Hannah was found hanging from the rafters under the bleachers, her intestines were the rope around her neck. A little kid found her after dropping his toy down the bleachers, it's horrific. What was left at the scene was her body, a bloody knife, and a ghostface mask. Whoever killed her wanted me to know that ghostface is back and wants me to get scared. Me, Cash, Miles and Taylor all know what we're getting into, but the others... Allie is a complete mess, her half sister was brutally murdered right under her, who wouldn't be fucked up. She tried to fly back home to be with her parents, they didn't want her around a serial killer. But the police said she was a suspect so she isn't allowed to leave. It's fucking awful, I feel so bad for her. They finished questioning me, Bella, Cash and Hope first, so Miles told us to bring Hope home. Cash went to go get us something to eat and me and Bella are watching Hope. Hope doesn't deserve this, she doesn't deserve to see what's gonna happen to everyone around her. She's just a little girl, but she's not allowed to leave either, no one is.
"Who wants ice cream?" I say jumping off the couch.
"Food is literally on its way." Bella says, eyeing me. I give her the 'dude our friend was just murdered right next to this little girl look' I think she understood.
"I would love some ice cream." Hope says.
"What flavor?" I ask.
"What do we have?" Hope asks back.
"Chocolate, vanilla, or mint." I say.
"Hmmm, mint." Hope says, getting up to join me in the kitchen.
"Lame flavor, I'm going with chocolate." Bella says following us. I pull out the ice cream and Hope grabs three bowls.
"Chocolate is so basic." Hope says.
"No vanilla is basic." Bella says, pointing at my bowl.
"HEY, vanilla is only basic because it's so delicious." I say.
"Yeah right." Bella says.
"What should we watch?" I ask, directing the question at Hope.
"Henry Danger!" Hope says. "Jace Norman is so cute."
"Are you serious?" I say.
"NOOO please don't tell me he's gay too." Hope says putting her head in her hands.
"No, I just also think he's really cute." I say laughing.
"You are both wrong, Jasper is the cutest." Bella says, licking the ice cream off her spoon.
"Ew, what?" Hope says.
"That's gross." I say.
"whatever, jasper was so cute." Bella says. The front door opens and Cash walks in.
"I'M BACK WITH McDonald's!" He screams. Hope jumps up and runs to him, grabbing her food.
"Thank you." She says says, already eating a fry.
"You are very welcome." Cash says. "So, what are the plans for tonight?"
"Girls night, no boys allowed." I say.
"What? I bought the food, I should get to stay." He says. CASH LEAVE, I DONT WANT YOU HERE.
"Pleaseeee, can he stay?" Hope asks.
"Can we talk outside?" I say, turning to Cash. Cash and Hope both make yikes faces at each other as I pull him outside. "What the fuck are you doing?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Why are you taking over my life?"
"YOUR life? I've been here for two months-"
"AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR EIGHT! I HAVE THE LIFE I WANT, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" I scream.
"I just wanted to see you." He says, obviously hurt.
"I know, but seeing me, and moving in with me. They're two different things."
"Summer, I was gone for six months, I'm sorry if I wanna make up that time."
"Cash, I love you so much. But this is my life, not yours." I say.
"BUT THAT USED TO BE ONE THING. We used to be a part of each others lives, now we are like strangers to one another."
"I know. And I miss it, but that time is over." I say, both our eyes are teary.
"I'm not ready for it to be over." He says.
"Well you have to be. Set me free." I say. He pushes past me and walks inside, leaving me alone outside. I sit down against the door and put my head in my hands. I can't believe I just kicked my brother out.
"Hey, are you okay?" A voice says. It's Miles, the last thing I need right now is more complicated shit.
"I'm fine, just brother stuff." I say, looking up at him. He goes and sits down next to me, I lay my head on his shoulder. "How is everyone?"
"Not great, they're all pretty torn up over what happened." He says.
"And you?" I ask.
"I've been better, but I've also been a hell of a lot worse." He says.
"I'm scared." I say. "I don't want everything to change. I love my life right now."
"As long as we try to have good moments, maybe the bad won't seem so bad." He says. I slide my hand onto his and interlock out fingers. He pulls his hand away.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"I just don't think it's the best idea for us to be together, not right now with everything going on." He says. NOOOOOO I WANNA TELL HIM I WANT TO BE WITH HIM, but this is for the best.
"Yeah, okay." I say, holding back tears. I get up and reach for the door.
"Summer, I'm sorry if I upset you." He says.
"No, I'm fine." I say, opening the door and stepping back inside.
Looks like my life is already thrown off tracks, the guy I like doesn't want us to date, I ruined my relationship with my brother, someone in our group just died, and Ethan's still gone. I don't need a murderer to fuck up my life, I do it well enough myself.
I go to my room and shut and lock the door, I lay on my bed and feel something hard. I reach under my sheets and find:
a rock.
