited to share a new one with you!!!!
This one is called Innocent Until Proven Guilty. I feel like the title somewhat speaks for itself, but this is obviously going to be a mystery short story. So, I'm not really going to explain what it's about...I'm just going to let you read and you'll know what it's about soon enough.
I'm so excited to share this with you!! I think I'm going to post a new chapter every week. It will most likely be every Thursday because that's when new podcast episodes come out. (By the way, season seven of my podcast is coming next Thursday! It's going to be a good new season!!) But, I'm posting the first chapter on a Saturday because there's already a blog post that came out on Thursday. So, here's chapter one!! Happy reading!!
Chap. one
“I promised…” he gasped for breath. “That I would protect you. And I intend to keep that promise.”
Astrid watched her brother as he clutched his chest in pain. She didn’t know what to do or say. She was watching her only brother fighting for his life, and she couldn’t do anything about it except watch.
Or…she could wake up from her dream and figure out her already falling apart life.
It was a Sunday, Astrid’s favorite day of the week. She was ready for the day, but not ready to face her life.
Ever since the day a few months ago when her brother had turned himself in for murdering his best friend, Astrid knew something was off.
She knew her brother wasn’t capable of murder. She knew he didn’t do it, but no one believed her. And, she intended to prove herself. She intended to clear her brother’s name.
“Astrid? Are you ready to go to the beach?” Mom asked, clearing away the breakfast dishes.
“Yep, sure am.” She nodded, drinking the rest of her orange juice and putting the cup in the dishwasher.
“Okay. We’re bringing Archie with us, and…I still need to get the sunscreen from the laundry room…what else?” Mom wondered, thinking out loud.
“Umm…I think Frank is coming. Can I get Archie’s little bag packed?” Astrid picked up the white lab and grabbed his mini backpack to put some snacks in.
“Yeah, get Archie ready to go. Is Frank meeting us there?” Mom asked.
“Yes. He actually wanted to have dinner with me later, if that’s okay. That’s why he’s driving.”
Mom thought for a minute. “Okay, I guess that’s fine. Dad will be home from work at six tonight, and I will expect you home no later than 10:30. Okay?”
Astrid nodded, smiling to herself as she thought about having a dinner date with her boyfriend.
Once they were all packed up and in the car, Astrid stroked her fingers over her dog’s fur. Then she looked over at her mom, “Are we going by McDonald’s to grab breakfast?”
Mom nodded. “Yes. Let’s get going. Do you think we have everything?”
Astrid laughed. “Yes, mom. We have everything!” She moved her hands off Archie’s back to fix her red hair.
Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up to the beach. Astrid got out and set Archie on the ground, clipping his leash onto his collar.
Then, she helped her mom drag out the beach bag filled with lunch, snacks, sunscreen, beach towels, and more random things.
“Okay, why don’t you go find Frank and I’ll set us up a spot to sit.”
When Astrid approached the light blue Volkswagen, she put a big smile on her face, watching her boyfriend get out.
Frank closed the car door and locked it, coming over to give her a big hug. And then, he bent down to give Archie a big hug as well.
“How are you today?” he asked, running a hand through his smooth, brown hair.
“Good, I think,” she said, trying not to mumble. She didn’t feel 100%, and she hadn’t felt 100% in a while. She thought for a second about asking Frank again about her brother, but thought better of it. The first time she had mentioned it, he had kindly pushed the subject away because he didn’t want her worrying herself into danger. He thought that if she let the thought that her brother was innocent take over her mind, she might chase after it and get herself into trouble.
“Well, I’m glad you’re at least okay, considering. But, we’re going to fix your mood today. Today’s going to be a good day, Ash. I promise.”
Deep down, he knew she was struggling. He knew anyone would struggle with the thought that someone they loved was somewhere they shouldn’t be. And, she knew he loved her, but he needed time before he agreed to help her clear her brother’s name.
Astrid kissed him on the cheek. “Today’s going to be a good day,” she repeated.
Frank put a hand on her shoulder, looking straight into her eyes. He was telling her, I believe you, without really saying it at all.
“Where’s your mom?” he asked, taking his hand away from her shoulder.
“She said she was going to set up our little picnic. I’m not sure which way she went, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find her.”
Astrid began walking Archie away from Frank’s car, and Frank followed.
Ten minutes later, they found her mom. She was sitting on a beach towel eating a sandwich. A purple umbrella was pushed into the sand to cover them from the sun.
Astrid let Archie off of his leash and sat down with him on the towel. Frank followed and sat beside her.\
“Are you guys hungry? I brought ham and cheese sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, pimento cheese, and roast beef. There’s also some fruit and chips. The fruit is in the cooler, and there are some drinks in there too.”
Astrid smiled at her mom, and pulled a sprite out of the cooler. “Of course we’re hungry.”
Once they had finished eating, Astrid put Archie back on his leash and motioned for Frank to join her on a walk along the beach.
“We’re going to go on a walk,” Astrid said, looking over at her mom. “Wanna come?”
“No thanks. I’m going to read a bit and then pack up and head home. Why don’t you let me take Archie?”
“Okay,” Astrid said, handing her mom the dog. “Do you want us to help you pack up the car?”
“No, I think I can get it all. Have fun this afternoon! And remember your curfew!” Her mom said.
Astrid nodded. “I promise I’ll be back before curfew. Love you! See you later!”
“So, are we going to talk about clearing your brother’s name?” Frank asked, putting his hands in his pockets as he walked along the beach.
“Yeah. We can talk about that,” Astrid said. “Will you help me clear his name?” she asked.
Frank nodded. “You know, I’ve given it a lot of thought, and at first I really didn’t think it was a good idea for you to do. I mean, what if he isn’t innocent and you figure that out, and it really hurts you?”
Astrid looked up at her boyfriend. “I get where you’re coming from, but I can’t even live with the fact that he’s gone. I need him back home or I won’t be good.”
“Okay. But how will we prove his innocence?”
“We will. We simply will. We just need to find enough evidence to convince the police, or convince someone that he didn’t do it. He wouldn’t do it.”
After the words had left her mouth, she felt a tear start rolling down her cheek. When Frank noticed, he stopped walking, and she stopped too.
“I trust you,” he said, wiping the tear off her cheek. “I’m sorry it took me so long to really tell it to you. But, I trust you, and I know that if your brother is innocent, we can prove it. Somehow, someway.” He grabbed her hand gently and they continued walking.
“I trust you too. And I do believe we can do it. It might not be easy, but we can do it.” Astrid smiled as she felt her red hair blow in the wind.
When they finally turned around and headed back to where the car was parked, Astrid noticed a black bird sitting on the sand a little ways away from the water. It looked like the bird was staring at her, and she was a little confused at first. She closed her eyes for a moment, then when she opened them, the bird was gone. Must have been nothing, she thought, running a little to catch up to Frank.
One thing I decided I wanted to do for this short story was add little easter eggs of music and other things that I enjoy. So, as you're reading, see if you can find any song titles, artists names, references to books or shows...You never know, I might be sprinkling little fun easter eggs in each chapter!! (There's at least two in this one.)
Astrid told her mom 'see you later' when she was leaving to go on a walk with Frank. That's a reference to See You Later (a song) by Jenna Raine (which I'm currently listening to lol). And, at the end, Astrid sees a black bird, which most likely is a crow. That was a reference to The Vampire Diaries books, when Damon shows up as a black crow in the graveyard.
Okay, so I really hope you enjoyed reading the first chapter!! Come back next week for more!! ~Ella
Super duper! I really like it.