My eyes are still closed as I hear her footsteps.Hard, determined footfalls aimed at putting as much distance between us—between her and me—as she can, because it’s me.
He’s doing it all because ofme.
This is not exactly what I had in mind when I said I wanted a man to go the extra mile for me.I meant unprompted good morning messages, noticing when I’ve done something different with my hair, buying tampons every now and then.Not slowly but surely knocking off complete strangers in creative and gruesome ways.
“Billie!”Jennifer calls out, but even with my eyes closed I know she doesn’t follow her.Everyone who has left our group alone hasn’t come back.Everyone except me, and that’s when I should’ve known the role Heart Eyes had cast me in.My name spelled out on the floor is as good as top billing on the film poster.I know now what he’s been trying to say this whole time.
You’re the One.
“Jamie?”
Wes’s voice is soft, close, and when I exhale a shaky breath, start nodding, willing myself to open my eyes, a hand slides under my jaw.Even though the contact is light it makes me flinch.I open my eyes and he’s right in front of me, his thumb on my cheekbone, his fingers on my jaw as he pulls my head up to meet his gaze.It’s concerned, serious, and I don’t want him looking at me like that.I don’t want him looking at me like I’m primed to be another statistic.I want the soft, warm, inviting glaze over his eyes I saw before.Not this.And I certainly don’t want him to say, “It’s going to be oka—”
“It’s not,” I croak.“I had a feeling that—fuck—I had a feeling it was one of us.After he left the rose, I thought—This is bad, Wes, it’s really, really bad.”
Because everything I predicted is coming true.
Coming face-to-face with the killer?Check.
Escalation?Check.
The group fracturing again?Check.
Not to mention who we’ve lost.Two more people—Colette and the guy in the hallway—are gone.
“We’re going to find a way out.”
Wes’s voice is assured, soothing, but already I’m starting to see the repercussions of this plot twist.The consequences of being the object of Heart Eyes’s desire.All of them—Laurie, Wes, Dani, Jennifer.They’re all in so much more danger now.
“You should—”
“No.”Laurie doesn’t even let me finish, and I watch as she extracts her head from the bucket to shoot a watery glare at me.
“Whatever you’re about to suggest.Fuck.No.”
“Billie’s right.”
“She hasn’t been right all night!”
Laurie spits into the bucket one more time and pushes off the table.Her palms instinctively drop to smooth out the front of her jumpsuit, and I can see the gleam of sweat they leave behind.“That’s not going to change now.”
While I appreciate the sentiment, the fact remains.He’s chosen me.Out of every other person here tonight, I’m the one he wants, and that makes the rest of them obstacles between us.
For the first timeever, I disagree with Kate Winslet.I do not want to be the Leading Lady of my own life ifthisis what my life has led to.
Not only that, but I don’t think I’m even capable of being a Leading Lady or a Final Girl anyway.Not just because Heart Eyes has got it wrong and I’m too old to be a Final Girl and too young to be a Leading Lady.And while I’ve studied them, wanted to be like them, used the fictional life lessons and motivational messages to pump me up before anything that induces social anxiety, I’veneverput myself in either category.
“It’s dangerous to be around me,” I say, trying to keep my voice even as I reach up and wrap my fingers around Wes’s wrist.Last time it was to pull him closer, and now I’m pulling his palm from my cheek.Before I drop his hand he manages to twist in my grip until he grabs mine and squeezes.Then he doesn’t let go.Even though I mean the words, I can’t bring myself to let go, either.
“It’s deadlynotto be around you,” Laurie says, moving forward and grasping my free hand.She squeezes it almost painfully.
“Everyone who has died… well, it wasn’t when they were close to you, was it?I hate to say it, baby girl, but you’re our collateral.”
It’s brutal and factual andsoLaurie but—“It’s not going to stay like that,” I say.“If anything, it’s a fluke.In a slasher, when the—”
“Nothing has changed, Jamie,” Wes says, but judging by the tight expression on his face… Everything has changed.“We’re just… better informed.”
That’s one way of looking at it.
