die for you

Prologue

July 2022

"I'll swing by later to pick you up, okay?" Eliza's mom, Judy, tells her daughter as she shuts the back door. Eliza brushes some of her blonde hair out of her face before turning to her mom. Judy speaks to her through the passenger window, which houses her work computer. Eliza nods with a half smile, "Alright, have fun. I love you!"

"I love you too, Mom," Eliza says, although her heart is beating so hard, she feels as though her mom can see it. Her mother rolls up the window and drives away. Although Eliza could easily bike to her friend's house, Judy doesn't like the idea, because they live in Woodsboro, California.

Woodsboro is a small town that blew up after two teens went on a murder spree twenty-six years ago in ghost costumes. Then there was a book written about the murders, that got turned into a movie, and after that, Woodsboro became "cursed." Cursed with people who wanted the fame and glory of being "Ghostface."

So Sheriff Judy doesn't let her kids, Eliza and her twin brother, Wes, bike to their friends' houses, even though the last Ghostface attacks were eleven years ago. She drives them everywhere they want to go, when the other twin has the shared car, and always picks them up. She also had them take self defense classes growing up and now has them armed with pepper spray and tasers.

After her mom's car disappears down the road, Eliza turns and walks up to her best friend's house. She rings the doorbell and waits.

"Hey! Come in! I have something I need to tell you!" Eliza's best friend, Tara, says excitedly. She pulls the blonde girl in by her hands and shuts the door. Tara stands about two inches shorter than Eliza, with tan skin and long brown hair.

"Really? I have something to tell you too," Eliza replies, although not as excitedly as Tara.

"Okay," Tara replies as she leads Eliza upstairs to her room, "How was football camp?"

Eliza smiles. She loves football and is the school's star quarterback. She and Chad, one of their friends, are a dynamic duo for quarterback and running back.

"Good. Although we had to run extra laps because Leo wanted to be funny," She sighs. Tara huffs, knowing the boy she is talking about. She's been to every single one of Eliza's games with Mindy, Chad's sister. Tara even helps Eliza get ready by putting her hair back in tight French braids to prevent injury.

The two girls sit down on Tara's bed. Her room is messy, but what you would expect from a teenage girl. Some empty soda cans on her dresser, random clothes thrown about from various outfit changes during the day, etc, "Okay, do you want to tell me your news first?"

Eliza gulps and nods her head, her voice almost wavering as she says, "Uh, sure." She brushes her hair out of her face again, getting frustrated with it. It's short, it shouldn't be getting in her face at all. She then fidgets with her fingers.

"So, before I say it, I just want to say... t-that, you might not want to be friends with me anymore," Eliza says quietly. Tara grabs the girl's hand. Eliza looks up into Tara's eyes.

"There's nothing you could say that would make me not want to be your friend," Tara adamantly tells her. Eliza smiles, feeling relieved, although not fully believing her. Tara lets go and Eliza suddenly remembers how cold her hands are, "Unless you like, killed a dog."

Both girls burst out with laughter. Tara's always been good at bringing joy into serious conversations. With Eliza's anxiety, Tara always seems to be making light of things that make her anxious, even if she isn't consciously doing it.

"Okay... I'm just going to go out and say it," Eliza states. She takes a deep breath and then says, quieter than her previous statement, "I'm gay."

Tara blinks and Eliza waits for rejection. She looks at her lap instead of at Tara.

"Okay."

"Okay?" Eliza looks up and finds that Tara doesn't even look surprised.

"Yeah," Tara smiles. Eliza looks at the dimple that forms on her cheek, "I kinda had the same thing to tell you."

Eliza's eyes widen, "Wait, huh?"

Tara blushes, "Yeah. And you wanna know what the best part is?"

"Uh, sure." Eliza's heart begins to pound. Is she about to say the thing that Eliza wants to hear?

"Amber asked me out!" Tara exclaims excitedly. Eliza, however, looks dejectedly back at her friend. This was not the thing she wanted to hear, "What?"

Eliza remembers she has to be happy for Tara, even if she feels crushed, "Oh, nothing, sorry. That's great."

Tara knows Eliza is lying though. And she's not stupid, so she puts everything together. She gasps and covers her mouth.

"Shit, Eliza, I'm so sorry. I... I'm sorry," Tara apologizes, "I wasn't even thinking when I said it."

Eliza brushes it off, trying not to be upset, "It's fine, Tara. I'm happy for you. Amber is a great girl!"

"Are you sure?" Tara asks. Eliza doesn't answer right away. She thinks carefully about what she wants to say. She always thinks about what she wants to say or write, constantly overthinking what a simple text actually means.

"Well, can I ask you one thing?" She asks.

"Yeah, anything."

"If Amber wasn't here, would I have had a chance?" Eliza asks, "And if you say no, I won't be offended. Maybe hurt a little, but I'll get over it."

Tara sighs. Eliza is her best friend. She's never thought of Eliza like that. And now, it's just going to hurt her.

"You're my best friend, Eliza. You know that, right?"

"Yeah."

"I just... I don't like you like that," Tara answers truthfully. She feels as though she might start crying, "I'm sorry, Eliza. I... I don't know what to say."

Eliza sighs, although truthfully, she feels heartbroken, "It's okay, Tara! I promise. I appreciate the honesty. Can we just keep this between us for now? That I'm gay."

"Of course," Tara answers.

"Okay, good," Eliza sighs, "Still best friends, right?"

Tara nods, "Of course, we have a pact." Tara puts her hand out, palm up, "If you die, I die."

Eliza puts her hand in Tara's, "And if you die, I die."

Tara looks down at their hands. She's never thought of Eliza in a romantic way, but now, seeing their hands together, could it be different? She's dating Amber though. And Eliza is her best friend. Only her best friend. Awkward silence falls between them. Eliza then says, "We should go get some ice cream."

Going out to get food is one of Eliza and Tara's favorite activities. Tara perks up at the mention of food.

"Yeah, I'm down," Tara replies, letting go of Eliza's hand.

"Cool," Eliza smiles, "Can I ask you one thing though?"

"Yeah, anything."

"Can we just not talk about Amber though?" Eliza asks. Although she struggles with anxiety, she's always been direct when something makes her uncomfortable. Especially with Tara, who nods.

"Of course. It's our hang out anyways," Tara points out, "I hate when we hang out with Chad and Mindy and all he does is talk about his latest girlfriend."

"Me too!" Eliza agrees. She smiles when she says, "You better not get like that."

Tara nudges her arm, "Hey! I am not like Chad."

Both girls get up and head downstairs, "I know you aren't, I'm just messing with you."

"Right..." Tara laughs, "Wanna take the golf cart?"

"Can I drive it?" Eliza asks excitedly.

"Only if you promise to not hit any curbs this time!" Tara exclaims.

Tara throws the keys to Eliza who smiles, "No promises!"