The Popularity Project

Chapter Two - Damien

"I'm sorry I didn't know that he hadn't told you yet," Bennett defends when I slide into the booth across from him. I notice that he already ordered some water. I take a long sip of my water before answering.

"It's fine, there's nothing I could've done to change his mind anyways," I look around the diner and spot a group of girls and guys from our school. That's the crowd Rosalie would be hanging out with. They're the populars, the girls always look like perfection, and the all guys are handsome, play sports, and are douches to anyone not in their posse.

Rosalie was always in a state of perfection. Her hair was always curled elegantly or as straight as a pin. She'd wear dresses and skirts, usually floral, almost everyday. Her makeup was light, with a light eyeliner and mascara and pink lips. I remember it all so well because she would always try to make me look like her. She brought out the girly side of me, and I brought out the tougher side of her.

I was always jealous of her ease at getting people to love her. She had this gravitational force about her.

Her last boyfriend, Chris Johnson, was a suspect in her murder. The police was never able to officially convict Chris, so he was released. Later that year, he committed suicide out of grief. In his suicide letter, he wrote that he did in fact kill Rosalie. He said he caught her cheating on him, causing him to rage and kill her. We were fifteen at the time.

I never believed the story. Why would a fifteen year old want to kill his girlfriend for cheating? Then he commit suicide, the note he left closed the case. No more investigation.

The logic behind the whole debacle makes me think, maybe someone else killed my twin and somehow convinced Chris that it was his fault. Then out of grief and guilt, he killed himself. What is a fifteen year old supposed to do when a murderer is convincing them that it is their own fault a girl is dead?

In Chris's shoes, I would have crumbled too. The murderer who ultimately killed two children is still free. I will find them and make this right. After I get out of high school, I am going to study law and justice in college. Anything to become a detective so I can investigate Rosalie's and Chris's more. I need to know what happened.

"Maybe it's a good thing?" Bennett questions quietly. He knows I have anger issues sometimes, I've gone off on him before. I regretted it, and apologized, but that didn't make it okay. I used to see a therapist, until I realized that even the therapist couldn't help me. The only one who can save me is myself.

"Maybe," I look out the window, it's starting to snow. I love the snow, it's beautiful and pure.

"A fresh start... No one there would know about..." Bennett lets the sentence fade into oblivion.

"Know about what, Ben?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Know about your past problems of drinking, partying, and promiscuity," he states factually and objectively.

"Because I'm so promiscuous," I roll my eyes.

"You were, if you remember correctly. I'm sorry for the tough love, but you need to hear this," he blatantly says.

"You think I don't know I was a slut? I mean, Damien told me every day, and even the guys I hooked up with would call me one when I refused to stay the night. I don't need you, my best friend, to call me one also. I haven't had sex with anyone since Damien went to juvie." I run my fingers through my hair.

"You're not a slut in my eyes, Vivian. That's what I'm trying to tell you, I think you're the most amazing girl, who has survived an amount of adversity that I never could've. You're so beautiful and funny and stubborn and loving - you deserve someone who sees all the good things, yet loves you for all your faults."