"No. My mom decided she doesn't like the ocean." Peyton pauses. "I can't believe she's gone. I know everyone at school hated her but it's because they didn't take the time to know her. They didn't know her like I did."
"You didn't really talk to her much at school."
"We grew apart as we got older. And whenever she'd get a boyfriend, she'd ditch her friends for whoever the guy was. I kind of do that too so I can't judge." She sniffles. "I can't believe she's gone. It doesn't even seem real. Who would do that to her? Do they know?"
"No. They have to do an investigation."
"I bet it was Jackson. I know you two are together but I don't care. As your friend, I have to tell you the truth about that guy. He's crazy, Rumor. I'm not just saying that. He really is. He seems like the greatest boyfriend ever at first. Sweet. Loving. Generous. But then he turns on you. He did it to Andrea and now he did it to Kristen."
"Jackson didn't do it," I say, getting angry. "Just because she was found there doesn't mean—"
"She was found there?" Peyton says. "Kristen's body was found at Novak's house?"
"Behindhis house. On the beach. But that doesn't mean—"
"He did it! Jackson did this! He killed Kristen!"
"He didn't do it!" I yell. "Anyone could've killed her!"
"And dumped her body behind his house? Seriously, Rumor, I know you're crazy for the guy but you need to wake up. She was found dead behind his house! It had to be Jackson. Who else could it be?"
"Braden," I say.
"Why would Braden do it? He already has the cops breathing down his neck about the Andrea case. You really think he'd kill Kristen, knowing the cops are watching everything he does?"
"They're looking at Jackson too, so if what you're saying is true, Jackson didn't do it." I pause. "What about her stepdad?"
"What about him?"
"Do you think he might've had something to do with this?"
"Like what?"
"Like maybe they got in a fight and he killed her."
"Okay, you're seriously messed up. I'm starting to change my mind about you being my bestie."
"I'm just saying, I heard them fighting at school. More than once."
"Everyone fights with their parents."
"Yeah, but—" I can't tell her. I can't tell anyone. Nobody would believe me. I have no proof. Even Jackson wouldn't believe me when I told him what Kristen was doing with her stepdad. "Forget it. It was just a theory."
"Principal Edwards would never hurt Kristen. He loved her like she was his own daughter."
Actually he loved her more like a girlfriend, or a mistress. But I can't tell Peyton that.
"I'm coming over," she says.
"Wait—what do you mean? Cominghere?"
"I can't be home alone. I'm too upset, and when I'm upset I smoke, and I'm really trying to quit."
"You smoke?"
"I started a long time ago, back when I was still acting. A lot of the actors smoked so I tried it. I was hooked after a week."
"You never smell like smoke."
