"They had him tested. He's a psychopath." - Sam

PART TWENTY FIVE
↳ suspicious minds

PENELOPE COULD HEAR JASONS SNORES from the opposite side of the church for the vast majority of the movie. She couldn't hold in a soft snort when she glanced over and saw him fast asleep on Clark's shoulder. The boys were in a similar position to Nell and Elle, with Elle still resting on Penelope's shoulder.

The Princess Bride had always been one of Penelope's favourite movies, there was some kind of magic about watching a film with people who you care deeply about. There's nothing quite like glancing over in your favourite parts to see if their smile is as wide as your own. Nell was glad that so many people had turned up, the teens definitely needed some normalcy in their lives right now.

Although no matter how much Penelope wished she could just forget all of her troubles for one night, she couldn't forget that while they all sat in companionable silence, Gordie was painstaking searching for Cassandra's killer.

Before she knew it, the movie was over and Penelope was thrust back into the real world. When the credits started rolling nobody was in a big rush to leave and plenty of people seemed to be grabbing seconds of the popcorn and staying to sit around and chat.

"Hey, Nell. Can I talk to you for a sec?" Grizz grabbed Penelope's attention while Harry and Elle were arguing about whether or not it should be legal to name your child 'Buttercup'. Harry seemed to be winning.

"Yeah, sure," Nell stood up and followed him to an empty corner by the entrance, looking back to smile at Harry and Elle as she did so.

"Okay so look, with everything going on... The guys and I think that it would be best for all of us to move into Allie's house- at least until everything settles down," Grizz's frown was prominent as he confessed the bad news to his best friend. Penelope knew that he wouldn't be leaving her alone like this unless he was truly worried for Allie's safety.

So it didn't take her long to consider her answer, "It's okay, Grizz. I completely understand."

He didn't seem convinced and opened his mouth to argue but Penelope stopped him, "Hey, listen to me. I swear, it's fine. I'm fine, I'll be fine. It's not like I still won't see you everyday."

She smiled up at him with sincerity in her eyes and he took in a deep breath and pulled her tightly to his chest, "Okay, I believe you."

"Besides," Nell mutters against Grizz's chest with a broad smirk, "this means I can have plenty of sleepovers with Harry."

Grizz pulls back with a grimace, "Ew, no way Penelope. You are not having sex on my bed, I swear to god if you-"

"Who's having sex on your bed?" Harry approaches the pair of best friends seemly out of nowhere, a wide grin on his face.

Penelope looked mortified and is suddenly grateful that the lights are still out to hide her crimson cheeks, "Uh- nobody. Nevermind. I'm suddenly ready for bed, you wanna walk me home?" She addresses Harry with her question, ignoring Grizz's smug face in her peripheral vision.

Harry gives her a perplexed look but nods along slowly, "Um- sure. We just gotta head past Elle's first cause Clark, Gwen and I promised we would walk her home."

Penelope looked at Grizz and a sudden, brilliant idea came to her. "Oh no, don't worry about that. I think Elle is gonna stay with me for a little while."

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

The morning air is crisp against Penelope's cheeks as she sits beside Grizz on Allie's porch. She pulls her black hoodie over her head, hunching over as the cool wind tickles her face. It's been a week since movie night and everyone grows more restless by the day as they wait for Gordie to come up with a suspect.

Elle has been staying with Penelope in Grizz's room most days,  occasionally Nell will spend the night with Harry and so Elle stays with Helena instead. She's managed to avoid Campbell so far, but that could surely not last forever.

Harry and Penelope have been doing okay, Nell is still suspicious of Harry's drug abuse problem but she does what she can to help him. Although he still hangs out with Nell and the boys, he's been starting to spend more time with Campbell and some of the other guys with bad reputations.

And each day, the guilt of knowing who may have killed Cassandra grows more and more inside Penelope. Sure she can't know for certain that it was Dewey, but she can't help but wonder if she's only delaying the inevitable by keeping the suspicion to herself?

Back in the present, Grizz has picked up on his friends somber mood and is trying to get her to confess why she's upset with the promise of chamomile tea and homemade cookies.

"Come on, I know that look Nell. Tell me what's up right now, I'll grab us some chamomile tea and some cookies I baked yesterday," he urges, nudging her gently with his shoulder.

Nell looks at him for a few moments, deciding how to proceed.

"I just... have a lot on my mind, that's all," she can't meet his eyes and instead pulls her knees up to her chest and picks the easier option, retreating inside of herself.

"No, hey. Look at me," he gently presses his pointer finger against the tip of her nose and pouts lightly, "Spill, Nell."

Penelope sits up and meets his eyes. She had considered telling someone her secret probably since the moment she woke up in this place. She'd wanted to tell Harry more than once but had decided each time that he couldn't be trusted as long as he was still using.

So there was Grizz. Selfless, caring, one of a kind, Grizz. Could she trust him?

She takes a deep breath and gathers her thoughts before she asks, "What would you do if you knew something that might help your friends but they would think you were crazy if you tried to explain how you know?"

Grizz looked taken aback of course but he mulled it over for a few moments, "That's um- oddly specific, but okay."

"I guess, if it could help my friends I'd want them to know. Regardless of whether they think I'm crazy or not. I'd put them first," he finished, satisfied with his answer.

Penelope looks away and nods once to herself, her mind made up, "I think Dewey killed Cassandra."

"Wha- why? How?" Grizz's voice rises dramatically as he gapes at her. He wasn't sure what he was expecting but it certainly wasn't that. "Did something come back to you from that night?"

"I- no, not really. Just, trust me. Search his house. He'll have a gun, Grizz."

Grizz considers her words for a few long minutes before he finally stands and looks down at the redhead with a frown, "I'm calling a council meeting."

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

Thankfully Grizz had neglected to ask any more difficult questions after he sent the group text out to the council members, the pair waited on Allies porch in a heavy silence as they each arrived.

Luke was the last to show up and once he was in sight they all gathered in Allie's rather spacious kitchen as the teens waited for Grizz to say something. Penelope was almost afraid for him to speak, would he tell them the truth? That she had barely given him an ounce of proof to back up her claim?

"So, something has come to Penelope and I's attention-" he starts, but it quickly interrupted by Gordie.

"Wait- I know you called the meeting Grizz but there's something I gotta say before we start. It's about a possible suspect for Cassandra's murder." Penelope's eyes widened. She'd forgotten that today was the day Dewey pretty much admitted that he killed her to Harry.

Grizz looked understandably confused as well, "Wait, really? That's why I called the meeting. A possible suspect."

Allie creased her eyebrows in confusion as she looked between the boys, "Okay, so who?"

Gordie and Grizz made eye contact as they both pronounce, "Dewey," at the same time.

"Wait Dewey, as in Greg Dewey?" Will asks, dumbfounded.

"Yeah, Greg Dewey," Grizz begins but is distracted by whatever it is Luke is doing by the sink, "Hey are you seriously making a protein shake right now?"

"No..." theres a few moments of silence while Luke stares back at everyone, embarrassed. Penelope tilts her head at him and he takes the hint, plopping into the empty seat beside her.

"Okay so what makes you guys think it's him?" Becca asks, looking between Grizz, Penelope and Gordie.

"Well Harry said we should look for a gun at Dewey's place," Gordie admits. Everyone looks to Grizz and Penelope for confirmation. Grizz looks taken aback and suddenly turns to Penelope with a conflicted expression.

"Wait did Harry put you up to this Nell?" The accusatory tone makes her blink in shock.

"W-What? No! Do you really think I would make shit up for him?" Penelope urges, surprised at her friends lack of faith in her.

"I know you like the guy Nell but seriously, are you lying for him? This can't be a coincidence!" Grizz's harsh words serve as a bitter reminder that no matter how much she tries to change things, these people will never truly trust Harry.

"I'm not lying for him, Grizz. I swear to god, I had my own suspicion."

Allie stands, putting her hands up as if to calm the people before her, "Hey! Chill you guys. Look even if what Harry was being genuine, why wouldn't he just come and tell us himself?"

Will doesn't hesitate to announce, "Uh, Harry's a fucking pussy." Nobody argues with him on that and Penelope bites her tongue, not wanting to make the situation any worse for herself.

"Why Cassandra? Greg didn't even know her. I mean, why would he care?" Allie wonders.

"Maybe Harry put him up to it, maybe he made him confess so he could take the heat off of himself," Grizz predicts and Nell bites her lip to keep from exploding

"-Like some deep mind control," Luke adds, agreeing.

"Right, exactly."

Allie watches Penelope closely, as if considering something. Then she turns to Gordie, "Do you believe Harry?"

Gordie looks at Nell with a small smile, "Look. It's gonna sound weird, but I do. When he came up to me, he seemed, like, upset."

"It doesn't matter. We have to arrest Dewey," Will intercedes.

"Arrest him? What do you mean, arrest him? Like, go just go nab him off the street?" Allie looks furious.

"Yes, if he confessed-"

"What if Harry's lying?" Becca speaks up, she almost looks guilty when she meets Penelope's eyes.

"We can't take any chances. Dewey could hurt somebody. We have to arrest him and search his house for the gun," Penelope doesn't know what to say to Will's plan. She knows that it's bound to lead to Deweys death, but she isn't sure if it's up to her to stop this path in it's tracks before it's too late.

"Could you handle something like that?" Allie directs her question at the two members of the guard.

"I mean, yeah, if we got up, like, ass-early in the morning," Luke admits.

"Pre-dawn raid," Grizz suggests.

"Yeah, like a pre-dawn raid, you know, like, take him by surprise."

"Yeah, I got handcuffs," Grizz says with a completely straight face. Everyone falls silent as they stare at him with wide, unsure eyes.

The earlier squabble forgotten, Penelope grins and backs him up, "Yeah, he does." This time, the five pair of eyes land on her with various looks of confusion.

"You mean, like actual handcuffs? Or the ones you get with a Halloween costume from Walgreens," Luke pronounces slowly, as if he doesn't necessarily want to know the answer.

"Nope," Grizz begins.

"Actual handcuffs," Penelope finishes with a smirk. Let them think what they want.

"Look, just say thank you. Okay?"

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whoop two updates in three days yall must be blessed. also PS if i use the same gif or quote twice just lemme know cause its getting hard to keep track of :/

ALSO just a reminder that yall can listen to the playlist for this book on spotify, i update it regularly w songs that i usually listen to while writing or that are mentioned in the story c:

anyways heres ur meme pls enjoy