I look over at my best friend seeing nothing but void and maybe even fear hollowing out her eyes. I’ve never seen her so empty before. Then again, this whole weekend she’s seemed a bit off. Maybe even more eccentric because she’s trying to make it seem like nothing is off. But I’ve noticed it. And now, as she looks over at the guy who just called her name for truth or dare, she seems lost.
No one else really seems to notice her reaction like I do, rather they’re more interested in the fact thattheSeren Kavanaugh is about to play a game that many know she dominates. She’s never missed a truth or dare in all the years I’ve known her and pretty much everything she does, she does with cocky pride.
“Seren,” I say her name, reaching my arm out for hers.
She flinches.
“What?” she shouts, snapping at me. My eyes go wide, not expecting that out of her and that’s when everyone else starts to quiet down.
“Your coin landed on tails, that’s a dare,” the girl sitting next to Seren says. “What’s it gonna be?”
The boy looks over at his friends, like they know something. They all sit a few people to my right andthe three of them whisper something while the girl who sits next to them, Natasha, decides to speak up.
“We all know how much a fucking slut she it. Maybe make her do something dirty. At least we’ll get a show and she can’t even say she doesn’t want to do it.”
My heart is racing. I could beat the shit out of Natasha if I was more of the confrontational type. Instead I just settle for telling her to shut up—she is my brother’s girlfriend anyway—causing her to huff in sarcasm and roll her eyes at me.
“Let’s leave, Ser.” I turn to my friend. Something is bothering her but I can’t tell what. All I can see is that there is genuine fear in her eyes.
The guy who called Seren’s name leans in, his arms resting on his knees as he smirks up at my friend, everyone waiting on him. “How about a little foursome, Seren?”
I see tears form in her eyes and I know that I have to get her out of here. While everyone’s cheers and instigations rise to a clamor, I yank her by her arm and pull her up. She resists for a moment but then I force her up and aim my demand at her. “Get up, Seren. We’re leaving.”
After a few more beats of staring at this boy, challenging him, she listens. As she stands to turn, swinging her arm out of my hold, I flip off the group of guys before following my friend away from the bonfire.
“Seren, wait!” I shout after her, jogging to catch up.
“I don’t want to talk about it!” she shouts back, not stopping for me as she continues to stomp down the path between the trees.
“Seren, please. What happened back there?” I beg, finally catching up to her.
I reach out to her, grabbing her by the shoulder to stop her and she swings around.
“What?” she yells at me, the tears now freely flowing down her cheeks.
“What’s going on?” I ask, seeing the pain in her eyes but not knowing why. She won’t even look at me, staring at the ground instead and I wonder what the hell happened to the bright, bubbly, full-of-herself Seren that I knew; her whole demeanor changed the moment that boy called her name.
“It’s nothing. Just go back to the party or whatever. I’m fine.” Her voice cracks and I can tell she’s on edge. Something has her spooked or angered or worse. But before I can say anything else, she’s already storming off into the forest, jogging away and I can't do anything except stand here and wonder why my best friend won't talk to me…
I shiver from the memory I just saw; the rest of truth or dare with Seren the night before she died.
My heart aches and my stomach turns sour as I close my eyes to relive that moment. One that I had obviously tucked away and forgotten about. But no matter how hard I try, I still can’t remember the faces of the boys. The one that called her name and dared her to a foursome. The ones she seems afraid of. Why can’t I fucking remember their faces?
I look down at the open note I currently still hold in my hand and read it.
sorry I missed u sleepy head. you were knocked out. can’t wait to see u at the haunted house. xoxo Allie
Something sick twists in my gut. Reading this note, I recognize a familiarity to it. I try to rack my brain, searching for the answers. And then I look at the note again, realizing I’ve seen this handwriting before.
I rush into the living room for the jacket I had on earlier and rip the crinkled up note from one of the pockets. I eagerly unravel it.
I know what you did.
It’s the same handwriting. The same color ink. Even the paper feels the same. But why the hell would she have written me the first note? What is it she claims to know I’ve done?
Have a killer time.
Alli’s words rewind in my brain, something she said to me last night before I went back to the cabin by myself. And now the memory of her and Seren fighting out in the woods that night, something isn’t right.
