“I’m scared,” I say quietly, sniffing. “Of what’s happening to me and what’s going to happen.”
“You’re going to be fine,” Belle says, taking my hands again. “We all have skeletons.”
I feel hot, hoping my sweaty palms don’t gross her out. Belle looks at me like I’m not the person I think I am. I wonder how many skeletons she has?
Every face in here flickers, morphing into the girl’s. Is it a trick of the light? Or is it my brain playing games once again? I feel like I’m surrounded.
I look at Belle and see her hair matted with blood as her face shifts. I feel like I’m losing it. The walls of what was left of my sanity are cracking and breaking away.
“Chi…,” she says softly. “No matter what, you’ll always have me, okay?”
There’s a snap in my head, like someone clicking their fingers, and all the faces return to normal, including hers.
It’s not much, but being here with Belle makes me feel better. And hearing her say those words makes me feel a little bit safer.
Monday
I’m surprised I slept at all last night. Rather than the usual dream sequence—that starts with me at the side of the road next to her dead body and ends with me in a dark room surrounded by blond dolls—my brain finally lets the dark consume me instead.
Coming back to Niveus feels like I’ve returned to the scene of acrime. Like those guilt-ridden criminals in investigator shows, I feel as if I’m walking into an open trap. One step in the wrong direction and it’s over. Somehow a girl I never met before the accident is behind Aces and wants to ruin my life. But who is she? Why is she doing this? And how? Is this revenge for what happened that night last year? Has the girl found out who I am and wants me to suffer like she did?
On first thought, it might seem like a smart move for me to stay at home, but with Mom and Dad gone all day, and knowing that girl could be coming for me—waiting until I’m alone to strike—I had no choice but to return to the safety of a crowded school of my peers, who hate me.
I drag myself through the hallway, trying to keep my head up as I spot Ruby, Ava, and Cecelia Wright by Ruby’s locker. I haven’t spoken to them in a while. There hasn’t been anything I’ve wanted to speak to them about.
I feel like there’s a target on my back. I failed last night, failed to stop Aces like I’d planned, and today anything could happen.
Belle is at home with a cold, and I have no idea where my phone is, so I can’t even text her between breaks. I’m forced to go up to my “friends,” to avoid looking like the loser I feel like.
Despite how tired I am, I force a smile as I approach them.
“Hi, girls,” I say, eyes locking on Cecelia. CeCe’s never liked me much; she made that clear when she told me once in sophomore year,Someday someone’s going to knock you off your high horse.I laughed and told her to keep wishing for the impossible.
CeCe gives me a once-over, eyes pausing at my feet. Today I’m wearing my dark-green crocodile leather Jimmy Choo pumps.
“Nice shoes,” CeCe says, face as expressionless as her voice.
I smile. “Thanks, CeCe, theyarenice.” I don’t bother to lie by complimenting her too.
Ava’s looking down at her shoes and Ruby’s looking at me.
“Haven’t seen you in a few days. Wanted to check on you, but I figured you’d be preoccupied,” Ruby says, red brows furrowing together.
“It’s been a pretty difficult few weeks, but it’s just a blip. This whole thing will blow over, and everything will go back to normal by next week,” I say with a shrug.
This makes Ruby grin; I can see the fire behind her eyes, smoke wafting into my nose as it burns behind the green. “It’s nice that you can remain positive after everything. I like that about you.” Her gaze flickers to my shoes as well. “Are those Jimmy Choo?”
I nod slowly, trying to look for the double meaning.
“Hi Ruby, CeCe, and Ava,” a voice chirps from behind, and I swivel slightly, met now by that sophomore… Miranda, I think she said her name was. “I dropped by Starbucks and got you three chai lattes, just how you like them. I know you’re on a diet, CeCe, so I told them to put your order in a small cup and got grandes for Ava and Ruby.”
“Thanks, Molly,” Ruby says as they all take their drinks.
I feel a little crack inside, my heart racing as I try not to look bothered. The sophomore leaves and Ruby turns away from us, pushing her handbag into her locker. I feel stupid, standing here like I’m waiting on her or something.
Just as I’m about to tell them I’ll see them around, make them think I have somewhere better to be, I hear someone call my name.
“Chiamaka, hey,” Devon says, out of breath, looking a little shaken up. I’m glad to see him still alive. This morning I kept hopingnothing had happened. I couldn’t check on him either; I had no way to. I wouldn’t blame him if he was pissed at me.
