~Haunted in harmony ~ /Paige bueckers/

007

~U N E A S Y T R U T H S~

It had been good so far, too good. Something felt off. The fact that Paige and Gabriella were now neighbors, that they had both moved to the same state after nearly losing their lives at the concert—it was all too much to be a coincidence. The way Gabriella's mother and Paige's father talked like old friends, and the fact that the same man had tried to kill them both on the same night with different weapons—it all added up to something unsettling.

Paige and Gabriella found themselves sneaking out to see each other often. With no friends yet in Florida, they relied on each other for company and comfort. One evening, they sat in Paige's spacious new room, the moonlight casting long shadows through the windows.

Gabriella fidgeted, her eyes darting around the room before finally meeting Paige's. "Paige, I need to talk to you about something," she said, her voice low and serious.

Paige looked up from her phone, sensing the gravity in Gabriella's tone. "What's up, Gabby?"

Gabriella took a deep breath. "Something's off. I mean, the fact that the same guy tried to kill us both on the same night but with different weapons—it doesn't make sense. Why would he do that? And why us?"

Paige nodded slowly. "I've been thinking the same thing. It's not just that, though. Our parents are acting strange too. Have you noticed how your mom and my dad talk? Like they know each other from way back."

Gabriella's brow furrowed. "Yeah, I saw them talking the other day. It felt... weird. Like they were hiding something."

Paige leaned forward, lowering her voice even more. "Do you think they know something about the attacks? Or even... about us?"

Gabriella's eyes widened. "You mean, like, they're involved somehow? But why would they keep it from us?"

Paige sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know. But I think we need to find out. There's too many coincidences. And the fact that we're neighbors now, in a completely different state, after all that's happened..."

Gabriella nodded. "It's too much to be random. I've been trying to remember anything from that night that could give us a clue, but it's all a blur."

Paige thought for a moment, then said, "Maybe we should start by talking to our parents separately. See if they slip up or reveal anything."

Gabriella agreed. "Yeah, and we should keep an eye out for anything unusual. Like, if we notice them having secret meetings or talking in hushed voices, we need to figure out what they're saying."

Paige looked at Gabriella, determination in her eyes. "We're in this together, Gabby. We'll get to the bottom of it, no matter what."

Gabriella smiled, feeling a surge of hope. "Together."

The girls spent the next few days discreetly observing their parents, trying to pick up on any odd behavior or secret conversations. They met regularly in Paige's room to discuss their findings and plan their next steps.

One evening, after dinner, Paige heard her father talking on the phone in his study. She pressed her ear against the door, straining to hear.

"Yes, it's all set. The move went smoothly, and they're adjusting well... Yes, I understand... We have to keep them safe... No, they don't know anything."

Paige's heart raced as she quickly moved away from the door, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping. She texted Gabriella immediately: "I think my dad knows something. Just heard him on the phone. Need to talk ASAP."

Gabriella responded: "Meet you in 10."

A few minutes later, Gabriella climbed through Paige's window, and they sat on the bed, whispering urgently.

"What did you hear?" Gabriella asked.

Paige recounted the conversation she had overheard. Gabriella's eyes widened with each word.

"They're hiding something big," Gabriella said, her voice trembling. "What do we do now?"

Paige thought for a moment, then said, "We need more information. We have to figure out who they're talking to and what they're really planning. I think we should start looking through their things—letters, emails, anything that could give us more clues."

Gabriella nodded, though she looked apprehensive. "Okay, but we have to be careful. If they catch us, who knows what they'll do."

Paige squeezed Gabriella's hand. "We'll be careful. And we'll do it together."
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