Adventures in Funeral Crashing Funeral Crashing 1

Adventures In Funeral Crashing
Funeral Crashing Trilogy #1 By Milda Harris Smashwords Edition Copyright 2010 by Milda Harris http !!www"mildaharris"#om! $is#o%er other titles by Milda Harris at Smashwords"#om http !!www"smashwords"#om!pro&ile!%iew!mildaharris Co%er 'rt by Brett (ilbert http !!www"brettgilbert"#om Edited by )auren Cramer This boo* is a wor* o& &i#tion" The names+ #hara#ters+ pla#es+ and in#idents are produ#ts o& the writer,s imagination or ha%e been used &i#titiously and are not to be #onstrued as real" 'ny resemblan#e to persons+ li%ing or dead+ a#tual e%ents+ lo#ales+ or organi-ations is entirely #oin#idental" 'll rights are reser%ed" .o part o& this boo* may be used or reprodu#ed in any manner whatsoe%er without written permission &rom the author" Table of Contents Chapter 1 Funeral Crashing Chapter 2 Crushing Chapter / 0orrying Chapter 1 Con&essing Chapter 2 3n%estigating Chapter 4 Sleuthing Chapter 5 Finger 6ointing Chapter 7 3nspe#ting Chapter 8 3n9uiring Chapter 10 6ower )un#hing Chapter 11 Funeral $ating Chapter 12 Frea*ing Chapter 1/ 3nterrogating Chapter 11 $it#hing Chapter 12 $ouble $ating Chapter 14 :issing Chapter 15 6ani#*ing Chapter 17 Suspe#ting

Chapter 18 Murder Sol%ing Chapter 20 Home#oming E;#erpt < The .ew (irl 0ho Found ' $ead Body 'bout the 'uthor

Chapter 1: Funeral Crashing
Funeral #rashing is a little weird+ 3 suppose+ &or someone my age" 3,m si;teen+ almost se%enteen+ and 3 =ust started my =unior year at 6alos High S#hool in 6alos+ 3)" 3t,s in the southwest suburbs o& Chi#ago" Still+ 3,m not Harold &rom Harold and Maude+ =ust to ma*e that #lear" 3 lo%e mo%ies and that one is &unny and dar*+ but 3,m not li*e him" 3 don,t stage &a*e sui#ides or dri%e a hearse" He was dar* and somber and totally weird" 3 don,t thin* 3,m li*e that" 3 li*e normal things li*e regular #ars" '#tually+ 3,d really lo%e a bright blue #on%ertible" 'nd+ 3,m not obsessed with death" 3 =ust li*e going to &unerals" 3,m *ind o& young to be a pro&essional mourner+ though+ right> That,s what they #all it i& you,re old s#hool" 3t tends to be in re&eren#e to groups o& old ladies+ who =ust lo%e to attend &unerals" Maybe they,re trying to get ideas &or their own &uneral" Maybe they want to beat the ?oneses, and get a shinier #o&&in and better &lowers than their neighbor had" @r+ maybe they =ust li*e &unerals+ li*e 3 do" 'nd+ when 3 say &unerals+ 3,m in#luding the wa*e and the a#tual burial" They,re both part o& the same pro#ess" 3 a#tually on#e &ound a website ad%ertising an e;#iting #areer as a pro&essional mournerA 3,ll admit it < 3 was googling" 3t said you #ould ma*e B200 a day and all you had to do was start #alling &uneral homes and o&&er your ser%i#es" .ow that,s an awesome a&ter s#hool =obA So+ 3 #alled+ but none o& them #alled me ba#*" 3 guess it wasn,t a lu#rati%e #areer a&ter all" 3t doesn,t matter" 3 go to them anyway &or &ree" 3 *now+ 3 *now" 0hat more #an 3 say to e;plain> 3t,s simple" Super simple" 3 happen to li*e &unerals and 3 #ompletely reali-e that it ma*es me seem li*e a totally and utterly bi-arre girl" @*ay+ 3,m weird" Ces+ 3,m a &rea*" 3 admit it" Hey+ 3,m not going to ma*e &un o& you &or singing along to the latest Miley Cyrus or ?ustin Bieber song or anything" Cou *now you do" Those songs are #at#hy" Belie%e me+ it wouldn,t be the &irst time someone told me 3 was weird" My e;<best &riend+ 'riel 0al*er+ lo%es to tell me how strange 3 am whene%er she gets the #han#e" D:ait )eno; is a &rea*AE tends to &ollow me around e%erywhere+ at least when 'riel is around" 3,m usually busy trying to blend into the wall when she wal*s by now" 3t ma*es li&e easier+ mu#h easier+ and 3,%e a#tually gotten 9uite good at it" 3 doubt most o& the student population e%en *nows 3 e;ist+ unless 'riel points me out to them or something" 'riel was named a&ter The Little Mermaid" Cou *now+ the really #ute *ids mo%ie> Her mother lo%ed it" 0ell+ my e;<b&& 'riel didn,t grow up to be a sweet little singing mermaid+ let me tell you" 0e were best &riends until our &reshman year o& high s#hool and then poo&A She was gone with the popular #rowd+ li*e we had ne%er e%en *nown ea#h other" 0ell+ we don,t *now ea#h other unless she stops to tell me how weird 3 am" Then she,s happy to tal* to me" That was the year my mother died too" Can you belie%e that> See what 3 mean> 'riel is not a ni#e and sweet singing mermaid" Her mother should ha%e named her Frsula+ a&ter the Sea 0it#h" Ces+ my mother died a little o%er a year and a hal& ago" She had o%arian #an#er+ but

by the time the do#tors &ound it+ it had already spread" 3t was li*e one minute she was diagnosed and two months later she was gone" 3 try not to thin* about it" 3t still ma*es me really sad and i& 3 dwell on it+ 3 =ust get depressed" 3 start thin*ing about things li*e i& 3 e%er get married she won,t be there" .ot that 3 remotely ha%e any prospe#ts+ but you *now+ i& 3 e%er do" 3 miss her" 3 really miss her" 3,d gi%e anything to ha%e her ba#* and wipe away those last two months" The last moments my mother was ali%e+ she was un#ons#ious in our li%ing room+ dying" 3t,s still depressing to wal* into the li%ing room" 3 #an almost still see where the hospital bed was+ e%en though my dad has repla#ed it with a leather #ou#h and a brand new &lat s#reen TG" 0e all deal with grie& in di&&erent ways" The &uneral was a#tually a relie&" 3t was the &irst &uneral 3 had e%er attended" 3 mean nobody in my &amily or any &amily &riends or anything had died in the &ourteen plus years 3 had been ali%e and then the &irst one to go+ is my mom" Sure+ 3 had grandparents die be&ore 3 was born+ but 3 wasn,t born yet+ so 3 ne%er *new them" 'nyway+ it was a memorable &irst &uneral" 3 lo%ed my mom more than anything else and it was #om&orting ha%ing all o& the people who lo%ed her all around us+ e%en i& most o& them were =ust &amily" 'nd+ you *now what> 3t was a ni#e &uneral &or being really depressing and all" 3t was really #ool hearing all the stories about my mom" Things she had ne%er mentioned to me" )i*e+ 3 didn,t *now she li%ed in )os 'ngeles+ Cali&ornia &or three months when she was twenty<si; =ust to see i& she li*ed it" She slept on her &riend,s #ou#h and e%erythingA She was too in lo%e with my dad at the time to stay+ but wow+ my mom had an ad%entureA She li%ed in HollywoodA 0here they ma*e mo%iesA 3 lo%e mo%ies" Maybe one day 3,ll go into &ilmma*ing e%en" But+ anyway+ my mom was there in )' with the mo%ie starsA How #ool is that> .eedless to say+ the &uneral was a#tually the best part o& that whole ordeal" 3 sound intelle#tual there+ don,t 3+ using the word ordeal> 3 li*e to read too H anything and e%erything" My &a%orite boo*s range &rom The Shining by Stephen :ing I%ery #reepyJ to Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mit#hell I#lassi# roman#eJ to Shopaholic by Sophie :insella I&unny #hi# litJ" See+ 3,m not all dar* and dreary" ' good boo* is a good boo* when you li*e to read as mu#h as 3 do" 3 suppose some o& my reading a&&inity #omes &rom my best &riend ha%ing dit#hed me+ be#oming the weird girl+ and ha%ing no &riends at all upon starting high s#hool" Suddenly+ you get a lot o& time on your hands to do stu&& li*e read" So+ yeah+ 3,m not a (oth girl+ by the way" 3 don,t wear all bla#* and 3 ha%en,t dyed my hair bla#* either" 3 did put blea#h blonde highlights into my hair last year+ but they,%e all *ind o& grown out now and my hair is mostly ba#* to it,s reddish blonde again" 3t,s *ind o& rusty really" My mom always said it was strawberry blonde and that it made my green eyes stand out" 3 thin* she was =ust being my mom be#ause my hair loo*s rusty to me" @h+ and to be (oth you ha%e to *now it inside out and be good at &ashion+ in a (oth way" 3t,s not all =ust wearing bla#* and 3,m not good at &ashion+ by any means" 3 mostly =ust wear =eans and T<shirts" To the &unerals+ 3 dress up and yes+ 3 do wear bla#*" 3t,s a &uneral+ you,re supposed to" Cou,re respe#ting and remembering the dead+ you *now> Cou should loo* ni#e and bla#* is the a##epted #olor &or mourning" Besides+ the whole point o& #rashing is to blend into the wa*e or &uneral and &it in+ so a bla#* out&it #an be *ey" 'nd+ 3 am there to mourn with them+ so it,s good to play the part"

So+ basi#ally+ 3,m not a total &rea*+ li*e 'riel 0al*er ma*es me out to be" 3 =ust li*e &unerals+ whi#h is why 3,m at a wa*e on 0ednesday night+ instead o& at home wat#hing #rappy reality tele%ision shows or teen dramas li*e e%eryone else" 'nd+ o*ay+ we do ha%e T3G@ and 3 #an always #at#h them online later+ so it,s not li*e 3,m missing anything" 3t,s a wa*e &or )i- @,Keilly" She was only nineteen and died o& a drug o%erdose < a heroin drug o%erdose to be e;a#t" 3t made the paper" There ha%e been a lot o& o%erdoses at )aurel Community College in the last two months and it,s not the *ind o& area you,d thin* would ha%e a ma=or drug problem" 3 mean+ pot+ sure+ but heroin> Heroin is a hard#ore drug" 3t,s something you,d e;pe#t to see a problem with in the inner #ity+ not here in the s9uea*y #lean suburbs" 3 saw the news arti#le be&ore 3 e%en read the obituary" The obituary =ust said she was ta*en too soon &rom her lo%ing &amily" .obody wants to admit that their *id was a druggie" Things li*e that are ne%er in the obituary" Her pi#ture is what really got to me" 3t made my heart #onstri#t and e%erything+ it was so sad" )i- was really pretty &rom the photo" Cou,d ne%er e%en thin* o& her as using drugs+ at least not enough to o%erdose" 6ot+ maybe" 'l#ohol+ sure+ she,s a teenager" Heroin+ no way would she be the type to e%en try it" 3 guess you #an ne%er tell+ though" 3t,s #ra-y" )i- loo*ed li*e your a%erage 'meri#an girl < dar* hair+ green eyes+ tall+ thin+ and young" 3,d bet anything that they used her high s#hool graduation photo &or the obituary" 3t =ust loo*ed li*e one o& those photos" )i- was smiling and #lear eyed+ and had her whole li&e ahead o& her" .ow+ instead+ a year later+ she was dead and 3 was attending her &uneral" Cou ne%er *new where li&e would ta*e you or when it would be ta*en away &rom you" Carpe diem+ you *now> 's a note+ you ha%e to be #are&ul when #rashing a &uneral or a wa*e" 3 usually stay toward the ba#* and *eep my head down" 3 li*e listening to e%eryone else tal*+ but 3 don,t a#tually want to get in on the #on%ersation" Tal*ing to people is a good way to get #aught &uneral #rashing" 3 mean+ you #an tal* to people+ but you ha%e to be %ery+ %ery #are&ul what you say" 0hen the only in&o you ha%e on a person is &rom an online obituary+ it,s %ery easy to get #aught in a lie" Then again+ it,s not li*e the de#eased is going to sit up in their #o&&in and say+ D.o+ 3 de&initely don,t *now that girl with the rusty hair"E Cou also don,t want to be only one o& three people in attendan#e" Small &unerals are a de&inite no<no" Then you,re really &or#ed to tal* about the de#eased and i& you don,t a#tually *now them+ well+ people don,t ta*e too *indly to &uneral #rashers" 3t,s always better to attend a large &uneral+ so that people don,t get too nosy about why you,re there" 'nd+ li*e 3 said+ 3,%e gotten %ery good at blending into the wall in high s#hool+ so 3,m pretty good at it at &unerals too" 'lthough+ there was this one time that 3 didn,t blend so well" .ot that 3,%e e%er gotten #aught+ e;a#tly+ but when 3 &irst started &uneral #rashing 3 did ha%e a hi##up" 3t was the only time 3,%e almost gotten #aught" 3nstead o& =ust sitting down and #asually mingling+ 3 got into a #on%ersation and an old man #aught me in a lie about his dead nephew and started s#reaming at me" That,s when 3 made my rule about only minimally tal*ing to people" 3t was a horri&i# s#ene" 3 a#ted li*e he,d gone #ra-y with grie& and then 3 &eigned ha%ing to go to the restroom really+ really badly" 3 ended up #limbing out the window to es#ape" 3 ne%er wanted that to happen again" 3 wasn,t trying to hurt anyone" 3 =ustLwanted to be there" 3 &igured )i-,s &uneral would be big enough+ being that she was young and all+ that 3

#ould blend in with any o& the #ollege students that might be there" 3 was right" There weren,t a thousand+ li*e 3 would ha%e thought+ but they may ha%e been waiting to turn out at the end o& the night H the whole &ashionably late thing" Still+ there were enough o& them that 3 wouldn,t loo* #onspi#uous" 3 had =ust thought that most o& )aurel Community College would show up" 3 mean+ )i- had died so young+ but maybe )i- alienated people when she started to use drugs" 3 *now 3 would ha%e been mad at her &or *illing hersel&" Still+ it is a big &uneral" 3t loo*s li*e mostly relati%es and &amily &riends" There are barely any seats in the %iewing room+ people are =ust milling around+ and it is still early" Cou #an tell that all o& her relati%es are here" That woman in the #orner surrounded by people loo*s li*e it #ould be )i-,s mom" 3t is pro&oundly sad" My heart =ust wants to rea#h out to her" 3 *now how she &eels+ e;#ept the other way around+ sin#e 3 ha%e lost my mom" 3 mean+ 3,m not going to go up to her and tell her that 3 ha%e &elt the same way be#ause then 3,d get as*ed the worst 9uestion you #ould possibly get as*ed when you #rash a &uneral H DHow do you *now )i->E Cou ha%e to be #are&ul how you answer that+ i& someone as*s you" 3 mean H a long lost #ousin> 0ell+ there tends to be a &amily historian in e%ery bun#h and you #an easily get #aught i& you say you,re related" That,s what happened that time 3 almost got #aught by the old man" He was the &amily historian and *new e%eryone,s name ba#* until they landed on the 'meri#as" Seriously" 'nyway+ it #an wor* sometimes+ but not always+ as 3 &ound out" So+ it,s ris*y" 'n old+ long lost &riend> Ceah+ well+ that doesn,t 9uite wor* i& the de#eased is &orty< &i%e and you,re si;teen" They tend to thin* something weird is going on then" .ineteen and si;teen> That #ould wor* &or me" )i- and 3 probably loo*ed around the same age" 3 #ould pass &or a young nineteen" 3 mean+ who #an tell these days anyway" There are people in my #lass who loo* thirty<&i%e" 0ould 3 e%er =ust admit to &uneral #rashing> 3,m sure there would be a situation where you #ould say that+ ni#er o& #ourse+ but 3 wouldn,t" 6eople might get out their pit#h&or*s and burn you at the sta*e" 3t,s not a hobby that people ta*e *indly to+ e%en though 3,m =ust here to mourn along with the rest o& them" 3 mean+ who says you ha%e to *now someone in order to #elebrate their li&e and &eel sad about them dying> Cou *now> 3 thin* it,s a ni#e thing+ what 3,m doing" 3 #are about people" Still+ when you go around telling people that you #rash &unerals+ they don,t &eel that way about it+ no matter how 3,%e intended it" So+ be&ore 3 e%er show up to a &uneral or a wa*e+ 3 ma*e sure to read the obituary and do some (oogle resear#h" 3& 3 #an &ind anything about the de#eased and their &amily+ it always lea%es me more prepared" 'nd+ 3 always+ always+ always try to thin* o& a #o%er+ =ust in #ase 3 get as*ed how 3 *now the de#eased" This one was easy" 3 had a #lass with )i- at )aurel Community College" 3& they pressed me on whi#h #lass+ 3 was going with a normal one li*e English" She might not be ta*ing English+ so 3 wasn,t going to o&&er+ but it was a good bet that she may ha%e ta*en it in the last year" 'nd+ i& they *ept pressing+ my plan was to simply =ust say that 3 didn,t *now her that well+ but 3 thought it was really sad what happened and all+ so 3 de#ided to #ome to the &uneral and pay my respe#ts" 3t was too bad then that 3 got all tongue<tied and &rea*ed out when Ethan Kipley+ the most popular and gorgeous guy at 6alos High S#hool+ wal*ed up to me and said+ DHow do you *now )i->E 3 had totally had an answer prepared" 3 swear" 3t,s =ust that he,s so &rea*ing hot that 3

totally &orgot all about it"

Chapter 2: Crushing
3 #ouldn,t help it" Ethan Kipley is gorgeous+ with a #apital (" 3 mean+ he de&initely beats out handsomeA 3s there a better word than gorgeous> Hot as hell+ maybe> Be#ause hot as hell is de&initely the phrase that des#ribes Ethan Kipley" Ethan is popular+ by &ar" He plays sports H bas*etball in the late &all and 3 *now he played baseball last spring+ but he,s not a =o#* guy" He,s smart" )i*e+ really smart and #ompeting &or %aledi#torian" 3 don,t *now how he &inds the time+ really H &or sports and s#hool and being popular" 3 mean+ 3 ha%e a part time =ob at the 6alos Gideo Store and my &uneral #rashing and 3,m doing o*ay H ',s and B,s are good+ right> Still+ some days+ it,s li*e that homewor* =ust piles up on you" Ba#* to the hotness o& Ethan H so+ he,s smart+ he plays sports+ and he,s ni#e" Ces+ ni#e" 3 mean+ he %olunteers wee*ends at the hospital or at least he used to &reshman year" 3,m not stal*ing him+ 3 swear" 3 only *now this be#ause when my mom was si#*+ 3 saw him there one o& the times we went to the emergen#y room" Ethan e%en made my mom laugh when we were there" She was really si#* and we were waiting &or the do#tor to #ome ba#* in &rom tal*ing with my dad and he made her laugh" 3t was really ni#e o& him be#ause we were all really stressed" D3t,s not spar*ling water+M Ethan Kipley said in a &au; haughty maitre dN tone+ handing my mom the glass o& water she had as*ed &or &rom the nurse+ Mbut here,s the water you as*ed &or"E My mom had a high &e%er and we were hoping the hospital would help get it down+ so you *now my mom &elt #rappy and not li*e laughing at all+ but Ethan Kipley ga%e her a reason to" 3t too* her a se#ond and it was a stupid #heesy =o*e+ but she laughed" She hadn,t e%en smiled at that point in wee*s and here she was laughing at Ethan Kipley,s stupid #omment" 3t was really ni#e to hear her laugh" 3t may ha%e been the last time 3 heard her laugh+ a#tually+ and it was all be#ause o& Ethan" 3,ll admit+ 3 had already thought he was #ute at that point &rom seeing him at s#hool+ but at that moment #ute turned into a &ull on #rush" Belie%e me+ 3 *new nothing would e%er #ome o& it+ that,s why it,s #alled a #rush" They,re totally one sided and they =ust #rush your heart into obli%ion" To ma*e the story e%en better+ Ethan had brought me a glass o& water+ e%en though 3 hadn,t as*ed the nurse &or one" 3t,s li*e he *new 3 was thirsty too" He handed it to me and 3 #ouldn,t thin* o& anything to say" He didn,t say anything either+ but =ust smiled" For a moment we =ust stood there loo*ing at ea#h other" 3 =ust stared H 3 mean he,s Ethan Kipley+ but he smiled" Ethan has a great smile" 3 don,t thin* he had to get bra#es+ li*e 3 had at the time" 't least those are o&& now" So+ 3 stared at his smile and he smiled at me and then he was gone" 3 *now he was =ust being ni#e and that it wasn,t li*e he re#ogni-ed me &rom s#hool or anything" Still+ it was really ni#e o& him to bring me water tooLand ma*e my mom laugh" 'nd+ did 3 mention he,s gorgeous with a #apital (> 3t,s the last thing 3,m tal*ing

about be#ause he really is the real deal wrapped up in a super hot pa#*age" 3 =ust wanted to ma*e that #lear" He,s got wa%y dar* hair" 3t,s the *ind you want to run your hands through be#ause you *now it has got to be super sil*y" .ot that 3,%e e%er &elt his hair" )i*e 3 said+ 3 don,t thin* he *nows 3 e;ist" 3 ha%e a snea*ing suspi#ion 'riel 0al*er has &elt his hair+ though+ and she totally didn,t deser%e it" 'nd+ Ethan,s got bright blue eyes+ whi#h are staring at me #uriously right now" Sigh+ a guy with bright blue eyes e9uals ma=or hottie in my boo*" 3 mean+ they say the eyes are the windows to the soul and all and what ama-ing windows these are" DHow do you *now )i->E Ethan as*ed again" 3 had lost mysel& in his eyes" 0hat was my answer> 3 *now 3 had one+ D3+ uh+ 3 went to s#hool with her"E 's soon as 3 said it+ 3 *new 3 was in trouble" 0hat was wrong with me> He #ould re#ogni-e me a&ter allL&rom high s#hoolA 'nd+ Ethan did loo* at me strangely &or a se#ond" Then he &rowned and sat down ne;t to me" That was a surprise" He was dressed in &uneral garb H a bla#* suit and tie+ but his dress shirt was the same bright blue as his eyes" 3 #ouldn,t stop staring at him" 0hy did he ha%e to be so #ute> My brain was getting all weird on me be#ause o& it" 3 #ouldn,t thin* straight" $id 3 loo* o*ay> 3 &ound mysel& thin*ing" 3 had on a &lowing bla#* s*irt and a bla#* la#y tan* top #o%ered by a long sweater" 3t was &unerales9ue+ but 3 thin* 3 loo*ed alright and 3 had made a point to put on ma*e<up be&ore 3 le&t and brush my hair" Than* (od" DBut you go to s#hool with me+E Ethan pointed out+ as he turned toward me in his #hair" His right arm brushed mine and #aused #hills to go up my spine" 3 hoped he #ouldn,t see me blushing" 3 ha%e &air s*in and anything #an #ause it to turn red" 3t,s a #urse" 3 had to thin* &ast here+ Ethan *new we went to s#hool together" 0ait a minute" $oes that mean Ethan Kipley *nows who 3 am> 0oo<hooA 0hy did 3 suddenly &eel li*e doing a %i#tory dan#e in the middle o& the &uneral> Ethan *nows who 3 amA Ethan *nows who 3 amA E;#ept in this #ase+ it was a bad thing" 3 was totally #aught in a lie" 3 #ouldn,t possibly go to high s#hool and #ollege" 3 wasn,t that smart"So+ 3 did the only thing one #an do when #aught in a lie < turn it around on the other person+ DHow do you *now )i->E DShe was my sister+E Ethan said solemnly+ his %oi#e #ra#*ing slightly on the word sister as he tried to #ontrol his emotions" 0hat>A>A That was my &irst thought+ but 3 *new it was true be#ause 3 #ould hear the grie& in his %oi#e" 3 suddenly noti#ed it in his eyes too" My heart went out to him" 3 =ust wanted to hug him and say+ 3,%e been there" 3 *now how you &eel" 3nstead+ 3 said+ DCour sister> But you don,t ha%e the same last name"E 3 &elt stupid the se#ond a&ter 3 said it too" 0hat #an 3 say> My brain was busy short< #ir#uiting" DShe was my hal& sister" My mother was married to someone else be&ore she met my dad" They had )i- and then they got di%or#ed" My mother remarried and had me+E Ethan was still peering at me #uriously" 3 was more &o#used on how #lose his arm still was to mine" DThat,s really sad+E 3 said and 3 meant it" D3 am so sorry"E Ethan nodded ba#* and then loo*ed dire#tly into my eyes" 3 loo*ed ba#* at him and tried to *eep breathing normally" DSo+ how do you *now )i-+ really>E Ethan as*ed again"

3 tried to #hange the sub=e#t again as 3 &elt my heart start to beat harder against my #hest in pani#+ D0hy isn,t there anybody &rom s#hool here> 3 mean+ 3 would thin* e%eryone would be here to support you"E 's 3 said this+ 3 loo*ed around the &uneral parlor" There was nobody &rom our high s#hool here" .ot e%en 'riel+ who 3 *now would ha%e been glad to #om&ort Ethan in his time o& loss and not =ust be#ause she was #aring li*e that" She was an opportunist and this would de&initely ha%e been a great opportunity &or her to sin* her #laws into Ethan" Truth&ully+ it would ha%e been a ma=or get out sign i& people &rom my high s#hool had all been there" 3 mean+ 3 didn,t go to &unerals to hang out with people &rom my high s#hool" 3 didn,t e%en hang out with them in high s#hool" Ethan seemed surprised by my 9uestion" D3 didn,t tell anyone"E .ow 3 was #on&used" 3 mean+ how #ould his &riends+ and 3 *now he had li*e a billion o& them+ being the most popular guy in s#hool+ not *now his sister had died and that her wa*e was tonight" D0hy not>E 's 3 as*ed the 9uestion+ 3 remembered my mom,s &uneral" The only person that *new she had died &rom s#hool was 'riel and despite being my e;<best &riend+ she had shown up" 3 had &rea*ed out the night be&ore and #alled 'riel in tears+ sobbing" 3 had needed her and she had a#tually been there &or me" 3t was morti&ying &or me to thin* o& it now e%en though she,s ne%er been so e%il as to turn that moment against me" 'nd+ 'riel did show up at the wa*e the ne;t day+ but it turned out be really aw*ward to see ea#h other in person" @%er the phone+ 3 had been able to pour my heart out to my old &riend" 3n person+ the aw*wardness and weirdness that had destroyed our &riendship+ was %isibly apparent" 0e said hi to ea#h other and that was it" 3 mean+ what more was there to say> My mom was dead" 'riel,s li&e was getting more awesome by the moment and we weren,t &riends anymore" The end" D0ell+E Ethan &rowned+ DMy &riends $a%e and Mi*e are #oming later+ but 3 didn,t want e%eryone at s#hool to *now" 3 mean+ they didn,t *now )i-" $a%e and Mi*e did"E 3 nodded" He was tal*ing about $a%e Ki#*erson and Mi*e Finnigan" 3 didn,t *now them personally+ but 3 *new they were &riends o& his" They were always at lun#h together and 3 *new they all played sports" So+ yeah+ 3 *new who they were" 3 mean+ nobody &rom that #rowd e%er loo*ed at or spo*e to me" They wouldn,t e%en as* me &or a pen#il i& they needed one &or their math test+ 3 was so low on the totem pole" 'lthough+ the way they were supporting Ethan was ni#e" They sounded li*e real &riends" Ethan prodded again+ DSo+ now don,t #hange the sub=e#t" 3 really want to *now" How do you *now )i->E My mind was blan*" 3 didn,t *now how to get out o& this" 3 mean+ 3 #ouldn,t e;a#tly tell him the truth" 3 didn,t want Ethan Kipley to thin* 3 was a total &rea*" 'riel 0al*er+ 3 #ould handle+ but Ethan Kipley thin*ing that would be totally de%astating" So+ 3 did the only thing 3 #ould thin* o& to do" 3 got up and &led the &uneral as &ast as my legs would #arry me" 'nd+ 3 mean+ &ast" Hey+ it wor*ed the last time"

Chapter 3: Worrying
)ying on my bed at home+ under the #o%ers+ and #urled up with a #om&ort boo* H my #opy o& Twilight Iand yes+ 3,%e seen all the mo%ies too+ multiple timesJ, that 3 was reading &or the third time+ 3 reali-ed that &leeing the &uneral may not ha%e been the best idea" 3 mean+ i& Ethan was my Edward li*e in Twilight+ things would wor* out and he,d thin* my aw*wardness and weirdness was se;y and #ute+ li*e Edward thin*s o& Bella e%en when she does weird things+ li*e not want to go to the prom" Sadly+ Ethan Kipley+ was =ust going to thin* 3 was totally weird anyway &or running out on him at his hal& sister,s &uneral" 3t wouldn,t e%en ta*e telling him 3 was &uneral #rashing" 3t was almost midnight and 3 #ould hear my dad wat#hing C.. in the other room" 0e *ept to our own rooms+ other than dinner" 0e got along+ my dad and me+ but we =ust didn,t hang out" 3 usually read in my room until 3 &all asleep+ unless 3 ha%e homewor*+ while he wat#hes sports or C.. in the li%ing room" 3 usually &all asleep around ten or ten thirty" 3 *now the ma=ority o& people my age stay up until midnight e%ery night+ but s#hool wipes me out" 3 #rash+ sometimes e%en by nine" My mind was too busy tonight to #rash+ though" )i- @,Keilly was Ethan Kipley,s hal& sister" That was #ra-y" 3 had loo*ed at the #opy o& the obituary &rom my dad,s daily newspaper when 3 got home" He li*es to read the a#tual paper+ so we still get one" He,s old s#hool li*e that" Liz O’Reilly, 1 , died Sunday! She wa" a "tudent at Laurel #ommunity #ollege and hoped to $e a %eterinarian! She %olunteered at the &alo" 'nimal Shelter and lo%ed all animal", e"pecially her re"cued dog, &aw"! She i" "ur%i%ed $y her mother and "tep(ather, )liza$eth and *ame" Ripley, her (ather +elly O’Reilly, her maternal grandmother Lilly Morgan, her "i$ling" )than and Lilly Ripley, and numerou" aunt", uncle", and cou"in"! The wa,e will $e held on Wedne"day (rom -pm . pm at &alo" /uneral Home! /uneral Thur"day at am! 3 #ouldn,t belie%e 3 hadn,t noti#ed the name Kipley in the list o& sur%i%ed by relati%es" 3t was there+ but sin#e he was only listed as Ethan and his sister )illy was listed as )illy Kipley+ 3 hadn,t &o#used enough to put two and two together" 3 ob%iously needed to pay more attention ne;t time to the names o& the sur%i%ing relati%es" That was my lesson in this" Kegardless+ 3 had no idea that Ethan e%en had a hal& sister with a di&&erent last name" 3 hadn,t e%en *nown about his &ull blood sister )illy" Sure+ 3 had a #rush on him+ but that was only &rom a distan#e and at s#hool" 3 didn,t stal* him or anything+ 3 mostly+ =ust ga-ed and hoped" The usual #rush thing" 6oor )illy" She must ha%e been the little girl that had been sitting on the &ront #ou#h staring blan*ly at the #o&&in+ in the somber bla#* dress that no #hild should e%er ha%e to wear" 6oor 6aws+ )i-,s dog H he probably didn,t e%en *now what had happened to his master" 3t was sad all around" My bla#* #at+ S#arlett+ as in the main #hara#ter &rom Gone With the Wind . S#arlett @,Hara, was #urled up ne;t to my &eet" She li*ed to do that when 3 was reading" 3 rea#hed down and s#rat#hed her head+ lo%ingly" She started purring almost immediately" D3 lo%e you+E 3 said and hugged her" My dad had gotten her &or me a&ter my mother died" She was no repla#ement &or my mom+ but S#arlett was a great #at" She lo%ed to bat around her toys and ma*e me laugh" 3 *new she,d miss me i& something happened to me" 6oor 6aws"

My mind &ound its way ba#* to Ethan" 0ow+ Ethan,s sister had died o& a drug o%erdose" 3 hadn,t e%en heard about it at s#hool and no matter what he said+ some people had to *now" Then again+ 3 tried to stay away &rom the gossips li*e 'riel be#ause i& 3 got too #lose+ they tended to gossip about me" 'riel had already #ir#ulated too many mali#ious rumors about me anyway" 3 was worried about seeing Ethan in s#hool" Surely+ he,d &orget about me by the time he #ame ba#* to s#hool a&ter the &uneral and e%erything+ right> Kight> DCou,re still up>E My dad po*ed his head into my room" He had ob%iously &allen asleep wat#hing tele%ision+ sin#e his hair was all o%er the pla#e and his eyes were only hal& open and s9uinting at me+ D3t,s a&ter midnight"E 3 held up my boo*+ D?ust reading+ dad"E He waited &or a moment+ not so sure that was it+ DE%erything o*ay>E 3 smiled+ trying to loo* reassuring" DFine+ =ust reading"E D@*ay" Cou might want to go to sleep soon+ though+ you *now" S#hool tomorrow+E he said and 3 heard him wal* into the bathroom and shut the door" My dad was #ool li*e that" Trusting me to do the right thing and 3 *new 3 needed to go to sleep" 3 set Twilight down on my bedside table and turned out the lights" 3t had been a long+ #ra-y night" 3 wanted to &orget about e%er running into Ethan Kipley+ e%en i& he did *now who 3 was" 3 stared at the #lo#* and tried to will my mind into slumber+ but it =ust *ept thin*ing and thin*ing and thin*ing instead" So+ despite only about two hours o& solid sleep and lots o& tossing and turning+ Thursday at s#hool went by without in#ident" Ethan wasn,t there to tra#* me down at my lo#*er &irst thing in the morning or waiting outside my &irst period #lass" .ot e%en his &riends $a%e or Mi*e had stopped me in the hallway+ although 3 admit to du#*ing into the bathroom when 3 saw them a&ter se#ond hour+ =ust in #ase" 3 had worried all night &or nothing" 3 mean+ there was the usual 'riel 0al*er taunting+ but that was a normal o##urren#e these days" DHey+ :ait+ 3,m sure you ha%e your pi#* o& Home#oming dates at the gra%eyardAE 'riel yelled at me+ when 3 wal*ed by her be&ore my &ourth period Chemistry #lass" 3 *ept wal*ing" 3t was best to ignore her" 0orst #ase+ she,d yell another insult a&ter me" Best #ase+ she and her &riends would laugh and then mo%e onto tormenting someone else" 'riel &ollowed me+ instead+ and #aught up to me" 3 #ould &eel her &riends+ Sarah and Megan+ wat#hing &rom a distan#e" 0hy was it #ool to torment people> 3 mean+ weren,t we supposed to be more grown up in high s#hool> 0hy #ouldn,t she =ust lea%e me alone> 0asn,t it enough that we weren,t &riends anymore> DSo+ you didn,t answer me about your Home#oming date+E 'riel taunted+ as she &ell into step beside me" 3t was useless to ignore her when she was wal*ing ne;t to me+ D'riel+ why don,t you =ust lea%e me alone>E D0ow+ you,re not ignoring me+ &or on#e" That,s progress+E 'riel said" DCou ha%e new b&&s" 0hy don,t you go harass them>E 3 said+ wearily+ trying to pi#* up the pa#e so that 3 #ould get to my Chemistry #lass &aster" DBe#ause you,re more &un+E 'riel smir*ed sar#asti#ally" D'nd+ there,s nothing wrong with Sarah and Megan"E 3 was almost there+ D(ee+ than*s" (ood tal*ing to you too" .ow+ byeee"E

'riel stayed ne;t to me+ D3,m going with Ethan Kipley to Home#oming" 3,%e turned down three other guys &or him"E My heart plummeted" @& #ourse 'riel would get Ethan to as* her to Home#oming" She was e%il li*e that" 3 #ouldn,t say anything to her #omment" My heart was in my throat and blo#*ing all sound" Maybe Ethan would dit#h her be#ause he was grie%ing &or his sister" 3 stopped mysel&" .o+ that was mean hoping that Ethan would &eel that distraught+ but 3 still #ouldn,t help wishing it+ =ust so he wouldn,t go to the dan#e with 'riel" She *new it bothered me too" That,s why she was ta*ing a moment to tell me" 3 had told her 3 *inda li*ed him when we were still &riends &reshman year" Big mista*e" D3 got an ama-ing dress and e%erything" E%eryone is going to be =ealous o& me+E 'riel was still tal*ing" 0hy was she still &ollowing me and trying to rub it in> 0e were at the doors o& my Chemistry #lass" She #ouldn,t possibly &ollow me in+ right> 3 *ept wal*ing+ not pausing to &ind out" 3 lost her at the doorway" 3 saw her standing aw*wardly &or a moment outside as 3 set my boo*s on my lab table and pretended to arrange them+ all the while pee*ing toward the doorway to see what had happened to her" ' moment later+ 'riel was bliss&ully gone" The Home#oming =ibe hurt+ though" 3 wanted to go to Home#oming+ whi#h was in about two wee*s+ at the start o& @#tober" 3 had no date prospe#ts" .ot e%en my weird nerdy Chemistry lab partner+ :yle ?ones+ would ha%e as*ed me to go with him" 0e were e9ual so#ial pariahs and yet+ it would be worse &or :yle i& he as*ed me to go" He was a ni#e guy &or being weird and nerdy+ though+ and he de&initely didn,t deser%e the torment he got either" 3 mean+ i& anything+ he deser%ed a##olades" He was a s#ien#e wi-" He won last year,s high s#hool state s#ien#e &air and e%erything" He was an awesome lab partner and 3 li*ed him as a &riend+ not that we e%er hung out e;#ept in Chemistry" He was =ust really so#ially aw*ward" :yle mostly didn,t *now how to tal* to girls" Ces+ he tal*ed to me all the time+ but that was be#ause we were tal*ing about Chemistry pro=e#ts" Still+ 3 *new he had a thing &or Su-ie 0hitsett" He,d e%en ha%e a #han#e with her i& he tal*ed to her" Su-ie was a super 9uiet girl and seemed really ni#e" The 9uiet thing alone would ha%e made her a so#ial out#ast li*e me and :yle+ but she was also really pretty+ so mostly people =ust let her be" She =ust didn,t say mu#h" 3t was &unny+ though+ about :yle,s #rush+ be#ause 3 bet Su-ie would ha%e been happy to go with :yle to Home#oming" 3 got the &eeling that maybe there was something there+ but both o& them were too shy to try and &igure it out" There was this one time at the beginning o& the s#hool year that Su-ie wal*ed in a little late and wal*ed past our table and she a#tually turned and said+ DHiAE to me and :yle+ e;#ept 3 #ould ha%e sworn her ga-e was on :yle &or a solid se#ond" 3 said+ DHiAE ba#*+ but :yle didn,t say anything H the deer #aught in the headlights thing" Su-ie ne%er stopped to say+ DHiAE again" She =ust wal*ed to her des*" Coin#iden#e> 3,m not sure" 3 mean+ she is the 9uiet girl+ but still seems li*e a solid maybe on a re9uited #rush to me" .ot that :yle was e%er going to ta*e the #han#e and as* her" Sadly+ all :yle had to do was wal* by three lab tables to do it H as* Su-ie to Home#oming" 3 mean+ Su-ie =ust sat there alone and read be&ore e%ery #lass or until her lab partner showed up" This wee* her boo* was &ride and &re0udice" )ast wee* it was )mma! )oo*ed li*e Su-ie was on a ?ane 'usten *i#*" 3 lo%e the boo* and 3,%e seen both &ride and &re0udice mo%ies" Matthew M#&adyen was a hot Mr" $ar#y+ but Collin Firth was way se;ier in the miniseries"

'nd+ ba#* to Su-ie" :yle totally had a #han#e+ 3 thought+ but he was too aw*ward to ta*e it" (ood times at high s#hool Home#oming $an#es+ all around+ 3 guess" 3t wouldn,t be &un i& it weren,t horri&i#ally pain&ul" Spea*ing o& pain&ul < how #ould Ethan ha%e as*ed 'riel to the Home#oming $an#e> 3t was un&air" 3 *now he,d ne%er ha%e as*ed me+ but 'riel> She was e%il" 3 mean+ not really+ but it hurt more that he had as*ed her+ =ust be#ause she was my e;<best &riend" 3 had pra#ti#ally &orgotten that 3 didn,t want to run into Ethan" 'nd+ 3 hadn,t yet+ so my lu#* was running good" DHey+ spa#e #adet &rom the ninth dimension+E :yle said+ sitting down ne;t to me" He was weird li*e that" Totally into the s#i<&i+ but he was #ool+ DHey+ :yle" $o the homewor*>E 's :yle lamented the toughness o& the third problem Ibut only be#ause he had &igured out a se#ond way to sol%e itJ my thoughts went right ba#* to Ethan" 3 *new my lu#* was only holding be#ause Ethan was at )i-,s &uneral" Surely+ he wouldn,t #ome to s#hool on Friday and sear#h me out or anything+ right> 3 mean+ who #ares i& 3 was at his hal& sister,s &uneral &or apparently no good reason" He,ll totally &orget about it" Kight> Kight>

Chapter 4: Confessing
Turned out 3 didn,t ha%e to wait until Friday to &ind out" @n most Monday+ Thursday+ and Saturday nights 3 wor*ed at 6alos Gideo Store+ whi#h was =ust down the street &rom my house" 3 lo%ed mo%ies almost as mu#h as 3 lo%ed boo*s+ so it was a good a&ter s#hool =ob and 3 needed the money" 3 had been wor*ing there sin#e the end o& my sophomore year and 3 a#tually li*ed it" They let me rent one $G$ at a time+ unlimited+ &or &ree" So+ i& 3 wasn,t reading+ 3 was wat#hing one o& my &ree mo%ies" 'nd+ =ust be#ause 3 li*e &unerals doesn,t mean 3 only wat#h horror" 3 mean+ 3 do admit that 3,m a total &an o& the horror #lassi#s Ithe originals be#ause they,%e all been remade they,re so goodJ+ li*e 1awn o( the 1ead+ Halloween+ 2ightmare on )lm Street+ and &"ycho+ but 3 also ha%e a huge thing &or #hi#* &li#*s" 3,m a romanti#" 3 mean+ ha%e you seen Roman Holiday or Si3teen #andle" or The 2ote$oo,> Sigh" So good" 6alos Gideo Store was a small store+ so there were usually only two people wor*ing" Some nights+ my #o<wor*er would be the owner o& the store+ 'nne+ and she usually hung out in the ba#* unless it got really busy" @ther nights+ it was another part<timer li*e me" Some were &rom my high s#hool+ some were &rom our biggest ri%al+ and there were a #ouple people &rom )aurel Community College" My &a%orite #o<wor*er+ though+ was 'nne+ e%en though she was the boss" 'nne tried to wor* a lot o& shi&ts+ a#tually" The big online rental #ompanies li*e .et&li; were really #utting into her pro&its and she was trying to sa%e the e;tra money in her budget" She ne%er tal*ed about it+ but we all *new that the store might be on its last legs" 3 &elt bad &or 'nne+ though+ that store was her li&e and she lo%ed it" Thursday night+ it was 'nne and 3 wor*ing the store" She was in the ba#* wat#hing a mo%ie" She wat#hed at least one a day and 3 was pretty sure she had seen e%erything in

the store+ at least twi#e" She #ould 9uote mo%ies li*e most people #ould 9uote sports, statisti#s" 3 was not that big o& a mo%ie bu&& yet+ although 3 tried to ta*e a mo%ie home a&ter e%ery shi&t and wat#h it" 3 =ust #ouldn,t 9uote e%erything yet+ but 3 was getting there" So+ 3 was alone up &ront+ reading the ending o& Twilight &or the third time" 3t was 9uiet in the store" 0e were #losing in a hal& hour and most people were already at home #urled up with their latest mo%ie rental and some pop#orn" 0e were only open until ten thirty+ but it was usually dead the last hour" 3 heard the =angle o& the %ideo store bells and loo*ed up" Someone was #oming in &or a mo%ie &i; be&ore we #losed &or the night" 's soon as he wal*ed in+ though+ 3 *new he wasn,t renting a mo%ie" The last person 3 e;pe#ted or wanted to see had wal*ed into the store and toward me" Butter&lies &luttered in my stoma#h" 3 #ouldn,t help them" 3 was both ner%ous and s#ared and he was also super hot" Ces+ it was Ethan Kipley that was staring ba#* at me and wal*ing in my dire#tion" 3 &ro-e+ the #opy o& Twilight still in my hands" Mo%ie re#ommendations &or Ethan Kipley ran through my mind+ almost ridi#ulously" 3,d re#ommend Loc,, Stoc,, and Two Smo,ing 4arrel"+ 4lac,haw, 1own+ and &or &un Wall5)! @h (od+ what was wrong with my brain> D3 was hoping you were wor*ing tonight+E Ethan said as he stood in &ront o& the #ounter+ his pier#ing blue eyes wat#hing my &a#e" He was in regular #lothes tonight H well<worn =eans and a &aded (reen $ay T<shirt" 3 swiped a hair behind my ears+ sel&<#ons#iously" 3t was a ner%ous habit+ DCou were>E 3 had ob%iously also been rendered stupid" 3 was in big trouble" Ethan had not waited to sear#h me out at s#hool on Friday" He had &ound my pla#e o& employment and hunted me down" .ow+ that was determination to get an answer out o& me" 3t,s not li*e 3 #ould lea%e wor* and run away and he *new it" DSo+ how did you *now )i->E Ethan as*ed again" 3 still didn,t want to answer" DHow did you *now where 3 wor*ed>E D3 loo*ed you up on Fa#eboo*" 3t,s listed as your =ob+E Ethan shrugged" Sometimes so#ial networ*ing su#*ed" 3 only had li*e &orty &riends and most were *ids 3 met at #amp in third grade or &amily" 3 needed to #hange my pri%a#y settings" ?ust be#ause you were unpopular doesn,t mean some stal*er wasn,t going to tra#* you down" .ot that 3,d mind i& Ethan was stal*ing me be#ause it totally wouldn,t be stal*ing sin#e 3,d totally swoon i& he de#lared his lo%e &or me" .ot that 3 had any delusions that it was a#tually going to happen" Ethan #ontinued+ DSo+ )i-> How did you *now her>E Ba#* to reality" 3 was starting to sweat" There was no way out o& this" Ethan had tra#*ed me down at wor* a&ter all" 0ait a minute H Ethan had tra#*ed me down at wor*A @*ay+ not the time to be happy" 3 was in trouble here" 3 was being &or#ed to admit 3 was a &uneral #rasher and although 3 don,t mind that part o& mysel&+ 3 *now my peer group doesn,t appro%e" D0ellLE 3 hesitated" D3t,s *ind o& a long story"E .ot really+ 3 added in my head" 3 glan#ed ba#* toward 'nne,s o&&i#e" She was busy wat#hing her mo%ie" 3 #ould see the glow o& the tele%ision on her &a#e through the small o&&i#e window that loo*ed out onto the store" D3 ha%e time+E Ethan prodded"

3 was going to ha%e to tell him" 3 didn,t want toA 3 hedged+ DCan 3 meet you in thirty minutes when 3,m done with wor*>E 3t ga%e me another hal& hour to &igure out the greatest lie e%er told and i& 3 ended up ha%ing to tell him the truth+ at least i& 3 got him to sit down with me+ maybe 3 #ould e;plain so that he wouldn,t thin* 3 was su#h a total &rea*" 'nd+ 3 didn,t want my boss to o%erhear" 3 *now 'nne li*ed me as an employee+ but still she didn,t need to *now all o& the intimate details o& my li&e" 3 mean+ &uneral #rashing wasn,t li*e doing drugs+ but still" 3 didn,t want to ta*e the #han#e that she,d be appalled and &ire me" DSure+E Ethan nodded" DMy #ar,s par*ed on the street outside" 3,ll wait &or you to #lose up"E D@*ay+E 3 gulped and tried not to thin* about the &a#t that in thirty minutes 3,d be sitting in a par*ed #ar with Ethan" DCool+E Ethan said+ nodding again+ turning around+ and wal*ing out o& the store" 3 had thirty minutes to #ome up with something" Forget reading" 3 put my boo* ba#* into my sat#hel purse" 3 stared out into the empty %ideo store" 0hat #ould 3 possibly say to Ethan to ma*e this all turn out o*ay> Thirty minutes later and lo#*ing up the %ideo store+ 3 hadn,t #ome up with anything other than entering the witness prote#tion program and &leeing the state" Somehow+ 3 didn,t thin* they,d ta*e me into witness prote#tion &or trying to run away &rom a #ute guy+ who,s about to &ind out that 3 li*e to #rash &unerals" Maybe 3,d get lu#*y and aliens would abdu#t me" DSo+ 3 was wat#hing a ?ohn Hughes mo%ie tonight < Some +ind o( Wonder(ul" 3 thin* you,d li*e it" 3t,s with Eri# Stolt- and Mary Stuart Masterson and is a #lassi# teen mo%ie about unre9uited lo%e and high s#hool" Cou should ta*e it out ne;t shi&t+E 'nne was saying+ as 3 lo#*ed the &ront door" DFh<huh+E 3 managed to mumble+ e%en though 'nne,s re#ommendations were always the best" D're you o*ay>E 'nne as*ed+ peering at me" DCou seem *ind o& distra#ted" S#hool alright>E DCeah+ 3,m &ine+E 3 said and then #ontinued+ seeing that she might press me" D?ust thin*ing about a guy"E D@hhh+ o*ay+E 'nne smiled *nowingly" 3 attempted a smile ba#*+ but lu#*ily it was dar*+ DCeah"E D@*ay+ good night then+ :ait+E 'nne wa%ed+ as she wal*ed to her #ar" D(ood night+E 3 managed as 3 pretended to wal* to mine+ as 'nne got into her #ar and dro%e away" 3 wat#hed her #ar speed down the road and had a brie& thought that 3 #ould =ust dri%e away too" 3t was an option+ but not the one 3 was going to ta*e" 3 may ha%e been a so#ial out#ast+ but 3 was going to &a#e Ethan li*e a man+ well+ a woman in my #ase" Besides+ 3 *new Ethan would &ind me at s#hool tomorrow anyway i& 3 didn,t tal* to him" He already stal*ed me down at wor*" 'nd+ s#hool #ould be worse" 3 #ould =ust see 'riel =oining in on the #on%ersation and emphasi-ing my &rea*y 9ualities" She,d probably e%en bring her &riends Megan and Sarah" 3t made one shudder" 'riel was worse than any horror mo%ie monster+ in#luding Freddy :rueger &rom 2ightmare on )lm Street" 3 s#anned the surrounding street and saw Ethan sitting in a sil%ery blue Honda Ci%i# Hybrid =ust ne;t to the par*ing lot+ staring at me" 3 was only a &ew &eet away &rom es#ape

and my #ar+ but 3 &or#ed mysel& to wal* toward the Ci%i# instead" DHey+E 3 tried to say #asually as 3 opened his #ar door and sat down in the passenger seat+ but all 3 thin* 3 got out was a mumble" 3 #ouldn,t get o%er the &a#t that 3 was sitting in Ethan Kipley,s #ar" 3 mean+ it was a totally normal+ boring #ar interior+ but yet it &elt li*e su#h an ama-ing pla#e" That might ha%e a lot to do with the &a#t that it was Ethan,s and that he was only sitting in#hes away &rom me" Fo#us+ &o#us+ 3 told mysel&" DHey+E he said in response+ so 3 guess my mumble did #ome out #oherent" DSo> 0hat,s the story>E 3 gulped" This was it" 6ani# sei-ed my #hest" 3 #ouldn,t e%en en=oy being in a #ar with Ethan Kipley+ 3 was so ner%ous" This #ould be the #losest 3 e%er got to him" The best two minutes e%erA @r+ at least &rom high s#hool" But no+ 3 was too busy &rea*ing out to en=oy it" 3 =ust had to do it" 3t was li*e tearing o&& a band<aid" 3 sighed+ held my breath+ and =ust said it+ D3 was &uneral #rashing"E D0hat>E Ethan loo*ed totally pu--led" D0hat>E D3 was &uneral #rashing+E 3 e;plained+ D3 saw the obituary in the paper and 3 thought 3 would go"E DSo you didn,t *now )i->E Ethan as*ed" 3 shoo* my head+ &eeling morti&ied" D.o"E Ethan raised his eyebrows+ DKeally>E 3 #ould &eel tears welling up in my eyes" $on,t #ry+ 3 told mysel&" D.o+ 3 didn,t *now her" 3 was =ust there &or the &uneral" 3 didn,t mean anything by it" 3,m sorry" She seemed #ool" 3t,s really sad"E DThat,s weird+E Ethan said and 3 &elt my heart sin* at the =udgment 3 #ould hear in his %oi#e" D0hy would you want to #rash a &uneral>E D3LE 3 started" 3t was a 9uestion that 3 had been as*ed be&ore+ &irst by my dad and then 'riel" 3n a rare moment o& distraught wea*ness+ 3 had a#tually #on&ided in her e%en though we had stopped being &riends" 3t had been a total mista*e" Kegardless+ 3 still hadn,t #ome up with a good answer to that 9uestion+ e;#ept &or the truth" D3 li*e them"E D0hat>E Ethan loo*ed utterly #on&used" DCou li*e &unerals> 0hy> They,re depressing as &u#*"E 's 3 wat#hed Ethan run his hand through his sil*y hair in &rustration+ 3 &ought a girlish sigh and tried to e;plain something that 3 didn,t *now how to e;plain+ DThey #an be" They #an de&initely be the worst moment o& your li&e+ but there,s something really ama-ing about them too"E D)i*e what>E Ethan demanded" 3 &inally got a good loo* at him and yes+ he was super hot and only in#hes away &rom me+ but 3 #ould also see the desperate grie& in his eyes" 3 loo*ed away &rom his eyes+ D)i*e how e%eryone remembers the person that died and not =ust remembers < there are some great stories+ really great stories" Stories that e%en i& you *new the person well+ you might ne%er ha%e heard o& that story" 'nd+ e%eryone with all these great stories about this person that they ha%e lost is in one room+ and they,re all tal*ing about this person be#ause they all miss them" They,re all &eeling that person,s presen#e together" That,s what it was li*e at my mom,s &uneral" 'nyway+ that,s what 3 li*e about &unerals"E

3 was loo*ing at my hands now" 3 &elt too embarrassed to loo* o%er at Ethan,s rea#tion to my admission" DThat,s true+E Ethan smiled slightly+ to my astonishment+ D3 heard some great stories about )i- today &rom the &amily and her &riends+ but 3,d mu#h rather ha%e her here with us than be at her &uneral"E His %oi#ed #ho*ed on the last word" 3 resisted the urge to lean o%er and tou#h his hand" 3 was a wre#* too a&ter my mom had died" '&ter the &uneral+ wee*s went by in a blur" D3,m sorry+E 3 said+ loo*ing into his eyes and 3 really meant it" Ethan nodded+ DSo+ you really didn,t *now )i- at all then>E D.o+E 3 shoo* my head" D3,m still sorry+ though+ about her"E D$amn+E Ethan swore under his breath" 3 &elt mysel& sin* e%en deeper into the passenger side seat" 3 =ust wanted to disappear" 3 #ouldn,t wait &or high s#hool to be o%er+ so 3 #ould blend into and be swallowed up by the massi%e population o& a state uni%ersity" How was 3 e%er going to &a#e Ethan Kipley again a&ter this> Ethan remembered 3 was still in the #ar with him+ D3 was really hoping you *new )i-"E 3 was #on&used+ D0hy>E Ethan seemed suddenly an;ious" That was weird H him an;ious to say something to me" He ran his hand through his hair again+ his sil*y hair+ D0ell+ uh+ 3,m really sorry about this :ait and 3 don,t *now how to say it ni#ely+ but 3 thought you might *now something about the drugs )i- was ta*ing"E 3t too* me a se#ond to reali-e what Ethan was implying" Then+ &or on#e+ 3 &orgot who 3 was tal*ing to be#ause 3 was so &urious+ DCou thought 3 was a drug addi#tA $o 3 loo* li*e 3 do heroin to you>E 3 mean+ 3 am not a sti#* &igure" 3,m your a%erage weight girl and a si-e se%en" Sometimes 3,m a si-e nine+ i& 3,%e been really downing the peanut butter banana mil*sha*es that 3,m addi#ted to &rom the 0ired Co&&ee Shop" 'ren,t heroin addi#ts ema#iated or something> 0hat> 3 was super insulted" 3 don,t do drugs" .ot e%en pot" 3 don,t e%en drin* e;#ept &or that one time &reshman year when 'riel and 3 snu#* into her parent,s li9uor #abinet" See> She,s a bad in&luen#e+ totally e%il+ and #orrupting impressionable youth" Kegardless+ 3 didn,t e%en *now what heroin loo*ed li*e" Come on" 3,m no drug addi#t" D3,m sorry" 3 =ust hoped" 3t,s =ust really weird that )i- @$ed" 3 #an,t e;plain it" 3,m sorry i& 3 assumed that youL*new something about it" 6eople tal* about you at s#hool+ you *now+E Ethan seemed really un#om&ortable" 3 was going to *ill 'riel 0al*er be#ause be&ore her+ nobody tal*ed about me" Ethan Kipley assuming 3 was a drug addi#t was all her &ault" She told people all sorts o& #ra-y things about me" Then the rumors went wild and too* on a li&e o& their own and people embellished and totally #hanged the stories H so+ one minute 3 li*ed going to &unerals+ the ne;t 3 too* part in wit#h#ra&t rituals+ and some people e%en thought 3 had my own pet #emetery in my ba#*yard" 3 guess now the rumor was that 3 was dealing drugs or hoo*ed on them or something" (reat" My reputation had a soap opera li&e all o& it,s own and with it+ 'riel destroyed any #han#e o& a &un so#ial li&e that 3 might ha%e had in high s#hool+ D0ell+ let me set things straight" 3 don,t do drugs" 't all" 'nd+ o*ay+ the &uneral #rashing

is a little weird" 3 *now it+ but e%er sin#e my mom died it,s the #losest 3 e%er &eel to her and 3LE 0hoa+ 3 &elt the tears suddenly rushing up into my eyes again" My %oi#e was about to #ra#* and &ail me" 3 needed to #alm down or 3 would be &ull on sobbing li*e a baby in &ront o& Ethan" 3 stopped tal*ing and tried to #at#h my breath+ turning away &rom him and toward the window" D3,m sorry" 3 shouldn,t ha%e listened to the rumors+E Ethan sounded sin#ere" 3 turned to loo* at him+ wiping at my #hee*s in #ase there were any tears" 3 didn,t need him to see them" 3 was humiliated enough" D3,m really sorry+E he #ontinued" D3 =ust #an,t belie%e that )i- did heroin" 3t totally wasn,t li*e her" 3 thought maybe you *new something about it" )i*e+ i& you *new her+ e%en i& you didn,t do drugs with her+ maybe you *new what really happened" )i*e where she was that night or who she was with"E D0hy would that matter>E 3 as*ed be&ore 3 #ould stop mysel&" 3 mean+ i& he wanted to *now the last &ew hours o& his sister,s death that was his business" 3t,s not li*e he was going to be able to #hange anything+ though" D0ell+ 3 =ustLE Ethan started and then stopped+ thin*ing better o& #ontinuing his thought" ' sudden thought was nagging at my brain and 3 said it be&ore 3 thought it o%er+ D0ait+ are you saying that you thin* maybe there,s more to )i-,s death> )i*e maybe she didn,t o%erdose>E Ethan was silent" The silen#e dragged on &or a moment as 3 thought about it all+ D0ait" Cou don,t thin* she was murdered or something+ right>E My eyes were lo#*ed on Ethan,s as he nodded+ D'#tually+ yes+ 3 thin* it,s a de&inite possibility"E DBut who would ha%e done that>E My %oi#e rose in pit#h" Ethan shoo* his head" D3 ha%e no idea" My parents are a wre#* and totally sho#*ed and so are her &riends" E%eryone li*ed her" .obody wants to belie%e that she was a drug addi#t" There were no signs+ at all" There,s supposed to be signs" She was happy" 3 barely e%er saw her upset" 3 ne%er e%en saw her drun*+ but they,%e all already a##epted that )iwas on heroin anyway be#ause it,s on the poli#e report" 3 #an,t a##ept it" 3t,s not at all li*e )i- to do drugs"E My brain was bu--ing+ DBut there,s been a lot o& heroin o%erdoses lately" 3t was in the paper and e%erything" Maybe it was the #ool thing to do and she =ust got #arried away>E Ethan nodded+ DE;a#tly" 'nd+ they,re assuming that )i- was =ust li*e the rest o& them" They thin* there,s some *ind o& a drug ring going on at )aurel Community College" That heroin has be#ome the hip #ollege drug o& #hoi#e" They =ust #an,t seem to &ind the supplier"E D0ell+ maybe )i- only tried it on#e+ =ust to try it+ D 3 o&&ered" D'nd+ it =ust turned out tragi#"E Ethan sighed" DBut she wasn,t the drug type" That,s what 3 *eep #oming ba#* to" 3t doesn,t ma*e sense"E 3 let this sin* in+ DSo+ i& )i- was murdered+ then the ob%ious 9uestion is do you thin* the others were murdered too>E

D0ell+ yes+ it,s a de&inite possibility+E Ethan said" My mind was awhirl with in&ormation" 3& Ethan was right+ there had been at least two other o%erdoses that were potential murders" That would mean that there was a potential serial *iller on the loose at )aurel Community College" 3t was only a hop s*ip and a =ump o%er to 6alos High S#hool+ my high s#hool" 0hat i& the murderer stru#* there ne;t> Had the poli#e been &ooled by a drug trail+ when instead all the girls li%ing around 6alos Community College were really all in mortal danger &rom a serial *iller> @r was Ethan =ust a totally distraught brother unable to deal with sister,s death> 3 made a snap de#ision as my mind #ontinued to go o%er the pu--le" There really might be something to his 9uestions+ D3 want to help"E 3 wasn,t thin*ing about the bene&it o& alone time with Ethan either" 3 really did want to help" He was so sad and 3 *now how that &elt" 3,d want to *now the truth too" @*ay+ at least+ 3 wasn,t thin*ing about the bene&its o& Ethan time when 3 originally o&&ered my help" 'lthough now+ 3 #ouldn,t stop thin*ing about it H being alone with him" Ethan raised his eyebrows in surprise+ but then said+ D@*ay"E 3t too* me a moment to pro#ess Ethan,s agreement" He was e%en *ind o& smiling at me" 3 mean+ it isn,t e%ery day that the most popular guy in s#hool tal*s to me+ learns 3,m a &uneral #rasher+ and then a##epts my help in%estigating his sister,s murder"

Chapter 5: Investigating
The two other deaths had happened in the last #ouple o& months+ both girls+ and all the dead girls had attended )aurel Community College" Hope&ully 3 was sa&e+ being still in high s#hool+ sin#e the *iller had not %eered &rom his patternLyet" 3 had wat#hed way too many horror mo%ies &or &ree &rom wor* to seriously want to #ontemplate being stal*ed and *illed by a serial *iller" The &irst was @li%ia Keynolds+ twenty" @li%ia was &ound dead in her apartment by her mother+ a needle still in her arm" She had been there &or a &ew days be&ore they &ound her" The se#ond was Melissa :ent+ nineteen" ' tea#her &ound Melissa dead in a bathroom stall at )aurel Community College" The syringe had &allen to the &loor" 3n theory+ she had shot up =ust a&ter a math test" She was &ound within two hours o& ta*ing that test" She had gotten an '" 'nd+ then there was )i-" ' poli#eman &ound her in her #ar on a Sunday night in a ni#e suburban neighborhood" ' stranger had #alled the poli#e upon seeing a girl passed out o%er the steering wheel" She wasn,t passed out+ though+ )iwas dead" Three girls were dead &rom an o%erdose o& heroin in =ust o%er two months" Stupid *ids+ drug ring+ or murder> 'nd why had they all been girls> 0asn,t heroin DinM &or guys too> 3 was leaning toward a %erdi#t o& murder or at the %ery least &oul play+ whi#h is why 3 agreed to meet Ethan on Saturday morning" He was ta*ing Friday o&& &rom s#hool to spend it with his &amily" 3t turns out a lot o& &amily &lew in &or )i-,s wa*e" 3t had literally sho#*ed the &amily into a reunion" Ethan had snu#* out on Thursday night+ in order to get to me sin#e he thought 3 was a potential lead in his sister,s unsol%ed murder+ but he was

stu#* hanging out with &amily again on Friday" 3t sounded li*e he was loo*ing &orward to it now that the &uneral was o%er" Friday &lew by &or me as 3 did my own resear#h and #ounted the se#onds to hanging out with Ethan" 0e planned to meet at a lo#al #o&&ee shop+ 0ired+ bright and early at 8 am on Saturday" 0ired had the best peanut butter banana mil*sha*es on the planet" They ser%ed those in addition to the i#e<blended #o&&ees and belie%e me when 3 say the words H hea%en on earth when re&erring to them" 0ired was also an a&ter s#hool hangout and high s#hool and #ollege bands played there on wee*ends+ but nobody was going to be there at 8 am on Saturday morning" 3 brie&ly wondered i& Ethan was a&raid to be seen with me in publi#+ but maybe he =ust wanted to get a =ump on his sister,s murder in%estigation+ being that the murder would ha%e happened a whopping si; days earlier+ as o& Saturday+ and that,s eons in murder in%estigation time" 3 wanted to help Ethan &ind out what happened to his sister and not =ust be#ause he was hot+ but be#ause )i- really seemed li*e the *ind o& girl who deser%ed to be remembered as the great girl she was and not a druggie" She had a dog named 6aws &or goodness sa*e+ how #ute is that> 6lus+ her *iller Iher alleged *iller+ 3 guess+ sin#e it was still only a theoryJ should #ome to =usti#eA So+ Ethan and 3 were meeting to go o%er the details+ be&ore going to the poli#e" His &amily thought he was bere&t with grie& and in denial+ and he didn,t want the poli#e to thin* the same" 3 was basi#ally going to be his unbiased helper in going o%er the &a#ts o& his sister,s and the other girls, deaths" 'nd+ the sooner the poli#e started in%estigating )i-,s murder+ the better" 3 mean+ a##ording to that 'OE show+ The /ir"t 67, that 3 wat#hed as 3 was internet sur&ing obituaries and news arti#les+ the #ase is already #old and only getting #older" Still+ helping the poli#e reali-e it was murder and not an o%erdose would be a great start" Maybe they #ould sa%e someone else" 3& )i- and the other girls were murdered there had to be #lues" E%en the most #al#ulating o& *illers+ has to ma*e mista*es" So+ e%ery spare moment 3 had on Friday and early into the hours o& Saturday morning+ 3 s#oured the internet" 3 &ound news arti#les on the drug problem at )aurel Community College+ as well as the obituaries o& the three dead girls" 3 read+ #opied+ and pasted in&ormation &rom their Fa#eboo* pages" They were still up there+ e%en though @li%ia had been dead =ust o%er a month and a hal&" They were really sad to loo* at and read+ though" Friends had posted sympathy D3,m sorry you,re dead+E #omments and e%erything" There had to be #lues there somewhere" Ethan loo*ed tired when 3 spotted him sitting in a dar* #orner o& the #o&&ee shop+ drin*ing a steaming #up o& #o&&ee" 3 ordered my usual+ super yummy+ hea%en on earth+ peanut butter banana mil*sha*e and went to sit down a#ross &rom him with my sta#* o& arti#les+ DHey+ so 3 &ound lots o& arti#les yesterday" 3 was up all night loo*ing through them"E DMaybe 3 was wrong+E Ethan was slumped o%er his #o&&ee and ob%iously ha%ing doubts" (rie& will do that to you" Fp #lose+ it was ob%ious he hadn,t slept" He was in the same (reen $ay T<shirt &rom two nights be&ore" 0as it possible that he loo*ed e%en #uter on no sleep and in dirty #lothes> D3 mean+ 3 =ust ha%e to &a#e it+ )i- is dead and 3 need to mo%e on" )i%e my li&e"E 3 loo*ed at him in#redulously+ D3 don,t thin* you,re wrong at allA .one o& those girls seem li*e they were the heroin using type" They all got good grades" E%eryone lo%ed

them" They had ne%er been in any trouble+ o& any *ind+ in their li%es" .one o& them had so mu#h as a speeding ti#*et" 3t,s weird"E DSo+ why would anyone want to murder them>E Ethan as*ed+ tiredly" 3 loo*ed Ethan straight in the eyes+ DThat,s the 9uestion we need to as*" Ethan+ you were right about this" 3 *now you are" )i- was murdered" Those other girls were murdered" 3& we don,t do anything about it+ someone else is going to die" The poli#e need to start in%estigating these deaths as murders"E DSo+ what do you ha%e>E Ethan as*ed pulling the papers 3 had printed toward him" 3 hesitated a moment+ be&ore 3 slid &rom the seat a#ross &rom him+ to the #hair ne;t to him" 3t,s a little weird sitting ne;t to the hottest guy in s#hool at a #o&&ee shop+ e%en i& you,re only helping him in%estigate his sister,s murder and not on a date" 3 too* the papers and spread them out o%er the table in &ront o& us" 3 had already organi-ed them" 3 pointed to the &irst pile+ DThese are about @li%ia Keynolds" She was the &irst+ so there isn,t mu#h+ =ust an obituary and a lo#al #olumn about #ollege *ids and drugs" Her Fa#eboo* page says it all+ though+ she was a #ra&ty"E D' what>E Ethan,s eyebrows ar#hed at the 9uestion" D' #ra&ty" She li*ed to ma*e #ra&ts" Her Fa#eboo* page had tons o& home made items" She was a *nitter H she made tons o& s#ar%es+ hats+ and sweaters" There,s e%en a lin* to her *nitting blog" @li%ia was also getting into ma*ing =ewelry &rom some art #lass she was ta*ing" She #ould sew too" She would so not be your typi#al drug user" 3 mean+ her &a%orite singer was Taylor Swi&t+ &or goodness sa*e"E Ethan #ra#*ed a smile+ D$id you =ust say goodness sa*e>E DCes+E 3 smiled ba#* at him" DCou,re weird+E Ethan said+ but he was still smiling at me" DThan*s+E 3 replied and 3 thin* he meant it as a #ompliment" 0e sat in silen#e as Ethan loo*ed o%er the papers on @li%ia Keynolds" 3t was all there and plain to see" @li%ia Keynolds may ha%e been the type to do pot in a hippie sort o& way+ but not heroin" 3 went on+ D@*ay+ pile two is about Melissa :ent" There was a little more about her in the news be#ause she was the se#ond o%erdose in two wee*s &rom )aurel Community College+ but this time+ they &o#used on what the s#hool was going to do about the ob%ious drug problem+ so again+ 3 turned to her Fa#eboo* page" 'nd+ Melissa was a good Catholi# girl+ unless her Fa#eboo* page was lying" Her Fa#eboo* page said the words+ D3 lo%e (odE and e%erything" Her groups listed were #hur#h youth groups and %olunteer ser%i#es" She was so not a heroin addi#t type either"E Ethan pi#*ed up the papers on Melissa" 3 wat#hed him loo* through them+ his brain &urrowed as he read" He was really #ute" 3 &elt mysel& staring at him in &ull #rush mode and shoo* mysel& out o& it" 0hat we were doing here was more important than my #rush" '&ter reading so mu#h about Melissa and @li%ia+ 3 really &elt li*e 3 *new them" 3 didn,t thin* they had o%erdosed" E%en i& one o& them+ somehow had+ the #ombination o& them didn,t ma*e any sense" Ethan nodded+ loo*ing up &rom the papers+ D'nd+ then there,s )i-"E 3 nodded ba#*+ loo*ed at the third pile that was all about )i-" 3 had read up on her already too" Still+ 3 loo*ed ba#* at Ethan+ DSo+ what happened the night she died>E Ethan too* a deep steadying breath and said+ D0e don,t *now e;a#tly" She was home in the morning+ in her room" Then she went to go wor* at an animal adoption &or the

6alos 'nimal Shelter at the par* on the #orner o& 1/2th street and Moorpar*" ' lot o& people saw her there" She was wal*ing with a really #ute s#raggly dog" E%eryone said she seemed totally &ine" She was trying to get the dog a home"E DSo+ she wasn,t on drugs then>E 3 as*ed" D.o" E%eryone said she was =ust )i-" .othing weird+E Ethan shrugged" DThey,re all &loored she,s gone"E D0here did she go a&ter that>E 3 as*ed" D0ell+ she le&t there a little a&ter se%en" She helped get the animals loaded ba#* up to go to the pound and she spent a little while tal*ing to this #ouple about the dog" '&ter that+ we don,t *now where she went+E Ethan said" D0hat time did the poli#e &ind her>E 3 as*ed" Ethan was solemn+ D'bout two and a hal& hours later" .ine<thirty about" She was in her #ar about two miles away &rom the par* and about a mile &rom our house" 3t loo*ed li*e she was on her way home" 't least that,s what they thin*"E D0hat time do they thin* she died>E 3t was a hard 9uestion &or me to as* Ethan" Ethan paused+ DThey thin* it was within the hour that they &ound her" Between eight< thirty and nine<thirty"E DSo+ where was she &or the hour and a hal& or so be&ore she died>E 3 as*ed" Ethan shrugged+ D0e don,t *now" .obody was with her that we *now o&" 'll o& her &riends said they hadn,t seen her that day" 't least the ones we *now about" 'nd+ all o& them said they *new nothing about the heroin"E 3 &rowned+ D0ell+ the heroin thing isn,t a surprise" 0hat teenager would #on&ess to that> Seriously+ though+ nobody *nows where she was &or the last hour o& her li&e>E Ethan shoo* his head+ D.o" 0e e%en #he#*ed her #ell phone and there were no #alls"E D0ere there any #alls at all that day on her phone>E 3 as*ed" D?ust the usual ones" ' #ouple o& her &riends and 3 tal*ed to them" They said nothing was wrong or weird+E Ethan said" DTe;ts>E 3 o&&ered" Ethan &rowned+ D.o" She deleted them" My mom on#e read through her phone in high s#hool and e%er sin#e then she ne%er sa%ed them"E DThat su#*s+E 3 &elt dis#ouraged" DHer phone and its te;ts may ha%e gi%en us a real #lue"E DCeah+E Ethan sighed" D'nd+ nobody at the par* saw her lea%e with anyone>E 3 as*ed" D.o" The last people she tal*ed to at the par* was the #ouple adopting the dog+E Ethan said" DHuh+E 3 said+ thin*ing" D0as she &riends with any o& the other 'nimal Shelter people>E Ethan shrugged+ D.ot good &riends that 3 *now o&+ but 3 mean+ she saw them a &ew times a wee*+ so they were on o*ay terms"E DBut none o& them said they were with her>E 3 as*ed" Ethan shoo* his head+ D.o"E D'nd+ the poli#e didn,t &ind anything in her #ar>E 3 had to as*" D.o+E Ethan &rowned" D?ust the needle" E%erything else was the same H =ust the stu&& that was usually in her #ar"E

D.o &inger prints>E 3 as*ed" D3 don,t *now" They =ust ruled it an o%erdose" 3 didn,t see a report or anything+E Ethan said" D.ot that they,d gi%e us one+E 3 smir*ed" DThat,s probably true+ but i& we #an get them to open the #ase ba#* up+ maybe they,ll re<loo* at all o& that e%iden#e" 0e =ust need to get something that they missed" Something that seems really weird+E Ethan said" )i- was the only %i#tim we had a detailed time line on" Ethan *new all there was to *now about it be#ause he was &amily" 3t still didn,t help us+ though" 0e needed more to go on" 0here was )i- the last hour o& her li&e> 0as someone with her> D0e,ll &ind something" 3 *now we will" So+ do you want to tell me about her>E 3 as*ed" D0hat was she li*e> 'nything that might help>E Ethan too* a shuddering breath and #ontinued anyway+ DSure" She lo%ed animals" Her grades weren,t the best so she was going to )aurel Community College to get them up+ so she #ould get into a good s#hool that would get her into a %eterinary #ollege" They #an be really hard to get into and she wanted it more than anything" She %olunteered at the 6alos 'nimal Shelter a &ew days a wee* a&ter s#hool and she had a =ob at 6etsmart" 'nimals were her drugs+ i& anything" She had lots o& &riends and she had =ust started dating this guy she really li*ed+ so there was no reason &or her toLE D0ait" 0hat guy>E 3 as*ed+ interrupting Ethan" DFh+ 3,m not sure" 3 mean+ 3 thin* his name was Mar*" .o+ that,s totally not it" That was the guy be&ore this one" Fh+ Tra%is> @r+ was it Brent> $on>E DCou really ha%e no idea+ do you>E 3 as*ed" Ethan was really #on#entrating" D3 #an,t remember" 3 =ust thought it was another guy and it was a sorta new guy"E D0e #ould #he#* her phone+E 3 o&&ered" DCeah+ but she has li*e three hundred #onta#ts" E%eryone she,s e%er met is in her phone" 3 #he#*ed" Maybe i& 3 saw him" She did show me a pi#ture on Fa#eboo*" They only went out &or a #ouple o& wee*s be&ore she died" 3t wasn,t super serious or anything yet"E ' thought was &orming in my brain+ D0as he at the &uneral>E Ethan thought &or a moment+ D.o+ 3 don,t thin* he was" 't least 3 didn,t see him there" The whole &uneral thing was a blur &or me+ though" The only person 3 remember being there is you+ a#tually+ be#ause you ran away &rom me"E 3 grima#ed+ DThan*s" So+ do you thin* there,s any way he #ould be in%ol%ed in this> Her semi<boy&riend>E Ethan shrugged+ DSure+ i& he *new all o& the other girls"E

Chapter : !leuthing
That is how 3 ended up at Ethan Kipley,s house+ with nobody home+ on a Saturday a&ternoon" 'ny normal girl would ha%e been beside hersel& with ner%es at being alone in Ethan,s house+ in his room+ on his bedL

3t was a large bedroom a#tually+ bigger than mine+ at least" 3 was surprised to see that he had a large boo*shel& &illed with boo*s" 3 *new Ethan was smart and su#h+ but he a#tually read &or &un> Cool" There was a lot o& s#ien#e &i#tion on the shel%es" 3 saw 1une and )nder’" Game and Stephen :ing,s The Gun"linger series" He readsA 3t was super se;y to me" @ther than that+ there were no posters on the wall+ =ust a &ew &ramed re#ords spa#ed out de#orati%ely H a Beatles album+ a Clash 'lbum+ a Bob $ylan album+ and a &ew others" There was a guitar lying against the boo*shel&" $id Ethan play musi# too> 0ow+ 3 was impressed" He really was the per&e#t guy" Sigh" 3 was stru#* again by being alone in his house with him" To e%en be #lose enough to him to see the inside o& his bedroom was ama-ing" 3 ne%er would ha%e thought 3 would be here" 'nd+ 3 mean+ butter&lies were =umping around in my stoma#h+ but #ome on+ we were in%estigating a murder+ roman#e wasn,t going to happen" 3,ll admit to being slightly disappointed about that" 3t,s not li*e 3 planned it or li*e he e%en planned it+ being alone in his house" His whole &amily was spending the day at his un#le,s in a sort o& get out o& the house day" Sin#e he had spent the day be&ore with the &amily+ Ethan had #laimed plans and de#lined going" 3 was =ust e;#ited that 3 had made the list o& Ethan,s plans" The plan+ as we were sitting together in his room alone I3 lo%ed being able to say thatAJ+ was to brea* into )i-,s Fa#eboo* a##ount and see i& she and the other %i#tims had any &riends in #ommon+ most parti#ularly )i-,s boy&riend Ted or Brent or Tra%is or Bob or whate%er his name turned out to be" 0e hoped to &ind that out &rom her Fa#eboo* emails as well+ sin#e her status was a non<#ommitted D3n a KelationshipE without the sub=e#t o& the relationship,s name" Ethan was lying on his bed+ eyes trained on the Fa#eboo* #omputer password s#reen that was %isible on his laptop" 3 was lying ne;t to him+ trying not to thin* about how #lose his entire body was to mine" 3 distra#ted mysel& by loo*ing through )i-,s phone again" She did delete all o& her te;ts and her #onta#ts list was an eon long" Her missed+ re#ei%ed+ and dialed #alls were mostly girls that Ethan said were her good &riends" He didn,t thin* they had anything to do with it" There were three guys+ though" @ne o& them was probably her boy&riend H either Troy or $ylan or Ma;" .one o& them rang a bell &or Ethan" 3 wanted to #all up one o& her &riends or the guys+ but Ethan had ni;ed that idea" Her &riends were all really upset and nobody wanted to tal* about murder" So+ he wanted to ha#* into her Fa#eboo* instead" 3& we #ould get in+ 3 was all &or it" Besides+ it meant 3 got to hang out with Ethan a little longer+ in his house+ alone" D3 *now it has something to do with 6aws+E Ethan said+ still staring at the s#reen" The dog+ 6aws+ was lying at the &oot o& Ethan,s bed+ &ast asleep" He was a #ute little guy+ a Boston Terrier+ who had lost an eye and wound up in the shelter" )i- had &elt sorry &or him and didn,t thin* he,d get adopted+ so she too* him home+ ignoring her &amily,s no pet rule" Ethan said it too* them less than twenty<&our hours to &all in lo%e with the dog too and throw out the rule" $oesn,t sound li*e a girl who would @$ on heroin+ does it> DCesAE Ethan yelled" 3 turned away &rom 6aws+ to loo* at the s#reen" Ethan was into )i-,s a##ount" D3t was ilo%epaws+ i& you #an belie%e it+E Ethan grinned and then seemed suddenly sad as he said+ DSo totally )i-"E

)i-,s home page was up on the #omputer s#reen" She had two new messages" Ethan #li#*ed on the inbo; i#on" Two messages appeared" @ne was &rom a guy+ Troy+ the other &rom a girl+ Ganessa+ both dated the Sunday )i- had died" )i- had ne%er gotten the #han#e to read them" The rest o& the inbo; was empty" She must ha%e deleted her messages as she read them+ =ust li*e the te;ts" Ethan was smiling+ D?a#*potA 3t,s himA His name is Troy MatthewsAE Ethan #li#*ed on the message &rom Troy Hey, Liz8 9t wa" great 0u"t tal,ing the other night! 9’m glad we did! 9 can’t wait to "ee you again8 #all you later! :-, Troy DThat doesn,t seem weird or anything+E 3 #ommented a&ter reading the email o%er Ethan,s shoulder" DBut that doesn,t rule him out+ either"E Ethan nodded and #li#*ed on the message &rom Ganessa Liz 5 When you get a chance 9 really, really, really need to tal, to you! #alled you, $ut it went "traight to %oicemail! Thought 9’d "ee i( you were online! #all me888 <;ane""a D.ow that,s interesting" She,s not on the missed #alls+E 3 said loo*ing at )i-,s phone again" DHer phone must ha%e been o&&+E Ethan said a&ter a moment" DThat doesn,t help" 3 wonder what the big deal was" $o you *now Ganessa Martin>E 3 as*ed Ethan as 3 peered at her pi#ture" 3 *new 3 had ne%er met her" She probably went to )aurel Community College too" D.o" She must,%e been one o& )i-,s #ollege &riends" They didn,t really #ome o%er+ li*e her high s#hool &riends did" 3t wasn,t #ool to hang out here+ i& you *now what 3 mean" .ot that it is now either+ but 3 ha%e nowhere else to go" ' lot o& her new &riends ha%e their own pla#es+E Ethan shrugged" D3 really wonder what Ganessa wanted to tal* to )i- about+E ' thought popped into my mind" DCan we email her> 3 mean+ not &rom )i-,s a##ount be#ause that might #reep her out+ but maybe &rom yours>E D'nd =ust as* her what she needed to tal* to )i- about>E Ethan sounded doubt&ul" DCeah+ 3 mean+ i& she *nows something+ maybe she,ll tell you" 6lay up the grie%ing brother+E 3 o&&ered" D3t #an,t hurt" 0orst thing+ she,ll say is no"E D0hat about Troy>E Ethan said+ #li#*ing ba#* to Troy,s message" D3 don,t thin* we should email himLyet"E 3 stared at Troy,s message &or a moment" D'#tually+ 3 ha%e an idea" Can 3>E 3 rea#hed &or the #omputer and Ethan handed it to me" He sat up and loo*ed o%er my shoulder as 3 went to Fa#eboo*,s &riend &inder" 3 typed in the name H @li%ia Keynolds" Her name popped up immediately and 3 #li#*ed on her pro&ile" 3 was loo*ing &or the mutual &riends list and there it was < two &riends in #ommon+ Troy Matthews and oddly enough+ Su-ie 0hitsett+ the girl my #hemistry lab partner+ :yle ?ones had a #rush on" D@*ay+ interesting" So+ )i- and @li%ia both *new Troy Matthews and Su-ie 0hitsett+E 3 started" D0ait are you thin*ingL Che#* out Melissa :ent+E Ethan was un*nowingly+ holding a death grip on the #om&orter" DTroy has to *now her too"E

D@*ay+ o*ay+ 3,m #he#*ing her too+ but do you *now how )i- *nows Su-ie 0hitsett> She,s in our grade at s#hool+E 3 said+ while typing in Melissa,s name" DThe 9uiet girl> 3 thin* they %olunteered at the animal shelter together or something" )i- too* me to an animal adoption at the par* on#e and introdu#ed me to Su-ie" 3 only remember be#ause 3 had seen her in s#hool+ but had ne%er a#tually heard her spea* be&ore+E Ethan said+ staring at the #omputer s#reen" DCou *now+ you #an be really arrogant+E 3 said+ without thin*ing+ as the results popped up" Ethan turned away &rom the s#reen to loo* at me+ D0hat>E DSu-ie,s a really ni#e girl and really smart" She,s =ust shy" Cou need to learn to get to *now people be&ore you =udge their entire personalities+E 3 don,t *now what was wrong with me" 3 was telling o&& the most popular guy in s#hool &or not ta*ing the time to &igure out that the 9uiet girl is =ust shy" D)i*e you>E he as*ed+ wat#hing me" 3 ignored the 9uestion and turned to loo* ba#* at the s#reen and Melissa :ent and )i- @,Keilly,s #ommon &riends" 3 &elt Ethan loo* at me &or a moment more be&ore he turned to loo* at them too" There it was+ only one &riend in #ommon H Troy Matthews+ Fa#eboo* &riend to all three o& the alleged murder %i#tims" Coin#iden#e> 3 thin* not" 'lthough+ one would thin* he,d delete them &rom his &riend,s list a&ter he murdered them+ but 3 guess not"

Chapter ": Finger#$ointing
3t too* me awhile to #alm Ethan down" 'lthough+ it was an e;#ellent lead+ =ust be#ause Troy *new all o& the dead girls+ didn,t mean he had *illed them" D0e #an,t =ust go to the poli#e and a##use Troy+E 3 reasoned with Ethan" DThey,re not going to belie%e us" Ha%en,t you seen li*e e%ery horror mo%ie> .obody belie%es teenagers"E Ethan loo*ed at me with &rustration and pointed at the #omputer+ DBut it,s right thereA He *new all o& themA 0hat more e%iden#e do we need>E D' moti%e>E 3 %olunteered" Ethan shoo* his head+ D)et the #ops &igure out a moti%e"E D)oo*+ 3 admit it,s suspi#ious+ but there has to be more+E 3 argued" Ethan shoo* his head+ but 3 #ould see that he was at the %ery least+ #alming down" D3,m still going to the poli#e" They ha%e to *now about this" 'll we need to do is get them to #hange their minds" 0e don,t a#tually ha%e to sol%e the #ase"E D3 *now+ but 3 still thin* we need more+E 3 said" DBut this is huge+E Ethan replied" DHe *new all o& them" The #ops ha%e to *now"E 0e had been arguing about this &or the last hal& hour+ so 3 nodded+ reali-ing that 3 wasn,t going to be able to dissuade him" 3 still didn,t thin* we had enough to go on" 3t #ould be a #oin#iden#e" Troy #ould be a totally inno#ent guy+ who =ust happened to ha%e a lot o& dead girl spa#e &riends" Still+ 3 will admit+ e%en 3 had a %ague hope that the poli#e would #hange their in%estigation &rom drugs to murder and that Troy,s relationships to

the %i#tims might be a #atalyst &or that" The 6alos 6oli#e Station is a small poli#e station" My guess is that most o& their #alls are about domesti# %iolen#e and petty #rime" 3 should ha%e *nown that they wouldn,t *now what to do with a murder #ase+ e%en i& it did &all in their laps" D0hat #an 3 do &or you+ Ethan>E $ete#ti%e $i;on as*ed+ leaning ba#* in his des* #hair as he too* a sip o& #o&&ee &rom a steaming styro&oam #up" $idn,t he *now that styro&oam was pra#ti#ally non<re#y#lable> 0hat about sa%ing the planet and all that> 3 didn,t say anything+ though+ e%en though 3 was thin*ing it" 0e weren,t here to sa%e the planet+ a&ter all" 0e were there to stop more people &rom getting murdered and sin#e 3 was the weird girl+ we had agreed to let Ethan do all the tal*ing" So+ 9uiet+ stay 9uiet+ was the mantra 3 *ept repeating in my brain" $ete#ti%e $i;on,s o&&i#e was a tiny #ubbyhole in the 6alos 6oli#e $epartment and it was littered with those empty styro&oam #o&&ee #ups" This guy li*ed his #o&&eeLand *illing the planet" @ther than that+ there were papers e%erywhere" For a small suburban town with no apparent #rime+ other than a triple murder labeled as drug o%erdoses+ he loo*ed li*e he might be a busy guy" 'nd+ o*ay maybe there was more than =ust domesti# %iolen#e #ases happening in the #ity o& 6alos" Maybe it wasn,t the ni#e town it seemed to be" 3 *now 3 had always &elt sa&e there be&ore+ but maybe not so mu#h now" Ethan was in the middle o& e;plaining the situation+ when 3 tuned ba#* into the #on%ersation and out o& my inner monologue+ DSo+ what that boils down to is that we thin* my sister )i-+ @li%ia Keynolds+ and Melissa :ent were all murdered" 'nd+ we thin* Troy Matthews might be in%ol%ed" He *new all the %i#tims"E $ete#ti%e $i;on had spent Ethan,s entire e;planation nodding+ but he hadn,t e%en tou#hed the blan* notepad and bla#* pen lying on his des*+ DCou said they were Fa#eboo* &riends>E Ethan nodded+ DCes"E DTe#hni#ally+ aren,t they all #onne#ted through their s#hool> 3sn,t Fa#eboo* a so#ial tool> For networ*ing> 3t,s possible that they all *new ea#h other too+ isn,t it> )aurel Community College is a small s#hool" ' tight *nit #ommunity #ollege+ i& you will" E%eryone *nows e%eryone else and e%eryone,s on Fa#eboo*" That,s why these o%erdoses are su#h a tragedy+E $ete#ti%e $i;on had slipped into his pro#edural poli#e %oi#e" 3t was ob%ious to me that he was thin*ing H ah+ these silly *ids+ trying to play dete#ti%eA 3 was no silly *idA DThey,re not o%erdosesA They,re murdersAE 3 said and o*ay+ maybe 3 said it a little too loudly+ with a little too mu#h emphasis+ and totally out o& the blue sin#e 3 had =ust been sitting there 9uietly be&ore this" D'nd+ how are you in%ol%ed>E $ete#ti%e $i;on turned to me+ DBesides being Mr" Kipley,s girl&riend> 3,m sorry+ MissLE D:ait )eno;+E 3 said+ &eeling &rustrated" DMiss )eno;+E $ete#ti%e $i;on #ontinued+ D3,%e wor*ed &or this poli#e department &or the last twenty years" 0e,re #he#*ing these o%erdoses out+ but &or now+ they,re #lassi&ied as drug related deaths" There,s no e%iden#e leading us to belie%e these girls were murdered"E DBut we =ust ga%e you e%iden#eAE Ethan #ried" D'll based on how you &eel about your sister and other girls in similar situations" 3t,s a #oin#iden#e" 3t is %ery possible that the girls all had lots o& &riends in #ommon" They

may ha%e e%en *nown ea#h other" 3t,s a %ery+ %ery sad situation+ but there is absolutely no e%iden#e o& anything more than drugs" Troy Matthews isn,t a lead be#ause there weren,t any murders+E $ete#ti%e $i;on was trying to be #ompassionate+ but it #ame out patroni-ing" D0hat about loo*ing into i& he,s a drug dealer or i& they did drugs together or something>E 3 as*ed+ =ust wanting them to #he#* up on Troy in some way" 3 was getting really &rustrated" $ete#ti%e $i;on &rowned+ D0e,ll *eep an eye on him+ but there really isn,t any e%iden#e that he,s in%ol%edLE DThere,s also this email &rom Ganessa Martin that )i- ne%er got &rom the day she died+E 3 said pushing a #opy o& Ganessa,s Fa#eboo* email to )i- toward him" He glan#ed at it 9ui#*ly and said+ DThis doesn,t say anything" )oo*s li*e she =ust needed to tal* to her"E DCeah+E 3 *ept pushing+ D'nd+ then within hours o& that email+ )i- is dead" Maybe Ganessa *nows something about that"E D0e,ll loo* into it+E $ete#ti%e $i;on+ nodded+ but 3 didn,t belie%e him" Ethan was seething+ but trying to hold his temper" 3 didn,t e%en *now him that well and 3 #ould see that $ete#ti%e $i;on was &rustrating the hell out o& him" Hell+ $ete#ti%e $i;on was &rustrating the hell out o& me too and it wasn,t e%en my sister that had died" 3 *new we were onto something" The poli#e had to listen" 3 mean+ what were Ethan and 3 going to do with this in&ormation> The law had to help us out and use it to &ind the murderer and then arrest them" D't least #he#* out Troy Matthews+E 3 pleaded" 3 was suddenly a&raid that we had blown our one and only shot with the poli#e and sol%ing )i-,s murder" That would be a tra%esty" $ete#ti%e $i;on s#rutini-ed us &or a moment" 3 got the distin#t impression that he was trying not to roll his eyes+ while pretending to humor us+ instead" Seriously" 3t was super annoying" D@*ay+ o*ay+ it,s time &or both o& you to lea%e now" 3 ha%e wor* to get done be&ore 3 go home tonight+E $ete#ti%e $i;on gestured at the papers lying e%erywhere" DThan*s &or nothing+ $ete#ti%e $i;on+E Ethan muttered+ bitterly+ as he stood up" 3 didn,t e%en bother saying anything as Ethan and 3 le&t the o&&i#e" DCan you belie%e that guy>E Ethan slammed his &ist against the steering wheel o& his #ar in &rustration" 0e were sitting in the 6alos 6oli#e $epartment par*ing lot with the #ar o&&" Both o& us were really disappointed with the poli#e,s treatment o& the situation" 3 was sure $ete#ti%e $i;on was a good #op+ but in this #ase+ he was dead wrong" D.ot really+E 3 said+ leaning ba#* into the passenger seat" 3 needed a nap" 3t had been a &ore%er long day" D0hat do we do now>E Ethan rested his head against the wheel+ then turned sideways to loo* at me in de&eat+ D3 don,t *now" 0hat #an we do>E D3 don,t *now+E 3 replied ba#*" 3 didn,t *now" 3 mean+ weren,t the poli#e supposed to in%estigate murders> 0hy were they ignoring this> 3 mean+ e%en i& we were only one per#ent on the right tra#*+ shouldn,t they at least #onsider it> They were too busy loo*ing &or a heroin ring in 6alos" Maybe there was one+ but 3 was betting that in this #ase the

drugs were being sold to someone in parti#ular and that person was supplying and *illing these girls" 0e sat in the #ar in silen#e &or a &ew more moments+ the 6alos 6oli#e $epartment li*e a window de#oration out the &ront windshield" DMaybe 3,m wrong" Maybe 3 =ust don,t want to belie%e )i- did heroin" Hell+ maybe it was her &irst time e%er trying it and it =ust ended up with her @$ing" Maybe we should =ust lea%e it alone and let the poli#e do their =ob li*e $ete#ti%e $i;on said+E Ethan loo*ed tired again+ as he leaned ba#* against the dri%er,s side seat" 3t was hard to belie%e that =ust days ago we,d been #omplete strangers" Ha%ing spent an entire Saturday with Ethan+ loo*ing into )i-,s murder had #hanged things" 3 &elt bra%er+ mu#h bra%er+ D3 don,t thin* gi%ing up is the right thing to do" 3 thin* )i- was murdered" Melissa and @li%ia too"E DBut the poli#e don,t" They,re the ones that #ount+E Ethan let out an e;asperated sigh+ D0hat are we supposed to do>E D3 don,t *nowAE 3 shouted" Ces+ 3 shouted at Ethan Kipley+ the most popular guy at s#hool" DBut we #an,t =ust gi%e up" 3 thin* we ha%e the start o& something"E D3,m tired+E Ethan sounded de&eated" D3 want to gi%e up" 3 =ust ha%e to a##ept the &a#ts li*e my &amily and the poli#e want me to" 3 =ust want it to be o%er" 3 mean+ she,s dead" There,s nothing we #an do about it now"E My #ell phone bro*e o&& my annoyed retort" 0e #ouldn,t gi%e up" 3t was 'nne &rom the 6alos Gideo Store+ D0hat,s up>E 3 listened" @h shit" 3 #ompletely &orgot about my shi&t at the store" D3,ll be there in twenty minutes+ 'nne" 3 totally spa#ed" 3 am so sorry"E Ethan was staring at me+ as 3 hung up" D3 need to get my #ar" 3 &orgot about my shi&t at the %ideo store"E Ethan nodded and started the #ar" He loo*ed #ompletely drained+ D.o problem" 0e,ll be ba#* at my house in &i%e"E Ethan pulled away &rom the 6alos 6oli#e $epartment and 3 &elt him pulling away &rom me at the same time" DBut Ethan+ what about )i->E 3 as*ed" He shoo* his head+ DForget about this whole thing" 3,m sorry &or dragging you into this"E 3 ignored his sel&<de&eatist attitude+ DMaybe we should in%estigate her death oursel%es"E D)i*e we #ould ma*e any di&&eren#e+E Ethan,s %oi#e sounded dull" 3 remember how he &elt" There was a period a&ter my mom died that 3 &elt the same way" $ull" .othing mattered+ at least not really" Ethan wasn,t right in this #ase+ though" )i- had been murderedA 3 was #ompletely sure o& itA 3 wasn,t going to let him get away with blowing )i-,s murder o&&+ DBut don,t you want to *now that your sister wasn,t a druggie> E%en i& we #an,t #on%in#e the poli#e+ don,t you want to *now>E Ethan sighed+ D3 =ust #an,t thin* about this right now" 3,m so tired"E He #ouldn,t gi%e upA 3 told mysel& to #alm down" Ethan was under a lot o& stress" He #ould sleep on it" Besides+ 3 had to go to wor* and there was nothing more we #ould do tonight+ DMaybe you =ust need to get some rest" 0e #an tal* more about it tomorrow"E Ethan snu#* a glan#e at me with a resol%ed loo*+ as he #ontinued dri%ing+ D3,m done

loo*ing into it" 0e don,t need to tal* about it tomorrow"E That was a total blow o&& i& 3 #ould say so mysel&" Ethan was basi#ally telling me that he,d used me &or what he needed me &or and he didn,t need me anymore" 'nd+ maybe 3 was ignoring the &a#t that he was ob%iously depressed and &or good reason+ but 3 #ouldn,t help it+ 3 &elt suddenly really angry+ D0ell+ you,re wel#ome" 3,m so glad 3 spent the last two days doing resear#h &or you into your sister,s death" .ow that 3,m #on%in#ed that she was murdered+ 3 am so glad you are #on%in#ed that she simply o%erdosed" Fine+ lea%e me with the guilt o& *nowing that there,s going to be a ne;t %i#tim" Fine+ Ethan+ &ine"E 'nd+ we pro#eeded to dri%e ba#* to my #ar and his house in silen#e+ as we both pondered my statement+ ea#h angry with the other" Thus+ 3 spent Saturday night worried about getting &ired &rom my part time %ideo store =ob o%er a popular asshole+ who 3 had spent a per&e#tly good &ree wee*end day trying to help" 3 was o%er an hour late to wor* and worse than that+ Ethan and 3 hadn,t spo*en a word sin#e my rant" E%en when we parted ways+ he hadn,t said so mu#h as a than* you" So mu#h &or the hope that he might say DhiAE to me in the halls when we returned to s#hool on Monday" 'nne was #ool+ though+ about my =ob" 3t was the &irst time e%er+ that 3 had been really+ really late" 'lthough+ she did warn me that 3 should ma*e sure it ne%er happened again" 3t wouldn,t" 3 mean+ it,s not li*e Ethan was going to be distra#ting me &rom my responsibilities again or anything" 'nne le&t a&ter #hewing me out" E%en though she was really ni#e about it+ it was still a #hewing out" 3 hoped it would ne%er happen again and it probably wouldn,t" 3 was usually a %ery good employee" 3t was Courtney )ewis and 3 wat#hing the store tonight" 0e got along in that way where you get along without really tal*ing" 3t was how 3 related to most other people a#tually" That was why it was *ind o& &unny that 'nne was out the door &or about thirty se#onds+ when Courtney loo*ed at me and said+ DSo+ where were you>E D3 &orgot 3 was wor*ing+E 3 said automati#ally+ not loo*ing at her+ worried that my &a#e would turn red be#ause 3 was lying" 3 pretended to dig in my purse &or my boo* instead" 3 &ound the boo* and loo*ed up to &ind Courtney still wat#hing me+ DFh<huh" So+ tell me about the guy"E D0hat>E 3 &eigned+ &eeling suddenly worried" 3 *new it wasn,t any o& Courtney,s business and all+ but 3 wasn,t good in so#ial situations as it was+ so pressuring me to admit to a lie threw me &or a loop" DThe guy you were late &or> 3t,s so ob%ious+E Courtney was wat#hing me+ wanting to hear my gossip &or some reason" 3& 3,d *nown Courtney better+ maybe 3 would ha%e gossiped to her about my #rush on Ethan+ but we ne%er tal*ed" 3 #ouldn,t =ust #ome out there with it" 3 mean+ Courtney was older than me by about three years+ in #ollege+ and she might ha%e more e;perien#e on that &ront than 3 did+ but 3 =ust #ouldn,t trust her" 'riel had made me %ery+ %ery weary o& girl&riends and the damage they #ould in&li#t i& you trusted the wrong one" 3 had trusted 'riel with e%erything and she had used it to try to destroy me" .ot #ool" 'nd+ then it hit me" Courtney was in #ollege+ )aurel Community College to be e;a#t" Maybe she *new something about the o%erdoses+ er+ murders" She #ould be an in" @&

#ourse+ 3 was totally ignoring the &a#t that as o& this moment+ 3 was o&& the #ase+ but whate%er" 3 #ouldn,t =ust lea%e it alone" .o matter what Ethan wanted to do+ 3 was already in%ol%ed" 3 &a*ed a smile or maybe it was real be#ause 3 was thin*ing about Ethan+ D0ell+ it,s this #ollege guyLE Courtney grinned at me+ D' #ollege guy> 0here does he go>E DTo your s#hool" Maybe you *now him> Troy Matthews>E 3 as*ed+ hoping 3 loo*ed dreamy eyed and in lo%e+ and that Courtney *new him" Courtney shoo* her head+ D.o+ 3 don,t *now him" How,d you meet him>E 3 thought &or a moment+ D3 was #he#*ing out #ampus+ 3 might go there+ and he wal*ed up to me+ but anyway+ 3 &ound out that he dated one o& the girls that o%erdosed and nowLE Courtney loo*ed at me wide<eyed+ D0hi#h one> 3t wasn,t Melissa :ent+ was it>E D0hy> $id you *now her>E 3 as*ed+ not really answering her 9uestion on purpose" D.ot super well+ you *now+ but 3 do remember my &riend who was li*e &riends with her &rom #hur#h group tal*ing about her and a guy+E Courtney started" DBut 3 don,t remember his name &or sure" 3t #ould ha%e been a Troy"E D0hat happened>E 3 as*ed+ genuinely #urious" D0ell+ Sandy was =ust telling me that this guy was totally into Melissa" He was an art ma=or and ma*ing all this #ool stu&& &or her" 3t was his way o& doing the whole romanti# thing" 'nyway+ she so wasn,t into him H 3 mean she wouldn,t e%en *iss him+ but &or some reason she *ept going out on dates with him"E DShe wouldn,t *iss him>E 3 as*ed" Courtney nodded+ D.o" 'nd+ don,t get me wrong+ i& she doesn,t li*e him she doesn,t ha%e to *iss him+ but it,s =ust a *iss+ you *now> 3& the guy ta*es you out a &ew times+ *iss him+ maybe you,ll be into him a&ter all" 3 mean+ she *ept dating him and it,s not li*e it,s anything big" 3t,s a *iss"E DThat,s weird+E 3 said" DCeah" 3t bro*e them up" 3 mean+ he was so into her+ but #ome on+ he,s a guy" (i%e him a *iss at least+ i& you want to *eep him around" 'nyway+ she was su#h a straight edge" So weird she @$,d+E Courtney said" DSo+ you thin* this is the same guy> 3 mean+ it,s not his &ault she did drugs or anything" They were bro*en up when she died by li*e at least a #ouple wee*s"E 3 nodded+ D6robably not"E Courtney nodded and then seemed to want me to #ontinue tal*ing about Troy" 3 didn,t *now what else to say+ so 3 said+ D@*ay+ 3,m going to go resta#* $G$s"E 3 grabbed the pile o& returned $G$s &rom the inbo; and wal*ed away &rom Courtney+ thin*ing about what she,d said about Melissa" 3& the guy Courtney had mentioned was Troy+ would Troy ha%e *illed Melissa =ust be#ause he #ould ne%er ha%e her> Troy de&initely needed to be in%estigated" 3roni#ally enough+ as 3 was resol%ing to #ontinue on with the #ase with or without Ethan+ Ganessa Martin was dying"

Chapter %: Inspe&ting
3 didn,t *now about Ganessa Martin until late Sunday night" She had been dead o%er twenty &our hours be&ore 3 e%en learned about her death" Sunday+ 3 had spent my day reading and doing homewor*" 3t has to get done sometime+ e%en between wor*+ guys+ and murder mysteries" 3 did ma*e a 9ui#* trip to 0ired to get a #om&orting peanut butter banana mil*sha*e Ihea%en on earthAJ+ but otherwise 3 stayed in" 3 ignored all things murder and buried mysel& in the se#ond Twilight boo*+ 2ew Moon" 3,m a Team ?a#ob &an+ so it was my &a%orite boo*+ sin#e ?a#ob got a lot o& Bella!?a#ob time in that one" Homewor* too* a ba#* seat to reading+ but 3 got it done too" 3 hadn,t turned on a tele%ision+ read the paper+ or #he#*ed my Fa#eboo* all day+ when my #ell phone started ringing" 3 thought it was 'nne &rom wor*+ #alling me in &or the Sunday night shi&t+ but 3 was surprised to see the name Ethan Kipley pop up on the #aller 3$ instead" 0e had e;#hanged numbers days ago on that Thursday night when he #ame to the %ideo store" 3 had ne%er really thought he,d need to #all me &or any reason" 3 thought it was one o& those H 3,ll delete ya, later phone number e;#hanges" 3 guess not" Cool" So+ here was Ethan+ #alling me on a Sunday night at 4 2/ pm" Should 3 answer> 3 was supposed to be mad at him+ right> Could 3 stay angry at the most popular guy in s#hool &ore%er> E%en when he was #alling my #ell phone> 0hat i& he was #alling to apologi-e> @r as* me out> 3 answered on the se#ond ring" DHello>E 3 as*ed+ li*e 3 didn,t *now who it was" D:ait>E Ethan as*ed+ li*e he didn,t *now it was me e%en though he was the one #alling me" Figures" D0hat,s up Ethan>E 3 as*ed+ trying to sound light and #are&ree when all 3 really wanted to *now is why he was #alling me in the &irst pla#e" Ethan sounded almost ghostly on the phone line+ D:ait+ Ganessa Martin was &ound dead in her bedroom &rom an o%erdose last night" There,s been another murder"E D3,ll be o%er in twenty minutes+E 3 said and hung up the phone+ already getting my things" 3 had to get to Ethan,s house" 3 didn,t e%en remember dri%ing there+ 3 was in su#h a da-e" 6oor Ganessa Martin" 3 &elt guilty" 3& only we #ould ha%e done something more to pre%ent her death" 3& only $ete#ti%e $i;on had listened to Ethan and meA Her death #ould ha%e been pre%entedA 0e had printed her email out and e%erything &or himA E%en though she hadn,t tal*ed about Troy+ her message had been urgent+ so it #ould ha%e been a #lue too" But+ no+ $ete#ti%e $i;on had barely e%en loo*ed at itA 0e #ould ha%e sa%ed her" 3& only" 'nd+ what had Ganessa needed to tal* to )i- about> Had she been murdered &or that in&ormation> Ethan was supposed to ha%e emailed her to as*+ but 3 had no idea i& he,d gotten around to it a&ter our disastrous e&&orts at the poli#e station on Saturday" .ow+ it was too late to &ind out what Ganessa *new and why she had &elt li*e it was su#h an urgent matter" 3 pulled up to Ethan,s house and reali-ed that 3 had in%ited mysel& o%er to his house+ without really as*ing" 3 only reali-ed this be#ause his house was abla-e with light" 3t loo*ed li*e the whole &amily was home" $id Ethan want me to #ome in and meet his &amily> 3 wasn,t so sure" 3 also &elt really+ really ner%ous all o& a sudden" 3 was a&raid to

meet them" 3 sat in my #ar+ pulled my #ell phone out o& my purse+ and dialed" Ethan answered on the &irst ring+ DHey"E D3,m sitting outside your house+E 3 said+ glan#ing at his house+ toward where 3 thought his window might be" ' dim glow emanated &rom it" DCome on up" 3,ll be right down to meet you+E 3 #ould hear the springs &rom his bed mo%ing+ li*e he was getting up to head downstairs" DCour &amilyLE 3 started" D3t,s o*ay" $on,t worry" They don,t *now what we,re doing" 3,ll =ust say you,re a &riend" 3 ha%e &riends o%er all the time+E Ethan said+ hanging up" He had &riends o%er all the time+ huh> How many girls was he dating> 0as 3 ready to meet his &amily> 3 mean+ we were =ust &riends" 0ere we e%en that> 0ait" Had Ethan Kipley =ust #alled me his &riend> 3 got out o& the #ar and wal*ed up to the house+ #urious to &ind out the status o& our relationship" DHey+E Ethan said+ opening the door+ =ust as 3 was about to ring the doorbell" His hair was wet+ li*e he had =ust gotten out o& the shower" 3t was more #urly than wa%y when it was glistening with water" 0as it possible &or him to get more hot> 3 thin* not" 3 wal*ed past him into the entryway" 3 #ould hear the murmurs o& a little girl tal*ing in the *it#hen and a tele%ision on in the &amily room+ down the way" 3 glan#ed at Ethan+ unsure how to pro#eed" $id his parents let him =ust bring girls up to his room on Sunday nights> $id 3 ha%e to meet them &irst> D3 already told them 3 had a &riend stopping by" They,ll lea%e us alone+E Ethan shrugged+ guessing my 9uestion" 3 wal*ed in and he shut the door behind me+ be&ore he started heading up the stairs to his room" 3 hoped his parents didn,t thin* what 3 thin* they were thin*ing" 3 wanted to #reate a good impression+ you *now+ =ust in #ase" Then again+ being that none o& them saw me wal* in+ maybe they =ust thought 3 was a guy" Maybe" 0as it wrong to sort o& want to meet his parents now> 0ait a se#ond" @r+ was Ethan embarrassed o& me> 0as that a possibility> 3 shoo* my head to #lear it" 0e were in%estigating a girl,s death" 6riorities" 's we wal*ed up toward Ethan,s room it o##urred to me that there was one thing 3 wanted to do be&ore we went to his room to dis#uss strategy" 3t was something we hadn,t done the last time 3 was there+ DCan 3 see your sister,s bedroom>E Ethan loo*ed at me &or a long moment be&ore he nodded and wal*ed to the other end o& the hallway" )i-,s room was de#orated with pi#tures o& 6aws and other animals" She also had a boo*shel& in her room+ but although hers had a &ew boo*s+ there were a ton o& animal &igurines that she must ha%e #olle#ted sin#e she was a *id" Ethan seemed un#om&ortable+ D3t &eels really weird to be in here now"E D3 *now+E 3 nodded as 3 loo*ed around" 3t too* awhile &or my dad and me to e%en bo; up my mother,s things" 0ho *new how long it would ta*e &or Ethan and his parents to pa#* up a sister and daughter" 0e were 9uiet as we loo*ed around the room" Ethan =ust glan#ed+ but 3 mo%ed &orward and into the room+ to ta*e a #loser loo*" 3 wasn,t thrilled about rummaging through a dead girl,s things+ but it had to be done" Maybe there was some *ind o& #lue in here" Maybe she had noti#ed something weird about Troy" @r maybe she had le&t some

*ind o& #lue about her murderer" @r+ i& the poli#e were really right+ maybe she had a stash o& heroin in her underwear drawer" 3 a#tually wasn,t sure what 3 was loo*ing &or in )i-,s room" 3 =ust wanted to be thorough" 3 was hoping a #lue would =ump out at me" )i- was the one girl we a#tually had a##ess to H her li&e was an open boo* be#ause o& Ethan" 0e #ould a#tually go into her room and not be brea*ing and entering" The other girls H @li%ia and Melissa and now Ganessa+ were not+ e;#ept &or what was on the internet" 3 #ouldn,t imagine going up to their mothers or siblings or e%en &riends+ as strangers+ interrogating them and as*ing about their deaths" 3 had already thought about it and dismissed it" They wouldn,t tal* to Ethan or me about it on their own and it #ould ta*e eons &or us to somehow ingratiate oursel%es into their li%es" (irls *ept dying" 0asting time was not an option" )i- was our best lead &or #lues" So+ we needed to be thorough with )i-" D$id she *eep a diary or anything>E 3 as*ed as 3 opened a drawer &ull o& pens+ erasers+ pen#ils+ paper #lips+ staples and all the usual s#hool supplies" 3 *ept a diary sometimes" 3t was really sporadi# and totally eighth grade+ but when 3 really needed to get something out+ 3 used it" 3t was #urrently hiding underneath my mattress where 3 *new my dad would ne%er loo*" 3 *now 3 wasn,t the only girl with one either" 3& 3 remembered #orre#tly+ 'riel had a diary too H with 6rin#ess ?asmine on it &rom 'laddin H and *ept it hidden in a shoebo; in her #loset" 'riel had made me pri%y to that se#ret when we used to be best &riends" 0hat 3 wouldn,t gi%e to read up on her se#rets now" .ot that 3,d use them against her or anything" 3 don,t thin*" Ethan was still standing at the doorway wat#hing me loo* around" He seemed almost a&raid to enter the room" He shrugged+ D0hen we were *ids 3 thin* she had one+ but 3 ha%e no idea i& )i- has a diary now" She wouldn,t ha%e shown it to me+ that,s &or sure"E DBut 3 thought you guys were #lose>E 3 as*ed+ although e%en i& 3 had a brother 3 really+ really li*ed 3 wouldn,t ha%e shown him my diary either" DCeah+ most o& the time+E Ethan nodded" DMost o& the time>E 3 opened another drawer" 3t was &ull o& noteboo*s and papers" D0ell+ 3 mean she was my sister" She #ould be a real pain sometimes+E Ethan said" DShe too* &ore%er in the bathroom and she #ould be so sel& righteous about her #auses" 3 mean+ she was probably right and all+ but sometimes it dro%e me nuts how 3 did e%erything wrong"E DThat ma*es sense+E 3 said as 3 pi#*ed through the papers in the drawer+ but it was mostly s#hoolwor*+ =un* mail &or #redit #ards+ and nothing o& interest" 3 pi#*ed up her mattress" .othing there" 3 turned toward her dresser" That would be the ne;t pla#e 3,d probably hide something+ as typi#al as that is" 3 ri&&led through the drawers as Ethan wat#hed me 9uietly" 'nd+ bingoA There it was+ underneath a sta#* o& tan* tops" 3 had &ound )i-,s diary" Ethan,s room was only lit by the dim glow o& his des* lamp" The towel he must ha%e =ust used was damp and draped a#ross the ba#* o& his des* #hair" His guitar was lying on his bed" 3 wished 3 #ould hear him play sometime" Maybe 3,d as*+ one day" 3 had )i-,s diary in my hands" 3t was more than hal& way &ull+ so it was going to ta*e me a little while to read" Ethan didn,t want to read it" 3 understood" 3,d be reading her most pri%ate+ innermost thoughts on#e 3 read it and &or Ethan that would be e;#eedingly pain&ul right now" 3 was going to go through it at home and let him *now i& 3 &ound

anything rele%ant" 3,ll admit+ 3 was dying to read it" Kight now+ though+ we had to de#ide what to do about Ganessa Martin" Ethan wal*ed o%er to his #omputer and sat down at his des*+ motioning me to sit down on his bed+ DMy mom told me about Ganessa" She had gotten a #all &rom a neighbor who had gotten a #all &rom a &riend" Ganessa,s &amily didn,t really want it to get out about the @$ing on heroin" 3 #an understand that" 6eople loo* at you di&&erently i& they thin* you missed out on the &a#t that your *id is doing drugs" 3 *now how that goes"E DSo+ she died o& a heroin o%erdose too>E 3 as*ed as Ethan logged into his Fa#eboo* a##ount" DThat,s what my mom heard and that they &ound Ganessa in her bedroom in her parent,s house+ but there,s more" 3 thin* Ganessa emailed me probably within an hour or two o& her death+ getting ba#* to me about that email 3 sent her about )i-+E Ethan pulled up his Fa#eboo* inbo; and sure enough there was an email &rom Ganessa sent Saturday at 2 12 pm" He #li#*ed on the lin* and we sat there in silen#e as 3 read the last email Ganessa Martin had probably e%er sent )than . <e", 9 wa" (riend" with Liz! We had a 4iology cla"" together! 9’m really "orry a$out her! That email wa" only really meant (or her! 9 0u"t wanted to tal, to her a$out the guy "he wa" dating! /orget a$out it! 9t’" not important now! 5;ane""a D3t,s not important be#ause )i- is dead anyway>E 3 thought out loud" D$oesn,t sound li*e someone who @$ed on heroin an hour or two later+ does it>E Ethan was still staring at the words in &ront o& them" D$o you thin* she,s tal*ing about Troy Matthews>E 3 as*ed" D$e&initely+E Ethan nodded" D0ho is she &riends with>E 3 as*ed loo*ing more #losely at Ganessa,s pro&ile" Ethan s#rolled through Ganessa,s &riends" Troy was not among them+ but neither was Melissa+ @li%ia+ or )i-" That was interesting" 'lthough+ maybe not i& Ganessa had dated Troy and bro*e up with him or something" Still+ you,d thin* that maybe she and )iwould ha%e been Fa#eboo* &riends" D0eird+E 3 said" DShe,s not &riends with any o& them or e%en )i-" 't least not Fa#eboo* o&&i#ially"E DMaybe Ganessa deleted )i- a&ter she died+E Ethan o&&ered+ pushing ba#* his #hair and sitting to &a#e me" DMaybe+E 3 said+ e%en as 3 made a mental note" Most people used a de#eased person,s Fa#eboo* page as a way to tal* to them and remember them" 3& my mom had made a Fa#eboo* page+ 3 would probably still be writing on it" Ethan was loo*ing at me #ontemplati%ely" From where 3 was sitting on the bed+ our *nees were almost tou#hing" The dim glow o& the #omputer and the des* lamp #ast a light shadow on Ethan,s &a#e" His #hin had some stubble on it" He hadn,t sha%ed a&ter his shower" Ethan,s blue eyes met mine+ D3 #hanged my mind" 3& the poli#e don,t want to in%estigate )i-,s murder+ 3 do" 3 thin* Troy Matthews is our number one lead" 'll the dead girls *new him" Maybe they were all dating him" Maybe that,s his moti%e" Some si#* and twisted lo%e thing H li*e an 3,m the only one who #an ha%e these girls or they die

*ind o& thing"E 3 nodded" Troy Matthews de&initely needed to be in%estigated" Ethan #ontinued and too* my hands in his+ D3 understand i& you don,t want to get in%ol%ed" Cou,%e been ama-ing so &ar+ a#tuallyLE 3 was too busy &eeling what it &elt li*e to ha%e Ethan hold my hand+ to #ompletely &o#us on what he was saying" His hands &elt smooth and warm en%eloping mine" The butter&lies were going insane in my stoma#h" 3 pulled my hands out o& his+ needing to &o#us on what he was a#tually saying" 3,m sure 3,d regret it later" 3 should ha%e =ust en=oyed it while 3 had the #han#e" 3 don,t *now why 3 *ept letting my mind get in the way o& my hormones" 3 interrupted Ethan be&ore he #ould go on tal*ing about why 3 wouldn,t want to get in%ol%ed" 3t was best not to thin* about the down side o& getting in%ol%ed in a murder in%estigation+ D3 want to help you &ind out what happened to )i-" 3,m in"E DKeally>E Ethan,s eyebrows rose" DKeally+E 3 said seriously" D'nd+ 3 *now =ust where to start"E D0here>E Ethan was loo*ing at me intently" ' -illion thoughts were going through my brain+ but 3 *new that one thing was #ru#ial to our in%estigation and we had to start there+ DGanessa Martin,s &uneral"E

Chapter ': In(uiring
3 had a hard time sleeping on Sunday night a&ter 3 le&t Ethan,s" 0e stayed up until almost midnight tal*ing" Ces+ 3,m serious" Still+ it,s not li*e we were ma*ing out or anything" .ot that my dad #ared" He was a little mad that 3 had gotten home so late" D:ait )eno;+ where ha%e you been>E My dad said as soon as 3 wal*ed in the door at 12 12 am on a s#hool night" 3 ne%er did that" 3 thin* we were both sho#*ed+ so 3 said+ D@ut"E 3 went to my room and that was the end o& it" 3 wasn,t about to tell him 3 was with a boy" 3& 3 told him that he wouldn,t ha%e belie%ed me that nothing happened e%en though it,s totally true" .ow that 3 thin* about it+ it was a little weird o& my dad to let it go that 3 was out so late with no good reason" He de&initely wasn,t as mad as he should ha%e been" He should ha%e &ollowed me ba#* to my room and demanded an answer" Then he should ha%e yelled at me and grounded me" He didn,t+ though" Maybe he thought 3 had made a &riend or something and was happy about it" 6arents are weird li*e that" 'ny disappro%al on my dad,s part was worth it+ though" Ethan and 3 had spent the night ma*ing plans &or attending Ganessa Martin,s &uneral" There was an online obituary already up and the wa*e was Monday night &rom / pm to 8 pm" Ethan and 3 were going to go right a&ter s#hool" 3 #oa#hed Ethan a little on &uneral #rashing+ sin#e 3 had been to so many" He had only e%er been to his sister,s and e;#ept &or remembering tal*ing to me+ the whole thing was a big blan* &or him" 0e were going to pretend to ha%e *nown Ganessa through )i-+ i& anyone as*ed" 0e were hoping Troy Matthews would ma*e an appearan#e" 0e were really+ really hoping &or more good leads" There were de&initely other leads that 3 wanted to &ollow too" 3 had a list" 3 still

wanted to tal* to Su-ie about )i- and @li%ia Keynolds" 3 was going to do that during s#hool on Monday" Maybe 3 #ould get :yle to =oin me and at least introdu#e him to Su-ie" 3t would be li*e multi<tas*ing" Hey+ i& Ethan and 3 #ould be semi<&riends+ :yle had an awesome as hell #han#e with Su-ie" The other lead we had to &ollow up on was de&initely Troy Matthews" 'nd+ i& he didn,t show up to Ganessa,s &uneral+ Ethan and 3 needed to &ind a way to tal* to him" The tri#* there would be not to spoo* him+ espe#ially i& he was the *iller" .either Ethan or 3 wanted to end up dead =ust be#ause we said the wrong thing" 'nd+ then there was the thought o& ha%ing set plans with Ethan &or a third day in a row" 3 was starting to get #o#*y about it" 3 mean+ i& 'riel was going to Home#oming with him+ maybe Ethan was =ust ta*ing her to the dan#e" Maybe it didn,t mean that they were dating too" 0hen did he ha%e time> Cou *now> 3 mean+ Ethan had spent almost the entire wee*end with me" 'nd+ o*ay+ a dan#e is way more romanti# than in%estigating a murder together+ but still+ the amount o& time spent with someone #ounts &or something+ right> The &irst lead+ 3 was going to &ollow+ though+ was reading )i-,s =ournal" 3 opened it to the &irst page dated about &our months ago" May =Today’" my $irthday! Happy $irthday to me8 /or thi" year, 9 want to> "a%e money to go to &ari", get into a good college, "ee my (ir"t #u$" game, teach &aw" (i%e cool tric,", and (ind a 0o$ wor,ing with a %et! 9t’" going to $e an awe"ome year, "tarting today8 3 &elt e;#eedingly sad as 3 &inished that &irst =ournal entry" 3t was a short one on her birthday and )i- had so mu#h hope &or her &uture and only a &ew months later it was gone" 3 hope she had gotten to do at least a &ew o& the things she had wanted to do" 3 *ept reading" 3 learned more about )i- and her dreams+ the mundane things in her li&e+ %olunteering at the animal shelter+ her =ob+ about some o& her &riends and her dog 6aws+ but there was nothing help&ul+ in terms o& the in%estigation Iand no mention o& drugsAJ+ until 3 got to the last three entries" 'ugu"t 1? 9 0u"t met thi" great guy in my )ngli"h cla""! Hi" name i" Troy Matthew"! Hot, right@ Liz Matthew", 9 can "ee it! 'nyway, getting ahead o( my"el(, he’" an art ma0or and he’" pro$a$ly a" into art a" 9 am into animal"! 'nd, he’" cute8 He a",ed me out and we’re "uppo"ed to go ha%e co((ee on /riday! 9 can’t wait8888 Wait, that i" a date, right@ )%en though it’" 0u"t co((ee@ 'ugu"t 16 So, my date with Troy wa" amazing8 We met up at Wired! He $ought me a co((ee, "o it’" o((icially a date "ince he paid! 9 e%en o((ered, $ut he "aid no! We tal,ed all a$out hi" art cla""e" and my wor, at the "helter and &aw"! We had "o much to tal, a$out! He i" the mo"t amazing guy! He e%en "howed me "ome o( hi" artwor, on hi" phone! He i" really talented! 9 hope he a"," me out again! 9 had the greate"t time! We didn’t ,i"" or anything, though! 9 did gi%e him a hug when we wal,ed out"ide, $ut he didn’t try to ,i"" me! 9 hope he li,e" me! Septem$er 1 9 ,now 9 ha%en’t written anything in the la"t two wee,", $ut thing" ha%e $een "o great with Troy that 9 ha%en’t e%en (elt li,e writing! 'nd, we’%e hung out almo"t e%ery day! He’" $een "o amazing! 2ow 9 do ha%e "omething to write a$out, though! 9 don’t ,now what to do! 9 ha%e no$ody to tal, to! 9 got thi" email (rom a girl claiming to $e

Troy’" girl(riend! She wa" really angry! He "ay" that 9’m the only one he’" dating! She claim" that he’" her $oy(riend! 9 don’t e%en ,now who "he i"! She called her"el( Mary Shelly, li,e the writer o( /ran,en"tein! 9 o$%iou"ly don’t thin, that’" her real name! 9 don’t ,now what to do! 9 want to $elie%e Troy, $ut 9 don’t ,now! 9 wa" "o happy! 9" he cheating on me@ The last entry was dated a little o%er a wee* be&ore her death" 0as Troy #heating on )i-> 0ho was the other girl> 3 thought ba#* to what we already *new and my mind stu#* on one thing" Ganessa Martin,s email to )i-" Had that been about the other girl> 3s that what she wanted to tal* to )i- about> 0as Ganessa Martin the other girl that Troy was dating and #heating on )i- with> @r did she *now her> Kegardless+ it seemed that Troy was not the per&e#t person )i- had thought he was and to mysel& 3 thought+ he,s also not the person you,d want to be dating i& you a#tually wanted to sur%i%e #ollege" 3 &ell asleep a&ter 1 am" So+ 3 *now 3 had bags under my eyes &rom la#* o& sleep when 3 rode the bus to s#hool on Monday morning" 3 had spent ten minutes trying to #o%er them up" 3 had+ in &a#t+ dragged mysel& out o& bed early despite my la#* o& sleep to try and loo* super #ute &or s#hool" Fsually 3 rolled out o& bed and =ust went+ with my hair still damp &rom a morning shower" Today+ 3 pulled out my mom,s old blow dryer and her #urling iron and tried to do my hair in a style other than its usual boring straightness" 3 mean+ 3 was *nowingly going to spend part o& the day hanging out with Ethan" 3t #ouldn,t hurt &or him to a#tually thin* 3 loo*ed #ute+ right> Hope&ully he wouldn,t be too egotisti#al and thin* 3 was doing it =ust &or him" 3 mean+ maybe 3 was+ but it,s not li*e 3 really wanted him to *now that" 3 wanted him to thin* 3 loo*ed #ute all the time+ e%en i& 3 had spent the last two plus years going to s#hool with wet hair be#ause 3 hated getting up early to a#tually try and do something with it" Sadly+ a&ter all that prep time+ 3,m not really sure that my hair loo*ed any di&&erent on the bus this morning" Sure it was dry &or on#e and maybe it was slightly wa%y &rom the #urling iron+ but not all that di&&erent" Maybe 3 should ha%e straightened it instead" 'nd+ 3 had bags under my eyes despite my attempts with #o%er<up" Maybe 3 #ould get a nap in during some point o& the s#hool day" )e#tures #ould be e;#ellent &or putting one,s mind to sleep" 3 wasn,t e%en going to see Ethan until a&ter s#hool+ when 3 was meeting him at his #ar" 0ell+ 3 mean+ we might pass one another in the halls" 0e did also ha%e the same lun#h hour+ but 3 don,t thin* Ethan e%en *new that" He usually sat with his &riends $a%e and Mi*e and the whole popular #rowd" 0ould he say hi to me i& he saw me> @r+ at s#hool+ will 3 ha%e re%erted ba#* to the weird girl that nobody who wants to be popular #an tal* to unless they,re harassing her li*e 'riel> 3 tried not to thin* about Ethan too mu#h+ e%en though my brain wanted to go there" Besides staying awa*e+ my &o#us this morning was Chemistry #lass+ &ourth period" 3 wanted to get there early+ so 3 #ould spend a &ew minutes tal*ing to Su-ie" The morning &lew by and 3 don,t thin* 3 heard a word the tea#hers in my #lasses said" 3 spent the time in my head planning out what 3 was going to say to Su-ie" 3 didn,t see Ethan at all+ or than* goodness+ 'riel" 'nd+ 3 didn,t see them together hand in hand either" 3 hoped he wasn,t dating her" He deser%ed better" )i*e me+ 3 wanted to add+ but #ome on+ that,s still =ust wish&ul thin*ing on my part" The bell rang signaling the end o& third period and 3 ra#ed to Chemistry #lass+

ma*ing it there in su#h re#ord time that nobody else had e%en arri%ed yet" 3 sat down at my lab table and waited &or people to &ilter in" 3t &elt li*e eons+ but was probably more li*e se#onds be&ore Su-ie wal*ed in and toward her lab table" DSu-ieAE 3 #alled+ as she was about to wal* past me" Su-ie turned and loo*ed at me+ paused+ and then wal*ed toward me+ stopping near the #hair :yle would be sitting in+ when he arri%ed" That is+ i& he didn,t ha%e a heart atta#* &irst+ that Su-ie was standing ne;t to his lab table" D0hat,s up>E Su-ie as*ed so&tly+ hesitatingly" 3 had de#ided that it was best to be straight&orward+ DHow did you *now )i@,Keilly and @li%ia Keynolds>E Su-ie,s eyebrows shot up and she stammered+ D0<w<why>E 3 didn,t mean to s#are her+ so 3 whispered+ D3,m helping Ethan Kipley loo* into his hal& sister,s death" He wants to understand what happened"E Su-ie sat down in :yle,s empty #hair and stared at me+ wide<eyed+ DButLE 3 nodded+ D3 *now" 0eird+ huh> But 3,m =ust trying to help" He,s really distraught and we started tal*ing+ long story+ but )i- seemed li*e a ni#e girl and 3,m sure @li%ia was too" So+ 3,m =ust trying to help"E Su-ie wasn,t a gossip+ but 3 didn,t really want to get into my long story with Ethan be#ause then 3 might also ha%e to e;plain the whole &uneral #rashing thing"""again" 3 didn,t really want more people to thin* 3 was a total &rea*" 'nd+ 3 li*ed Su-ie" Maybe one day we #ould be &riends or something" Su-ie nodded ba#*+ D)i- was great" 0e %olunteered at the same animal shelter" She was always telling me that 3 needed to tal* more and not to be a&raid o& the popular people li*e her brother" That some o& them+ li*e him+ were ni#e" .ot li*e 3 was going to tal* to him or anything" Cou really tal*ed to Ethan Kipley>E 3 smiled+ there was nothing li*e an unpopular girl tal*ing to a popular guy that helped two unpopular girls to bond+ DCeah" So+ did you see anything to indi#ate that )iwas on drugs>E Su-ie shoo* her head+ D.o way" 3t was so weird and sad to hear that she o%erdosed" 3t was so not li*e her" She was really ni#e and she totally lo%ed animals too"E 3t would &igure that Su-ie lo%ed animals" She was #ompletely the sweet girl" ?ust li*e )i-" D0ait+ you said you wor*ed at the animal shelter>E 3 as*ed" DCeah+E Su-ie said" 3 &elt suddenly e;#ited+ DCou weren,t by any #han#e at the animal adoption &or the 6alos 'nimal Shelter at the par* on the #orner o& 1/2th street and Moorpar* a wee* ago Sunday+ were you>E Su-ie thought about it &or a moment+ DCeah+ 3 was there"E This was huge" Su-ie 0hitsett was one o& the last people to see )i- ali%e" .ot that 3 thought Su-ie had *illed her+ but she might ha%e seen something" That last hour or so o& )i-,s li&e held the *ey to the whole mystery" D$o you remember )i- being there>E 3 as*ed and held my breath" Su-ie nodded+ DCeah+ 3 do" 0e tal*ed between showing people our dogs"E 3 tried to #ontain my e;#itement+ D0hat did you tal* about>E D?ust stu&&" :ind o& about guys" She was telling me about her boy&riend Troy+E Su-ie said"

D0hat did she say about him>E 3 as*ed" D?ust that he had seemed so great and she still really li*ed him+ but she thought that he might be dating someone else too+E Su-ie said" D)i- was really upset about it and not sure what to do" She really li*ed him"E D$id she say who she thought he was dating>E 3 as*ed" D.o+E Su-ie shoo* her head and then added+ DShe was as*ing me about Mary Shelly and the boo* /ran,en"tein+ though"E D@h>E 3 as*ed+ my interest pi9ued" DCeah+ 3 had been reading it li*e a month ago at the animal shelter and she wanted to *now about it+E Su-ie said" D0hat did you say>E 3 as*ed" D3 told her about it+E Su-ie said" That was a dead end" 3 too* a di&&erent dire#tion+ D$id you see her lea%e that night>E Su-ie &rowned+ D're you as*ing me i& 3,m the last person who saw her ali%e>E 3 thought &or a moment+ D3 don,t thin* you are+ but you,re one o& them" 3,m =ust trying to help Ethan pie#e together the last day o& his sister,s li&e"E Su-ie seemed to a##ept that+ DCeah+ 3 saw her lea%e" 0e loaded our dogs ba#* into the shelter,s %ans and wal*ed to the par*ing lot together" 3 said bye and we got in our #ars and dro%e away"E D'nd+ she seemed totally &ine>E 3 as*ed again" DCeah+E Su-ie said" D'nd+ there was nobody in the #ar with her>E 3 as*ed" D.o+E Su-ie said" D0hy would there ha%e been>E D?ust as*ing+E 3 said+ not wanting to tell Su-ie that 3 was loo*ing &or a murderer and that she might ha%e seen something important" Su-ie seemed li*e the easily s#ared type+ but maybe that was =ust be#ause she was shy and *nown as the 9uiet girl" DHow about @li%ia Keynolds> $id )i- *now her too>E 3 as*ed+ trying to #onne#t any sort o& dots between the %i#tims" D.o+ ?enna *new her+E Su-ie said" D0ho,s ?enna>E 3 as*ed" D?enna %olunteers at the animal shelter too+ but only on#e a wee*" She introdu#ed me to @li%ia be#ause 3 had mentioned wanting to learn how to sew" @li%ia was tea#hing a sewing #lass &rom her apartment on Tuesday nights" She was a good tea#her+E Su-ie smiled+ sadly" D0as it a big #lass>E 3 as*ed+ sin#e that would gi%e a large group o& people easy a##ess to @li%ia,s apartment" Su-ie thought &or a moment+ D'bout ten o& us" .ot super big"E D'ny guys in the #lass>E 3 as*ed" D.o" 3t was all girls+E Su-ie said" 3 tried again+ D'nybody tal* about Mary Shelley or Fran*enstein>E Su-ie loo*ed at me 9ui--i#ally+ D.o"E 3 #hanged topi#s+ DKandom 9uestion+ but would you say @li%ia was the drug addi#t type either>E D.ot at all+E Su-ie said" There was an ob%ious 9uestion that 3 had to as*+ DSo+ were you in @li%ia,s #lass the wee* she died>E

Su-ie seemed un#om&ortable again+ DMaybe"E DSu-ie+E 3 said" Su-ie ga%e in+ DFine" Ces+ 3 was" .ow that you,re pointing this stu&& out it =ust ma*es me &eel li*e you thin* 3 had something to do with )i-,s and @li%ia,s deaths" 3 mean+ 3 was at those pla#es+ but so were a lot o& other people"E D3 don,t thin* you had anything to do with their deaths" 3 promise+E 3 o&&ered" D3,m =ust trying to pie#e things together" 0as there anything at all weird that happened in @li%ia,s #lass that wee*>E Su-ie thought about it" D3t was awhile ago+ but 3 don,t remember any &ights or anything i& you,re as*ing" 's to weird+ well+ there were de&initely a wide mi; o& people in the #lass+ but that,s about it"E DSo+ nobody with a grudge or anything against @li%ia+ though>E 3 as*ed" Su-ie shrugged+ D.ot that 3 *now o&" Then again+ i& they hated her+ why would they pay to ta*e her #lass+ you *now> Still+ 3 didn,t *now @li%ia super well" 3,d only ta*en a &ew #lasses with her"E D@*ay+E 3 #ontemplated all this" There weren,t really any new leads &rom Su-ie" 3 was disappointed" D0ait+E Su-ie said+ DThere is one other thing 3 remember )i- saying"E D0hat>E 3 as*ed" D0ell+ it was right at the end o& the day+ but she said that she was going to meet up with Troy to tal*+E Su-ie loo*ed suddenly worried" 3 &elt a sudden surge o& energy" BingoA Troy was %ery easily the last person to see )i- ali%e" .ow+ that was &inally a lead" DShe said that>E 3 as*ed+ wanting to ma*e sure" DCeah+ 3 guess she #hanged her mind and didn,t thin* he was #heating anymore" She said things had #hanged" 3 don,t *now how+ but they te;ted a &ew times while we were at the par*+E Su-ie said" 3& only )i- had sa%ed those te;tsA 3t was &rustrating" They #ould ha%e pro%ed Troy was the murderer or at least pla#ed him with )i- at the time o& her death" :yle interrupted us" 3 would ha%e been mad at him+ e;#ept that he loo*ed so happy" His #hee*s were &lushed and he only had eyes &or Su-ie+ DHi Su-ie"E Su-ie loo*ed up at him+ smiling shyly" DHi :yle" 3,m sorry+ 3,m in your seat"E 3 =ust loo*ed between them+ unsure what to do" 3 wanted to *eep 9uestioning Su-ie+ but the aw*wardness o& potential roman#e was getting in the way" 6lus+ 3 was *ind o& rooting &or the roman#e" :yle and Su-ie seemed li*e they,d ma*e a pretty #ute #ouple" Su-ie started to get up and s#ramble &or her things+ as :yle tried to *eep her &rom running away+ D3t,s o*ay" The bell hasn,t rung yet"E They loo*ed at ea#h other aw*wardly+ ea#h not *nowing what to say ne;t" 3 de#ided to sa%e them &rom themsel%es" Su-ie and 3 were pretty mu#h done tal*ing anyway" Maybe 3 was &eeling bra%e &or :yle+ being on spea*ing terms with Ethan Kipley now and e%erything+ so 3 said+ DHey Su-ie+ going to the Home#oming $an#e>E :yle turned pale" Su-ie turned red+ but answered loo*ing straight at :yle+ D.ot yet" 3 don,t ha%e a date"E

Chapter 1): $o*er +un&hing
3 #ould ha%e *i#*ed :yle" Su-ie ga%e him the best lead in e%er and he blew it by saying the &ollowing words+ D@h+ that,s ni#e"E 3 mean+ dude+ the girl you ha%e a massi%e #rush on tells you she doesn,t ha%e a date to the dan#e+ well+ maybe you should ta*e that as a lead in and as* her" 6oor Su-ie+ 3 a#tually thin* she was hoping he,d as* her too+ the way her smile &aded a&ter that" Then they =ust stared at ea#h other in silen#e" 3 didn,t *now what to do" Than* goodness the bell rang and sa%ed us all &rom more horrendous teenage aw*wardness" 3 managed to #hew :yle out in whispers while wor*ing on our Chemistry e;periment" He was =ust 9uiet about it" 3 *now :yle totally *new he had messed up" 3 did noti#e poor Su-ie loo*ing o%er at us all during #lass+ so maybe all hope wasn,t lost" He =ust needed a swi&t *i#* in the ass" DSo+ what were you and Su-ie tal*ing about anyway>E :yle as*ed as we started to set up &or our latest Chemistry e;periment" D?ust girl stu&&+E 3 said %aguely+ not wanting to get into details about Ethan Kipley" D@h+ o*ay+E :yle went ba#* to #on#entrating on the e;periment+ not e%en trying to get more details out o& me" 0e were 9uiet &or a little while as we ea#h measured li9uids &or our e;periment" 3 was thin*ing about what Su-ie had said+ the murders+ and heroin o%erdoses" DHey+ :yle+E 3 said a&ter a &ew moments" DCeah>E He was #are&ully pouring into a bea*er" D0hat do you *now about heroin>E 3 as*ed" He almost dropped the bea*er" D0hat>E he whispered+ loo*ing around &or the tea#her" 3 repeated my 9uestion and added+ so that he didn,t thin* 3 was trying to buy some+ D3 *now one o& the girls who died at )aurel Community College and you,re a s#ien#e guy and all+ so 3 thought you might *now" 3t is a #hemi#al substan#e"E D0ell+E :yle started+ D3t was originally an o%er the #ounter drug by Bayer that they #laimed was a non addi#ti%e substitute &or morphine"E :yle *new e%erything s#ien#e related" He was my own personal 0i*ipedia" Still+ 3 didn,t need to *now e%erything about heroin as a drug" 3 shoo* my head+ D0ell+ a#tually what 3 wanted to *now is #ould you murder someone with it> 3 mean is that possible>E DCou mean in=e#ting someone+ li*e those girls>E :yle thought &or a moment" DSure+ you,d =ust need to ha%e a needle ready and then in=e#t them" Supposedly you don,t e%en need to heat the stu&& anymore+ =ust add water and go" That,s easy enough i& you ha%e a supply" '&ter that+ it would be 9ui#*est to in=e#t a %ein+ but e%en intramus#ular in=e#tion would only ta*e about 2 minutes &or the e&&e#ts to happen"E DThen what happens>E 3 didn,t want to as*+ but 3 had to *now" DFrom what 3,%e read+ you &eel a sense o& euphoria and then your system slows down+ parti#ularly your respiratory system+ your heart stops+ then you die+E :yle loo*ed somber" D@*ay+E 3 said+ &eeling a wa%e o& sadness as 3 thought about )i- and the other girls" 3t was so sad" My eye #aught Su-ie,s+ a#ross the room" She was loo*ing at us" 3t was time to #hange the topi# anyway" 3& 3 thought about it+ really thought about it all+ 3,d =ust &eel

depressed and 3 needed to be produ#ti%e" DShe,s loo*ing o%er here again+E 3 mentioned+ as we were getting ready to start mi;ing li9uids" :yle loo*ed o%er at Su-ie and 3 thought 3 saw that DitE as his and Su-ie,s eyes met" 3 &elt a pang" 3 wanted that" 'nd+ they were both too shy to get it" )i&e #ould be so un&air" 3 had lun#h+ &inally+ &i&th period" 3 usually sat alone at a long lun#h table" Sometimes a &ew people sat down a &ew seats away &rom me be#ause there was nowhere else to sit" 3 didn,t hang out with anyone in high s#hool being the so#ial pariah that 3 am+ so 3 was used to eating lun#h alone" 3 loo*ed toward Ethan,s table+ but he wasn,t there yet" That,s why 3 was sho#*ed when Ethan sat down a#ross &rom me" 3 didn,t thin* he e%en *new we had the same lun#h hour" 3 hadn,t brought it up last night+ be#ause let,s &a#e it+ 3 was meeting him a&ter s#hool" 3 didn,t want to push my lu#* by as*ing him to ha%e lun#h with me too+ in &ront o& the entire+ e;tremely =udgmental+ and peer pressure ruled student body" .ot to mention his &riends+ $a%e and Mi*e" 3 was minding my own business+ eating #heese &ries and a soda &or lun#h" 3 *now it wasn,t healthy+ but 3 was in the mood &or grease a&ter the long wee*end and barely any sleep" Besides+ there,s nothing li*e high s#hool #a&eteria #heese &ries" Mmm+ mmm+ good" 'lthough+ nothing #ompares to the goodness o& the peanut butter banana mil*sha*es &rom 0ired" Ha%e 3 mentioned that> 'nyway+ 3 was wor*ing on #reating an in%estigation noteboo*+ so that Ethan and 3 would ha%e a list o& details about the murders in #ase we needed to loo* ba#* on it" From all o& the murder mystery mo%ies 3,%e seen on TG or read in boo*s+ there were usually a lot o& interrelated details and sometimes it was =ust about &inding something or really anything in #ommon" 3 was trying to re#ord e;a#tly what Su-ie 0hitsett had said when 3 noti#ed that Ethan had sat down in &ront o& me" DHey+ :ait+E Ethan said grinning at me" D3 ha%en,t seen you all day"E For a moment 3 thought 3 had somehow gotten mysel& into an alternate uni%erse+ li*e the Twilight Aone" 3t was surreal" First+ there was Ethan sitting with me at lun#h+ li*e it was no big deal and then there was the phrase+ D3 ha%en,t seen you all dayE li*e he really was sorry we hadn,t run into ea#h other this morning between #lasses" 3 wasn,t the only one who wondered i& we had entered an alternate dimension either" 3 #ould &eel the loo*s and whispers o& the tables around me+ but &or on#e 3 didn,t let mysel& #are what e%eryone was saying" Ethan ha%ing lun#h with me ro#*edA So+ 3 #urbed mysel& &rom saying the words+ where is the real Ethan and what ha%e you done with him and instead said+ D3 tal*ed to Su-ie in Chemistry"E D0hat did she say>E Ethan pulled a tur*ey sandwi#h out o& the paper bag that was lying on top o& his boo*s+ along with a bottle o& water" 3& 3 weren,t trying to be all #ool about hanging out with Ethan+ 3 would ha%e &lipped out about how normal he was a#ting" )i*e he sat with me e%ery day at lun#h or something" )i*e it was no big deal that we were ha%ing lun#h together" But+ then again+ 3 was a#ting normal" .ormal+ normal+ normal" 't least 3 hope 3 was" So+ 3 read ba#* to him &rom what 3 had already written down in my noteboo* about what Su-ie had said and elaborated on the rest &rom memory" He listened as he de%oured his sandwi#h" D0ell+ now we ha%e proo& that )i- was going to see Troy" He,s there" 0e ha%e him within the hour o& her death+E Ethan said e;#itedly"

D0ell+ 3,m not sure+E 3 said+ sorry to disappoint him" D0hat>E Ethan as*ed" D3sn,t it hearsay> 3 mean+ Su-ie says that )i- said that and that they te;ted+ but nobody a#tually saw )i- and Troy together in that hour" 'nd+ her te;ts are gone" 'nd+ 3 doubt Troy is going to admit to being with her that night+E 3 said" DThen we ha%e nothing+E Ethan was disappointed" D3t,s something+ but =ust not enough" 0e didn,t e;pe#t Su-ie to gi%e us mu#h anyway" Still+ maybe we #an &ind out the names o& the other people in @li%ia,s sewing #lass and tal* to them> She did ha%e one the wee* she died" Maybe someone other than Su-ie remembers something weird+E 3 *new 3 was stret#hing+ but it was worth loo*ing into i& something else didn,t pan out &irst" 0e sat in silen#e &or a &ew moments" 3 *new Ethan was disappointed that 3 didn,t thin* Su-ie,s testimony would be enough to nail Troy &or )i-,s murder" Still+ we both now *new that going to the poli#e with anything short o& absolutely solid proo& o& guilt would be a waste o& time" D$id you get a #han#e to read )i-,s diary>E Ethan as*ed 9uietly" 3 had &orgotten about that" 3 nodded+ DCes and there was no mention o& drugs or anything really interesting until the last &ew entries"E D0hat was it>E Ethan as*ed" D0ell+ it,s more &or the Troy &ile &or sure+E 3 said" D0hat>E Ethan as*ed again" D@*ay+ )i- said she got an email &rom a girl who #laimed to also be dating Troy" She ne%er said who the girl was+ though" 'nd+ it,s the last =ournal entry+ so 3 don,t *now i& anything happened with her and Troy or her and the other girl a&ter that" 0ell+ e;#ept that Su-ie said that Troy and )i- were ma*ing up+ so maybe they wor*ed it out+E 3 said" D'lthough+ i& there is another girl+ it a#tually ma*es things a little more #ompli#ated"E D@r not+E Ethan said" DMaybe )i- and Troy had another &ight about this girl+ she threatened to brea* up with him &or good+ and then he de#ided to *ill her" The whole i& 3 #an,t ha%e you+ nobody #an s#enario" 3t #ould be his thing" ' girl wants to brea* it o&& and he *ills her"E D@r maybe the other girl has something to do with it or *nows something+E 3 said+ trying to be sub=e#ti%e" D@r maybe the other girl is dead too+E Ethan said" 3 thought &or a moment+ D0hat i& the other girl was Ganessa Martin>E Ethan loo*ed thought&ul+ DCou mean the email she sent )i-> 0ell+ then it brings it ba#* around to Troy being the *iller" 3t,s de&initely something" .ow we =ust need something #on#rete to tie it all together"E DCeah+ but where do we go &rom here>E 3 wasn,t sure how to pro#eed" D3 thin* tonight will gi%e us some better leads" 's morbid as it is+ 3,m really loo*ing &orward to &uneral #rashing with you+E Ethan grinned" 3 smiled ba#* at him" 3t was de&initely going to be an interesting night" Me and Ethan+ the most popular guy in s#hool+ &uneral #rashing together" 3 ne%er would ha%e pi#tured that in a billion+ -illion years and yet+ it was really happening" 3t was almost li*e being in an alternate uni%erse really+ li*e on /ringe" DHey+ E+E $a%e Ki#*erson said+ suddenly standing at our table with Mi*e Finnegan" 3 &elt mysel& stare up at them in sho#*" 0hat were we going to do> 3 &elt the sudden

pani# o& any gee* when approa#hed by the popular #rowd &or doing something so#ially outside the bo;" Here it goes+ 3 thought" They were going to say something to Ethan and then he,d ha%e to ignore me" 3t was the way high s#hool wor*ed" Someone popular didn,t hang out with someone who was unpopular" DHey guys+E Ethan said #almly+ li*e it was no big deal" DSo+ are you eating with us today>E Mi*e said+ aw*wardly" 3 &elt mysel& hold my breath" There was a de&inite strange and tense silen#e" 3 *new what they were really as*ing+ but Ethan didn,t seem to #are or maybe he didn,t noti#e" D.ah" 3 ha%e some stu&& to tal* to :ait about" Cat#h you guys in Spanish+ though+E Ethan said" $a%e and Mi*e nodded and 9ui#*ly wal*ed away without loo*ing at me" 3 wondered what they were thin*ing" The whole s#hool was going to be tal*ing about me and Ethan ha%ing lun#h now" They were all going to be wondering at his sudden interest in me" 3 mean+ he re=e#ted his best &riends &or me" 3 was the only one at our table who seemed to be thin*ing about this+ though" Ethan didn,t seem to #are" He was eating his lun#h li*e there was nothing out o& the ordinary in ha%ing lun#h with me+ e%en though 3 was a total so#ial pariah" They probably thought he had made a bet or something" )i*e in She’" 'll That" That would be o*ay with me" That mo%ie had a happy ending anyway" (ee*y )aney Boggs got the popular guy" 3 #ould only hope &or that out#ome in my dreams" 3 didn,t thin* Ethan would badmouth me or anything+ though" He was turning out to be the real deal H popular+ good loo*ing+ smart+ and a ni#e guy" 3 almost wished that he wasn,t" So+ let the s#hool tal* about me" 3t,s not li*e 3 hadn,t been there be&ore" 3 didn,t li*e it+ but they weren,t my &riends anyway" 'nd+ it,s not li*e our peers were e%er going to guess what we were really doing" That would really gi%e them something to tal* about" ?ust when 3 thought 3 was home &ree &or the day on the 'riel &ront+ she &ound me" 3 was at my lo#*er gathering my things be&ore 3 met Ethan at his #ar to go to Ganessa,s wa*e and 'riel wal*ed up to me demanding+ D$id you and Ethan Kipley ha%e lun#h together today &i&th period>E The gossip train had wor*ed &ast" 3 put my Chemistry boo* into my ba#*pa#* be&ore 3 loo*ed up at her" 'riel was standing there+ hands on her hips+ trying to loo* haughty in her designer+ way too e;pensi%e &or a s#hool day out&it" 3 didn,t ha%e time &or this today" Espe#ially not when 3 was *eeping Ethan waiting at his #ar" @*ay+ 3 had read The Rule" I&or &un,s sa*e only+ 3 swearJ+ so maybe it was good &or him to wait a little" Still+ that didn,t mean 3 wanted Ethan to wait be#ause 3 was being &or#ed to tal* to 'riel" 3 de#ided to answer simply+ DCes+ we did"E D0hy is Ethan Kipley ha%ing lun#h with you>E 'riel demanded" D're you helping him with math or something>E Ethan was smarter than 3 was at s#hool" 3t was a &unny statement and 3 &elt a smile &orming on my lips+ DBe#ause he wanted to ha%e lun#h with me"E D0hat> 0hy would he want to ha%e lun#h with you>E 'riel demanded+ putting parti#ular emphasis on the word DyouE to emphasi-e her distaste" 0ith that+ 3 slammed my lo#*er shut despite the &a#t that 3 was supposed to bring my history boo* home to study &or a 9ui-+ grabbed my ba#*pa#*+ and le&t 'riel staring a&ter me with her =aw open" 't least+ 3 hope her =aw was open" 3 was going &or e&&e#t a&ter all and it would only be worth &lun*ing my history 9ui- i& 3 really got to her" 3 thin* 3 did" 't least 3,m pretty sure+ sin#e she didn,t e%en ha%e the energy to &ollow me and as* me more

9uestions" Ethan was waiting &or me outside ne;t to his Honda Ci%i# Hybrid" 3t was more blue than sil%er during the day" 3 li*ed that he was en%ironmentally #ons#ious+ what with the hybrid and all" @*ay+ 3,ll admit it+ 3 was loo*ing more at Ethan than his #ar" Ethan =ust always loo*ed so good and yet+ he loo*ed e%en better in the suit he was now wearing" He had #hanged sometime a&ter lun#h into &uneral garb+ bla#* pants and a white button down+ although 3 #ould see a bla#* =a#*et lying in the ba#* seat o& the #ar" 3t would be awesome i& he started wearing suits to s#hool e%ery day" He loo*ed really se;y in them" 3 loo*ed down at mysel&+ hoping he was ha%ing an in*ling o& a similar thought about me" 3 was wearing a bla#* s*irt and &orm &itting bla#* la#y shirt that 3 had #hanged into be&ore last period" 3 had grabbed the shortest s*irt 3 owned in &a#t+ trying to be a little more se;y+ at least" 'nd+ 3 thought my hair loo*ed o*ay" 't least it had in the bathroom mirror 3 managed to loo* into be&ore last period" 3 was hoping the bags under my eyes had dissipated sin#e this morning" There was no more #o%er up 3 #ould put on them without loo*ing super powdery" DHey+ :ait+E Ethan said as 3 approa#hed him" My stoma#h e;ploded with butter&lies+ but somehow 3 managed to say+ DHey"E Ethan opened the #ar door &or me and 3 &elt my legs wobble a little as 3 got into Ethan,s #ar" 0hat was wrong with me> 0e were on a missionA Cet+ 3 do admit that all o& a sudden this sort o& &elt li*e a date" 3t was the whole #hi%alry thing+ 3 thought" 3 &elt a little+ no a lot+ ner%ous all o& a sudden" This was &uneral #rashing with a twist" 3 really hoped something would #ome out o& it H ma=or e%iden#e or at least a #lue would be ni#e" 'nd+ as we dro%e out o& the par*ing lot+ 3 also se#retly hoped that someone+ hope&ully 'riel+ would see me dri%ing away in Ethan Kipley,s #ar"

Chapter 11: Funeral ,ating
D3 =ust threw up #hun*s+E 3 told 'nne %ia my #ell phone as we dro%e to 0orth Hills Funeral Home+ where Ganessa Martin,s wa*e was being held" 'nne sympathi-ed as soon as 3 said the word #hun*s and told me not to #ome in" 3 didn,t dit#h mu#h+ but 3 *now how e%en saying the word #hun*s ma*es me &eel+ so 3 *new it would wor*" 3 was dit#hing wor* &or the &uneral" 3 would ha%e gi%en 'nne more warning+ but sin#e 3 went to s#hool with three other 6alos Gideo Store employees+ 3 #ouldn,t a&&ord to" 3 did not ha%e their loyalty" 'gain+ 3 was ris*ing my #ushy part time =ob &or the sa*e o& Ethan Kipley" 3t &elt worth it+ though" 0e got to Ganessa,s &uneral a little a&ter 1 pm and 3 wasn,t surprised to &ind that Ganessa Martin,s &uneral was a somber a&&air" How #ould it not be> She was another nineteen year old &rom )aurel Community College that had o%erdosed on heroin" @nly+ 3 got the impression that her parents were trying to *eep e%eryone &rom tal*ing about the h< word+ but people were gossiping about it in hushed tones anyway" 's we wal*ed into the wa*e+ 3 suddenly &elt Ethan,s hand wrap around mine" 3 &elt my pulse speed up at the tou#h o& his hand" 3 hoped my palms wouldn,t start sweating or

anything really gross li*e that" My stoma#h started doing &lips as his hand grasped mine a little tighter" Then 3 &elt him loo*ing at me" @h yeah+ we were supposed to be wal*ing into the wa*e" 3 had #ompletely &orgotten what 3 was doing in the e;treme bliss o& holding his hand" DCou ready>E He as*ed" DFh<huh+E 3 managed to mumble+ trying to get my thoughts ba#* into a #oherent state" 3t was all Ethan,s idea+ not mine+ 3 swear" He wanted it to seem li*e we were dating" Ces dating+ again+ all his idea+ although 3 admit to being really happy about ha%ing his warm+ rugged hand #lasped in mineLe%en i& it was all =ust a #harade" 3 mean+ it &elt real enough e%en i& he wasn,t doing it be#ause he li*e li*ed me" 3 would ta*e what 3 #ould get" 3t made sense a#tually+ that we should be dating i& we #ame to the &uneral together" Then we only needed one reason &or being thereLinstead o& two" The heart o& &uneral #rashing is the entire e;perien#e" Cou need to throw yoursel& into the &uneral+ but not too mu#h" '&ter all+ the goal is to #rash the &uneral without getting #aught" @ne o& the main things to do is to solemnly wal* up to the #as*et and %iew the body" 3& one was a good a#tor+ managing a tear is per&e#t" 3& not+ loo*ing sad is de&initely enough" $on,t smile" 'nd+ you don,t want to wait and stare into the #as*et too long either" This ma*es any an;ious &amily members thin* you,re ha%ing some *ind o& a brea*down and they may get the urge to #ome o%er and hug you" 3& that happens+ you better ha%e a great story ready" ' #asual &riend doesn,t brea* down at a &uneral and posing as someone,s b&& when you don,t e%en *now them+ is tough" So+ our plan was in &ull swing" 0e were standing in &ront o& Ganessa Martin,s #as*et and peering in to loo* at her" She loo*ed so young+ with long brown hair #as#ading down the pillow she was lying on" She still loo*ed youth&ul and &ull o& li&e+ =ust with her eyes #losed" They did a great ma*e<up =ob+ as morbid as that sounds" 3& her eyes had been open+ my guess is they would ha%e been brown too" 3t was a sad waste" 3& only Ethan and 3 #ould ha%e sa%ed Ganessa this moment" 3 thought o& $ete#ti%e $i;on and his Styro&oam #up &etish and &elt angry all o%er again" He should ha%e listened to usA Maybe Ganessa Martin,s death #ould ha%e been pre%ented i& the poli#e had e%en simply loo*ed into the theory we had gi%en them" 3 mean+ 3 had e%en shown them her emailA From the %antage point o& the #o&&in+ we were able to #learly obser%e Ganessa,s immediate &amily" The immediate &amily H parents+ siblings+ and #lose relati%es+ were almost always sitting on the &ront #ou#h in &ront o& the #as*et" The woman that appeared to be Ganessa,s mother was hanging on another woman+ possibly her sister sin#e they loo*ed a little ali*e and+ #arrying on into her shoulder" .obody else was sitting on the &ront #ou#h" Maybe Ganessa,s &ather wasn,t in the pi#ture anymore" 3 didn,t see any siblings yet" The rest o& the room was &ull o& the rise and &all o& murmurs+ as people #arried on #on%ersations in whispers" These were the relati%es+ &riends+ and neighbors mingling" Maybe one o& them had some detail that would gi%e us more to go on regarding Ganessa,s death" There were a lot o& them+ though+ and we,d need to be %ery #are&ul trying to glean in&ormation &rom them" 3n no way+ #ould we interrogate anyone" .obody wants to be interrogated at a &uneral+ espe#ially i& they,re in mourning" The last thing we needed was a hysteri#al s#ene+ so a lot o& our in&ormation gathering would ha%e to be done by obser%ation and ea%esdropping"

Ethan was pulling at my arm with his hand" 3 had lost mysel&" Ces+ it was time to mo%e away &rom the #o&&in be&ore anyone too* noti#e o& us" My hand still in his hand+ he led me to some #hairs toward the middle ba#* o& the room" 3t was a per&e#t pla#e to sit+ rela;+ and unobtrusi%ely listen in on the whispered #on%ersations happening around us" 3 strained to hear the hushed whisperings" 3 was only able to #at#h snippets here and there o& people gossiping about what went wrong with Ganessa" 'nother girl lost to heroin+ who didn,t seem the type to do drugs in the &irst pla#e" That was the general gist 3 got+ at least+ as 3 tried to listen in on people" 3t wasn,t helping mu#h with my #on#entration either that Ethan was still holding my hand" He e%en started absently rubbing my hand in his H li*e we were really going out" D0hat are you doing>E 3 whispered be&ore 3 had time to thin* about what 3 was saying" 3 mean+ what was wrong with me> My stoma#h was doing e;#ited &lips" Ethan Kipley was not only holding my hand+ he seemed into itA D@h+ sorry+ =ust trying to loo* li*e a #ouple+E Ethan whispered ba#* a se#ond later+ and &ell ba#* into =ust holding my hand in his" Stupid+ stupid+ stupid+ 3 s#olded mysel&" 0hat was wrong with me> 3 should =ust ta*e what 3 #ould get" 0ould 3 e%er learn to =ust go with it> @*ay+ 3 needed to go ba#* to listening now" 3t had to ha%e been almost an hour sin#e we arri%ed at the wa*e and my butt was &alling asleep" 3t was more o& the same &or the last hour" .othing interesting had happened" Most people were tal*ing about the sho#* o& it all" .obody #ould belie%e Ganessa was gone" 6eople had #ome and gone+ but 3 had spent the last twenty minutes listening to who 3 thought was Ganessa,s elderly aunt+ prattling on about all her ailments" She had started with her arthritis and was now #omplaining about a pain in her lower ba#* when she wal*ed" She was going to see the do#tor ne;t wee*" Troy Matthews had not made an appearan#e yet+ i& he was e%en going to" 0e didn,t *now e;a#tly what his relationship was with Ganessa anyway" 3& he wasn,t e;pe#ted to be there+ he had good reason not to show up" 3 still hoped he would" There was a #ouple o& younger women+ probably Ganessa,s &riends+ wandering around in groups+ but nobody odd or out o& the ordinary" They all seemed normal enough" 0e had tried to ma*e #on%ersation with one group o& them when they sat down ne;t to us+ but it was short li%ed H one o& them *ept tearing up and within minutes her &riend had to lead her out o& the room" 3t was really aw*ward and #ompletely heartbrea*ing" They hadn,t #ome ba#*+ so Ethan and 3 sat ba#* down in our #hairs" .ow+ the old woman 3 had been ea%esdropping on or 'unt Eileen+ as the man ne;t to her was #alling her+ was #omplaining about her stoma#h+ D'nd+ 3 =ust #an,t handle #o&&ee anymore" 3t ma*es me si#*" They #ouldn,t ha%e brought some 5<Fp &or me>E Her #ompanion was nodding and he was probably wishing he was somewhere else" My stoma#h growled" 3 was star%ing" )un#h seemed li*e a -illion years ago" D're you hungry>E 3 whispered to Ethan+ whose eyes had gla-ed o%er" DHungry>E He whispered ba#*+ snapping out o& the bored -one he had &allen into" His hand was still holding mine" 3 hoped it wasn,t sweaty or anything+ my hand+ that is" E%en i& his was+ 3 #ould ha%e held his hand &ore%er i& he,d ha%e let me+ DCeah+ my stoma#h is grumbling" )et,s go #he#* out the &ood"E DFood>E Ethan as*ed+ as 3 pulled him toward the door+ e;iting the room"

There was almost always a room+ &rom a *it#hen to a li%ing<type room+ where some *ind soul had brought #oo*ies and other sna#*s" There was usually at least tea and #o&&ee too+ i& not soda and water" 3 had been to this &uneral home be&ore and 3 *new there was a *it#hen!dinette area right ne;t to the restrooms" Ethan &ollowed me there in silen#e" This was a spot where people &elt &ree to mingle and tal* and it #ould be the best pla#e &or us to get some #lues &rom Ganessa,s &riends and &amily+ but it was also going to mean that we,d ha%e to tal* to people and ris* getting #aught" Still+ there was &ood and 3 was star%ing" 0e had already #laimed to be only Ganessa,s a#9uaintan#es when we were tal*ing to the girls in the other room" They had bought it" Hope&ully+ Ganessa,s relati%es would buy it too+ i& they spo*e to us" 3 *new in all li*elihood that they would+ but there was always that small #han#e that &rea*ed me out" The *it#hen!dinette area was #rowded with people tal*ing+ eating #oo*ies+ and drin*ing #o&&ee and tea" 3t had to be around 4 pm by now and dinnertime" Some people had probably been there all day+ so it was prime sna#* time" 3 hadn,t eaten sin#e Ethan and 3 had lun#h &i&th period" 3 was star%ing" 3 glan#ed at Ethan+ who must also ha%e been hungry the way his eyes lit up at the sight o& the sna#*s" @oo+ they had #oo*iesA There was #ho#olate #hip+ peanut butter+ and sni#*erdoodles H hea%enA 3 mo%ed ra%enously toward them and my butt was &inally &eeling bliss&ully awa*e" Than* goodness elderly 'unt Eileen and 3 weren,t going to ha%e any #ommon ailments to tal* about H 3,m sure she had a thing or two to say about her butt+ i& she was as*ed" 3 grabbed a plate and was starting to &ill it with the yummy goodness *nown as peanut butter #oo*ies+ until 3 &elt Ethan,s body go #ompletely rigid ne;t to me" 3 loo*ed up+ &ollowed his ga-e+ and almost dropped my #oo*ies be#ause standing ne;t to the #o&&ee pot+ re&illing her styro&oam #up o& #o&&ee and adding #ubes o& sugar+ was the dead girl+ Ganessa Martin"

Chapter 12: Frea-ing
3 blin*ed twi#e" 3 blin*ed again" She was still there" 3t too* me a good si;ty se#onds to rationali-e why it #ouldn,t possibly be Ganessa Martin standing by the #o&&ee pot getting a re&ill" 3 mean+ #ome on+ we weren,t in a world li*e that boo* &ride and &re0udice and Aom$ie" &or goodness sa*e" 3 had read that boo* a &ew wee*s ago be#ause one o& my all time &a%orite boo*s was &ride and &re0udice and 3 thought it was hilarious to &ind out someone had thrown -ombies into the #lassi#" .ot that -ombies drin* #o&&ee" They eat brains and the loo*<ali*e Ganessa was de&initely drin*ing #o&&ee and not eating brains" 'nd+ #ome on+ i& Ganessa Martin was ali%e and well+ why the hell were we ha%ing a &uneral> .o+ no+ no" She had to be Ganessa Martin,s sister" ' twin sister by the &rea*ed out e;pression that Ethan had on his &a#e and 3 *now had been mat#hed on mine &or the last minute" 3t wasn,t li*e we #ould as* anyone H PHey+ why does that girl loo* li*e Ganessa Martin>, either" 3t would totally gi%e us away+ hoo*+ line+ and super duper sin*er+ as in

sin*ing to the bottom o& the o#ean" Ethan was still staring+ e%en though 3 had dropped my ga-e ba#* to the #oo*ies on my plate" They were still there+ ali%e and well" 6hew" 3 loo*ed ba#* at Ethan+ who was still ga-ing at the girl" 3 grabbed Ethan by the arm and led him to the other side o& the *it#henette+ near the doorway" DStop staring+E 3 whispered as 9uietly as 3 #ould+ hoping nobody was ea%esdropping on us" DBut she loo*s =ust li*e her+E Ethan spo*e so&tly+ tearing his ga-e away to loo* at me" DShe has to be a twin or at the %ery least her sister+E 3 rationali-ed" D3 don,t belie%e in identi#al #ousins or people rising &rom the dead+ at least outside o& boo*s and mo%ies"E D3t &rea*ed me out &or a se#ond though+E Ethan admitted and noti#ing my plate o& #oo*ies+ grabbed one" D3 thought 3 was seeing things"E DMe too" Here+ hold this" 3,m gonna &ind out+E 3 said and handed Ethan my whole plate o& #oo*ies+ as 3 headed toward Ganessa,s twin" 's 3 #ame toward her+ she was tal*ing to a balding man in his late &i&ties" 3 rea#hed &or the #o&&ee pot as 3 tried to listen in on their #on%ersation" DBut+ ?enna+ do you thin* you,ll be able to &inish out the semester> Things were &inally going so well &or you+ 3 don,t thin* you should push yoursel& too hard+E He sounded #on#erned" D$on,t worry about me+ Fn#le Bob" 3,ll be &ine" 3 thri%e under pressure+E ?enna said+ sipping her #o&&ee and loo*ing around" 3 had poured mysel& a &ull #up and loo*ed to stall+ so 3 rea#hed &or the powdered #reamer" 3 also added sugar #ubes" 3 wanted to *eep listening &or at least another minute or two longer" DCou pushed yoursel& too hard last time" Cou and your sister" Ta*e it easy+E Fn#le Bob urged" D3,ll be &ine+E ?enna said again+ and &eigned a loo* out o& the room+ D3 should go in" Mom will be wondering where 3,m at"E DBut+ ?ennaLE Fn#le Bob started to say+ but ?enna wa%ed him away+ already &leeing &or the doorway" 3 e;pe#ted her to lea%e li*e she said+ but instead 3 saw ?enna stop =ust be&ore the e;it+ to tal* to Ethan" .ow+ 3 was staring at her" '#tually+ 3 was staring at them" They almost made a #ute #ouple+ but 3 was a#tually thin*ing &or a strange moment that ?enna loo*ed to me li*e a bla#* widow spider ready to poun#e on Ethan" Still+ maybe that was only be#ause a huge pang o& =ealousy was #oursing through me+ wat#hing ?enna tal* to him" That+ and ?enna was dressed all in bla#*" 3 *now bla#* widow spiders also had a splot#h o& red on them+ but whate%er" From this distan#e+ Ethan seemed into her" He had his arm on the doorway and ?enna was leaning toward him" 3 *new 3 was staring+ but 3 #ouldn,t help it" 0as it possible to &eel this =ealous about a guy you had no #han#e in the world o& e%er going out with> Besides+ it,s not li*e ?enna was going to pi#* up a guy at her twin sister,s &uneral" 0hat *ind o& a girl did that> 3 didn,t want to thin* about the answer to that 9uestion" Be&ore 3 #ould really del%e into my =ealousy about a possible ?enna and Ethan #oupling+ Fn#le Bob started to tal* to me+ DBe #are&ul+ you,re gonna ha%e more sugar than #o&&ee"E D@ops+E 3 had put in a good eight #ubes o& sugar into my #o&&ee and although 3 li*ed

it sweet+ that was a little mu#h" D3 li*e it pretty sweet"E DHow did you *now Ganessa>E Fn#le Bob as*ed" DMy boy&riend,s sister was &riends with her" 3 didn,t *now her too well+ but we thought it was sad+ so we wanted to #ome+E 3 o&&ered" D3t,s %ery sad" 3t,s li*e the &amily #an,t get away &rom tragedy" First their dad" .ow this+E Fn#le Bob &rowned" D@h>E 3 wondered i& Fn#le Bob would %olunteer details" Turned out Fn#le Bob li*ed to gossip+ DTheir dad,s in =ail" Embe--ling+ although there were more allegations+ but they were ne%er pro%en" .obody e%er would ha%e *nown+ e;#ept that he was stupid enough to get #aught buying a house &or his mistress+ with money he wasn,t supposed to ha%e" Tore the &amily apart" My sister went on anti< depressants" 0e were a&raid she would go insane" They were #ompletely blindsided" The girls had a really rough time o& it" The &amily all thought the worst had passed+ untilL this"E D0ow+ 3,m really sorry+E 3 managed to say and 3 meant it" 0hile she was ali%e Ganessa had been going through a rough pat#h" Maybe she really did o%erdose" 3n her #ase it a#tually might ma*e sense with that sort o& &amily drama going on" D0hat more #an happen to this &amily>E Fn#le Bob as*ed+ but 3 don,t thin* he was a#tually waiting &or me to answer be#ause he #ontinued on" DThey really were the #utest little girls" Their mom always had them in mat#hing out&its and they absolutely hated it" Ganessa was a tomboy and ?enna lo%ed to wear pretty dresses" They were so di&&erent e%en though they were twins" 3t,s &unny how that happens"E 3 smiled at his reminis#ing" 'h+ the sentimental part o& &unerals H the stories are the part that really drew me to them" 3 lo%ed the real remembran#es o& a person gone too 9ui#*ly" 3t made me thin* o& my mom" 3 wish 3 had more remembran#es o& her" 3& only she was still aroundL By the time 3 managed to tear mysel& away &rom Fn#le Bob+ who a&ter his brie& reminis#ing wanted to go on about how things #ouldn,t get any worse &or the &amily+ Ethan had eaten most o& my #oo*ies+ and ?enna was gone+ ba#* into the #as*et %iewing room" 3+ o& #ourse+ was interested in Fn#le Bob,s reminis#ing+ but how #ould 3 let Ethan eat all o& my #oo*ies> D3 saw you tal*ing to ?ennaLE 3 trailed o&& unsure what else to say+ as 3 approa#hed Ethan+ grabbed the last peanut butter #oo*ie o&& the plate+ and de%oured it" 3t was a good #oo*ie and 3 was still star%ing" 3 dragged Ethan ba#* o%er to the table to get some more o& them" DCeah+ she wanted to *now how 3 *new her sister and we got to tal*ing"E Ethan was grinning+ DShe,s going to meet us a&ter the wa*e at The 6ie Shop a#ross the street"E Had Ethan =ust as*ed the grie%ing sister out on a date> $idn,t it #reep him out that she was also the spitting image o& the de#eased> @& #ourse+ 3 had no reason to be =ealous o& ?enna" Ethan #ould as* whome%er he wanted to out &or pie" Ethan was loo*ing at me oddly+ D0hat,s wrong> This is hugeA ?enna wants to tal* to us about our theories" She thin*s Ganessa #ould ha%e been murdered too" She wasn,t a hundred per#ent sold+ but she said it was totally unli*e Ganessa to do heroin"E DCou told her our theory>E 3 tried to smile ba#* at Ethan li*e nothing was wrong" 3 mean+ ?enna was really pretty+ e%en though she resembled a dead girl and all+ and 3 #ouldn,t help but wonder i& 3 was about to be#ome the third wheel in a murder

in%estigation" D0ell+ we started tal*ing and 3 &elt li*e it would be o*ay to tell her+E Ethan e;plained" DShe,s going through the same thing 3 am"E 3 nodded+ still &eeling hurt &or no reason" This was a#tually a great lead" ?enna Martin would ha%e the inside s#oop on Ganessa,s death" 3 =ust didn,t want her hitting on Ethan" 3 didn,t ha%e too mu#h time to worry about Ethan and ?enna ha%ing a romanti# #onne#tion+ though+ be#ause $ete#ti%e $i;on suddenly entered the *it#hen!dinette area+ heading straight &or the #o&&ee and his &a%orite thing in the world+ Styro&oam #ups" 3 *now 3 should ha%e &elt optimisti#+ sin#e $ete#ti%e $i;on probably didn,t normally show up to an o%erdose %i#tim,s &uneral and this might be a sign that he was gi%ing the murder angle we had suggested to him a #han#e+ but 3 was a#tually more #on#erned that he would interrogate Ethan and 3 than anything else" 0e didn,t e;a#tly belong at this &uneral" 3 po*ed Ethan+ who had the same rea#tion as 3 did+ and we tried to bolt+ but un&ortunately $ete#ti%e $i;on saw us" 0e managed to ma*e it out to the par*ing lot+ though+ be&ore $ete#ti%e $i;on #aught up to us" D?ust dri%e awayAE 3 urged Ethan as we ran to his #ar+ but Ethan stopped and turned instead" DHi+ $ete#ti%e $i;on+E Ethan said" $ete#ti%e $i;on slowed his pa#e and wal*ed up to us+ DSo+ you want to tell me what the two o& you are doing here>E D0e #ould as* you the same thing+E 3 9uipped" Ethan shot me a warning loo* and turned to the dete#ti%e+ D3n%estigating my sister,s murder"E $ete#ti%e $i;on shoo* his head+ DCou,re not supposed to be here" The poli#e are loo*ing into the situation" )ea%e it alone" Cou don,t want to get in o%er your heads" $rug dealers are not ni#e people"E DBut )i- didn,t do drugs+E Ethan reminded him" D$id you loo* into Troy Matthews yet>E DCes+ and he,s #lear+E $ete#ti%e $i;on said+ almost too 9ui#*ly" Ethan shot me a loo* and 3 #ould see that neither o& us belie%ed that the dete#ti%e had loo*ed into Troy at all" He was still loo*ing &or some sort o& a drug ring and here 3 had hoped+ that maybe =ust maybe+ he had gi%en the murder angle some a#tual thought" D're you e%en supposed to be here>E 3 as*ed" D3sn,t it in bad taste &or the poli#e to interrogate the %i#tim,s relati%es at the &uneral>E $ete#ti%e $i;on &rowned at me+ D3,m here to pay my respe#ts and ma*e sure that people li*e the two o& you don,t #rash the &uneral" This is a serious matter" 3 don,t want to disrupt the &amily in any way" The two o& you shouldn,t be here"E 3 nodded+ but 3 didn,t belie%e him" $ete#ti%e $i;on was de&initely at the &uneral &or a reason" He was in%estigating the #ase" DThe poli#e ha%e this under #ontrol+E $ete#ti%e $i;on said again" D(o home"E D0e were =ust about to+E Ethan said+ unlo#*ing the #ar doors" 0e both got in the #ar in silen#e" $ete#ti%e $i;on wat#hed us ba#* out o& our spot and dri%e out o& the par*ing lot" Ethan and 3 rode in silen#e" 3 wat#hed $ete#ti%e $i;on out o& the side mirror" 's soon as we turned out o& the par*ing lot+ the dete#ti%e wal*ed ba#* inside the &uneral home" D'll #lear+E 3 said"

Ethan too* the ne;t opportunity to ma*e a u<turn and head o%er to The 6ie Shop a#ross the street" Hope&ully the dete#ti%e wouldn,t be going &or pie a&ter the wa*e too" D3 thin* the dete#ti%e was loo*ing &or something+E 3 said" D@h+ he de&initely was+E Ethan snu#* a 9ui#* glan#e away &rom the road and loo*ed at me" 3 wondered what e%iden#e $ete#ti%e $i;on and the poli#e &or#e might ha%e &ound and i& it would help Ethan and 3 in our own in%estigation" 3& only we #ould #ollaborate with the poli#e" 3 *new Ethan and 3 had something" 0hat e;a#tly+ 3 wasn,t sure+ sin#e 3 was not #ompletely #on%in#ed that it was going to be as easy as Troy Matthews #ommitting all the murders" 3t #ould be+ but 3 #ouldn,t be sure yet" @b%iously+ though+ #ollaboration with the poli#e was not going to be possible" $ete#ti%e $i;on literally thought we were meddling teenagers" Hadn,t he seen Scoo$y 1oo> @r wat#hed the TG show ;eronica Mar"> @b%iously sometimes meddling teenagers had good ideas and were able to sol%e #rimes" 3 *now this wasn,t tele%ision" 'nd+ 3,m no Geroni#a Mars or .an#y $rew" Still+ hope&ully+ ?enna Martin would be able to gi%e us some #lues" 3 wanted to sol%e this #ase"

Chapter 13: Interrogating
3 had de%oured my pie#e o& #ho#olate peanut butter pie Istill not as good as 0ired,s peanut butter banana mil*sha*eAJ and was sipping on a hot #ho#olate by the time ?enna Martin =oined Ethan and 3 at The 6ie Shop" The 6ie Shop was a diner+ but they spe#iali-ed in pies" 3& their peanut butter #ho#olate one was any sort o& representation+ they did ma*e pretty e;#ellent pies" Ethan had opted &or a burger and &ries instead o& desert+ but 3 was &ine with ha%ing a sli#e o& pie &or dinner" 3 *new 3 had =ust eaten a bun#h o& #oo*ies and maybe &ollowing that with pie wasn,t the best idea e%er+ but 3 #ould eat healthy at home" 3 wanted to spend my money on something yummy and besides+ #anned soup and TG dinners were waiting &or me at home i& 3 wanted them" DHow,s the pie>E Ethan as*ed between bites o& his burger" D(reat+E 3 managed+ between my own mouth&uls" 3t was silent &or a moment and 3 wondered i& without the murder to tal* about i& we,d e%en ha%e anything in #ommon" 3 de#ided to &ind out+ DSo+ 3 noti#ed a guitar in your room" $o you play>E D3 try to when 3 ha%e time" 3 too* lessons in =unior high+ but 3,%e =ust been messing around sin#e+E Ethan said+ #hewing on a &ry" D0hat *ind o& musi#>E 3 as*ed+ ma*ing sure my mouth wasn,t &ull be&ore 3 spo*e" Ethan thought &or a moment+ D3ndie ro#* mostly+ although pun* ro#* is &un+ maybe a little &ol* ro#* too" 3,m a big &an o& (reen $ay" 3 *now they,re getting up there+ but they,re &un" 'nd+ 3 li*e Bob $ylan" He,s #lassi#"E 3 didn,t *now mu#h about musi#+ but 3 #ould hear the lo%e he had &or it in his %oi#e+ D're you in a band>E Ethan shoo* his head+ D.ot right now" .o time between s#hool+ sports+ and #ollege

prep stu&&" Maybe e%entually" 3 write my own songs too+ so it *eeps me going"E D0hat *ind o& songs do you write>E 3 was #urious" Ethan shrugged+ DFsually stu&& that,s going on in my li&e" Sometimes lo%e songs" The usual"E .ow 3 was more #urious+ D)o%e songs>E Ethan laughed+ DCou,re su#h a girl" Ceah" 3 mean+ not really about anyone or anything+ but what 3 thin* real lo%e should be li*e+ you *now> Hey+ it wor*ed &or the Beatles"E 3 smiled+ DCeah" $o you e%er play them &or anyone>E Ethan thought &or a moment+ D.ot really" Some o& them are *ind o& personal" Maybe e%entually+ when they,re ready+ but 3 ha%en,t e%en tried the whole band thing or playing li%e or anything" So+ e%entually is my answer"E 3 nodded+ D?ust ma*e sure you *eep it up" 3t,s important to do the things you lo%e"E Ethan smiled at me+ DSo+ what do you lo%e to do besides #rash &unerals and sol%e murder mysteries>E 3 thought &or a moment+ D's boring as it sounds+ 3 mostly read and wat#h mo%ies"E Ethan shrugged+ DThat,s not boring" 3 li*e those things too" 0hat,s your &a%orite mo%ie>E D'll time &a%orite> That,s hard+E 3 thought &or a moment+ DBut i& 3 had to #hoose+ probably Gone With the Wind"E DThat,s a #lassi#+E Ethan grinned" D'nd+ a #hi#* &li#*" Cou wanted to say+E 3 retorted+ DBut 3 li*e it be#ause it was my mom,s &a%orite mo%ie and her &a%orite boo*" .ow+ it,s mine" Se#ond on the list would be Star War", by the way and it,s a %ery #lose se#ond"E Ethan laughed+ D4laderunner is at the top o& my list"E D'lso a #lassi#+E 3 said" 3t was really ni#e tal*ing to Ethan+ not about the murder in%estigation &or on#e+ but about normal stu&& li*e mo%ies and musi#" 3t was a ni#e #hange o& pa#e" 3 was really interested in what Ethan had to say too" 'nd+ no+ not be#ause he was #ute+ but be#ause he was a#tually #ool" So+ it was too bad that the moment was interrupted by ?enna" ?enna had ob%iously #ome straight &rom the &uneral home+ still in her bla#* dress and se;y sto#*ings" 0e were still in our &uneral garb too+ but Ethan had le&t his =a#*et in the #ar" DHi+E ?enna said+ sliding into the booth ne;t to Ethan" 3 was sitting a#ross &rom them and trying not to noti#e how #lose she sat to Ethan" D3,m :ait"E D?enna+E ?enna said as she held a tight smile" DSo+ 3 guess 3 should =ust start" 3 don,t want to do the usual bullshit tal*ing about stu&& that doesn,t really matter" Cou both thin* my sister was murdered>E D0e,re not trying to &rea* you out+ ?enna+E Ethan had turned to her+ with #on#ern" D@h+ 3,m not &rea*ing out+E ?enna said+ D3,%e been thin*ing about it sin#e we tal*ed and 3 thin* you #ould be right" But 3 thin* you #ould be wrong too" 3 mean+ we,%e had a #ouple o& #rappy years"E 3 nodded" Ethan did the same" There was an aw*ward silen#e" 3 wat#hed ?enna &idget in her #hair" 3t was so bi-arre to see her sitting a#ross &rom us %ery mu#h ali%e when her twin was a#ross the street in a #o&&in" They loo*ed so mu#h ali*e" This had to be horrible

&or ?enna" Still+ we had to start this be&ore ?enna #hanged her mind" DSo+ what e;a#tly happened to Ganessa the night she died>E 3 as*ed a&ter a moment" 3t had to be as*ed and 3 *new it would be hard &or ?enna to tal* about+ but all Ethan and 3 *new was what his mom had o%erheard and what was in the obituary" 0e had to as*" 't least that,s what 3 *ept telling mysel& e%en though 3 &elt guilty about it" D0ell+E ?enna said+ and then seemed to #olle#t hersel&" D3t was pretty mu#h a normal day" 3 mean+ 3 didn,t see Ganessa in the morning" She li*ed to sleep in" 3 went to wor*" Then 3 #ame home around &our" Ganessa and 3 argued &or a se#ond and then 3 went out with some &riends" My mom &ound her a &ew hours later in the bedroom"E D0hat did you argue about>E 3 as*ed as Ethan shot me a warning loo*" 3 ignored him" ?enna sighed+ DShe su#*ed at ta*ing messages and someone #alled &or me+ but she #ouldn,t remember who" So+ 3 got mad at her" 3 mean+ i& it was someone really important they would ha%e #alled my #ell+ but still" 0rite it down+ Ganessa"E 3 nodded" Ethan was 9uiet" ?enna loo*ed sad" DSo+ did anything happen be&ore your mom &ound her in the bedroom>E 3 as*ed" ?enna shoo* her head+ D.o" My mom was downstairs ma*ing lasagna and wat#hing TG" She went upstairs to &ind out i& Ganessa wanted some and &ound her dead"E D'nd you were out with &riends>E 3 as*ed again" 0as there anything else ?enna *new that she wasn,t saying> 'ny detail #ould mean something" DCeah" Cou #an #he#* i& you li*e+E ?enna said loo*ing at me+ #hallenging me to as* her &or proo& o& her whereabouts" D.o+ it,s o*ay+E Ethan said &or me" 3 shot him a loo*" 0e might ha%e to #he#* on them+ but &or now 3 de#ided to try a di&&erent ta#ti#" 0e needed to *now about this anyway" D$o you *now i& Ganessa *new a guy named Troy Matthews>E 3 as*ed" ?enna thought &or a moment+ &idgeting uneasily" D0ell+ 3 don,t *now i& it,s the same guy+ but she did date a guy named Troy right a&ter we graduated high s#hool" That was &ore%er ago+ though"E Ethan and 3 e;#hanged a glan#e" 3t was %ery li*ely our Troy *new the latest %i#tim tooA 3t was all be#oming a %ery+ %ery big #oin#iden#e" He had to be the murdererA D're you sure>E 3 had to as* again+ =ust to be positi%e" ?enna loo*ed straight at me with the same intense brown eyes her sister must ha%e shared+ D3 remember her tal*ing about a Troy a lot" 3 met him on#e at a party" He seemed o*ay" But+ 3 #an,t tell you his last name" She dated a lot o& guys" 3 didn,t *eep mu#h tra#* o& her lo%e li&e" 3 ha%e my own to worry about+ you *now"E DBut do you *now what he loo*ed li*e> 'nything>E Ethan as*ed+ wanting to be sure too" D3 mean+ he was a guy" Cute" Blonde hair+ 3 thin*" Maybe light brown> Built" She li*ed the mus#ular guys+E ?enna shrugged" D'nything else>E 3 as*ed" ?enna #ontinued+ DTruth&ully+ i& we #ould help it+ Ganessa and 3 ne%er brought boy&riends home" My mom was ha%ing a lot o& issues+ my dad was going to =ail+ and we *ept &amily and e%erything else %ery+ %ery separate" 'nd+ e%en though Ganessa and 3 were twins+ we were not %ery #lose" 0e,re totally di&&erent" She only mentioned Troy to me a #ouple o& times"E

D'nd you remember his name>E 3 as*ed" This #ould be the *ey to our in%estigationA Troy seemed to be %ery mu#h the #ommon denominator" 3t had to be the same guy" DGanessa was #rying in her room" 3 #ould hear it through my wall" She thought maybe she had &ound someone to &inally be serious about" Turned out he wasn,t serious+E ?enna &rowned and loo*ed at her hands+ whi#h she had #lasped together+ an;iously" D$id he brea* up with her or something>E 3 as*ed+ ta*ing my last bite o& pie" DHe #heated on her with another girl+E ?enna loo*ed really+ really angry &or her sister" 3t was =ust li*e )i-" This guy was a player" He dated a girl+ #heated on her+ and then she died" So+ now we =ust needed to &igure out Troy,s moti%e" ?enna paused &or a moment and then said+ D$o you thin* this guy Troy has something to do with this then>E DCes+E 3 nodded loo*ing at Ethan+ who nodded too" ?enna had settled it &or us" Troy Matthews was our prime suspe#t" DSo+ what are you going to do about it>E ?enna as*ed+ wat#hing us with an intense ga-e" 3 loo*ed at Ethan" He loo*ed ba#* at me" 0e had no idea" The ne;t day at s#hool+ Ethan and 3 planned to meet &or lun#h" 3t was a dateA @*ay+ not really" '&ter tal*ing with ?enna Martin+ Ethan and 3 *new that we had to &ind Troy Matthews" ?enna was not #ompletely #on%in#ed her sister had been murdered and she split pretty 9ui#*ly a&ter we tal*ed about Troy+ but it was all understandable H her sister wasn,t e%en buried yet" 0ith more time+ we *new she,d be on our side" Kegardless+ Ethan and 3 &elt li*e we were de&initely on the right tra#*" 3& we #ould get something+ anything on Troy+ maybe $ete#ti%e $i;on would listen to us" E%en i& he started an in%estigation o& Troy as the head o& some drug ring+ it would at least be a step in the right general dire#tion" Ethan &ound me at lun#h again and sat a#ross &rom me+ DSo+ 3 was loo*ing through my sister,s things last night and 3 thin* 3 &ound something that might help us"E D0hat>E 3 as*ed" Ethan pulled out a sheet o& paper+ DTroy Matthews, #lass s#hedule"E 3 grabbed the s#hedule &rom his hand and loo*ed at it+ DHow did you &ind this>E D3 was loo*ing through her ba#*pa#*" They must,%e e;#hanged s#hedules at some point" Maybe to meet between #lasses or something+E Ethan was loo*ing o%er the top o& the paper" DHow do you &eel about dit#hing s#hool tomorrow>E 3 loo*ed up &rom the s#hedule 3 had =ust been analy-ing" Troy was not the brightest pea#h in the pie+ i& you get my meaning" He had a remedial math #lass+ in addition to a remedial English #lass+ although the rest o& his #lasses seemed normal enough+ i& you #ounted Metal Shop 3 and 'rt 10/+ whi#h rounded out his #lass s#hedule" D0hy would we dit#h>E 3 as*ed" 3t wasn,t that big a deal to me+ a#tually" 3 had dit#hed three times be&ore" Twi#e to go to a#tual &unerals and on#e right a&ter my mom died =ust be#ause 3 &elt li*e spending the whole day reading Harry &otter" 3 #ould ha%e dit#hed the whole wee* and =ust sat and read the entire series+ but 3 didn,t" 3 thought 3 might ha%e gotten #aught i& 3 had done that" D3 want to &ollow Troy+E Ethan was getting his lun#h out o& his #ustomary paper bag" DSee what he,s li*e and ta*e it &rom there"E D're we going to try tal*ing to him>E 3 as*ed+ ta*ing a bite out o& the sli#e o& pi--a 3

had bought &rom the #a&eteria" 3 *new 3 wasn,t eating well lately+ but hey+ 3 hadn,t gained any weight yet" 'nd+ the salads in a high s#hool #a&eteriaL"ew" 't least 3 was eating real pi--a+ 6i--a Hut 6i--a" The s#hool had swit#hed to it last year" Cum" D3s it sa&e to tal* to him> 3 don,t *now+ but 3 do want to see i& we #an &ind out anything" Maybe 3,ll =ust *now+E Ethan shrugged" D3& you don,t want to go with me+ it,s o*ay" 3 =ust wanted to as* you"E D.o+ 3,ll goAE 3 said 9ui#*ly" 3 didn,t want him to thin* 3 wasn,t interested in spending another whole day with him be#ause 3 was" 3 was getting used to ha%ing him around all the time" 3t was li*e it almost wasn,t a no%elty to ha%e Ethan Kipley sitting in the high s#hool #a&eteria ha%ing lun#h with me now" 'lmost+ but not 9uite" Ethan too* the s#hedule ba#* &rom me+ DSo+ it says that Troy has a 10 am #lass < Metal Shop 3" 3t gets out at 12 noon" 0ant to meet at my house at ten thirty and then we #an head o%er to 6alos Community College together>E 3 &elt mysel& nodding and 3 was going to say something+ but 3 &orgot when the worst thing e%er happened" 'riel 0al*er wal*ed into the #a&eteria+ e%en though it wasn,t her lun#h period" 3 saw her wal*ing toward us and &ro-e" Ethan must ha%e thought my e;pression was odd be#ause he turned to loo* too" 3 wish 3 had ta*en the time to noti#e the e;pression on Ethan,s &a#e as his maybe date to Home#oming was stal*ing toward us+ but 3 was too busy staring at her in surprise and wondering what morti&i#ation 3 had in store &or me now" 3t was going to be bad+ i& only be#ause it was going to happen in &ront o& Ethan" The #a&eteria+ whi#h 3 was sure was still gossiping about us anyway+ was going to be in &or a real treat i& 'riel had anything to do with it" 'riel stopped in &ront o& our table" 3 held my breath waiting &or 'riel to ma*e me loo* li*e a &rea* in &ront o& Ethan" 3t &igured that she would do this right at the time when it &elt li*e Ethan was a##epting me and maybe+ thin*ing 3 was an o*ay girl" 3 mean+ maybe 3 hoped &or more than that+ but a wee* ago he *new me as the weird girl+ so it was progress" .ow+ 'riel was going to ruin e%erything &or me again" Ethan loo*ed up at her+ li*e this was no big deal" DHey+ 'riel" 0hat,s up>E 'riel loo*ed down at him+ smiling brightly" 3t was li*e 3 didn,t e%en e;ist" 3 was surprised the insults hadn,t started &lying &rom her mouth yet" D0ell+ do you ha%e a date &or Home#oming yet>E 'riel as*ed in her sweetest %oi#e" 3 hadn,t heard her use that tone o& %oi#e sin#e we were b&&s in =unior high and she was trying to get her mom to let her go with my &amily to 0is#onsin $ells &or the wee*end+ e%en though she was getting a $ in math and was grounded" 3t wor*ed then too" She had the %oi#e down" 0ait a minute" 0ait =ust one minute" 'riel told me that she and Ethan were already going to the Home#oming $an#e together+ so what was she doing> She had suggested that he had already as*ed her" D.o+ not yet+E Ethan said" 3 loo*ed at him" Ethan Kipley didn,t ha%e a date &or Home#oming" 3 was in#redulous" 3t was less than two wee*s away and he was the most popular guy in s#hool" How #ould he not ha%e a Home#oming date yet> 3 mean+ unless he hadn,t as*ed anyone" Had 'riel lied to me> 0hy> D0ould you want to go to the dan#e with me>E 'riel sang it+ li*e she was really The Little Mermaid"

3 wanted to put my hands o%er my ears so 3 #ould blo#* out the sound o& Ethan,s ob%ious answer" 3nstead+ 3 =ust waited to hear Ethan agree" 3 #ouldn,t gi%e 'riel the satis&a#tion" She would already en=oy this whole s#enario &ar too mu#h without me rea#ting negati%ely to it" Ethan was silent &or a moment" D'#tually+ 'riel+ 3 #an,t go with you"E $id 3 hear that #orre#tly> $id Ethan =ust turn 'riel down+ e%en though she was using her do my bidding %oi#e and e%erything> D0hy not>E 'riel whined" Ethan shoo* his head+ D3 =ust #an,t"E 'nd+ with that 'riel stormed out o& the #a&eteria+ lea%ing Ethan staring a&ter her and me staring open mouthed at Ethan" 0hy #ouldn,t he go with her to the dan#e> 3 mean+ she was pretty and popular and totally going along with the whole popularity tra#* he was on" D0hy #ouldn,t you go with 'riel>E 3 as*ed be&ore 3 #ould thin* about it" Ethan turned ba#* to &a#e me and shrugged+ DMy mind is on other things besides dan#es right now" 'nd+ anyway+ 3 =ust didn,t want to+ but 3 didn,t want to hurt her &eelings either"E @*ay+ 3 thought" Boys are dumb be#ause Ethan totally hurt 'riel,s &eelings" Espe#ially the part where he said no to her in &ront o& me+ whi#h 3 *new had to be the ultimate in humiliation &or her" D@h+E 3 said+ li*e it was no big deal+ when inside 3 was doing #artwheels" 'riel had =ust tried to humiliate me and it had totally ba#*&ired on her" 3t was awesome" My brain was spinning and already two steps ahead o& me" 3& Ethan didn,t want to go to Home#oming with 'riel+ who did he want to go with> $id 3 ha%e an in*ling o& a #han#e> 3,d be o*ay with going as &riends+ e%en" 3t was a good dayA

Chapter 14: ,it&hing
3 thought about pressing Ethan &or more Home#oming details when 3 met him at his house at ten<thirty the ne;t morning+ but 3 totally &orgot when 3 saw that he was #arrying his guitar to the #ar" DCou,re bringing your guitar>E 3 as*ed hope&ully" D3 thought 3,d mess with a tune+ while we waited" 3 hope you brought a boo* or something+E Ethan as*ed as he pla#ed his guitar deli#ately in the ba#* seat" 3 slid into the passenger side+ as Ethan got into the #ar and started it" 3 was e;#ited" 0e were on a sta*e out" 3t hadn,t e%en been hard to dit#h this morning" 3 &a*ed si#*+ my dad bought it+ #alled into s#hool &or me+ and went to wor*" 3t was a #a*e wal* so &ar" DKeady &or today>E 3 as*ed as Ethan pulled away &rom the #urb" 0e were only minutes away &rom )aurel Community College" DMost de&initely+E Ethan said" 0e got there with o%er an hour to spare be&ore Troy,s Metal Shop 3 #lass let out" 0e too* the time to get the lay o& the land" )aurel Community College wasn,t a big #ampus+ but it was big enough that i& you didn,t *now where you were going you #ould get lost"

0e &ound Troy,s Metal Shop 3 building &irst" 0e were in lu#*" 3t opened up into a #ourtyard and there was an empty pi#ni# table where we #ould hang out and wait &or the #lass to let out" Sin#e we had a lot o& e;tra time+ we also too* a wal* to the 'rt 10/ #lass Troy had a&ter Metal Shop 3" This was =ust in #ase we somehow missed seeing him" Ethan was #on%in#ed that he,d *now i& Troy had *illed his sister in a glan#e" 3 didn,t thin* so" E%en i& he did+ it wasn,t e;a#tly proo&" Truth&ully+ either Ethan would be biased and ma*e a snap =udgment about Troy,s guilt or he simply would &eel torn and not *now" 3 didn,t thin* Troy was going to get away with Ethan &eeling nothing" Ethan &elt too mu#h about his sister to let a guy who loo*ed pretty suspi#ious go" 'nd+ although 3 thought Troy better ha%e a great alibi &or where he was the nights those girls, o%erdosed+ 3 wasn,t ready to #on%i#t him yet" He #ould =ust be a total player" There are guys who *now all the girls be#ause they =ust want to date them" 3 wanted to tal* to Troy &irst" Ethan seemed adamant against me tal*ing to him+ though" He didn,t want to go near the guy #laiming the e;#use H i& he,s already *illed &our people+ do we really want to be ne;t> Ethan and 3 spent the hour mostly not spea*ing+ waiting" 3 was trying to read my #opy o& 'nne o( Green Ga$le"" 3 was going to bring )clip"e+ the third Twilight boo*+ but it was =ust too big" 3 settled &or the ad%entures o& 'nne Shirley instead" 3t was li*e #om&ort &ood+ but in reading" Ethan was strumming on his guitar while 3 tried to &o#us on my boo*" Se#retly+ 3 was listening to the tune he seemed to be trying to per&e#t" 3 thought it sounded pretty #at#hy" He might want to #onsider pursuing musi#+ e%entually" He de&initely had ro#* star good loo*s going &or him+ in addition to the #at#hy tune" 3 was starting to hum along with the tune Ethan was strumming when 3 noti#ed people streaming out o& the Metal Shop 3 #lass" They were ten minutes early" DEthan+E 3 hissed and he loo*ed up+ setting his guitar down ne;t to him" 0e both s#anned the students lea%ing Metal Shop 3 and suddenly there he was+ Troy Matthews+ in the &lesh" Troy was pretty good loo*ing+ a#tually" 3 was slightly dis#on#erted to &ind that 3 was thin*ing that about a murder suspe#t" His hair was blonde and longish+ almost shaggy loo*ing+ and he had a golden+ &ading summer tan" He loo*ed li*e a sur&er+ e;#ept we weren,t in Cali&ornia" Troy de&initely wor*ed out too+ you #ould tell e%en though his &orearms were #o%ered by the hoodie he was wearing" He was probably nineteen or twenty+ i& 3 had to guess" 'nd+ a totally hottie" 3 *now 3 #ouldn,t tell i& he was inno#ent or guilty =ust by loo*ing at him" He did not ha%e a #reepy %ibe+ as &ar as 3 #ould tell" That was something going &or him" 3 glan#ed at Ethan+ who loo*ed li*e he was &o#using all his energy on dis#erning i& Troy had *illed his sister" 3t was an intense glare too" 3 *new Ethan had &orgotten all about me" 3 was glad" 3 had already de#ided what 3 was going to do and 3 *new Ethan wouldn,t li*e it" So be&ore Ethan #ould stop me+ 3 &lung mysel& &ull &or#e in Troy,s dire#tion" 3 ran at Troy and by the time Ethan noti#ed what 3 was doing+ it was too late to stop me be#ause 3 was busy smashing mysel& with &ull &or#e into Troy Matthews" 'ma-ingly+ 3 was the one who &ell to the ground" Troy Matthews was built li*e a lineba#*er" 3 wondered i& he &elt the impa#t at all" 3 *new 3 was going to ha%e a #ouple o& ni#e and large bla#* and blue bruises in multiple pla#es" 3 &elt da-ed" D're you o*ay>E Troy was staring down at me with #on#ern"

3t too* me a se#ond to reali-e that he was tal*ing to me" Troy rea#hed down to help me up and it was totally real when 3 pra#ti#ally &ell into his arms" That impa#t+ e%en though 3,d planned &or it+ had *no#*ed the wind out o& me" D3,m &ine+E 3 said breathlessly+ a moment later+ pulling out o& his arms" D?ust #at#hing my breath"E 3 smiled up at Troy and too* a moment to glan#e at Ethan+ who was &ro-en to the spot+ but loo*ed absolutely li%id" 3 was going to ha%e to deal with that later" 3 &o#used ba#* on Troy" D0here are you going in su#h a hurry>E Troy pi#*ed up my purse &rom the ground and handed it to me" 3 wanted him to *eep tal*ing to me and 3 had to thin* &ast+ D'rt 101"E Troy loo*ed interested+ DKeally> 3,m going to 10/" 0ho,s your tea#her>E 3 had painted mysel& into a #orner" 3 didn,t *now any tea#hers, names+ D3t,s a guy" Fh" 3,m bad at names"E D6lumber> :elson> 'bbott>E Troy seemed to *now all the art tea#hers, names" 3 didn,t want him to #at#h me in a lie+ so it was time to #hange the sub=e#t+ D0anna wal* together>E Troy smiled+ DSure"E 3 wondered i& Ethan would &ollow us+ but 3 didn,t loo* ba#* be#ause 3 was &o#using all o& my attention on Troy+ DHow is 10/>E Troy thought &or a moment+ D3 li*e it" 3t,s s#ulpture+ so 3 de&initely li*e it better than 101" 101 was too general" ' lot o& drawing and painting+ whi#h is &ine+ but 3,m de&initely more into s#ulpting and ma*ing stu&&" 3,m a#tually getting really into Steampun* art"E D0hat,s that>E 3 interrupted him" D3,d ha%e to show you &or you to really get it+ but to ma*e it simple+ they #ombine a lot o& modern things li*e a #omputer+ &or e;ample with brass and wood and ma*e it art" They ma*e it loo* all twenties era and li*e it runs on steam" 3t,s really #ool+E Troy sounded passionate about it" DThat sounds neat+E 3 said and 3 meant it" D3t,s really &un" 3,m wor*ing on an art pro=e#t with an old #omputer" 3 want to add a wooden &aQade and maybe some brass ornamentation" Maybe wor* an old #lo#* into it" 3t,s going to loo* really great when 3,m done" Ketro+ but modern"E 's Troy went on about Steampun* art+ 3 &elt li*e 3 was getting a Cli&& .otes, %ersion o& insight about Troy,s personality" 3 had the distin#t impression that Troy was an artist at heart and #onse9uently thought that he was probably in remedial #lasses &or all the regular sub=e#ts simply be#ause he didn,t share the passion &or them+ that he did &or his art" He didn,t seem li*e a meathead at all &or sure+ despite the bi#eps" 3 was also &inding that 3 li*ed Troy" His passion &or art was #at#hy" 0as that dangerous> Troy had #ontinued on+ D'nd+ 3 want to try my hand at that+ so 3,m hoping s#ulpture and things li*e Metal Shop will help me" 3 want to learn the me#hani#s o& things+ so 3 #an ma*e regular ob=e#ts into art" 're you =ust ta*ing the intro #ourse or are you an artist too>E 3t was a toss up here+ should 3 lie or tell the truth> The more lies you told+ the harder it was to *eep it up+ and 3 *new absolutely nothing about art" 3 hadn,t e%en been to an art museum sin#e grade s#hool+ D?ust 101" Cou ma*e it sound so neat+ though" 3t would be #ool to see the wor* you,%e already done"E

'nd+ 3 really meant that+ murderer or not" 3 was hoping it was the not+ though" 0e were almost at his #lassroom+ when Troy slowed down" DThan*s" Hey+ my #lass starts in a &ew minutes+ but would you want to maybe hang out a&ter> 3,m Troy+ by the way"E 3 pani#*ed" 0as Troy as*ing me out> .o guy had e%er as*ed me out" 3 hadn,t e;pe#ted Troy to as* me out" 3 had only wanted to get a sense o& him+ who he was" 3s this how you did get a guy to as* you out> By not wanting him to> How did that wor*> DSo>E Troy as*ed as my silen#e stret#hed on eternally" DFhLE My tongue was tied" 0hat did one say in this situation> Troy started ba#*tra#*ing+ D3t,s #ool i& you #an,t" 3 =ust thoughtLE DHow about tonight> 'nd+ my name,s :ait+E 3 said be&ore Troy reneged on the in%itation" 0ords had managed to &orm in my brain again+ although 3 #ouldn,t belie%e 3 had =ust made a date with a guy+ e%en i& he might be a murderer" D:ait+E Troy repeated my name+ D$o you ha%e a phone number so 3 #an #all you>E Fi&teen minutes later+ a&ter hiding in the 'rt building,s bathroom until 3 *new that Troy,s #lass had begun+ 3 started wal*ing ba#* to Ethan,s #ar" 3 had a date with TroyA 0as it s#ary that my &irst date e%er might be with a serial *iller> 3 didn,t thin* he was our serial *iller anymore+ a#tually+ but there still had to be some #onne#tion between him and the dead girls+ sin#e he *new them all" .ot that 3 #ould really be a hundred per#ent sure about my gut instin#t+ o& #ourse" 3 thought about our date" 3 should de&initely ma*e sure that we met at a %ery publi# pla#e =ust in #ase and that he didn,t &ollow me home or anything" 0ow+ it was #ra-y" 3 had an a#tual dateA 3 #ouldn,t belie%e Troy had wanted to as* me outA 3 had tried to loo* *ind o& #ute today &or Ethan+ but maybe it had wor*ed on Troy instead" 3 was happy to see that Ethan was waiting &or me by his #ar+ until he saw me" 's+ 3 wal*ed the last &ew steps toward him+ Ethan ran toward me+ grabbing my arms+ and staring down into my &a#e with wild eyes+ D're you #ra-y>A>A 3,%e been out here trying not to #all the poli#e" 0here ha%e you been>E 'nd then the most ama-ing thing happened" Ethan hugged me" 3t was a real hug too" 3 #ould smell the #ologne he had on" 3t smelled almost sweet and the butter&lies in my stoma#h were going #ra-y as he #lut#hed me to him+ stro*ing my hair" 3 &elt mysel& melt into him" 3 #ould stay in this par*ing lot &ore%er in Ethan,s arms" 3 wrapped my arms around him and hugged him ba#*" He held me #loser" His hands were stro*ing my hair" My &a#e was pressed into his #hest and all 3 #ould breathe in was his #ologne+ a s#ent that 3 would now always asso#iate with Ethan Kipley and this hug" This was better than any peanut butter mil*sha*e 0ired #ould e%er ma*e me" 3t was hea%en on earth wrapped in an ama-ing sweet smelling guy" My heart was on air" That was the only way 3 #ould e;plain this &eeling" 3t was the best day e%er times ten" 3 was in bliss &or probably only about thirty se#onds be&ore Ethan let me go and the yelling started" Ethan didn,t e%en gi%e me a #han#e to tell him the good news about my date with Troy be&ore he started in on me" 3 must ha%e really worried him" D3 thought we had de#ided that we weren,t going to tal* to himA 0hat did you thin* you were doing> 0hat i& something happenedAE Ethan was wa%ing his hands and e%erything" 3 got in the #ar #almly and Ethan &ollowed+ li*e 3 hoped he would" 3 didn,t want to #ause a s#ene+ D.othing happened" 3t,s #ompletely &ine"E

DThan* (od+E Ethan ra*ed a hand through his hair Isil*y hairLJ and turned to &a#e me" D$on,t e%er do that again"E D@*ay+E 3 nodded+ hoping 3 #ould *eep my promise" D@*ay+E he said and started the #ar" 0e were silent as Ethan pulled out o& the par*ing spot" 3 *new 3 had to tell him+ so 3 =ust said it+ DTroy as*ed me out and 3 said yes"E Ethan slammed on the brea*s+ s#ree#hing the #ar to a halt"

Chapter 15: ,ouble ,ating
3t too* a lot o& #on%in#ing &or Ethan to let me go on the date" 3 *now it,s not li*e he was =ealous or anything+ but it was *ind o& ni#e to see Ethan all #on#erned about me going out with Troy" 3 tried to tell Ethan about how 3 didn,t thin* Troy #ould possibly be the *iller+ but he didn,t #are" He said that e%ery girl that Troy *new seemed to end up dead" 3 #ouldn,t argue with that+ but 3 did remind Ethan that this #ould be an e;#ellent way to get some dirt out o& Troy" He &inally agreed+ i& he #ould #ome with" 3 argued with Ethan+ but he wouldn,t relent+ whi#h is how 3 ended up agreeing to go on a double date with me and Troy and Ethan andL Ethan #alled ?enna Martin+ &irst+ to see i& she wanted to #ome as his date" He had this idea about sho#*ing Troy into #on&essing+ with Ganessa Martin,s loo* ali*e" E%en i& Troy *new about the twin sister thing+ it would still be a sho#* to see a dead girl,s loo* ali*e sitting a#ross &rom you on a double date" 'nd+ although 3 #ould see Ethan,s reasoning and 3 *new his #alling ?enna was &or a good #ause+ 3 tried not to &eel =ealous or anything as 3 listened in on his side o& the #on%ersation" Ethan e;plained the details to her and what we suspe#ted o& Troy Matthews+ but ?enna turned Ethan down" ?enna said it was =ust too soon &or her and i& Troy was the *illerLshe =ust #ouldn,t do it" She,d =ump out o& her s*in getting anywhere near him" 3 #ould see her point" Ethan wanted to #all it o&& again a&ter tal*ing to ?enna+ but 3 wouldn,t let him" 3 still thought 3 #ould get something out o& Troy by simply tal*ing to him a little more" Ethan thought 3 was nuts+ but &inally agreed to humor me" 0e threw around alternati%e ideas &or last minute dates+ but Ethan seemed set on one in parti#ular" 3t was the worst one possible+ in my opinion" He was =ust positi%e she would say yes" 3 didn,t see how she #ould say no either+ but 3 still didn,t want Ethan as*ing her" So+ 3 begged" 'nd+ 3 pleaded with Ethan about his ne;t #hoi#e+ but he wouldn,t listen+ whi#h is how 3 ended up going on a double date with me and Troy and Ethan and 'riel" Can you belie%e it> My &irst real date e%er and 3 was going with a potential serial *iller+ my e; best &riend!ar#h enemy+ and the hottest guy in s#hool that 3 *ind o& had a #rush on+ e;#ept he wasn,t going with me" The potential serial *iller who as*ed me out was pretty #ute too+ though+ and besides+ 3 didn,t thin* he had anything to do with the murders+ e;#ept &or the &a#t that &or some reason he *new most o& the %i#tims" So+ maybe it would all wor* out in the end" 3 hoped" 3 did &eel a little bit better when 3 heard Ethan tell 'riel that he e;pe#ted her to be

ni#e to me" 3 #ould hear whines #oming &rom her end o& the line+ but she must ha%e been so e;#ited about getting to gloat at being Ethan,s date+ that she agreed anyway" 6lus+ she was probably hoping that he,d #hange his mind and a##ept her Home#oming in%itation" 'riel,s status as a popular #ool girl would go up a #ouple points i& he did" She #ouldn,t not a##ept" How in the world had Ethan e;plained being on double date terms to 'riel> He #laimed that 3 was good &riends with )i-" 'riel wouldn,t *now he was lying" She didn,t *now any o& my &riends anymore or that 3 didn,t a#tually really ha%e any" Ethan told her that 3 was also a %olunteer at the animal shelter and that he had been helping me get through )i-,s loss" That was possible+ i& 'riel really thought about it" She *new 3 really li*ed #ats+ at least" Ethan then went on to e;plain that this double date was a set up to help #heer me up" 3t was almost laughable+ li*e 'riel 0al*er would e%er want to #heer me up" She had her #han#e when my mom was si#* and instead she dit#hed me and sin#e then all she,d e%er done was ma*e &un o& me and spread mali#ious gossip" 3,d belie%e she #ared when pigs really did &ly" Ethan e%en #on%in#ed 'riel to lie about the whole #ollege #lass thing+ so Troy wouldn,t *now 3 was lying about being in #ollege" 3 guess mira#les #ould happen or 'riel was =ust really+ really+ really out to impress Ethan" My bet was on the latter" 3 went home and massa#red my #loset loo*ing &or something to wear &or my &irst date e%er and with a #ollege guyA My #at S#arlett was en=oying it+ though" She was busy =umping into piles o& #lothes+ as 3 tossed them aside" 3,m glad she was ha%ing &un+ but 3 was in a pani#" Troy was de&initely #ute and i& he didn,t turn out to be a murder suspe#t maybe 3 #ould e;plain things and ma*e romanti# things wor* between us anyway+ sin#e Ethan still seemed to be obli%ious to thin*ing about me in any sort o& romanti# terms" 3 &inally settled on a dress that 3 had ne%er worn" My aunt had gotten it &or me &or Christmas the year be&ore+ when she too* me on a shopping trip" $espite my protests that it was too low #ut and 3 *new my boobs would &all out o& it so 3,d ne%er wear it+ she insisted that someday 3 might want to wear something se;y and that sin#e 3 didn,t ha%e my mom to buy it &or me+ she was going to" Then she told me 3 should de&initely hide it &rom my dad" 3 had done =ust that" 3t was per&e#t &or a date" 3t was a dar* blue dress that #lung to me per&e#tly and showed plenty o& s*in" Hey+ 3 *now what guys want" 3 may not normally wear those things+ but belie%e me 3 *now" Besides+ e%en though 3 was wearing a #lingy dress+ that didn,t mean 3 would a#tually gi%e it to him+ not on the &irst date anyway" The dress a#tually made the strawberry blonde in my hair loo* ni#e too" 3 hoped Troy appro%ed o& the #lea%age 3 was sporting" Maybe as a plus+ Ethan would noti#e too" My other out&its had been way more #onser%ati%e than this" Maybe he needed a =ump<start to really see me now that he at least thought 3 was *ind o& normal" Be#ause we didn,t want Troy to *now where 3 li%ed+ we were all meeting at the date lo#ation H a hamburger =oint that was *nown &or its build your own hamburger menu #alled The Burger" They really did ha%e the best burgers" The Burger was always e;tremely busy+ so it wasn,t li*e there was any way that Troy was going to ha%e a #han#e to get me #ompletely alone and sti#* a heroin needle in my arm" Ethan wasn,t ta*ing any #han#es+ though+ and told me that he would be pi#*ing me upL&or my double date with Troy" His date+ 'riel+ was meeting us there too" 3 *new she,d totally hate that" 'riel was a pi#* me up at my house and open the door &or me *ind

o& girl" 3t would probably be a good idea &or the guy to ha%e &lowers too i& he wanted anything to happen" 3& this wasn,t the weirdest double date e%er already+ maybe 3 would ha%e said something to Ethan about that" .ot that 3 wanted to do any &a%ors &or 'riel where Ethan was #on#erned or anything" Ethan *no#*ed on my door promptly at se%en o,#lo#*" )u#*ily+ my dad had gone o%er to his &riend,s to wat#h a bas*etball game" 3 was sa%ed &rom any *ind o& e;plaining about Ethan and the dress" My dad might a#tually ha%e made me #hange" 3 opened the door and was pleasantly surprised to see Ethan do a double ta*e" 3 *new 3 loo*ed se;yA 3nstead Ethan said+ DMaybe you should #hange"E D0hy> 0hat,s wrong with this dress>E 3 demanded" 3 had loo*ed repeatedly in the mirror &or the last twenty minutes and e%en 3 had to admit+ 3 loo*ed pretty damn good in this dress" 3 didn,t loo* &at at all and who *new my boobs loo*ed this good> .ot me and now e%eryone+ in#luding Troy and Ethan would" The dress &it me per&e#tly" 3 had to admit+ my aunt had good taste" 0e,d ha%e to go shopping again this Christmas in #ase 3 e%er got as*ed out on another date" D3 mean+ you don,t want to gi%e him the impression that you a#tually li*e him+ do you>E Ethan %olunteered+ not able to tear his eyes away &rom me" D3sn,t that the point o& a date> To ma*e your date thin* you li*e him>E 3 as*ed+ and then as an a&terthought added+ DMaybe that,s why you don,t ha%e a Home#oming date" Cou,re #lueless"E 3 *new it was a petty thing to say+ but 3 was hoping &or a rea#tion and 3 got one+ but not 9uite the one 3 was e;pe#ting" Ethan raised his eyebrows+ D'riel already as*ed me+ in &ront o& you i& 3 remember right" 'nd+ 3 #ould ha%e my pi#* o& any girl" 3 =ust ha%en,t as*ed her yet"E D0ow+E 3 responded with sar#asm" He #ould be so arrogantA 0ell+ maybe Troy would ta*e me to Home#oming+ on#e 3 #leared him o& all murder suspi#ion and admitted to him that 3 was still in high s#hool" 3 mean+ it,s not li*e nineteen and si;teen Ialmost 15AJ weren,t #lose in age and all" D3,m wearing this dress" 3t,s per&e#t+E 3 demanded and to pro%e my point+ wal*ed out o& my house+ shutting the door behind me+ and wal*ed to his #ar" 3& he had been about to open it &or me+ li*e a real gentleman would+ 3 didn,t wait" 3 got into the passenger side and sat down+ &eeling hu&&y" 0ho *new Ethan was a prude in disguise> 3 didn,t #are i& he didn,t li*e my dress" 3 *new that Troy would" Ethan got into the dri%er,s seat and loo*ed at me one more time and said so&tly+ DCou *now+ you do loo* pretty"E 'nd+ then he started the #ar and blared the musi#+ so 3 spent the rest o& the dri%e trying to &igure out i& he meant that as =ust an apology or i& he really thought 3 a#tually loo*ed pretty" (uys were so #on&using" The Burger was pa#*ed when we arri%ed+ e%en though it was a 0ednesday night" 6eople lo%ed this pla#e" Maybe it was the weird burger #ombinations you #ould ma*e H hamburger with pineapple and goat #heese+ anyone> 3& you wanted+ you #ould ha%e that" 3 was a little more traditional H hamburger with swiss #heese and a%o#ado" Mmmm+ a%o#ado" Sometimes+ 3 e%en added mushrooms" Ethan and 3 were early+ so we got a booth and sat down+ waiting &or 'riel and Troy to arri%e" There was still a sort o& weird tension between Ethan and me+ so 3 spent the

time staring at my menu li*e 3 wasn,t sure what 3 was going to order" 3 did get absorbed by loo*ing at the di&&erent mil*sha*es+ though+ so 3 didn,t see Troy wal* in the door until he was almost at our table" DHey+ :ait+E Troy said+ sliding into the booth ne;t to me" He loo*ed at me+ appraisingly" DCou loo* awesomeAE DThan*s+E 3 said+ smiling ba#* at Troy+ but not be&ore 3 saw Ethan s#owl" D@h+ and this is Ethan"E Ethan,s s#owl had disappeared and he had on a smile instead as Troy turned to loo* at him+ DHey+ man"E They shoo* hands" Ethan was a good a#tor" Cou,d ne%er *now that he was really thin*ing that Troy might be a serial murderer" 6oor 'riel" .ow that 3 thought o& it+ she really didn,t *now what she was wal*ing into" 3 almost &elt sorry &or her" DEthanAE 3 heard her s9ueal a moment later+ as she wal*ed toward our table" Troy was studying the menu+ but loo*ed up to study 'riel as she wal*ed up" He was totally #he#*ing her out+ e%en though he was on a date with me" Stri*e one against him+ but e%en 3 had to admit that 'riel loo*ed ama-ing" 3 was a wilted &lower #ompared to her tonight+ and 3 had thought 3 loo*ed pretty good" 'riel had #urled her hair+ but she had the 3<always<loo*<this<good<e&&ortlessly thing going on" 3 wish 3 #ould loo* good e&&ortlessly" 3 had spent o%er two hours getting ready &or this date" 3 didn,t see Ethan,s immediate rea#tion to 'riel+ but he seemed preo##upied as she slid into the booth ne;t to him+ and 3 mean right ne;t to him+ sin#e he only said+ D@h+ hey+ 'riel"E 0e did the introdu#tions all o%er again and then it was an aw*ward silen#e as we loo*ed at the menus" 't this point+ 3 &elt li*e 3 had the thing memori-ed" 3 had de#ided on trying their peanut butter banana mil*sha*e+ in addition to the burger" 3 wanted to see how it would #ompare to 0ired,s" 3t #ouldn,t be as good+ but hey+ 3 wanted to e;periment" )et 'riel order a $iet Co*e and a salad with nothing on it" 3 was a real girl" The waiter #ame by and we all ordered+ 'riel shooting a smir* at me when she heard my totally unhealthy order" 0hate%er" Ethan and Troy ordered burgers and sha*es too+ so 'riel was the weirdo with her salad+ dressing on the side" DSo+ Steampun* art is what e;a#tly>E Ethan was as*ing Troy+ while 'riel was busy trying to seem interested" D3 was trying to e;plain it to :ait" 3ts ba#*ground is really s#ien#e &i#tion and &antasy" 3t,s got a Gi#torian &eel to it+ but with modern ob=e#ts" Has anyone here seen Hayao Miya-a*i,s mo%ie+ #a"tle in the S,y or the anime Steam$oy@B Troy as*ed" D3,%e seen both+E 3 said+ trying to remember more than =ust the stories &rom those mo%ies" 0or*ing in a %ideo store had its per*s sometimes" DMe too+E Ethan added" 'riel =ust nodded" Ethan #ontinued+ playing up his interest to *eep Troy tal*ing+ DSo+ you a#tually ma*e things loo* li*e they do in those mo%ies> That,s pretty #ool" 3,m a huge &an o& s#i<&i"E 'riel was unusually silent" She ob%iously *new nothing about anime or s#ien#e &i#tion" '#tually+ it loo*ed li*e Ethan had more in #ommon with Troy than either me or 'riel" Too bad there was no way that they were a#tually going to be &riends" The burgers and sha*es #ame Iwith a salad and diet Co*e &or 'rielJ and Ethan and Troy had monopoli-ed the #on%ersation mo%ing on &rom Steampun* art to tal*ing about

Cyberpun* no%els li*e Snowcra"h by .eal Stephenson" They both wished that someone would ma*e it into a mo%ie" 'lthough it was great that Ethan was getting a #han#e to get to *now Troy and see how he #ouldn,t possibly be a psy#hopathi# *iller Iunless he was really+ really good at hiding it+ being that he didn,t gi%e o&& a #reepy %ibe at allJ+ 3 hadn,t had any sort o& #han#e to try and tal* to Troy about the dead girls" .ot that 3 *new how 3 was going to bring the sub=e#t up or anything" 3 mean+ 3 #ouldn,t =ust interrupt Troy and Ethan,s #on%ersation and go+ DE;#use me+ but Troy+ what do you *now about &our girls o%erdosing on heroin>E That would =ust be a party *iller" 3 thin* 'riel and 3 were getting e9ually bored" 3t wasn,t li*e we were going to tal* to ea#h other+ so we were stu#* listening to the s#ien#e &i#tion #hat that the guys were ha%ing" 'riel had spent a little o& this time trying to get a little #loser to Ethan than 3 li*ed" She put her hand on his arm and a moment later+ he #asually brushed it o&&+ while ma*ing a point to Troy" She put her hand on his leg+ at least 3 hoped it was his leg+ but he mo%ed o%er" The girl was trying" 3,ll gi%e her that" Than* goodness+ Ethan wasn,t ha%ing any o& it" 3 mean+ 3 *now 3 was on the date with Troy and all+ but 3 didn,t want or need to see 'riel hanging all o%er Ethan" 0hat Ethan did on his own time was &ine+ but 3 didn,t want to *now" 3 needed a brea* &rom the #yber!s#i<&i tal*+ so 3 interrupted a dis#ussion o& the mo%ie 4laderunner+ DHey+ Troy+ #an 3 get out>E Troy loo*ed at me li*e he was =ust remembering 3 was there < so mu#h &or the lasting e&&e#ts o& my dress" 3 heard the #on%ersation resume as 3 wal*ed to the restroom" ' &ew minutes later+ 3 was washing my hands and debating how to get Troy to mysel&" 3 needed him alone i& 3 was going to interrogate him" 3 *new Ethan wasn,t going to go &or it+ but 3 had an idea" There was a small ar#ade at the ba#* o& The Burger+ =ust past the restrooms" .ormally+ 3 ignored it" 3 went there &or the &ood and 3 hadn,t played %ideo games sin#e grade s#hool" 3 will admit to ha%ing been pretty great at them ba#* then" Kight now+ though+ 3 =ust needed a &ew minutes alone with Troy and the ar#ade might be a great distra#tion+ away &rom e%eryone" 'nd+ then 'riel wal*ed into the restroom and bro*e o&& my planning+ D're you as bored as 3 am> Those guys should be on a date together"E 'riel headed straight &or the sin* ne;t to me and started re<applying her ma*e<up" First powder was applied+ then eyeshadow+ and eyeliner" 3 guess it wasn,t as e&&ortless as she made it loo*" 3 was going to regret what 3 was going to say ne;t later+ but it had to be done+ DHey+ 'riel+ how would you li*e to help me get a &ew moments alone with Troy>E 3t too* 'riel a se#ond to &igure out that also meant that she would get a &ew moments alone with Ethan" She turned to me with the most real smile 3 had seen on her &a#e sin#e we had been &riends" 3 almost &elt a pang o& sadness at not being &riends anymore" 'lmost" D0hat do you ha%e in mind>E She as*ed+ hal&way done with applying #herry lip< gloss" 3 #aught mysel& hoping that Ethan wouldn,t be tasting that lip<gloss when 'riel had him to hersel&" 3 pushed that thought away" 3 was doing this in the name o& the in%estigation" 3t was &or )i- and all o& the dead girls" 3 was trying to let the world *now what really happened to them" That was more important than any =ealous &eelings 3 was

ha%ing" Still+ #ould 3 help it i& 3 wished that 3 #ould be the one distra#ting Ethan by ma*ing out with him with #herry lip<gloss>

Chapter 1 : .issing
'riel and 3 wal*ed ba#* out into the restaurant together+ #loser than we had been in a long time" 0e had a shared purpose H to get ea#h o& our guys alone" 'nd+ o*ay+ her purpose was probably more &un+ wanting to ma*e out with Ethan+ while mine was =ust to in%estigate a murder" Still+ it had to be done" 'riel made it to the booth &irst+ li*e we had planned" She pushed hersel& right up on Ethan+ surprising him midway through a senten#e about Star War"" 3 tried not to gag at 'riel,s o%ert #oming onto Ethan+ as 3 grabbed Troy,s hand and pulled him out o& the booth and said as sedu#ti%ely as 3 #ould manage+ DCome with me"E 3 de&initely got his attention" Troy was up and ne;t to me+ as 9ui#*ly as 3 was able to pull him away &rom our table and Ethan and 'riel" 's 3 led Troy away+ 3 #ould see 'riel ma*e her mo%e" Her mouth was heading straight &or his" 3 #ouldn,t wat#h" Still+ on the upside+ Ethan was too busy dealing with that+ to noti#e that Troy and 3 were gone" Things were all going a##ording to plan" The ar#ade was an old s#hool %ideo ar#ade with only 1870s %ideo games li*e 6a# Man+ Ms" 6a# Man+ $on*ey :ong+ Spa#e 3n%aders+ (alaga+ and ?oust" There was usually nobody in it+ =ust be#ause they were so old s#hool" Besides+ it was getting to be well a&ter eight o,#lo#* on a s#hool night and all the little *ids were at home in bed" So+ Troy and 3 had the small ar#ade to oursel%es &or the moment" 3 hoped 'riel would be able to *eep Ethan busy enough IgagJ+ so that 3 #ould ha%e a moment with Troy be&ore Ethan ra#ed to &ind me" That is+ unless Ethan was en=oying whate%er 'riel was doing" 3 didn,t want to thin* about that" 3 had to &o#us" D0hat game do you want to play>E Troy was obli%ious and a#tually loo*ing around at the %ideo games" D3 a#tually =ust wanted to get you alone+E 3 said+ in a %oi#e that 3 hoped sounded sort o& sedu#ti%e" 3,%e ne%er really done the whole sedu#ing thing+ but 3 had seen enough mo%ies to *now what it sounded li*e" Troy de&initely got it be#ause he grinned and mo%ed a step toward me" 3t surprised me that it a#tually wor*ed" 3 unwittingly too* a step ba#* and my butt hit the ba#* o& Ms" 6a# Man" Hey+ in the ba#* o& my mind+ 3 was still a little worried he was a serial *iller" He wasn,t in the #lear yet" 0ell+ i& Troy was going to ma*e a mo%e on me+ 3 guess 3 was going to ha%e to go with it" He was no Ethan+ but he was pretty #ute" 'nd+ it was all in the name o& the in%estigationA DCou wanted to get me alone+ huh>E Troy said and mo%ed a step #loser+ getting into the game+ his hands resting on the game #onsole on either side o& my body" 3 had to hurry up and say something or 3 was going to get *issed" .ot that 3 would mind" 3 mean+ he was e%en se;ier up #lose and he had this great #ologne on+ a#tually 3 thin* it was the same one Ethan wore" 3t a#tually made Troy more attra#ti%e" My stoma#h

started doing ner%ous &lips" DHow did you *now @li%ia Keynolds>E 3 blurted it out" Troy stopped mid<lean+ DHuh>E DHow did you *now @li%ia Keynolds>E 3 as*ed again" D0hat does @li%iaL 0hat>E Troy was #on&used" 3 had to thin* &ast+ D3 noti#ed you were &riends with her and some o& the girls who @$ed on Fa#eboo* andL Troy &rowned+ D3t &rea*ed you out> 0ell+ yeah+ me too" But didn,t e%erybody *now them>E He dismissed it" 0hat should 3 do> 3 nodded+ thin*ing+ and Troy too* that as an in%itation to lean #loser+ saying+ D)et,s not tal* about it+ then" )et,sLE 'nd+ Troy was suddenly an in#h &rom my lips" 3 mo%ed my head slightly+ DBut+ 3,d &eel better *nowing how you *new them"E DFine+E 3 #ould tell Troy was getting e;asperated" He leaned ba#* and #rossed his arms and stood in &ront o& me" D@li%ia and 3 too* 'rt 101 together" She was really #reati%e and we,d ha%e lun#h a&ter #lass+ and tal* about art" 3 hadn,t seen her sin#e that #lass ended+ though" Melissa :ent was my math tutor" 3 su#* at math" 3 don,t *now how 3,m going to pass now" She was an awesome tutor and o*ay+ we did go out a &ew times+ but nothing e%er happened" 'nd+ yes+ 3 did date )i- @,Keilly &or a se#ond+ but we had barely been a #ouple when she bro*e up with me" She thought 3 was dating someone else" 3 wasn,t" She stopped #alling me ba#*" Then a #ouple days later she ended up dead &rom a drug o%erdose" 3 mean+ we had te;ted and it loo*ed li*e maybe we,d get ba#* together+ but we weren,t e%en o&&i#ially ba#* together when she died" 'nd+ how was 3 supposed to *now they were all doing heroin> 3t doesn,t ha%e anything to do with me"E D0hat about Ganessa Martin>E 3 as*ed" D0ho>E Troy,s brows were &urrowed together" DGanessa Martin+E 3 repeated" Troy shoo* his head+ D3 don,t *now a Ganessa Martin"E @*ay+ that was weird" ?enna said her sister had dated him and e%en though she hadn,t remembered his last name+ but #ome on+ it had to be the same TroyA How many #ould there be in this small #ir#le o& girls> 3t was too mu#h o& a #oin#iden#e unless Troy was =ust lying to me to #o%er his tra#*s or he really was a ma=or player and #ouldn,t remember the names o& all the girls he had dated" Troy seemed pu--led &or a se#ond longer+ D0ait+ 3 did date a girl named ?enna Martin the summer a&ter high s#hool+ but that was a long time ago" 0ait+ maybe she did ha%e a sister named Ganessa" 3 *ind o& remember that+ maybe" 3t ended really badly" 0hy are you bringing her up>E Hold on one se#ond+ 3 thought ?enna said that Ganessa had dated Troy" 0as 3 #on&used> 3 was sure 3 wasn,t" That,s why 3 wasn,t sure how to pro#eed" 0as Troy the one 3 should be 9uestioning> Had ?enna lied about Troy> 0hy> $id she date him> @r was Troy lying a&ter all> Somehow+ 3 doubted that" 0hy admit to *nowing either sister at that point> That pointed me right ba#* at ?enna" @*ay+ now 3 was really #on&used" Troy too* my silen#e as an in%itation to get ba#* to what he thought we were starting" His arms too* ba#* their positions on either side o& the game #onsole" 3 should as* him more about ?enna or was it Ganessa+ 3 thought+ but it was 9ui#*ly wiped away by

reali-ing that Troy was going to *iss me" 3 was going to get my &irst *iss e%er" 3 #losed my eyes andLnothing" 3 opened them and saw Ethan pulling Troy away &rom me" D0hat are you doing+ dude>E Troy was saying+ totally #aught o&& guard+ sin#e he thought he was going to be *issing me+ not being atta#*ed by some other guy" DStay away &rom her+E Ethan said+ trying to pull Troy e%en &urther away &rom me" 'nd+ then to my astonishment+ Ethan pun#hed Troy in the &a#e" Troy was surprised by it too be#ause he didn,t e%en try to prote#t himsel& &rom the hit" Besides+ Troy was way more mus#ular than Ethan and 3 was pretty sure he #ould hold his own in a &ight" Troy staggered ba#*wards+ but almost immediately boun#ed ba#*+ his ga-e on Ethan" They eyed ea#h other" D0hat is going on>E 'riel was standing in the doorway+ hands on her hips+ super annoyed" 3 was =ust standing there with my mouth open+ sho#*ed" Troy,s eye was swelling up+ but he didn,t seem to noti#e as he glared at Ethan" D0hat,s going on man>E Troy ba#*ed &urther away &rom Ethan" D3 don,t want to &ight with you"E DStay away &rom her+E Ethan said 9uietly" They stared at ea#h other &or a moment" The tension was building" 'riel and 3 wat#hed" Troy turned to loo* at me+ where 3 was still leaning against the Ms" 6a# Man #onsole+ in sho#*" DCour &riend ob%iously has some *ind o& issue" 0hy don,t you #all me when you get it sorted out>E 3 nodded" 0ith that+ Troy wal*ed past 'riel and out o& the restaurant" Ethan wat#hed him+ still shielding me" 'riel seemed at a loss &or what to do" 3 stood &ro-en by the game #onsole" D3,m lea%ing too+E 'riel de#ided and then she threw a &inal =ab at Ethan+ DEthan Kipley+ you,re a &u#*ing lousy date"E 'nd+ 'riel turned and wal*ed away" Ethan and 3 were le&t alone in the ar#ade" D3 guess we,re stu#* with the #he#*+E 3 %olunteered+ giggling ner%ously" 3 thin* 3 was in sho#*" Ethan didn,t laugh" D0e,re lea%ing"E 3 suddenly &elt li*e some older brother 3 didn,t e%en ha%e had #aught me ma*ing out with some guy+ e;#ept that 3 hadn,t e%en made out with Troy" Ethan too* my hand as i& he was a&raid that 3 was going to lea%e him too" 3t wasn,t as romanti# this time sin#e 3 #ould tell Ethan was pretty mad at me" He was probably a&raid 3,d go a&ter Troy and 3 a#tually might ha%e i& 3 thought 3 #ould get away &rom Ethan" Ethan dragged us both ba#* to our booth+ &lagged down the waitress and paid the #he#*+ while 3 wat#hed him in dumb&ounded silen#e" Ethan Kipley+ most popular guy in s#hool+ had pun#hed another guy trying to prote#t my honorL*ind o&" 0e wal*ed ba#* to the #ar in silen#e" The silen#e didn,t last too long+ though+ be#ause as soon as Ethan slammed his #ar door shut+ Ethan turned to me+ D3 thought we tal*ed about going o&& alone with TroyA 0hat did you thin* you were doing>E DEthan+ we were in the middle o& The Burger" 3t,s not li*e he was going to do anything to me+E 3 started"

DE;#ept *iss youAE Ethan yelled ba#*" DSo>E 3 dared him" Ethan loo*ed &urious+ D$o you want to end up dead li*e those other girls> Ha%e a &uneral o& your own>E 3 su#*ed in a breath and tried to remain #alm" D.o" 3 don,t ha%e a death wish" 3 was trying to get Troy to tal* to me"E DBy ma*ing out with you>E Ethan as*ed sar#asti#ally" D'nd li*e you pun#hing him was the best idea in the world+E 3 retorted" D3t was better than your great idea+E Ethan snapped ba#*" DCeah+ hit a serial *iller+E 3 said+ my words dripping with sar#asm" DSmaaaart"E D3 hope the *iss was worth it when he shoots you up with heroin+E Ethan angrily &ired ba#*" DFor your in&ormation+ he did not *iss meAE 3 yelled" D'nd+ 3 did get in&ormation out o& him"E Ethan was stubbornly silent &or a moment" 3 tried to #alm down" 3 understood why he was all &rea*ed out+ but 3 #ould ta*e #are o& mysel& and it was worth it" 3 did &ind out something" Something important+ 3 was sure+ i& 3 #ould =ust &igure it out" D)i*e what>E Ethan,s #uriosity got the better o& him" 3 told Ethan what Troy had told me+ without the whole in#hing &orward+ trying to ma*e out with me stu&& mi;ed in" Ethan didn,t need to *now any more than he already did about that" He had probably seen enough o& it to get the gist anyway+ right be&ore he pun#hed Troy out" D'nd+ he said he dated ?enna+ not Ganessa" He said he didn,t e%en *now Ganessa+E 3 added" DMaybe 3 #ould ha%e gotten more out o& him too+ i& someone hadn,t #ome barging in" )i*e why it had ended badly between him and ?enna"E Ethan laughed bitterly+ D'nd+ how was he going to tal* to you with his tongue in your mouth>E DMaybe 3 was trying to butter him upAE 3 o&&ered" DHe #ould be lying+E Ethan wanted to dismiss it" D3 don,t thin* so+E 3 retorted" D3t,s weird" )i*e+ you #an,t ma*e this up weird" He said he dated ?enna" She told us that he dated her sister" So>E DSadly+ some guys don,t e;a#tly remember the names o& all the girls they date+ either+E Ethan smir*ed at me" D'nd+ it,s not li*e he,d really want to tal* about it in &ront o& a girl he,s trying to get with"E D0hate%er+E 3 was &eeling annoyed with Ethan" 0hat was his problem> 0hy did he #are i& Troy wanted to ma*e out with me> 3 =ust wanted to go home at this point" Ethan shoo* his head+ DHow #an 3 get it through your thi#* s*ull that someone who #ould #ommit &our murders+ might also be a good liar>E DBut what i& he did date ?enna and not Ganessa>E 3 as*ed" D$on,t you thin* that,s weird> 0hy would ?enna lie> Maybe she has something to do with the murders"E DMaybe they swit#hed" They were twins+E Ethan o&&ered" That was true" 3t was a possibility+ but it still made things weird" 3 nodded+ DMaybe"E Ethan shoo* his head+ DE%en i& ?enna did date Troy+ maybe she was a&raid to say so" Maybe she *nows he,s the serial *iller" Maybe he *illed the wrong sister and she doesn,t want him to #ome a&ter her"E 3 &elt my eyes narrow" 3t was possible ?enna Martin was s#ared &or her li&e" 3 had to

admit it+ but 3 wasn,t so sure o& ?enna,s #omplete inno#en#e li*e Ethan was" There was de&initely some *ind o& #hemistry between Ethan and ?enna i& he #ould =ust dismiss her being a suspe#t li*e that" 3t was weird" 'ny #asual obser%er would ha%e to put her on the list o& suspe#ts now" ?enna was in%ol%ed somehow" 3 *new it" 3 was not going to be gi%ing her a &ree pass li*e Ethan seemed to want to" Ethan #ontinued his tirade+ D3 thin* it,s weird that you are so all about Troy when he,s probably a serial *iller"E He &inally started the #ar" 3 #ouldn,t wait to get home" 3 rolled my eyes and shoo* my head &eeling e;asperated" Ethan #on#entrated on his dri%ing" 3 ignored him and stared out the window as he dro%e+ thin*ing" Ethan =ust wanted to thin* badly o& Troy" 3 was more #on%in#ed than e%er that Troy hadn,t #ommitted any murders" 3t was a gut instin#t" Then again+ Ethan would probably =ust say that was #hemistry between Troy and me" Maybe it was" 3 admit it" Troy wouldn,t e%er be #ompletely in the #lear until 3 &ound the real murderer though" So+ 3 was %ery interested in ?enna+ now" 0hat did ?enna and Ganessa ha%e to do with all o& this and Troy> There was most de&initely something there and e%en i& Ethan didn,t+ 3 wanted to loo* into the suddenly #on&li#ting story between ?enna and Troy" $id he date Ganessa or ?enna> 0as it important> 'nd+ really+ why would ?enna lie about it> @r i& Troy was the one lying+ why would he> 'nswers =ust seemed to bring on more 9uestions"

Chapter 1": $ani&-ing
Ethan dropped me o&& at my house without saying a word" 3 got out o& the #ar and slammed the door" Ethan pealed away in a rush" 3t was only a little a&ter nine o,#lo#*+ but it &elt late" 3t had been a long night and 3 was e;hausted" 3 stared a&ter Ethan &or a moment+ wondering i& we would get past this latest 9uarrel" 3 didn,t e%en #are i& he tal*ed to me at s#hool tomorrow+ 3 was so mad at him" 3 &elt the energy drain out o& me" 3 =ust wanted to go to sleep" Thin*ing about Ethan only seemed to dri%e me #ra-y" 3 was about to turn and wal* up the dri%eway to my house and my oh<so<#om&y bed+ when 3 &elt my s*in start to pri#*le" 3 li%e in a de#ently ni#e suburb and 3 don,t thin* the #rime rate is %ery high or anything+ but nonetheless+ 3 started getting the #reeps" 3 loo*ed around" My parti#ular subdi%ision didn,t ha%e many street lamps" There were a &ew+ but they were so &ar apart that there were plenty o& dar* shadows to hide in" 's 3 s#anned the area+ 3 started digging in my purse &or my house *eys" They always get buried in my purse+ no matter how small it is" My s*in was really #rawling now" 3 wanted to bolt inside the house" 3 #ouldn,t see anyone lur*ing+ but it didn,t mean that there wasn,t anybody there" 3 &elt my hand #lose around my *ey #hain H a small stu&&ed #at that 3 thought loo*ed li*e S#arlett" 3 ran &or my &ront door" Somehow+ 3 didn,t e%en &umble the *eys as 3 turned them in the lo#*+ pulled the door open+ and slammed it behind me" The house was dar*" My dad still wasn,t home &rom his &riend,s house" 3 turned on all the lights" 3 *new that i& someone wanted to get in+ they still #ould+ but a house&ul o& lights at least made me &eel sa&er" 3 wished we had an alarm system" That would ma*e me

&eel e%en better" @r e%en a dog" 's 3 thought that+ my #at S#arlett #ame out &rom under the #ou#h in the li%ing room and 3 s#ooped her up and #arried her to my room" 't least she #ould *eep me #ompany+ e%en i& she wasn,t going to s#are away any stal*ers" 3 wondered i& 3 should #all someone" Ethan was probably only a mile away" Should 3 #all him> 3 wondered i& he,d e%en answer" Should 3 #all my dad> 3 listened &or any sounds o& someone brea*ing in" 0as 3 =ust spoo*ed be#ause o& the whole serial *iller on the loose thing or was there really someone out there wat#hing me> 3 didn,t want to loo* li*e a s#ared *id" Maybe this whole murder in%estigation was =ust getting to me" 3 debated" '&ter thin*ing about it+ 3 de#ided to wait" 3 didn,t need $ete#ti%e $i;on #oming to my house and gi%ing me a le#ture about #alling the poli#e &or no reason i& they #ouldn,t &ind anyone" 3 de&initely didn,t want it to loo* li*e 3 was &rea*ing out or anything" 3t would damage our #ase to the poli#e when we were ready to present it and it would gi%e proo& to Ethan that he was right" 3 didn,t want to pro%e him right" Still+ 3 put my #ell phone on my des* within easy rea#h+ =ust in #ase" 3 would #all the poli#e i& someone bro*e in or i& 3 had any #on#rete e%iden#e someone was trying to *ill me+ in a heartbeat" 3 put S#arlett on my lap as 3 turned on my #omputer" 3 wanted to email ?enna and as* her about what Troy had said+ but as soon as 3 logged onto my Fa#eboo*+ 3 saw that there was another message" 3t was &rom ?ane 'usten+ as in the writer o& &ride and &re0udice" Cet+ my name was the sub=e#t" 0eird" 3 #li#*ed on it and &elt mysel& start to sha*e as 3 read the message Troy i" my $oy(riend! 3 stared at that message &or a long time without mo%ing or thin*ing" 3t was =ust one senten#e+ but it was terri&ying" My rational brain was reminding me that this was a big brea* in the #ase" 0e were ob%iously getting to someone H e%en i& that someone =ust thought that Troy and 3 were a#tually dating" $espite this big brea*+ though+ at that %ery moment 3 was paraly-ed by &ear" Someone was threatening me" The email was only one senten#e+ but the sentiment was de&initely #lear" 'nd+ it must be =ust li*e the email )ihad re#ei%ed" Hers was &rom Mary Shelley+ the author o& /ran,en"tein, but still" They were both &rom dead writers" 3 wondered i& any o& the other girls had re#ei%ed this *ind o& email" 0ho was it> 'll o& Troy,s girl&riends were dead" 't least+ the ones we *new about" 3 *new 3 didn,t want to be ne;t" 0ho else was there> FnlessLand she was the only one 3 #ould thin* o&+ ?enna was in%ol%ed with Troy" 0as this email &rom ?enna> 0as she the murderer> 0as she #apable o& *illing her sister and all the other girls> ?enna had already made my list o& suspe#ts a&ter Troy,s #on&usion about *nowing her+ ?enna+ and not *nowing Ganessa Martin" 3 thought about it" 3 had only spo*en to ?enna &or about &i&teen minutes that night in the diner where Ethan and 3 had 9uestioned her about her sister,s death" She had seemed normal enough and &orth#oming" 3 tried to analy-e her now+ in retrospe#t+ but 3 =ust didn,t *now" 0as she a #ra-y person underneath that normal e;terior> 3 had ne%er e;a#tly li*ed her+ but 3 wasn,t sure that =ust wasn,t =ealousy o%er Ethan" 3 wasn,t sure what to do" Fnless Troy was trying to throw me o&& his s#ent+ this email impli#ated a girl and the only girl 3 *new to impli#ate was ?enna" The 9uestion was < what did 3 do about it> 3 made a de#ision" 3 =umped on Fa#eboo* and emailed ?enna li*e 3 had originally planned" 3 would ha%e #alled her+ but Ethan was the one with her number and 3 wasn,t #ompletely sure he,d gi%e it to me i& 3 as*ed him &or it" Besides+ 3 wasn,t sure 3 #ould a#t

the part 3 wanted to play &or ?enna on the phone" Email was easier" She #ouldn,t hear me say it+ whi#h would totally gi%e me away" 'nyway+ 3 wasn,t going to #all Ethan &irst" 3 had nothing to apologi-e &or" 3 had done what 3 had to do in regards to Troy" 3 thought &or a moment be&ore 3 started typing" 3 had to play it right" S#arlett tried to get my attention by pawing at the *eyboard" 3 pushed her paw away+ stro*ed her head+ and managed to write a 9ui#* email *enna, 9 ha%e a Cue"tion (or you! 9 went on a dinner date with Troy Matthew" tonight! 9t went great! He’" a great ,i""er, actually, and we’re "uppo"ed to go out again! 'nyway, he "aid "omething that wa" ,ind o( weird! He "aid that he dated you, not ;ane""a! Want to tell me a$out that@ +ait 3 reread it as S#arlett &inally settled down on my lap+ purring" 3 debated being e%en more #on&rontational+ but settled on #lueless" ?enna would get the hint" 3& ?enna had dated Troy and was a =ealous psy#ho murderer e;<girl&riend then my gushing about going out with him and *issing him would send her o%er the edge" 3 *new she was aware that my date with Troy was a setup &rom the #all between her and Ethan earlier+ but 3 was hoping my admission that we were going on another date would set o&& the #ra-y in #ra-y e;< girl&riend anyway i& that is what she was" 3& not+ hope&ully ?enna would answer my 9uestion and tell me why she had lied or i& she hadn,t" 3,d gi%e her a shot to tell me that she was s#ared that Troy would *ill her too or that she was totally inno#ent" 3 sent it be&ore 3 thought more about it" Someone was lying and the *ey was de&initely the Martin sisters" 3 pi#*ed up my #ell phone and stared at it" 3 s#rolled through the numbers and &ound Troy,s" 3 *new Ethan was going to hate what 3 was about to do+ but it had to be done" 3 dialed Troy,s number" 3t went to %oi#email" Figures that he might not want to tal* to me a&ter my D&riendE pun#hed him &or ma*ing a mo%e on me" 3 didn,t blame Troy" Still+ 3 was going to lea%e a message" Troy hadn,t #ut all ties when he le&t+ a&ter all" He had told me to loo* him up a&ter 3 tal*ed to Ethan and that,s e;a#tly what 3 was doing" The beep sounded" DHey+ Troy" 3t,s :ait" 3,m sooo sorry about tonight" 3 don,t *now what #ame o%er Ethan" 3,d still really li*e to *eep hanging out" Call me+ o*ay>E 3 hung up" 3 hal& hoped Troy wouldn,t #all me ba#*+ but 3 needed to tal* to him" 3 needed to *eep the #ommuni#ation lines open with him and 3 needed to &ind out how things had gone badly with ?enna Martin" Hope&ully 3 wasn,t re*indling a dating relationship with a serial *iller+ li*e Ethan was going to thin*" 3 put my phone ba#* on my des* and stared at my Fa#eboo* sent bo;" .ow all 3 had to do was wait &or ?enna to read her email and respond and &or Troy to #all me ba#*" 3 didn,t *now how 3 was going to get through the anti#ipation part o& all that" E%erything hinged on those two #on%ersations" 3 tried to ta*e my mind o&& o& it" 3 needed to stop thin*ing about the entire night+ a#tually" 3 was still listening &or sounds o& a brea* in" 3 put S#arlett on my bed and went to my dresser to get out my pa=amas" 3 was probably going to ha%e a hard time sleeping with my thoughts spinning in e%ery dire#tion+ but 3 #ould de&initely use the rest" 3 =umped" 3 heard a sound in the li%ing room" 3 dropped my pa=amas on the &loor" 3 heard the &ront door opening" 3 grabbed &or my #ell phone+ ready to dial Ethan and the

poli#e" D:ait>E My dad said &rom the other room" 3 sighed in relie&" 3t too* me a se#ond to stop sha*ing" D3,m in my room+ $adAE 3 yelled ba#* a&ter 3 regained my %oi#e and &elt relie& wash o%er me" This whole dete#ti%e murder mystery business was starting to get to me" 3 pi#*ed up my pa=amas o&& the &loor" 3t wouldn,t be good i& my dad saw me in my date dress" 3 #hanged 9ui#*ly" Besides+ it was de&initely time &or me to go to sleep"

Chapter 1%: !uspe&ting
3 wo*e up e;hausted the ne;t morning" 3 had spent the whole night tossing and turning between nightmares" 3 guess that &igures when you,re in the middle o& a murder in%estigation" 3 #he#*ed my Fa#eboo* be&ore getting ready &or s#hool+ but there was no response &rom ?enna and de&initely no %oi#emails or te;ts &rom Troy" 3 had pra#ti#ally slept with my #ell phone waiting &or him to #all me ba#*" Then again+ 3 didn,t blame him" Ethan had made a terrible enough impression on him &or the both o& us" 3t was going to be a long day at s#hool" 3 was so tired and the day seemed endless e%en as 3 got o&& the bus at eight in the morning" Still+ 3 was surprised to &ind 'riel waiting &or me at my lo#*er" 3t wasn,t a good surprise by any means+ but sin#e 3 needed a boo* &or my Spanish #lass out o& my lo#*er+ 3 was going to ha%e to &a#e her" DSo+ what,s going on with you and Ethan>E 'riel as*ed be&ore 3 had e%en rea#hed my lo#*er" Hadn,t we gone through this+ days ago> D.othing"E DFh<huh+E 'riel wat#hed as 3 turned my lo#*er #ombination" D3s that why he pra#ti#ally tore that guy Troy,s head o&& &or ma*ing a mo%e on you>E 3 turned to loo* at her+ in#redulous+ D'riel+ i& you,re suggesting that Ethan li*es me+ you,re nuts" Cou ha%e a way better #han#e with him"E D@h+ is that why as soon as you le&t with Troy and 3 was ma*ing my mo%e+ Ethan pra#ti#ally pushed me out o& the booth to run a&ter you> 3 told him you were in the bathroom" 'nd+ he assumed with Troy" $o you *now that he busted into the women,s bathroom loo*ing &or you> He s#ared the shit out o& some old lady peeing in a stall be&ore he de#ided to #he#* the ar#ade+E 'riel was loo*ing at me matter o& &a#tly" That was interesting" 3t was *ind o& &un thin*ing o%er what it might mean that Ethan was so &ranti# to &ind me that he burst in on an old lady peeing" DHi+ :aitAE $a%e Ki#*erson said+ wal*ing by+ ma*ing me remember where 3 was" E%en Mi*e Finnegan+ who was wal*ing with him+ wa%ed" That was surreal+ but 3 wa%ed ba#* anyway" 'riel loo*ed at me in#redulously" DSo+ Ethan,s &riends are saying hi to you &or no reason at all>E 'riel as*ed" D0hy are you telling me all this+ 'riel>E 3 as*ed+ ignoring her 9uestion" DBe#ause 3 thin* you,re both idiots+E 'riel started and 3 *new there was more" D'nd+ i& there,s something going on with you and Ethan+ 3 wondered i& you might be interested in hoo*ing me up with Troy>E

D0hat>E 3 was in#redulous" Twenty<&our hours ago she had been all about Ethan" D0hat> He,s #ute+E 'riel shrugged" DHe,s in #ollege and he has super huge mus#les" Hot"E DBut you don,t e%en li*e art+E 3 managed" 'riel loo*ed at me li*e 3 was an idiot+ D0hen you loo* li*e me+ art is the last thing on any boy,s mind"E 3 didn,t *now what to say" 's mu#h as 'riel had gone &rom being my best &riend to be#oming my ar#h enemy+ 3 #ould not in all honesty set her up with Troy at this %ery moment" Troy was not #lear o& murder suspi#ion+ despite what 3 thought o& him" 'nd+ e%en i& he wasn,t murdering the girls himsel&+ he most li*ely had some part in all o& it" 3 #ould not ha%e my e;<b&&,s murder on my hands+ ar#h enemy or not+ so 3 =ust said+ D(otta go to Spanish" ByeLE Then 3 sprinted &or my Spanish #lass" 3 too* o&& at a &ull run and e%erything" @therwise+ 3 *new 'riel would ha%e &ollowed me+ as*ing a barrage o& Troy 9uestions and annoying me until 3 had to gi%e her his number" 3 was only delaying it+ sin#e 3 *new this wouldn,t be the end o& it" @n#e 'riel set her mind on someone+ she would not let up+ espe#ially i& that someone was a hot guy" 3 managed to a%oid 'riel all morning a&ter our bi-arre run in+ so it was a good day" 3 hadn,t seen Ethan either+ so it wasn,t a great day Ie%en i& we were still in a &ightJ+ but all in all+ 3 was in an o*ay mood by the time 3 made it to Chemistry #lass+ &ourth period" 3 was one o& the &irst ones to wal* into #lass+ but 3 noti#ed Su-ie was already at her des* reading the end o& &ride and &re0udice! She was so engrossed in it that she didn,t e%en noti#e me wal* in" 3 went to my lab table and set my boo*s down" That,s when my mind did a double ta*e" 3 loo*ed ba#* at Su-ie again+ who still hadn,t loo*ed up &rom her boo*" Ces+ it was de&initely &ride and &re0udice by ?ane 'usten that she was reading" That was an odd #oin#iden#e" $on,t get me wrong" ?ane 'usten is a great writer and 3,m sure many people en=oy her boo*s I3 *now 3 doJ+ but #ome on+ this is high s#hool" 0hat are the odds o& Su-ie 0hitsett reading that boo* at the same time that 3 got a harassing email &rom its long dead author> 0as it a #oin#iden#e or was there more to it> 'nd+ Su-ie had admitted to also reading /ran,en"tein by Mary Shelley around the time o& the &irst murder+ not to mention that Su-ie was one o& the last people to see )i- @,Keilly ali%e at the 6alos 'nimal Shelter 'doption Fair in the par*" .ow+ 3 #ouldn,t imagine Su-ie ha%ing anything to do with the murders+ but there were a lot o& weird #oin#iden#es" 3 also #ouldn,t ignore the idea that sometimes the 9uietest ones #ould be the most deadly" 3 loo*ed ba#* at her" 3 *new that Su-ie had *nown at least two o& the %i#tims" $id she *now Troy> Su-ie mentioned that )i- had tal*ed about him+ but 3 hadn,t as*ed her i& she *new him" $id Su-ie ha%e any sort o& a moti%e to try and murder those girls> 3 thought &or a moment and then be&ore 3 #ould #on%in#e mysel& not to+ 3 wal*ed toward Su-ie" DHey Su-ie+E 3 said+ wal*ing up to her lab table" Su-ie loo*ed up &rom her boo*" D0hat,s up>E D$id you *now Troy at all> )i-,s boy&riend>E 3 as*ed" D0ha<a<t>E Su-ie stammered ner%ously and put down her boo*" D$id you e%er meet Troy Matthews>E 3 as*ed again" D@n#e+E Su-ie admitted a&ter a moment"

D0hen>E 3 as*ed" D't the animal shelter+E Su-ie o&&ered" D0hat was he doing there>E 3 sat down ne;t to her" Su-ie shi&ted her #hair a &ra#tion o& an in#h away &rom me" DHe was there %isiting )i-"E 3 pressed on+ D0hat did you thin* o& him>E Su-ie shrugged+ DHe was #ute+ but 3 *now he wouldn,t go &or me or anything"E 3 raised my eyebrows+ D0hy not>E DMost guys don,t+E Su-ie admitted+ loo*ing sad" D3,m too 9uiet and shy people say+ but they =ust usually don,t"E 3 *new how Su-ie &elt on that a##ount" (uys didn,t normally &all all o%er themsel%es &or me either" 't least+ not until last night+ when they got into a &ight o%er me" That was an anomaly+ though" D3 hear you+E 3 said+ trying to thin* o& my ne;t 9uestion" Su-ie seemed suddenly an;ious" 0as 3 getting to her> 3 wasn,t e%en sure what 3 was getting at" 0as she #ra-y o%er Troy too> 0ere all girls> 0hat was it about him> 3 &elt li*e 3 was in that mo%ie There’" Something '$out Mary e;#ept Troy was Mary" 'lthough+ e%en 3 had to admitLTroy was pretty #ute" 'nd then Su-ie suddenly blurted it out+ DSo+ 3 was tal*ing to the girls at the 'nimal Shelter yesterday and ?enna *ept telling me 3 should =ust as* :yle to Home#oming" She was really #ra-y adamant about going a&ter a guy i& you li*ed him" 'nyway+ so 3 thought 3,d as* you sin#e you tal* to him e%ery day"E FinallyA 3 thought" 3 was right about her and :yle" But what i& Su-ie was a murderer> 3 #ouldn,t let :yle date her then" 3 #ould barely belie%e 3 was saying Su-ie and murderer in the same senten#e" 'nd then something dawned on me+ DSu-ie+ the girl you wor* with at the animal shelter+ ?enna> 0hat,s her last name>E Su-ie loo*ed #on&used &or a moment" D?enna Martin" $o you *now her>E Ces+ 3 *new her+ but 3 only had a &ew minutes until the bell was going to ring or be&ore :yle showed up+ and too* up all Su-ie,s attention+ DShe *new )i- too>E DCeah+E Su-ie said+ wondering where 3 was going" Funny+ ?enna hadn,t mentioned that" 'lthough+ Ethan and 3 hadn,t thought to as* her either+ mostly be#ause we had =ust assumed she didn,t" D'nd she introdu#ed you to @li%ia Keynolds>E 3 #ontinued" D0ell+ yeah+ &or the sewing #lass+E Su-ie was getting distra#ted+ loo*ing toward the doorway &or :yle" D0hy>E My brain was spinning" ?enna *new at least three o& the %i#tims" She had been around Su-ie and her boo*s" 'nd+ now the most important 9uestionL D$o you *now i& she *new Troy Matthews>E 3 had to as*" Su-ie &rowned+ D)i-,s boy&riend> 3 don,t *now" He was at the shelter that one day" ?enna might ha%e been there" FhLE Su-ie thought &or a moment" My mind was ra#ing" This was the most important detail" Su-ie nodded+ DCou *now+ now that 3 thin* about it+ ?enna didn,t meet him that day be#ause she had a girl emergen#y or something" Cou *now+ her period" 3 leant her a tampon"E

3 still #ouldn,t be sure ?enna didn,t *now Troy" Maybe she &a*ed the emergen#y so she didn,t ha%e to see him be#ause she did *now him" 3 #ouldn,t be sure" Then again+ to be &air+ e%en Su-ie *new a &air amount o& the people in%ol%ed in all o& this and 3 really doubted she was a murderer despite the #oin#iden#e in boo*s" 3t was all so in%ol%ed and #on&using" 0hy #ouldn,t in%estigating a murder be simple and straight&orward> Still+ it sure sounded li*e ?enna+ in addition to Troy+ *new all o& the murder %i#tims H &rom )i- to Ganessa to @li%ia" The only person 3 #ouldn,t be sure that ?enna *new was Melissa :ent" ?enna *new about =ust as many people as Troy did" ?enna was easily up &or grabs as the murderer now" But what was her moti%e> 0hy would she *ill her sister or any o& the other girls> 0as it about Troy> 0as she =ust #ra-y> Su-ie was loo*ing at me+ pu--led" D0hy do you want to *now about ?enna>E 3 shoo* my head+ D3 =ust reali-ed 3 *now her too"E D@h" $o you thin* she has something to do withLE Su-ie le&t the 9uestion open ended" 3 smiled+ D3 don,t *now+ but there,s some weird #oin#iden#es"E Su-ie thought &or a moment+ DFh+ well+ 3 don,t *now i& this is important+ but ?enna was there that day too+ at the 'nimal Shelter 'doption in the par*"E 3 &elt my blood run #old+ DShe was>E Su-ie nodded" That put ?enna in the right pla#e to ha%e gone a&ter )i-" 3 thought &or a moment and then said+ DBut you said )i- le&t alone> 'nd+ that she was going to see Troy>E DCeah+E Su-ie said" D0here was ?enna at that time>E 3 as*ed" D3 don,t *now" 0ait+ she le&t early" She said she had to go home+E Su-ie said and then added+ DShe and )i- did tal* be&ore that+ though" 3 saw them+ but )i- seemed totally &ine" 3 saw them hug and )i- was smiling+ so 3 don,t thin* they had a &ight or anything"E DBut )i- de&initely got in her #ar alone>E 3 as*ed again" DCes+E Su-ie replied" 3 thought about what 3 *new" Troy and ?enna both had potential a##ess to )i- within the hour that she died" Troy #laimed not to ha%e seen )i- &or a &ew days+ mu#h less the night o& her death+ although i& he was guilty+ he was lying" Still+ what i& )i- =ust ne%er made it to Troy,s be#ause ?enna *illed her> E%en i& they had gotten along at the par*+ she #ould ha%e &ollowed )i-+ &or#ed her to pull o%er+ and *illed her" 3t had to be one o& them" 3 saw :yle wal* into the room and head &or our lab table" Su-ie saw him too" Her ga-e &ollowed his e%ery step" She was so inno#ent" There was no way that she #ould be the *iller" 3 nodded at Su-ie+ D6lease as* :yle to the dan#e" He,s dying to as* you+ but &or whate%er reason he thin*s you,ll say no"E Su-ie loo*ed horri&ied+ D3 wouldn,t say no" 3 swear" Cou really thin* he,d say yes>E 3 smiled at her+ D$e&initely" (o as* him"E Su-ie loo*ed at me hope&ully" 3 ga%e her a play&ul push and she got up and wal*ed toward my lab table+ where :yle was trying not to loo* at us" Su-ie wal*ed o%er to :yle and stood there aw*wardly" How #ould 3 ha%e thought e%en &or a moment that Su-ie was a *iller> She #ouldn,t e%en say anything to :yle about the dan#e and :yle was ga-ing up at her li*e she was a goddess" DHey+ Su-ie+E was all :yle managed to say"

Su-ie poun#ed on it as a good sign and said+ in the most rapid way possible+ D:yle+ do you want to go to Home#oming with me>E :yle loo*ed li*e he had been shot+ but in a good way" 3t too* him a moment+ but suddenly he had a huge grin+ DCesAE Then they =ust stood there grinning at ea#h other aw*wardly" 3t was so #uteA 3 sighed" 't least they were getting their happily e%er a&ter" 3 still didn,t ha%e a date &or the Home#oming $an#e and 3 was ne#* deep in%ol%ed in a rapidly #on&using and potentially deadly murder in%estigation" 't least 3 had narrowed it down H Troy or ?enna+ ?enna or Troy" My mind was going o%er and o%er all the details" 3 was going to &igure this out i& it *illed me" 3 hoped it didn,t" 3 #he#*ed my Fa#eboo* email in the library 9ui#*ly be&ore lun#h+ but there was still no response &rom ?enna" Maybe be#ause she is the murderer+ 3 #ouldn,t help thin*ing" Then again+ 3 had to be &air+ there was no %oi#email &rom Troy yet either+ #alling me ba#*" They #ould both ha%e a#tual li%es to deal with" 3 loo*ed again at the email &rom ?ane 'usten" 3 printed it" ?ust in #ase" 3 sat down at my usual lun#h table+ alone+ wondering i& Ethan was going to =oin me" 0e had parted on su#h aw&ul terms the night be&ore that 3 thought things might go ba#* to the way they were be&ore+ where he stopped remembering 3 e;isted" E%en though 3 still thought 3 was right+ 3 *ind o& missed Ethan" 3 opened up my bag lun#h o& peanut butter and =elly+ a Co*e+ pret-els+ and an apple" 3t was going to be lonely today at lun#h" 'nd+ then suddenly there was Ethan+ sitting down a#ross &rom me with his own paper bag lun#h+ D?enna =ust le&t me a message+ all &rea*ed out"E 3 almost spit my Co*e out all o%er him+ DShe did>E DCeah+ she did" 0hat did you email her> She =ust *ept saying+ P0hat did :ait say to Troy>,E Ethan loo*ed annoyed with me" 3 &elt de&ensi%e+ D3 didn,t say anything bad in the email" 3 only as*ed her i& she was the one who dated Troy"E D0ell+ maybe you should =ust lea%e her alone" Troy &rea*s her out+E Ethan warned" 0hy was Ethan suddenly soooo prote#ti%e o& ?enna> 3 was mad and wanted to sho#* him+ D0ell+ maybe that,s be#ause ?enna is the murdererAE Ethan started laughing instead" D?enna> Cou thin* ?enna>E He #ouldn,t stop laughing and 3 was getting super annoyed" DCes+ 3 do"E DBut she,s so tinyAE Ethan wiped a tear &rom his eye" 3 wanted to *ill him" DSo> She *new e%eryone+ =ust li*e Troy" 3 mean+ 3 don,t *now about Melissa :ent+ but still"E Ethan loo*ed suddenly serious+ DHow do you *now that>E DSu-ie 0hitsett *nows ?enna" 3 hadn,t thought about it be&ore+ but 3 as*ed her about ?enna today and ?enna *nows e%eryoneAE 3 wanted to go o%er the e%iden#e again" 3 was sure the pie#es would &it" DE;#ept Melissa :ent+E Ethan said stubbornly" D@*ay+ well+ 3 =ust don,t *now about Melissa :ent" She might ha%e *nown her" Maybe she had her as a math tutor too+E 3 rationali-ed" D@r maybe she stal*ed Troy and saw them together" 3 don,t *now"E Ethan opened his lun#h bag+ DBut until you &ind out+ you,re right+ you don,t *now" 3t,s a hole in your logi#"E D' little one+E 3 was getting angry again"

Ethan sighed+ DCome on+ :ait" ?enna is a teeny tiny girl" How in the world #ould she &or#e a heroin needle into the arms o& &our girls> Troy is the one with the mus#le"E DBut ?enna,s lyingAE 3 whined" Ethan thought &or a moment" DMaybe she is lying about Troy" @ne o& the two sisters dated him" 0e *now that" )i*e 3 said be&ore+ maybe she,s =ust s#ared he,ll #ome a&ter her too" Ha%e you really thought about that>E 3 had thought about it and dismissed it" 'lthough+ 3 guess i& 3 thought my sister had been murdered by my e;<boy&riend+ 3 may not want him to thin* about murdering me too" Ethan #ontinued" DMaybe Troy *illed the wrong sister" Maybe he thought he was *illing ?enna+ but *illed Ganessa instead" Ha%e you thought o& that> 6oor girl" .o wonder she,s so &rea*ed out"E 3 sighed" Ethan too* that as a sign to go on+ D'nd+ 3 mean her sister =ust died" $o you *now how that &eels> (i%e her a brea*"E Ethan was ma*ing me &eel bad+ playing that #ard" He was right" 3 didn,t *now how it &elt to lose a sister" 3 had no siblings+ but 3 had lost a mother" So+ 3 did *now how it &elt to lose someone you really #ared about and *new &or your entire li&e" 3 loo*ed at the table still not wanting to be dissuaded &rom my suspi#ions" Ethan loo*ed at me+ D@h #ome on+ you #an be wrong sometimes"E 3 &rowned" D3 ha%en,t de#ided yet i& 3,m wrong or not" 0e ha%en,t #leared anyone"E Ethan nodded+ D'nd+ that,s something 3 wanted to tal* to you about" 3 thin* this is getting dangerous" 3 mean+ you almost *issed aLE 3 loo*ed at him with warning" Ethan #ontinued+ DLan alleged murderer last night"E 3 snorted+ D6lease"E DHey+ 3,m gi%ing you ?enna as a suspe#t+E Ethan reminded me" DFine+E 3 said relu#tantly" DThen what do you ma*e o& this>E 3 pulled the printout o& the email &rom ?ane 'usten out o& my History boo* and handed it to Ethan" He read it 9ui#*ly and loo*ed up at me+ instantly alarmed" D0hen did you get this>E he as*ed" D)ast night a&ter 3 got home+E 3 said" DThis is getting dangerous+E Ethan ra*ed a hand through his hair and read the letter again" 3 almost &orgot to noti#e how se;y his hair was" 'lmost" DCeah" 3,m totally &rea*ed out+E 3 said+ seriously" D'nd+ see+ ?enna doesn,t loo* so inno#ent anymore+ does she>E Ethan smir*ed at me+ DTroy #ould be totally psy#hoti# too"E 0e were at an impasse on the issue" 3 %oted &or ?enna as the suspe#t and Ethan was still gunning &or Troy" Either o& us #ould be right" @r+ the murderer #ould totally blindside both o& us and turn out to be Su-ie+ but 3 had already dismissed that" Besides+ 3 didn,t need to #on&use Ethan any more+ so 3 wasn,t e%en going to bring Su-ie up as a suspe#t" D3,m s#ared+E 3 admitted instead" Ethan nodded and loo*ed up &rom his third time reading the letter+ D3 thin* we need to get oursel%es out o& this and hand it o%er to the people who *now what they,re doing"E DBut+ Ethan+ the poli#e wouldn,t e%en listen to us last timeAE 3 pleaded" D0ell+ we ha%e to ma*e them listen+E Ethan loo*ed at me intently+ DCome with me a&ter s#hool" Help me #on%in#e $ete#ti%e $i;on that he at least needs to loo* into Troy

Matthews"E D'nd+ ?enna Martin+E 3 reminded him" Ethan &rowned+ DFine+ i& you gi%e me Troy+ 3,ll gi%e you ?enna"E DBut what proo& do we ha%e o& anything>E 3 as*ed+ &rustrated" Ethan loo*ed at me+ D0e ha%e proo& that Troy and ?enna *new most o& the %i#tims" Su-ie #an pla#e them both potentially there within )i-,s last hour ali%e"E 3 smir*ed at him+ DBut they =ust thin* these are o%erdoses+ remember>E D0ell+ then+ we,ll ha%e to #on%in#e them they,re not" There are plenty o& people who would say that )i- was totally unli*ely to o%erdose on heroin+E Ethan o&&ered" D6robably not good enough &or $ete#ti%e $i;on+E 3 said" D0e ha%e to do something and now we ha%e proo& o& two letters < one to )i- &rom Mary Shelley and one to you &rom ?ane 'usten" E%en $ete#ti%e $i;on will ha%e to admit that it,s weird" 0hat i& the other girls got something li*e that> This is getting dangerous" So+ are you in &or #oming to the poli#e station with me or what>E 3 &rowned at Ethan+ torn" D3 #an,t" 3 ha%e to wor*"E

Chapter 1': /urder !olving
3 did ha%e to go to wor*" 3 wasn,t lying" 3& 3 showed up late or #alled in si#* again+ 'nne was going to &ire me or at least she should sin#e it would be the -illionth time 3,d &la*ed out in the last two wee*s" 'nd+ e%en so+ 3 might ha%e dit#hed wor* again+ but 3 was a little annoyed with Ethan" 3 didn,t thin* we should go to the poli#e yet" 3 *now 3 got that email and that was de&initely a warning+ but we had at the %ery least a &ew days be&ore someone #ame a&ter me" )i- had gotten the email o%er a wee* be&ore she was *illed" 3 wanted the *iller to ha%e the time to ta*e the bait" Ethan #ould go battle it out with $ete#ti%e $i;on and his styro&oam #ups alone" That guy ir*ed me too" 3t wasn,t li*e the $ete#ti%e was going to listen to something a #ouple o& *ids had to say" He had made that abundantly #lear" Twi#e" Ethan was probably wasting his time" 3 =ust hoped $ete#ti%e $i;on did listen when the time #ame that we really needed him to" )i*e+ i& someone really did de#ide to *ill me by o%erdosing me with heroin or something" 3 was about to get out o& my #ar and wal* into wor* when my phone beeped" Ethan had te;ted me Here at the "tation, waiting! Sure you don’t wanna $e here to help@ 3 te;ted ba#*+ &eeling mean #an’t! 4ut may$e Troy will come and meet up with me at wor,, though, i( you’re loo,ing (or him! Still want to tal, to him a$out *enna! 3 don,t *now what possessed me to write that" 3 hal& hoped Ethan a#tually did thin* Troy would #ome %isit me at wor*" .ot that Troy would probably e%er spea* to me again a&ter the way Ethan+ my D&riend+E had &rea*ed out on him" Still+ Troy had said 3 should #all him on#e 3 got the whole Ethan thing sorted out+ so maybe there was still a #han#e 3 #ould get him to ta*e me to Home#oming" '&ter 3 made sure he wasn,t a serial *iller and all" 3 mean+ it wasn,t li*e Ethan was going to as* me" 3 threw my #ell ba#* into my purse+ lo#*ed the #ar+ and wal*ed toward the store" 3t was empty when 3 wal*ed in+ but 3 saw the glow o& 'nne,s tele%ision through her o&&i#e

window" She must ha%e started her daily mo%ie early" She must still trust me+ to ha%e started it be&ore 3 e%en got in" 3 was glad to *now that she didn,t thin* 3 was a total &la*e" 3 had =ust set my purse down behind the #ounter and was pulling out my #opy o& 'nne o( Green Ga$le" that 3 wanted to &inish reading+ when 3 heard the door #himes =ingle" 3 loo*ed up+ getting ready to smile and say+ hello to a #ustomer" 3nstead+ 3 &ro-e" Troy Matthews had =ust wal*ed into the store" 0hat was he doing here> 3 hadn,t a#tually #alled him to in%ite him to %isit with me despite my te;t to Ethan" 0hat was going on> 3 *new he #ouldn,t be psy#hi# and besides+ 3 hadn,t told him 3 wor*ed here" 0e hadn,t had time to get that &ar between the interrogating and almost ma*ing out the other night" He hadn,t e%en #alled me ba#* &rom the night be&ore" Troy &inally spotted me and started wal*ing toward the #ounter" 3 didn,t *now what to do+ so 3 simply said+ D0hat are you doing here>E DCou 3Med me+E he said+ wal*ing #loser" D'nd you le&t me a %oi#email"E 3 did lea%e him a %oi#email the night be&ore+ but 3 sure as hell did not 3M him and tell him to meet me at wor*" 3 didn,t e%en *now his 3M name" 3 loo*ed toward the ba#* o&&i#e" 't least 'nne was there+ i& Troy tried anythingLli*e *illing me" D3 didn,t 3M you+E 3 &elt my %oi#e #ra#*" 3 had been so sure that Troy wasn,t the psy#hopath too" 3 suddenly wished 3 had gone with Ethan to pay $ete#ti%e $i;on a %isit" Troy &rowned+ DCes+ you did" Cou wanted me to meet you here"E Boy+ was he insistent" 0as it better to argue or appease an insane person> DFh+ o*+ sure+E 3 managed" Troy was almost at the #ounter now" 'nne had a button to #all the poli#e in her o&&i#e+ near the sa&e" Maybe 3 #ould signal her somehow i& 3 #ould get her away &rom her mo%ie &or a minute" DHey+ 'nneAE 3 yelled toward the ba#*" DCan you help me out here>E 3 turned toward the o&&i#e+ e;pe#ting to see 'nne po*e her head out+ but instead 3 was surprised to see ?enna Martin+ and that she had a gun" D3 *new itAE 3 yelled+ &orgetting that 3 was in mortal danger &or a moment+ e%en i& it wasn,t &rom Troy" Fnless+ that is+ they were in on it together" 3 ba#*ed into my area behind the #orner so 3 #ould see the both o& them" Troy seemed as surprised as 3 was+ D?enna>E DHi+ Troy+E She said sweetly+ while still aiming the gun at ea#h o& us in turn" D'nd+ it,s Ganessa+ a#tually"E DGanessa>E Troy and 3 both said at the same time" 3 mean+ Ganessa was dead and all so it was a reasonable 9uestion &or both o& us" DCes+ Ganessa+E she answered both o& us" D?enna is the one who died last wee*"E D?enna,s dead>E Troy was #on&used" D6oor+ poor Troy+E Ganessa and not ?enna said to him and then loo*ed at me+ D0hat Troy here doesn,t understand is that ?enna and 3 used to play a game with some o& the guys that we dated" 0e,d swit#h on them" 'nd+ well+ 3 &ell in lo%e with Troy and told ?enna to stay away &rom him" She didn,t+ in &a#t+ she slept with him =ust to spite me and then she bro*e it o&& with him" 0hen 3 tried to get him ba#*+ he thought 3 was #ra-y"E 6oor Troy did loo* really #on&used" DCou sent me all those weird letters> .ot ?enna>E D3 lo%ed youAE Ganessa #ried passionately to Troy" D3 still doA Cou and 3 #ould be togetherA That,s why 3 *ept writing to youA But your ignored meA Cou *ept dating other

peopleA First @li%ia+ then Melissa+ and then )i-A .ow herA 3 lo%ed youAE 3 was trying to thin* o& a way out o& the store" Ganessa was nuts+ whether she was ?enna or Ganessa or whoe%er" 0here was 'nne> 3 glan#ed toward the o&&i#e" 3 hoped she wasn,t dead" She was the best boss 3,d e%er had+ e%en though she had been my only one" D3 didn,t e%en want to *ill them+E Ganessa #ontinued+ D3 tried to warn them" Cou and 3 are meant to be together" 3 told them to stop dating you+ but they =ust #ouldn,t" They wouldn,t listen" So+ 3 had to *ill them to get them to stay away &rom you" 3 lo%e you"E Ganessa was loo*ing at Troy li*e she was hoping he,d de#lare his lo%e &or her" 3 was hoping he would too+ so that maybe Ganessa would &all into his arms and 3 #ould ma*e a brea* &or the door" 3nstead+ to my surprise+ Ethan burst into the %ideo store+ and ran straight &or Troy" 3t was an ama-ing ta#*le" Ethan &lew through the air and too* Troy down to the ground" Troy didn,t *now what hit him" He sma#*ed his head on the ground and was gone to the world" 3t was then that Ethan loo*ed up and got a real handle on the situation" Ganessa was sho#*ed+ but still holding the gun and it was pointed straight at Ethan" Ethan loo*ed at me+ D3 guess 3 was wrong"E DFh<huh" 3 wasn,t 9uite right either" Ethan meet Ganessa+E 3 managed" Ganessa snapped out o& it" D0ell+ this #ompli#ates things" 3 guess 3,ll =ust ha%e to *ill you all"E 3 was tempted to say+ PCou,ll ne%er get away with it+, but she had already gotten away with &our murders+ so what was &our more> 3 wondered i& we were all about to @$ on heroin too or i& she was =ust going to shoot us" Ethan as*ed the 9uestion &or me+ D0hat are you going to do>E D3 was =ust going to shoot :ait and ha%e Troy *ill himsel&+ but 3 do ha%e another needle on me+ so maybe 3,ll in=e#t :ait+ shoot you+ and then ha%e Troy shoot himsel&" @h+ the options" 3 =ust ha%e to ma*e it loo* realisti#+E Ganessa seemed to be pondering her #hoi#es" DTroy,s going to be my &all man"E D3 thought you lo%ed him+E 3 managed to say" Ganessa loo*ed at me with #old+ hard eyes" D3 do lo%e him but i& 3 #an,t ha%e him+ nobody #an" Besides+ 3 #an,t be the one loo*ing guilty and Troy *new all the girls" Mystery sol%ed" 6oli#e happy" 'll o& you+ dead" Me+ sa&e"E Ethan loo*ed at me" 3 loo*ed ba#* at him" 0hat were we supposed to do> 3 mean+ you #ouldn,t rationali-e with a psy#hopathi# *iller who it seems had already de#ided to *ill us all" D0here to start+ where to start+E Ganessa was pointing the gun between us" 3 wasn,t 9uite sure what to do at this point" My &irst instin#t had been to bolt+ but how was 3 supposed to get mysel&+ Ethan+ potentially 'nne i& she was still ali%e and in the ba#* room+ and an un#ons#ious Troy out o& the %ideo store ali%e without Ganessa shooting anyone> 3t was impossible and yet 3 had to do something" That is until Ethan distra#ted me" D:ait+ will you go to Home#oming with me>E Ethan shouted+ out o& nowhere" Ganessa and 3 both turned to loo* at him+ surprised" D0<w<what 3 stammered>E 3 #ouldn,t 9uite grasp the 9uestion" 0as he a#tually as*ing me to Home#oming e%en though we were both going to die> 0hat was the point> 0ait+ did he li*e me and this was his way o& showing it> 0as 3 getting some sort o& weird

dying wish> This was surreal" D0ill you go to Home#oming with me>E Ethan shouted again" Ganessa was loo*ing between us+ inde#isi%ely" 3 didn,t *now what to say" 3 mean+ was he really serious> 'nd+ was Ethan on #ra#*> 0e were about to die here" How #ould 3 go to Home#oming with him> 0e had more important things to thin* about+ DFh+ EthanLE Ganessa swung the gun toward me and then 3 saw her eyes &li#*er to the store&ront window" D:ait+ will you go to Home#oming with me>E Ethan yelled again" 3 ignored him+ he had ob%iously #ra#*ed under the pressure+ and &ollowed Ganessa,s ga-e to the store&ront window" 0hat was she loo*ing at> Ethan yelled again+ DGanessa+ o%er hereA $u#* :ait+ du#*AE 'nd+ 3 meant to+ but then the e;plosions began" Ganessa &ired" 3 hit the ground with a searing pain in my shoulder" @h my (od" Had 3 been shot> 0as this better or worse than dying o& a heroin o%erdose> 3 would ne%er get to tell Ethan 3 li*ed him" $id he really =ust as* me to Home#oming> @r was he as*ing Ganessa> 0hy would he as* Ganessa+ though> She was about to shoot him or in=e#t him with heroin" )i&e had been %ery #on&using" Sleep+ 3 =ust needed to sleep" 3 thin* 3 was un#ons#ious &or only a minute be&ore my eyes snapped open" 3 had to get the &u#* out o& the store" 3 #ouldn,t die" 3 mean+ Ethan had maybe =ust as*ed me to Home#oming" My shoulder was a#hing with e;#ru#iating pain as 3 managed to #rawl out &rom behind the #ounter" The s#ene had totally #hanged" $ete#ti%e $i;on was hand#u&&ing Ganessa" There was blood all o%er her =eans" Had she been shot too> 6oli#e were e%erywhere" Ethan was on the ground loo*ing in my dire#tion+ and gesturing &ranti#ally to the poli#e o&&i#er tal*ing to him" Troy was still out #old and there was a paramedi# attending to him" DMy boss is in the ba#*AE 3 yelled and saw a poli#e o&&i#er head toward the ba#* o&&i#e" 'nother o&&i#er headed toward me+ D're you o*ay> Cou,re bleedingA 0e need a paramedi# o%er hereAE Then+ mira#ulously+ Ethan was there too+ holding me+ and 3 gladly passed out in his arms"

Chapter 2): 0o1e&o1ing
The &irst thing 3 remember was thin*ing+ did Ethan really as* me to Home#oming> 'nd then 3 reali-ed 3 was in the hospital with a sti&& bandage on my #hest and my upper arm" My shoulder was *illing me" Ethan was sitting up loo*ing at me+ DCour dad =ust went to the #a&eteria" 3,ll go get him"E D.o+E 3 managed to say" D're you sure>E he as*ed+ #on#erned" 3 nodded+ D3 =ust &eel a little weird"E

Ethan smiled+ D(etting shot will do that to you"E DCou tal*ed to my dad>E 3 as*ed" Ethan,s smile broadened+ DCeah"E That was totally brain shattering" Maybe it was good that 3 was *no#*ed out &or that one" 3 #ouldn,t imagine what my dad would ha%e said to Ethan" 3 =ust hoped they were getting along" D0hat happened>E 3 moaned+ putting my healthy hand to my head" Ethan too* that hand in his+ surprising me+ D3,m assuming you mean with the whole getting shot thing"E 3 nodded+ still &eeling his hand in mine and not wanting anything to #hange that wonder&ul &eeling" Ethan #ontinued+ D0hen 3 got your te;t+ 3 &rea*ed" 3 thought you really had as*ed Troy to meet you so that you #ould interrogate him some more"E DButLE 3 started to say+ wanting him to *now what really happened" 3t o##urred to me that his rea#ting that way was almostL=ealous" .o" He had to ha%e been =ust #on#erned &or my sa&ety and my brain must be a#ting weird &rom pain*illers or something" Ethan stopped me+ D.ow+ 3 *now you were =ust egging me on" Still+ you ha%e to admit+ you do ha%e a bad habit o& side stepping me and doing what you want+ a&ter all" So+ 3 thought you did something impulsi%e"E 3 smiled" He *new me well" He smiled ba#* at me and then &rowned as he #ontinued to tell the story+ D'nyway+ 3 was so #on%in#ed Troy was the *iller" 3 thought you were putting yoursel& in danger again" 3 yelled at $ete#ti%e $i;on+ 3 was so pani#*ed+ and then 3 ran out o& the o&&i#e"E 3 smiled at the thought o& Ethan #hewing out the dete#ti%e" $ete#ti%e $i;on deser%ed to get yelled at+ e%en i& he had ended up sa%ing us" He #ould ha%e sa%ed us all this trouble by belie%ing us in the &irst pla#e" Ethan #ontinued+ D0hen 3 got to the %ideo store+ 3 #ould see you and Troy through the window" Cou loo*ed as white as a ghost" 3 #alled nine<one<one+ saw an opportunity+ barged in+ and *no#*ed Troy out"E 3 smiled and Ethan loo*ed sheepish+ DHow was 3 supposed to *now ?enna or Ganessa or whoe%er she is was in there pointing a gun at the both o& you>E DTrue+E 3 nodded" DThen 3 saw the #ops outside" 3 tried to distra#t Ganessa" 3 didn,t want her to see them be#ause+ well+ who *new what she would do then" She was already getting set to shoot us+E Ethan e;plained" DSo+ you didn,t really mean to as* me to Home#oming>E 3 as*ed" 3 had to *now+ you *now+ =ust in #ase 3 needed to go and buy a dress" Ethan smiled at me" D3 thought it was a good distra#tion"E D@h+E 3 said+ &eeling a little sad+ be#ause it would ha%e been ni#e i& Ethan *ind o& meant to as* me to Home#oming+ e%en though he thought we were about to die at the time" D'nd+ then the poli#e #ame in>E D(uns bla-ing" Ganessa *no#*ed o&& that shot at you and then they too* her down+ shot her in the leg+ and e%erything+E Ethan s9uee-ed my hand" D3 was really s#ared that she shot you in the #hest when you went down so &ast" 3 thought we were all going to die in the #ross&ire"E

3 &elt suddenly pani#*ed" 3 had been so sel&<absorbed+ D@h my (od+ what happened to Troy> 3s 'nne o*ay>E Ethan smiled wi#*edly+ DTroy is in the ne;t room with a #on#ussion" He is being nursed ba#* to health by 'riel 0al*er"E D0hat>E 3 was in#redulous" D're you *idding me>E Ethan shoo* his head #hu#*ling+ D.o" She saw us on the news+ #alled my #ell phone repeatedly until 3 answered+ and demanded to *now where we were"E D0ow+ that girl mo%es &ast" She was =ust as*ing me &or the dirt about him this morning" 3 *new she wouldn,t gi%e up+E 3 shoo* my head in wonder" D'riel did #he#* in on you too+ you *now" 3 don,t *now what happened between the two o& you and why you stopped being &riends+ but 3 #an tell you that she didn,t want you to die+E Ethan said trying to =o*e about a serious sub=e#t" D0ell+ 3 guess that,s something+E 3 smir*ed" Ethan &rowned as i& he had some bad news" D'nne is in intensi%e #are"E D0hat>E 3 =umped and &elt a pain shoot through my shoulder" Ethan tried to soothe me+ DShe,s going to be o*ay" Ganessa had already pumped her &ull o& drugs" She,s in deto; and they want to ma*e sure there will be no lasting e&&e#ts" 'nne,s really lu#*y" The dose wasn,t high enough"E D0ow+ 3 hope she,ll be o*ay+E 3 said" 3 really li*ed 'nne and 3 wanted to *eep my =ob at the %ideo store+ at least until 3 graduated high s#hool" Ethan s9uee-ed my hand+ D3 *now she will be"E D3t,s =ust so #ra-y+E 3 said and then gulped+ but 3 had to as*+ D0hat happened to Ganessa>E D0ell+ she,s in the hospital too+E Ethan started and then noti#ing my alarm+ s9uee-ed my hand to let me *now that there was more to tell+ DThey had to gi%e her medi#al attention &or her leg+ but she,s under armed guard" She isn,t going anywhere+ e;#ept to =ail+ &or li&e 3 hope"E D(ood+E 3 said adamantly and then 3 was #urious" D3s she really Ganessa or ?enna>E DFrom the gossip 3 heard at the nurse,s station+ they don,t *now &or sure yet" The girls swit#hed all the time as *ids+ so it is totally possible that she really is Ganessa+ li*e she said and that ?enna,s a#tually dead" They =ust #an,t ta*e her word &or it" She,s totally insane" They,re going to ta*e a blood test+ though+ and try to &igure it all out+E Ethan said" D0ow+E 3t was hard to wrap my mind around" DSo+ Ganessa or whoe%er did all o& this be#ause o& Troy> Some *ind o& &atal attra#tion>E Ethan nodded+ D)oo*s li*e"E 3 &rowned+ DBut why *ill her sister then>E Ethan loo*ed sad &or a moment+ D0ell+ and this is all =ust a theory right now+ it loo*s li*e ?enna &ound out about Ganessa,s obsession with Troy and suspe#ted Ganessa" Then Ganessa also needed a way to es#ape suspi#ion" 3t was #on%enient &or her to *ill ?enna"E D0ow+E 3 said again" 3t was so sad and surreal" Ethan #ontinued+ DCeah+ they &ound ?enna,s diary and pie#ed things together &rom that+ my statement+ and &rom what Ganessa,s been saying" They,re tal*ing to Su-ie right now" They,re going to want to tal* to you too when you,re up &or it"E DCeah+ de&initely" So+ what do they thin* happened then>E 3 as*ed" Ethan too* a deep breath+ D0ell+ it loo*s li*e ?enna told )i- that day at the animal shelter adoption that she thought Ganessa was messing with her regarding Troy and that

Ganessa was obsessed with him"E DSo+ that,s why )i- was planning to go see Troy that night+E 3 interrupted" Ethan nodded+ DCeah+ she really didn,t thin* he was #heating on her anymore" 'nyway+ it loo*s li*e while ?enna was telling )i- e%erything+ Ganessa was trying to get to )i- &irst to tell her that ?enna was the #ra-y one+ by emailing and #alling" Ganessa &ailed be#ause )i- hadn,t #he#*ed her email and had her #ell o&&" Then ?enna went home early and #on&ronted Ganessa and told her that she had told )i- e%erything" 'nd+ also that )i- and Troy were getting ba#* together" @r+ at least that,s what the poli#e thin* happened" 'lthough+ their mom de&initely #on&irmed the twins had a &ight"E D@h (od+E 3 said+ *nowing what was #oming ne;t" Ethan paused &or a moment+ #olle#ting himsel&+ and then #ontinued+ DSo+ Ganessa did what she had to do" She waited &or )i- down the street &rom Troy,s house+ &lagged her down+ and *illed her" Ganessa thought it was done be#ause the poli#e thought it was =ust another o%erdose+ but it wasn,t o%er with be#ause you and 3 dis#o%ered that email tying Ganessa to )i-"E DShe *new be#ause you emailed her about it+E 3 &illed in" DCeah+E Ethan said+ DSo+ Ganessa *illed ?enna to #o%er her tra#*s and then pretended to be ?enna+ while ma*ing the world thin* Ganessa was dead" But+ then we *ept in%estigating" 'nd+ Ganessa *new you were about to be onto her again a&ter the whole Troy thing and #at#hing her in the lie about who dated Troy+ so then her plan was to *ill you and &rame him" Besides+ she thought he might a#tually li*e you"E D0ow+E 3t was a lot to handle and it was all 3 #ould seem to thin* o& to say about the situation" So mu#h had happened in the last &ew days" My mind was spinning" DCeah+E Ethan loo*ed sad+ but determined" D't least+ that,s what it,s loo*ing li*e" 0e,ll *now more on#e they run tests on Ganessa and a#tually #omplete the in%estigation"E DFinally+E 3 said" DCeah+E Ethan nodded" DSo+ how would they ha%e #on&used the bodies+ though+ i& the sisters did swit#h> 3 mean+ didn,t they ha%e to 3$ ?enna> How did they get that wrong>E 3 as*ed" DTheir mom identi&ied the body+ with Ganessa pretending to be ?enna" 't least+ that,s what the #ops thin* happened" So+ their mom assumed it was Ganessa dead on the &loor" Besides+ she was in Ganessa,s bedroom+ in her #lothes" They ne%er did any sort o& &orensi#s be#ause it was ob%ious" The parents positi%ely identi&ied her" 'nd+ D?ennaE who we now *now+ or almost *now+ is Ganessa was wal*ing around as ?enna" They =ust didn,t *now" They,ll ha%e proo& soon enough+ though+E Ethan said" DSo+ Troy didn,t *now anything either>E 3 as*ed" Ethan shoo* his head+ DHe had no idea about any o& it" 3 mean+ he *new he had a #ra-y e;+ but he,s totally in sho#* about it all"E 3 s9uee-ed Ethan,s hand ba#*" D3,m so sorry about )i-"E Ethan smiled slightly+ DBut now we *now" Cou *now> 3 &eel better about that" )i-,s name is #leared and people won,t remember her as a drug statisti#" She,ll be remembered as a great girl who lo%ed animals instead" 'nd+ my parents and her &riends and 3 won,t be beating oursel%es up about not noti#ing she had a drug problem"E 3 nodded and loo*ed at Ethan with suddenly teary eyes as it all started to hit me+ D3 #an,t belie%e this happened"E

D3 *now" 'nd+ 3 don,t *now how to than* you+E Ethan smiled" DThan* me>E 3 &rowned" Ethan was loo*ing at me sin#erely+ D3& you hadn,t #rashed my sister,s &uneral+ they ne%er would ha%e #aught Ganessa or at least+ a lot o& other people would ha%e died be&ore she had messed up and gotten #aught"E 3 smiled+ D're you a#tually than*ing me &or #rashing your sister,s &uneral>E Ethan smiled ba#*+ DCes+ 3 am" 3,m really glad you did"E D'nd+ what about &or ta*ing a #han#e and going a&ter Troy>E 3 as*ed" Ethan &rowned+ D$on,t push your lu#*" That was still dangerous" He was a %iable suspe#t at the time"E 3 grinned ba#* at him+ DCou,re wel#ome"E 0e loo*ed at ea#h other in silen#e &or a &ew moments" Then Ethan loo*ed suddenly an;ious" D0hat>E 3 as*ed" Ethan hesitated and then said+ D3 mean+ theoreti#ally+ what would you ha%e said+ i& 3 had as*ed you to Home#oming &or real>E 3 laughed" )i*e 3 was stupid enough to admit my real &eelings and answer that 9uestionA So+ 3 did my best &lippant response+ although 3,m not sure it #ame out #ompletely &lippant+ DCou,d ha%e to as* me to &ind outAE D@*ay+E Ethan said" 0e loo*ed at ea#h other &or a moment" 3t was *ind o& weird+ a#tually" 3t was li*e Ethan was sear#hing &or an answer in my eyes or something" Then he said it" The words that were going to #hange my li&e #ompletely" D:ait+ will you go to Home#oming with me>E Ethan was still holding my hand in his and he loo*ed totally and #ompletely serious about the whole thing" 3 must,%e wo*en up in an alternate uni%erse" That is the only way that this #ould be happening" Either that or 3 had died and went to hea%en" Maybe both" $id it really matter> 3 wanted this to be realA DCes+E 3 managed to say" 3 hoped it #ame out somewhat #oherent" 3 &elt li*e 3 was saying it &rom a million miles away" My brain was spinning" This was all so surreal" D'wesome+E Ethan said" DKeally>E 3 as*ed+ loo*ing into his eyes+ sear#hing them" 3 had to be sure" DCeah+ really+E Ethan grinned ba#* at me" D'nd+ :ait>E DCes>E 3 murmured+ &eeling light as a #loud" 3 was going to the Home#oming $an#e with EthanAAA This was realA This was realA Ethan was smiling at me+ D0hat would you say i& 3 *issed you>E 3 #ouldn,t #ontain my smile" 3 don,t thin* 3 had e%er smiled this big" This had to be real+ D3,d say < 0hat too* you so longAE 'nd+ with that Ethan Kipley+ the most popular boy in high s#hool+ *issed me" 3t was the best &irst *iss e%er" 0hen 3 leaned in to him+ to *eep *issing him+ 3 almost didn,t noti#e that my shoulder was hurting" :issing was a great pain relie& aid" They should bottle it" 3 #ould ha%e *issed Ethan &ore%er+ e;#ept 3 had to thin* about buying a Home#oming dressA Cu- 3 had a dateAAA @h+ wait+ ne%er mind+ it,s not li*e they were going to let me out o& the hospital tonight so 3 #ould go to the mall" (ee darn+ 3 guess 3,d =ust ha%e to spend the e;tra time *issing EthanA 'nd+ his hairA 3t was super sil*yA SighL"

By the way+ 3,d ta*e *issing Ethan o%er a 0ired peanut butter banana mil* sha*e anytime" ?ust saying+ i& you wanted to *now" 'nd+ ba#* to *issingL ###

The 2e* 3irl Who Found A ,ead 4ody 56&erpt
Read an e3cerpt (rom Milda Harri"’ ne3t $oo, . a%aila$le *uly =?118 Chloe sat on her luggage+ wat#hing e%ery passing #ar speed by with interest+ waiting &or the one that was supposed to pi#* her up" They all seemed to wea%e in and out o& the unending airport tra&&i# with gra#e" Some e%en managed to stop and pi#* up lo%ed ones+ but her ride hadn,t arri%ed yet" Chloe hoped that he,d be able to &ind her in the #haos that seemed to be )'R airport" Chloe wondered i& she,d re#ogni-e him" She hadn,t seen ?a*e sin#e the &i&th grade+ when he and his parents had mo%ed &rom 3llinois to Cali&ornia" Chloe,s mother and ?a*e,s mother had been best &riends sin#e grade s#hool" Then they grew up and had #hildren+ only a &ew months apart" Thus+ Chloe and ?a*e had been best &riends as *ids+ always thrown into play dates when their mothers wanted to %isit with ea#h other" Then a&ter the &i&th grade+ ?a*e and his &amily mo%ed to Cali&ornia" Chloe and ?a*e had been best &riends ba#* then+ but the distan#e and the e;#itement o& growing up 9ui#*ly made their &riendship grow apart and turned it instead+ into a &ond #hildhood memory" Chloe hadn,t seen ?a*e sin#e+ but their mothers had still *ept in #onstant #onta#t" ?a*e,s &ather died a #ouple o& years be&ore and Chloe,s mother had gone ba#* to the &uneral to #onsole her &riend+ #oming ba#* with stories o& Cali&ornia and the now handsome grown<up ?a*e" Chloe had been more e;#ited about hearing about Cali&ornia" She had already set her mind on going to Cali&ornia to #ollege &or &ilm s#hool" She had *nown that she was destined &or Cali&ornia e%er sin#e the beginning o& her &reshman year when a girl in her #lass started bragging about her brother in Cali&ornia who made mo%ies &or a li%ing" 3t sounded li*e the per&e#t li&e and &rom that moment on+ Chloe had made up her mind to go to Cali&ornia &or &ilm s#hool" Her parents were supporti%e+ but money be#ame the big issue" 'n out o& state s#hool would #ost money and lots o& it and there was no way her &amily #ould a&&ord to send her to an out o& state #ollege" Chloe spent about hal& o& her =unior year o& high s#hool sul*ing with &rustration at the thought o& being unable to &ollow her dreams until her mother had approa#hed her with an idea" She and ?a*e,s mother had tal*ed about it and with a year,s residen#y in Cali&ornia with ?a*e and his mother+ Chloe would be able to attend a Cali&ornia state s#hool+ as a resident" Chloe didn,t thin* twi#e about it" She agreed" She *new she would miss her &riends in 3llinois+ but this was a #han#e to &ollow her dream and she #ouldn,t pass it up" Chloe #ould barely belie%e that she was in Cali&ornia about to start her new li&e" 3t was all really e;#iting" 3& only ?a*e would show up+ so she #ould start the ad%enture" ?a*e was supposed to meet her outside the baggage #laim when she arri%ed+ but he hadn,t shown up yet" Chloe loo*ed at her #ell phone+ wondering i& she should #all him" She &elt a

little shy about it" She would rather see him &a#e<to<&a#e &irst" Maybe she should te;t him" 0hy was she so s#ared about seeing him again> Chloe tried to pi#ture ?a*e in her mind+ but #ould only see the little boy with unruly brown hair and mis#hie%ous blue eyes that she had played with as a #hild" Be&ore she had le&t &or Cali&ornia+ Chloe,s mother had shown her a more re#ent pi#ture+ but ?a*e had been loo*ing at the #amera with only hal& o& his &a#e+ so Chloe wasn,t 9uite sure what to e;pe#t when she a#tually saw him" Hope&ully the pi#ture her mother had sent his mother had been better" Chloe #ringed inwardly+ hoping that her mother hadn,t sent him her last year,s s#hool pi#ture" 3t had not been the best pi#ture o& her li&e" She had wo*en up late &or s#hool and hadn,t had any time to ma*e hersel& loo* good &or the photo" )oo*ing ba#*+ Chloe reali-ed she should ha%e &riended ?a*e on Fa#eboo*" 3t would ha%e been a good way to get to *now him again be&ore this meeting" His pro&ile had been set to pri%ate+ though+ and although+ she had sat at the #omputer and tried to thin* o& an email to send him or a way to add him as a &riend she #ouldn,t do it" She had =ust been too shy and the situation =ust &elt too aw*ward" Besides+ ?a*e hadn,t sought her out either" Chloe had tried her best to loo* good today+ although &i%e hours o& &lying had ta*en the #url out o& her long blonde hair" She had 9ui#*ly tou#hed up her ma*e<up be&ore pi#*ing up her luggage+ though+ so she &elt a little better about that" Still+ she was ner%ous" She really wanted to ma*e a good &irst impression" This was the start o& the rest o& her li&e" DChloe>E a male %oi#e 9uestioned &rom her right" Chloe turned and stared into the bright blue eyes o& ?a*e Spen#er" Her breath #aught and she &elt her #hee*s turn pin*" He was #uteA He still had the unruly brown hair and his eyes had be#ome an o#ean shade o& blue" ' dimple #reased the right #orner o& his mouth+ ma*ing his smile #ontagious" Chloe smiled ba#*" DHi+ ?a*e>E Chloe said+ attempting to re#o%er &rom her sudden rea#tion to him" D3,m so sorryA 3 was late and then 3 #ouldn,t &ind you in the baggage #laim and 3 le&t your #ell number at home+E ?a*e paused+ #at#hing his breath and then he grinned broadly+ D3t,s so good to see youAE 'nd+ be&ore she *new it ?a*e was engul&ing her in a hug" Chloe hugged him ba#* and noted+ with wonder+ at how ni#e it &elt to be in his arms" Chloe #aught a hint o& his a&tersha%e as he pulled away" D3t,s good to see you too+E Chloe smiled ba#*" They =ust grinned at ea#h other &or a moment and then ?a*e loo*ed away+ DMy girl&riend+ :ate+ should be here any se#ond" She,s #ir#ling+ while 3 went to loo* &or you" The airport,s #ra-y"E Chloe nodded absently at his words+ her mind suddenly elsewhere" ?a*e had a girl&riend" @& #ourse he had a girl&riend" She &elt a surge o& disappointment" She immediately pushed it away" She hadn,t #ome to Cali&ornia &or roman#e" 0ell+ she hadn,t #ome &or =ust roman#e+ she admitted" Some roman#e would be ni#e e%entually+ but she had #ome &or the ad%enture and to pursue her dream" Besides+ e%en i& it #ouldn,t be romanti#+ Chloe thought+ she would en=oy getting to *now ?a*e again" 3t had been a long time sin#e they had been &riends and she was eager to hear about his li&e sin#e then" They stood &or a &ew moments in silen#e+ wat#hing the #ars &ly by" Chloe &elt aw*ward and gaw*y+ suddenly+ standing ne;t to ?a*e" He was at least a head taller than

her+ his shoulders broad and mus#ular" She loo*ed at him &rom the #orner o& her eyes as he s#anned the #rowd &or his girl&riend" She wondered i& he was still the same boy she had *nown in grade s#hool" She sear#hed his &eatures+ loo*ing &or the &riend she had lost to distan#e so long ago" DThere she isAE ?a*e motioned toward a blue #on%ertible+ whi#h s#ree#hed to a halt ne;t to them" 0ow+ Chloe thought+ as the slee* #ar pulled up" D3s this your #ar>E DCeah+E ?a*e grinned" D3 lo%e this #ar"E Chloe loo*ed at it in admiration" 3t was the per&e#t way to arri%e in Cali&ornia" How mu#h more per&e#t than a #on%ertible dri%ing by the o#ean #ould you get> Chloe &elt a warm glow o& happiness &orm in her stoma#h" This was going to be greatA ?a*e busied himsel& with loading her luggage into the trun* and Chloe &ound hersel& ga-ing aw*wardly at his girl&riend+ :ate" She was the epitome o& the Cali&ornia girl H tall+ blonde+ with #ool blue eyes+ and a *iller sense o& &ashion" Chloe &elt old &ashioned in #omparison despite the e&&orts she had made to loo* ni#e in the airport bathroom be&ore she had gotten her luggage" Her own blonde hair was a strawberry blonde+ the #urls she had tried to put in that morning+ &alling out+ and she had on the normal =eans and baby doll T<shirt that were her usual ensemble" Chloe &elt almost li*e she was staring at a girl &rom a maga-ine+ sitting inside a per&e#t #ar" :ate+ on the other hand+ had slee*+ blea#h blonde hair+ ma*e<up that loo*ed almost pro&essionally done+ a glowing tan+ a mini<s*irt+ and a purple la#y tan* top that &it her body per&e#tly" Chloe had a &eeling that she was going to ha%e a lot to learn i& all the girls in Cali&ornia loo*ed li*e :ate" DHi+ 3,m Chloe+E Chloe smiled+ stret#hing out her hand" D:ate+E :ate replied dismissi%ely+ pulling on big sunglasses that hid her eyes #ompletely" Chloe &elt her smile &alter at :ate,s la#* o& enthusiasm" She wasn,t sure how to rea#t to it" D@*ay+ bags are in the trun*" )et,s goAE ?a*e said+ #oming up behind Chloe" Chloe was glad o& ?a*e,s appearan#e and #rawled into the tiny ba#*seat+ as he sat down in the &ront+ ne;t to :ate" 's they dro%e o&&+ Chloe #ould almost &eel :ate,s #old eyes boring into her through the rear %iew mirror" Chloe pushed the thought away" 6erhaps :ate was a little unsettled by the thought o& Chloe li%ing with her boy&riend" 0hen she had a #han#e+ Chloe thought+ she would reassure :ate that she had no intention o& stealing ?a*e away &rom her" Chloe almost laughed at that thought" 3& you put her and :ate side by side+ Chloe imagined+ there would be no #omparison" :ate would blow her out o& the water in a beauty #ontest" Kegardless+ Chloe thought+ she would ne%er try and steal someone else,s boy&riend+ no matter how #ute he had grown up to be" 's they wal*ed up to ?a*e,s house+ ?a*e #arrying the bul* o& her luggage+ Chloe #ouldn,t help but wonder at the beauty o& her new home" 3t was nestled into a hill abo%e the o#ean" @ther houses were littered all the way down the hill+ per#hed abo%e blue water" The house itsel& was modest in si-e+ but the e;terior was #o-y+ almost li*e a #halet nested into the hill" DChloeAE ?eanette Spen#er #ried happily+ se#onds a&ter Chloe wal*ed into the house" D3t,s so good to see youAE

She en%eloped Chloe in a hug and then stepped ba#* to get a better loo* at her+ DCou loo* =ust li*e your mom at your ageA 3,m so happy you,re hereA 3t,ll be li*e ha%ing her here with meAE Chloe grinned+ D0ell+ you might get the real thing in about a month" She,s already it#hing to #ome %isit me" Than* you so mu#h+ Mrs" Spen#er+ &or e%erything" E DFirst o& all+ no Mrs" Spen#er,s here" Call me ?eanette" 'nd+ se#ondly+ it,s su#h a pleasure to ha%e you hereA 3 would do anything &or Sta#y" This will be &un+E ?eanette loo*ed o%er to ?a*e and :ate" D$o we ha%e time &or dinner or are you all o&& to that party>E D6arty>E Chloe loo*ed o%er at ?a*e and managed to see a 9ui#* loo* pass between him and :ate" @b%iously+ :ate wasn,t thrilled with Chloe attending the party with them" She,d ha%e to ha%e that tal* with :ate and soon" D0e weren,t sure i& you wanted to go+ but there,s a party tonight at this girl,s house on the bea#h+ sort o& a ba#* to s#hool thing" 3t,s up to you+ though+ no pressure" 3 understand i& you,re tired &rom the &light and all+E ?a*e managed+ without loo*ing at :ate again" DFmLE Chloe &elt inde#isi%e" @n the one hand+ she was tired &rom the trip a#ross the #ountry+ but on the other+ she was absolutely energeti# with e;#itement about her new li&e and a party sounded li*e a great way to start it all out" 3t would be a great way to meet the people she,d be going to s#hool with tomorrow" D0hy are you e%en thin*ing> Cou,re youngA (o out and ha%e a good timeAE ?eanette replied be&ore Chloe #ould say anything and then she loo*ed at ?a*e seriously+ D?ust not too good o& a time"E DMom+E ?a*e replied+ laughing un#om&ortably" D0hat> 3 worry" Espe#ially+ a&ter your &ather died+E ?eanette,s smiling &a#e #rumpled &or a moment+ at the memory+ but then regained it,s #omposure" D3 *now+E ?a*e said+ so&tly" Chloe &elt un#om&ortable and glan#ed o%er at :ate+ who was staring at the ground" D' party sounds per&e#tAE Chloe said+ brea*ing the uneasy silen#e" D)et me =ust #hange #lothes and 3,ll be ready"E 'lthough she had &or#ed hersel& to sound more #heery and energeti# than she &elt+ Chloe really did thin* the party sounded &un" She pi#*ed up her ba#*pa#* and swung it onto her shoulder+ her mind on what she might wear to ma*e a good impression on her new #lassmates+ when there was a #rash" She had =ust *no#*ed o%er a %ase on the *it#hen table with her ba#*pa#*" D3,m so sorryAE Chloe said+ automati#ally dropping e%erything and stooping down to help #lean up the bro*en %ase and &lowers" D@h+ don,t worry about itAE ?eanette said+ running into the *it#hen &or #lean up supplies" The white #arnations that had loo*ed so pretty on the *it#hen table were now in a pool o& water on the &loor" Chloe #ouldn,t belie%e she had =ust been so #lumsy" Two minutes in their house and she had already bro*en something" ?a*e stooped down to help her+ as :ate stood aw*wardly nearby" DBe #are&ulAE ?eanette said+ wal*ing ba#* toward them with towels and a bag &or the bro*en glass and &lowers" 's she said it+ Chloe &elt a pie#e o& the %ase she was #olle#ting sli#e into her &inger"

' drop o& blood es#aped and stained one o& the white #arnations on the &loor" Chloe &elt a strange sense o& &oreboding" She should ha%e ta*en the warning"

About the Author
Milda Harris is a Chi#ago girl who is pursuing her s#reenwriting dreams in Hollywood" She li*es silly sports li*e $odgeball and :i#*ball and lo%es ?ohn Hughes teen mo%ies" Between wor*ing in produ#tion on tele%ision shows li*e ThatD" So Ra%en and Hannah Montana and playing with her super #ute dog )i#ori#e+ she writes young adult and #hi#* lit no%els" This boo* started as a / $ay .o%el Contest submission and is the &irst boo* in the Funeral Crashing trilogy" The se#ond boo* will be out later this year" 3n ?uly 2011+ wat#h &or the young adult horror murder mystery no%el+ The 2ew Girl Who /ound ' 1ead 4ody" 'nd+ in 'ugust 2011+ wat#h &or the young adult supernatural!paranormal no%el+ #onnected! Conne&t *ith /e 7nline: Smashwords http !!www"smashwords"#om!pro&ile!%iew!mildaharris Twitter http !!twitter"#om!MildaHarris Fa#eboo* Fan 6age http !!www"&a#eboo*"#om!pages!Milda<Harris< Fans!185254/20257107 Blog http !!www"li&esli*eamo%ie"#om Blog http !!www"writergirlinla"#om 0ebsite http !!www"mildaharris"#om