Annalise Starke had known her mother was going to die eventually; she just hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
At fifteen she had moved with her mother back to her home country of Australia with half a heart (metaphorically, of course) and her mo...
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I spun the ring on my fingers. My Mom's ring. The one that was sent to me five days ago in that strange package. Along with my house key, her wallet, an earring, a couple of cloth napkins that used to go with the dining room set here, and a document.
It had been a copy of her medical files—just one page of it, though—from when she was participating in the experimental drug trial for her cancer. I wondered if it had been in her purse that day...if that was why it had been included.
Whether it was sent by the police, or...someone else, I didn't know. But for the first two days after, I'd jumped at every sound and left on every light. Dad was away, again, and Breck thought my paranoia was unfounded. So, those nights had been rough, but school had become my new best friend—mostly just because it gave me an excuse to leave the house.
And for a couple days, that system worked. But by Wednesday, I couldn't take it anymore. I spent Wednesday night through Friday hunkered down at Sylvie's house. Now it was Friday night and I was splayed out on her bed, anxiously scrolling through my phone, and praying she didn't send me home.
"Alright, Lise," Sylvie said as she walked into her bedroom. Oh God, here it comes. "How do you feel about going to a party tonight?"
I blinked at her. A party?
That was not what I'd been expecting.
"It's Friday night and we've been holed up in here for days!" She exclaimed. "We need to get out and see the world!"
"I..." my words died in my throat. "I don't have anything to wear." When I say I packed light, that would be an understatement—I'd barely grabbed enough underwear for the week as I'd fled the house.
Sylvie laughed loudly. "What's mine is yours, always. Though, we don't have to go if you don't want to..."
She looked so excited at the prospect, how could I say no?
"No," I exhaled. "We should go. It sounds fun."
Sylvie's face lit up. "Yay! Thank you! I'll text the boys and we can start getting ready!"
My heart jumped at the thought of seeing Jacks. Calm down, Lise, you literally saw him this afternoon. But that did nothing to calm my racing heart and warming cheeks. I loved Sylvie dearly, but the whole week had been girl time, and while I felt safe at her house, I was ready to feel safe out and about again.
Sylvie called Ryan and placed the phone on speaker on her bed. "Hey, sweetheart," he answered on the first ring. Sylvie's face burned to a crisp. "What's up?"
"Who are you with?"
"Just Breck and Jacks." I could hear them chittering in the background.
"Perfect," Sylvie smiled mischievously. "I heard there's a beach bonfire party tonight, what are your thoughts?"
