Death of the Perfect Girl

85- The Morning Before Disaster

December

Poppy stood by the Christmas tree hanging ornaments with Noah. Sadie walked past them with the substitute. She smiled at Poppy and Poppy smiled back.

"Did you guys just smile at each other in the hallway?" Noah looked down at Poppy and chuckled. "You guys are gonna blow your cover."

"What cover?"

"That 'not friends' cover."

Poppy giggled and rolled her eyes. "Sadie doesn't care about that anymore." Poppy looked at Charlotte. She waved at her but Charlotte just gave her nod. "Seems like Charlotte's become too busy for me now."

"Hasn't everyone?" Noah hung a crimson ornament. "Everyone's so quiet. All of your friends, I mean. Except for Liam that is. I think he has a thing for Sadie."

Poppy furrowed her brows. "Really? I mean...he's dating Charlotte right now."

"And when was the last time you saw them together?"

Poppy paused.

"Exactly."

*   *   *

Charlotte walked into the school auditorium squeezing her bag. She slipped past the other student watching the decorations being set up. She looked at Fisher. He was setting up a camera on stage. He looked at her. She gave him a slight nod. He rolled his eyes then he turned away.

She walked up the stage. "Good job guys," she smiled at the people decorating the set, then she made her way backstage. She looked around the room for the box of prop knives. Relief and fear filled her heart when she saw it. She took a deep breath then she walked over to it opening her bag. She slowly pulled the wrapped up knife out of her bag. She shook it out of the cloth into the box. Her heart punched her chest begging her not to do what she was doing. But she ignored the giddy feeling and walked out from backstage. She looked at Fisher and gave him another nod.

"Charlotte," Sadie called out to her.

Charlotte froze and turned to her.

Sadie walked over to her. "Hey," she frowned. "I need to talk to you. But I'm so busy right now getting ready for the show. Is it okay if we talk later? I can meet you at a cafe or-"

"No," Charlotte shook her head remembering that that night was when everything was supposed to happen. "I'm sorry. Maybe...," she gulped. "Maybe next time."

"But-"

Charlotte quickly walked away.

Sadie looked at Fisher. He turned away.

Charlotte rushed out of the auditorium, taking out her phone. She dialed Jenna's number.

"Hey," Jenna answered. "What's up?"

"I don't know if I can-"

Jenna cleared her throat.

"I don't think I can-"

Jenna cleared her throat again, this time much harder.

"What are you doing?"

"Hanging up on you. Talk to me later."

"But-"

Jenna hung up on her.

Charlotte squeezed her phone. She turned to Mason. He was walking down the hallway pretending to practice his lines. He gave her a nod when he noticed her watching. She sighed then nodded back.

Noah looked at them from up on the ladder. He snickered. "Did you see that?"

"What?" Poppy looked up at him.

"Mason just nodded at Charlotte and Charlotte nodded back. But not like a greeting nod. It looked like a cult nod. Like a 'the job is done nod'. Do you get what I mean?"

Poppy looked at Charlotte. "I don't actually-"

"It's a weird nod. That's what I mean."

Charlie walked past Charlotte. She nodded once at him.

"See? Did you see it?"

Poppy squinted at him. "I did." She put her box of ornaments down and walked over to Charlotte. "Hey," she smiled.

"Hi," Charlotte hugged her.

Poppy furrowed her brows.

Charlotte let her go, gripping her shoulders.

"Just a second ago you were acting like we were never friends."

"What do you mean?"

Poppy stared at her. "...Never mind. Do you want to hang out with me tonight? Noah and I are going out. Liam will be there too...I hope. He hasn't responded to me yet."

"I...," Charlotte sighed. "I can't. I have to do some things for my mom."

"It's okay-"

"Like, a lot of things."

"I understand-"

"Laundry."

Poppy giggled. "Laundry? At night?"

"Yeah."

Poppy slowly nodded. "Okay. Well, I'll enjoy things for you." Poppy turned around walking away with furrowed brows. Something wasn't right.

Charlotte sighed and looked around the hallway. She felt like backing out. Jenna had nothing on her. She texted Jenna.

Charlotte: I can't.

Jenna not too long after replied with a recorded message.

Charlotte nervously put her headphones in her ears. Her eyes filled with tears. It was a recording of their meeting. They had all agreed that Sadie had to be killed. All but Brody. Charlotte quickly stormed away in tears. She couldn't back down now. They were all being blackmailing by Jenna.