die for you

Chapter 7

Eliza walks into Tara's hospital room, alone, "Hey."

"Hey," She smiles, "Thanks for coming. I've been so bored. The window gives such a great view of the roof."

Eliza sits down in the chair next to Tara, quieter than normal. Tara asks, "What's wrong? Did someone else get hurt?"

Eliza chuckles, "Not in that way." She pauses, "Amber outed me to the group."

Tara's eyes widen and her face gets red with anger, "Please tell me you're joking."

"I wish I was," Eliza sighs, "She got jealous that you were texting me and not her, I'm pretty sure. Then she said I was trying to steal you from her."

Tara sighs and puts her palm to her forehead, "I'm so sorry, Eliza."

"It's not your fault. You kept your promise," She replies.

Tara stays silent for a minute before saying, "This is the final straw."

Eliza furrows her eyebrows, "The final straw? What do you mean?"

"I mean... I think I'm gonna break up with her," She replies slowly, "Not just because of you, but because I've been thinking... I know the killer "cloned" her phone... but it just makes me worried? Why did they choose her?"

"Because they know she's important to you. They're trying to scare you Tara," Eliza states even though she hates Amber now, she's trying to keep Tara calm about this situation. It does seem suspicious that Amber's phone was cloned twice, but Eliza tells herself, she has an alibi, "They want you to think that Amber is bad. But she has an alibi."

Tara doesn't say anything. She just looks down at her blanket. The silence is telling to Eliza and she asks, "Do you think Amber is the killer?"

Tara sniffles and begins to cry, avoiding Eliza's gaze, "I don't know... I don't know anything... It could be you, it could be Mindy, i-it could be someone random, I'm... I'm just scared, Eliza..."

Eliza thinks carefully about her next sentence. Tara's right. Not about her being the killer, but right about her thinking that way. They have no idea who it is and the police don't seem to care all that much about it.

"I know you are," Eliza replies, "And you're right. Any of us could be the killer or it could be someone else. But, hey."

Tara finally looks over at Eliza.

"I promise on my life, I am not the killer," Eliza says, looking into Tara's watery, brown eyes, "I would never hurt anyone."

Tara sniffles, wipes her eyes with her arm, and smiles lightly, "I know you wouldn't." She says in a small voice. "That's why I wanted you to come here more than anyone. I trust you one hundred percent."

Eliza smiles at that. She hands Tara a tissue and she graciously accepts it, blowing her nose. Eliza's phone buzzes.

Mom: Coming to pick you up in ten minutes!

"Who's that?" Tara asks, a hint of nervousness coming back to her voice.

"Just my mom, she's coming to get me in ten minutes. Is Sam coming?" Eliza asks. Tara nods.

"Soon, I think. She said she would get me McDonalds," Tara smiles.

"Lucky!" Eliza jokes. Tara pauses again, looking like she is holding back from saying something, "You're gonna be alright, Tara. You'll get through this."

She tilts her head to the side solemnly, "That night... Right before your mom showed up, I thought about our pact... I didn't think it would come so soon. I've always thought we would be old and wrinkly and ready to go."