The Killer Secret

11.

I rolled over onto my side, glancing at the neon clock on my night stand. I hadn't slept a wink since I got home, from the park, two hours ago. Bethany's words bounced around my neurons, ringing over and over again in my head.

The girl in the picture isn't me...It's Tammy.

How could it be possible? There was an autopsy and a funeral. How could all of us be so blind to the facts?

I rolled onto my back and stared at my ceiling. If Tammy was indeed alive, why would she go to Bethany, out of all people?

So many unanswered questions rattled my mind, making it harder to think clearly.

I sat up.

Dawn was slowly peeking through the trees, giving the once dark sky a soft lilac blue. I was now nearing the twenty-four hour mark of no shut eye, yet my mental state was as alert as if I had my full eight hours.

I wondered what Travis was doing at this moment. Was he asleep? Was he awake, haunted by the nightmares that clouded his dreams? I had a bad habit of running away when things got too intense between him and I, but I didn't know if I could keep such a big secret from him.

After well past seven was when my family started to get ready for their day. Taylor walked into my room, with her toothbrush in her mouth, and threw my mail on my desk, then left.

"Good morning to you too," I mumbled, stalking to where the stack of envelopes landed.

A few were junk mail as I threw them into the garbage, but the last one seemed to catch my eye. The smooth cursive writing lettered my name and address, in the center of the baby blue envelope, but with no indication of any return address.

Turning it over, I slid my index finger underneath the seal to reveal a white card with blue sapphire stones, dotting its four corners.

You are cordially invited to a formal fundraiser in memory of our beloved daughter, Tammy Oscar, to celebrate her life and her achievements with us.

At the bottom of the letter were the RSVP information, along with the dress code and menu.

I focused on the brilliant stones at the edge of the card. Everyone knew Tammy loved sapphires. She practically broadcasted her favorite stone on almost every outfit she wore, but I couldn't shake the feeling that those particular stones were put there as a message to me.

Stuffing the letter back into its envelope, I thought of what I would expect going back to the home of my ex-boyfriend and ex-bestfriend. The last time I saw the Oscar's was at Tammy's wake and it had not gone the way I hoped it would. I was surprised they had thought of me when drafting their guestlist.

After placing the invitation in my desk drawer, I started getting ready for school. I had already wasted almost ten minutes of my usual thirty and so I made a mental note to shower after gym, third period.

I brushed my hair quickly into a ponytail and grabbed my things, along with a random sweater that was on the floor, then bolted downstairs. School was starting in fifteen minutes and I was already on strike two for my tardiness.

"Hey honey, I made french toast," my dad stated proudly. He even buttered them with Nutella and kiwi.

"Sorry dad," I said, grabbing a Yop from the fridge. "Gotta run."