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Adventures In Funeral Crashing

Funeral Crashing Trilogy #1

By Milda Harris

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2010 by Milda Harrishttp!!www"mildaharris"om!

$iso%er other titles by Milda Harris at Smashwords"omhttp!!www"smashwords"om!pro&ile!%iew!mildaharris

Co%er 'rt by Brett (ilberthttp!!www"brettgilbert"om

Edited by )auren Cramer

This boo* is a wor* o& &ition" The names+ haraters+ plaes+ and inidents are produts o& the writer,s imagination or ha%e been used &ititiously and are not to be

onstrued as real" 'ny resemblane to persons+ li%ing or dead+ atual e%ents+ loales+ ororgani-ations is entirely oinidental"

'll rights are reser%ed" .o part o& this boo* may be used or reprodued in anymanner whatsoe%er without written permission &rom the author"

Table of ContentsChapter 1 Funeral CrashingChapter 2 CrushingChapter / orryingChapter Con&essingChapter 3n%estigatingChapter 4 SleuthingChapter 5 Finger 6ointingChapter 7 3nspetingChapter 8 3n9uiringChapter 10 6ower )unhing

Chapter 11 Funeral $atingChapter 12 Frea*ingChapter 1/ 3nterrogatingChapter 1 $ithingChapter 1 $ouble $atingChapter 14 :issingChapter 15 6ani*ingChapter 17 Suspeting

http://www.mildaharris.com/http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mildaharrishttp://www.brettgilbert.com/http://www.mildaharris.com/http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mildaharrishttp://www.brettgilbert.com/


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Chapter 18 Murder Sol%ingChapter 20 HomeomingE;erpt < The .ew (irl ho Found ' $ead Body'bout the 'uthor

Chapter 1: Funeral Crashing

Funeral rashing is a little weird+ 3 suppose+ &or someone my age" 3,m si;teen+almost se%enteen+ and 3 =ust started my =unior year at 6alos High Shool in 6alos+ 3)" 3t,sin the southwest suburbs o& Chiago" Still+ 3,m not Harold &rom Harold and Maude+ =ustto ma*e that lear" 3 lo%e mo%ies and that one is &unny and dar*+ but 3,m not li*e him" 3don,t stage &a*e suiides or dri%e a hearse" He was dar* and somber and totally weird" 3don,t thin* 3,m li*e that" 3 li*e normal things li*e regular ars" 'tually+ 3,d really lo%e a bright blue on%ertible" 'nd+ 3,m not obsessed with death" 3 =ust li*e going to &unerals"

3,m *ind o& young to be a pro&essional mourner+ though+ right> That,s what they allit i& you,re old shool" 3t tends to be in re&erene to groups o& old ladies+ who =ust lo%e to

attend &unerals" Maybe they,re trying to get ideas &or their own &uneral" Maybe they wantto beat the ?oneses, and get a shinier o&&in and better &lowers than their neighbor had"@r+ maybe they =ust li*e &unerals+ li*e 3 do" 'nd+ when 3 say &unerals+ 3,m inluding thewa*e and the atual burial" They,re both part o& the same proess"

3 atually one &ound a website ad%ertising an e;iting areer as a pro&essionalmournerA 3,ll admit it < 3 was googling" 3t said you ould ma*e 00 a day and all you hadto do was start alling &uneral homes and o&&er your ser%ies" .ow that,s an awesomea&ter shool =obA So+ 3 alled+ but none o& them alled me ba*" 3 guess it wasn,t alurati%e areer a&ter all" 3t doesn,t matter" 3 go to them anyway &or &ree"

3 *now+ 3 *now" hat more an 3 say to e;plain> 3t,s simple" Super simple" 3 happento li*e &unerals and 3 ompletely reali-e that it ma*es me seem li*e a totally and utterly

bi-arre girl" @*ay+ 3,m weird" es+ 3,m a &rea*" 3 admit it" Hey+ 3,m not going to ma*e &uno& you &or singing along to the latest Miley Cyrus or ?ustin Bieber song or anything" ou*now you do" Those songs are athy" Belie%e me+ it wouldn,t be the &irst time someonetold me 3 was weird" My e;


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by the time the dotors &ound it+ it had already spread" 3t was li*e one minute she wasdiagnosed and two months later she was gone" 3 try not to thin* about it" 3t still ma*es mereally sad and i& 3 dwell on it+ 3 =ust get depressed" 3 start thin*ing about things li*e i& 3e%er get married she won,t be there" .ot that 3 remotely ha%e any prospets+ but you*now+ i& 3 e%er do"

3 miss her" 3 really miss her" 3,d gi%e anything to ha%e her ba* and wipe away thoselast two months" The last moments my mother was ali%e+ she was unonsious in ourli%ing room+ dying" 3t,s still depressing to wal* into the li%ing room" 3 an almost still seewhere the hospital bed was+ e%en though my dad has replaed it with a leather ouh anda brand new &lat sreen TG" e all deal with grie& in di&&erent ways"

The &uneral was atually a relie&" 3t was the &irst &uneral 3 had e%er attended" 3 meannobody in my &amily or any &amily &riends or anything had died in the &ourteen plus years3 had been ali%e and then the &irst one to go+ is my mom" Sure+ 3 had grandparents die be&ore 3 was born+ but 3 wasn,t born yet+ so 3 ne%er *new them" 'nyway+ it was amemorable &irst &uneral" 3 lo%ed my mom more than anything else and it was om&ortingha%ing all o& the people who lo%ed her all around us+ e%en i& most o& them were =ust

&amily" 'nd+ you *now what> 3t was a nie &uneral &or being really depressing and all"3t was really ool hearing all the stories about my mom" Things she had ne%ermentioned to me" )i*e+ 3 didn,t *now she li%ed in )os 'ngeles+ Cali&ornia &or threemonths when she was twenty 3 li*e to read too anything ande%erything" My &a%orite boo*s range &rom The Shining by Stephen :ing I%ery reepyJ toGone With The Wind by Margaret Mithell Ilassi romaneJ to Shopaholic by Sophie:insella I&unny hi litJ" See+ 3,m not all dar* and dreary" ' good boo* is a good boo*when you li*e to read as muh as 3 do" 3 suppose some o& my reading a&&inity omes &rommy best &riend ha%ing dithed me+ beoming the weird girl+ and ha%ing no &riends at allupon starting high shool" Suddenly+ you get a lot o& time on your hands to do stu&& li*eread"

So+ yeah+ 3,m not a (oth girl+ by the way" 3 don,t wear all bla* and 3 ha%en,t dyedmy hair bla* either" 3 did put bleah blonde highlights into my hair last year+ but they,%eall *ind o& grown out now and my hair is mostly ba* to it,s reddish blonde again" 3t,s*ind o& rusty really" My mom always said it was strawberry blonde and that it made mygreen eyes stand out" 3 thin* she was =ust being my mom beause my hair loo*s rusty tome"

@h+ and to be (oth you ha%e to *now it inside out and be good at &ashion+ in a (othway" 3t,s not all =ust wearing bla* and 3,m not good at &ashion+ by any means" 3 mostly =ust wear =eans and T


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So+ basially+ 3,m not a total &rea*+ li*e 'riel al*er ma*es me out to be" 3 =ust li*e&unerals+ whih is why 3,m at a wa*e on ednesday night+ instead o& at home wathingrappy reality tele%ision shows or teen dramas li*e e%eryone else" 'nd+ o*ay+ we do ha%eT3G@ and 3 an always ath them online later+ so it,s not li*e 3,m missing anything"

3t,s a wa*e &or )i- @,Keilly" She was only nineteen and died o& a drug o%erdose < a

heroin drug o%erdose to be e;at" 3t made the paper" There ha%e been a lot o& o%erdoses at)aurel Community College in the last two months and it,s not the *ind o& area you,dthin* would ha%e a ma=or drug problem" 3 mean+ pot+ sure+ but heroin> Heroin is ahardore drug" 3t,s something you,d e;pet to see a problem with in the inner ity+ nothere in the s9uea*y lean suburbs"

3 saw the news artile be&ore 3 e%en read the obituary" The obituary =ust said she wasta*en too soon &rom her lo%ing &amily" .obody wants to admit that their *id was adruggie" Things li*e that are ne%er in the obituary" Her piture is what really got to me" 3tmade my heart onstrit and e%erything+ it was so sad" )i- was really pretty &rom the photo" ou,d ne%er e%en thin* o& her as using drugs+ at least not enough to o%erdose" 6ot+maybe" 'lohol+ sure+ she,s a teenager" Heroin+ no way would she be the type to e%en try

it" 3 guess you an ne%er tell+ though" 3t,s ra-y")i- loo*ed li*e your a%erage 'merian girl < dar* hair+ green eyes+ tall+ thin+ andyoung" 3,d bet anything that they used her high shool graduation photo &or the obituary"3t =ust loo*ed li*e one o& those photos" )i- was smiling and lear eyed+ and had her wholeli&e ahead o& her" .ow+ instead+ a year later+ she was dead and 3 was attending her &uneral"ou ne%er *new where li&e would ta*e you or when it would be ta*en away &rom you"Carpe diem+ you *now>

's a note+ you ha%e to be are&ul when rashing a &uneral or a wa*e" 3 usually staytoward the ba* and *eep my head down" 3 li*e listening to e%eryone else tal*+ but 3 don,tatually want to get in on the on%ersation" Tal*ing to people is a good way to get aught&uneral rashing" 3 mean+ you an tal* to people+ but you ha%e to be %ery+ %ery are&ulwhat you say" hen the only in&o you ha%e on a person is &rom an online obituary+ it,s%ery easy to get aught in a lie" Then again+ it,s not li*e the deeased is going to sit up intheir o&&in and say+ D.o+ 3 de&initely don,t *now that girl with the rusty hair"

ou also don,t want to be only one o& three people in attendane" Small &unerals area de&inite no


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ould blend in with any o& the ollege students that might be there" 3 was right" Thereweren,t a thousand+ li*e 3 would ha%e thought+ but they may ha%e been waiting to turnout at the end o& the night the whole &ashionably late thing" Still+ there were enough o&them that 3 wouldn,t loo* onspiuous" 3 had =ust thought that most o& )aurel CommunityCollege would show up" 3 mean+ )i- had died so young+ but maybe )i- alienated people

when she started to use drugs" 3 *now 3 would ha%e been mad at her &or *illing hersel&"Still+ it is a big &uneral" 3t loo*s li*e mostly relati%es and &amily &riends" There are barely any seats in the %iewing room+ people are =ust milling around+ and it is still early"ou an tell that all o& her relati%es are here" That woman in the orner surrounded by people loo*s li*e it ould be )i-,s mom" 3t is pro&oundly sad" My heart =ust wants toreah out to her" 3 *now how she &eels+ e;ept the other way around+ sine 3 ha%e lost mymom" 3 mean+ 3,m not going to go up to her and tell her that 3 ha%e &elt the same way beause then 3,d get as*ed the worst 9uestion you ould possibly get as*ed when yourash a &uneral DHow do you *now )i->

ou ha%e to be are&ul how you answer that+ i& someone as*s you" 3 mean a longlost ousin> ell+ there tends to be a &amily historian in e%ery bunh and you an easily

get aught i& you say you,re related" That,s what happened that time 3 almost got aught by the old man" He was the &amily historian and *new e%eryone,s name ba* until theylanded on the 'merias" Seriously" 'nyway+ it an wor* sometimes+ but not always+ as 3&ound out" So+ it,s ris*y"

'n old+ long lost &riend> eah+ well+ that doesn,t 9uite wor* i& the deeased is &orty<&i%e and you,re si;teen" They tend to thin* something weird is going on then" .ineteenand si;teen> That ould wor* &or me" )i- and 3 probably loo*ed around the same age" 3ould pass &or a young nineteen" 3 mean+ who an tell these days anyway" There are people in my lass who loo* thirty ou *now>3 thin* it,s a nie thing+ what 3,m doing" 3 are about people" Still+ when you go aroundtelling people that you rash &unerals+ they don,t &eel that way about it+ no matter how3,%e intended it"

So+ be&ore 3 e%er show up to a &uneral or a wa*e+ 3 ma*e sure to read the obituaryand do some (oogle researh" 3& 3 an &ind anything about the deeased and their &amily+it always lea%es me more prepared" 'nd+ 3 always+ always+ always try to thin* o& a o%er+ =ust in ase 3 get as*ed how 3 *now the deeased" This one was easy" 3 had a lass with)i- at )aurel Community College" 3& they pressed me on whih lass+ 3 was going with anormal one li*e English" She might not be ta*ing English+ so 3 wasn,t going to o&&er+ butit was a good bet that she may ha%e ta*en it in the last year" 'nd+ i& they *ept pressing+my plan was to simply =ust say that 3 didn,t *now her that well+ but 3 thought it was reallysad what happened and all+ so 3 deided to ome to the &uneral and pay my respets"

3t was too bad then that 3 got all tongue

3 had totally had an answer prepared" 3 swear" 3t,s =ust that he,s so &rea*ing hot that 3


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totally &orgot all about it"

Chapter 2: Crushing

3 ouldn,t help it" Ethan Kipley is gorgeous+ with a apital (" 3 mean+ he de&initely beats out handsomeA 3s there a better word than gorgeous> Hot as hell+ maybe> Beausehot as hell is de&initely the phrase that desribes Ethan Kipley"

Ethan is popular+ by &ar" He plays sports bas*etball in the late &all and 3 *now he played baseball last spring+ but he,s not a =o* guy" He,s smart" )i*e+ really smart andompeting &or %aleditorian"

3 don,t *now how he &inds the time+ really &or sports and shool and being popular"3 mean+ 3 ha%e a part time =ob at the 6alos Gideo Store and my &uneral rashing and 3,mdoing o*ay ',s and B,s are good+ right> Still+ some days+ it,s li*e that homewor* =ust

piles up on you"Ba* to the hotness o& Ethan so+ he,s smart+ he plays sports+ and he,s nie" es+

nie" 3 mean+ he %olunteers wee*ends at the hospital or at least he used to &reshman year"3,m not stal*ing him+ 3 swear" 3 only *now this beause when my mom was si*+ 3 sawhim there one o& the times we went to the emergeny room" Ethan e%en made my momlaugh when we were there" She was really si* and we were waiting &or the dotor toome ba* in &rom tal*ing with my dad and he made her laugh" 3t was really nie o& him beause we were all really stressed"

D3t,s not spar*ling water+ Ethan Kipley said in a &au; haughty maitre dN tone+handing my mom the glass o& water she had as*ed &or &rom the nurse+ but here,s thewater you as*ed &or"

My mom had a high &e%er and we were hoping the hospital would help get it down+so you *now my mom &elt rappy and not li*e laughing at all+ but Ethan Kipley ga%e hera reason to" 3t too* her a seond and it was a stupid heesy =o*e+ but she laughed" Shehadn,t e%en smiled at that point in wee*s and here she was laughing at Ethan Kipley,sstupid omment" 3t was really nie to hear her laugh" 3t may ha%e been the last time 3heard her laugh+ atually+ and it was all beause o& Ethan" 3,ll admit+ 3 had alreadythought he was ute at that point &rom seeing him at shool+ but at that moment uteturned into a &ull on rush" Belie%e me+ 3 *new nothing would e%er ome o& it+ that,s whyit,s alled a rush" They,re totally one sided and they =ust rush your heart into obli%ion"

To ma*e the story e%en better+ Ethan had brought me a glass o& water+ e%en though 3hadn,t as*ed the nurse &or one" 3t,s li*e he *new 3 was thirsty too" He handed it to me and

3 ouldn,t thin* o& anything to say" He didn,t say anything either+ but =ust smiled" For amoment we =ust stood there loo*ing at eah other" 3 =ust stared 3 mean he,s EthanKipley+ but he smiled" Ethan has a great smile" 3 don,t thin* he had to get braes+ li*e 3had at the time" 't least those are o&& now" So+ 3 stared at his smile and he smiled at meand then he was gone" 3 *now he was =ust being nie and that it wasn,t li*e he reogni-edme &rom shool or anything" Still+ it was really nie o& him to bring me water tooLandma*e my mom laugh"

'nd+ did 3 mention he,s gorgeous with a apital (> 3t,s the last thing 3,m tal*ing


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about beause he really is the real deal wrapped up in a super hot pa*age" 3 =ust wantedto ma*e that lear" He,s got wa%y dar* hair" 3t,s the *ind you want to run your handsthrough beause you *now it has got to be super sil*y" .ot that 3,%e e%er &elt his hair")i*e 3 said+ 3 don,t thin* he *nows 3 e;ist" 3 ha%e a snea*ing suspiion 'riel al*er has&elt his hair+ though+ and she totally didn,t deser%e it"

'nd+ Ethan,s got bright blue eyes+ whih are staring at me uriously right now" Sigh+a guy with bright blue eyes e9uals ma=or hottie in my boo*" 3 mean+ they say the eyes arethe windows to the soul and all and what ama-ing windows these are"

DHow do you *now )i-> Ethan as*ed again"3 had lost mysel& in his eyes" hat was my answer> 3 *now 3 had one+ D3+ uh+ 3 went

to shool with her"'s soon as 3 said it+ 3 *new 3 was in trouble" hat was wrong with me> He ould

reogni-e me a&ter allL&rom high shoolA 'nd+ Ethan did loo* at me strangely &or aseond" Then he &rowned and sat down ne;t to me" That was a surprise"

He was dressed in &uneral garb a bla* suit and tie+ but his dress shirt was the same bright blue as his eyes" 3 ouldn,t stop staring at him" hy did he ha%e to be so ute> My

brain was getting all weird on me beause o& it" 3 ouldn,t thin* straight"$id 3 loo* o*ay> 3 &ound mysel& thin*ing" 3 had on a &lowing bla* s*irt and a bla*lay tan* top o%ered by a long sweater" 3t was &unerales9ue+ but 3 thin* 3 loo*ed alrightand 3 had made a point to put on ma*eA>A That was my &irst thought+ but 3 *new it was true beause 3 ould hear the

grie& in his %oie" 3 suddenly notied it in his eyes too" My heart went out to him" 3 =ustwanted to hug him and say+ 3,%e been there" 3 *now how you &eel" 3nstead+ 3 said+ Doursister> But you don,t ha%e the same last name"

3 &elt stupid the seond a&ter 3 said it too" hat an 3 say> My brain was busy short<iruiting"

DShe was my hal& sister" My mother was married to someone else be&ore she met mydad" They had )i- and then they got di%ored" My mother remarried and had me+ Ethanwas still peering at me uriously" 3 was more &oused on how lose his arm still was tomine"

DThat,s really sad+ 3 said and 3 meant it" D3 am so sorry" Ethan nodded ba* and then loo*ed diretly into my eyes" 3 loo*ed ba* at him and

tried to *eep breathing normally"DSo+ how do you *now )i-+ really> Ethan as*ed again"


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3 tried to hange the sub=et again as 3 &elt my heart start to beat harder against myhest in pani+ Dhy isn,t there anybody &rom shool here> 3 mean+ 3 would thin*e%eryone would be here to support you"

's 3 said this+ 3 loo*ed around the &uneral parlor" There was nobody &rom our highshool here" .ot e%en 'riel+ who 3 *now would ha%e been glad to om&ort Ethan in his

time o& loss and not =ust beause she was aring li*e that" She was an opportunist and thiswould de&initely ha%e been a great opportunity &or her to sin* her laws into Ethan"Truth&ully+ it would ha%e been a ma=or get out sign i& people &rom my high shool

had all been there" 3 mean+ 3 didn,t go to &unerals to hang out with people &rom my highshool" 3 didn,t e%en hang out with them in high shool"

Ethan seemed surprised by my 9uestion" D3 didn,t tell anyone" .ow 3 was on&used" 3 mean+ how ould his &riends+ and 3 *now he had li*e a billion

o& them+ being the most popular guy in shool+ not *now his sister had died and that herwa*e was tonight" Dhy not>

's 3 as*ed the 9uestion+ 3 remembered my mom,s &uneral" The only person that*new she had died &rom shool was 'riel and despite being my e;My mom was dead" 'riel,s li&e was getting more awesome by the moment and weweren,t &riends anymore" The end"

Dell+ Ethan &rowned+ DMy &riends $a%e and Mi*e are oming later+ but 3 didn,twant e%eryone at shool to *now" 3 mean+ they didn,t *now )i-" $a%e and Mi*e did"

3 nodded" He was tal*ing about $a%e Ki*erson and Mi*e Finnigan" 3 didn,t *nowthem personally+ but 3 *new they were &riends o& his" They were always at lunh togetherand 3 *new they all played sports" So+ yeah+ 3 *new who they were" 3 mean+ nobody &romthat rowd e%er loo*ed at or spo*e to me" They wouldn,t e%en as* me &or a penil i& theyneeded one &or their math test+ 3 was so low on the totem pole" 'lthough+ the way theywere supporting Ethan was nie" They sounded li*e real &riends"

Ethan prodded again+ DSo+ now don,t hange the sub=et" 3 really want to *now" Howdo you *now )i->

My mind was blan*" 3 didn,t *now how to get out o& this" 3 mean+ 3 ouldn,t e;atlytell him the truth" 3 didn,t want Ethan Kipley to thin* 3 was a total &rea*" 'riel al*er+ 3ould handle+ but Ethan Kipley thin*ing that would be totally de%astating" So+ 3 did theonly thing 3 ould thin* o& to do" 3 got up and &led the &uneral as &ast as my legs wouldarry me" 'nd+ 3 mean+ &ast" Hey+ it wor*ed the last time"


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Chapter 3: Worrying

)ying on my bed at home+ under the o%ers+ and urled up with a om&ort boo* myopy o& Twilight Iand yes+ 3,%e seen all the mo%ies too+ multiple timesJ , that 3 was reading&or the third time+ 3 reali-ed that &leeing the &uneral may not ha%e been the best idea" 3mean+ i& Ethan was my Edward li*e in Twilight + things would wor* out and he,d thin* my

aw*wardness and weirdness was se;y and ute+ li*e Edward thin*s o& Bella e%en whenshe does weird things+ li*e not want to go to the prom" Sadly+ Ethan Kipley+ was =ustgoing to thin* 3 was totally weird anyway &or running out on him at his hal& sister,s&uneral" 3t wouldn,t e%en ta*e telling him 3 was &uneral rashing"

3t was almost midnight and 3 ould hear my dad wathing C.. in the other room"e *ept to our own rooms+ other than dinner" e got along+ my dad and me+ but we =ustdidn,t hang out" 3 usually read in my room until 3 &all asleep+ unless 3 ha%e homewor*+while he wathes sports or C.. in the li%ing room"

3 usually &all asleep around ten or ten thirty" 3 *now the ma=ority o& people my agestay up until midnight e%ery night+ but shool wipes me out" 3 rash+ sometimes e%en bynine" My mind was too busy tonight to rash+ though"

)i- @,Keilly was Ethan Kipley,s hal& sister" That was ra-y" 3 had loo*ed at the opyo& the obituary &rom my dad,s daily newspaper when 3 got home" He li*es to read theatual paper+ so we still get one" He,s old shool li*e that"

Liz O’Reilly, 1, died Sunday! She wa" a "tudent at Laurel #ommunity #ollege andhoped to $e a %eterinarian! She %olunteered at the &alo" 'nimal Shelter and lo%ed all

animal", e"pecially her re"cued dog, &aw"! She i" "ur%i%ed $y her mother and "tep(ather,

)liza$eth and *ame" Ripley, her (ather +elly O’Reilly, her maternal grandmother Lilly Morgan, her "i$ling" )than and Lilly Ripley, and numerou" aunt", uncle", and cou"in"!

The wae will $e held on Wedne"day (rom -pm . pm at &alo" /uneral Home! /uneral

Thur"day at am!3 ouldn,t belie%e 3 hadn,t notied the name Kipley in the list o& sur%i%ed by

relati%es" 3t was there+ but sine he was only listed as Ethan and his sister )illy was listedas )illy Kipley+ 3 hadn,t &oused enough to put two and two together" 3 ob%iously neededto pay more attention ne;t time to the names o& the sur%i%ing relati%es" That was mylesson in this"

Kegardless+ 3 had no idea that Ethan e%en had a hal& sister with a di&&erent last name"3 hadn,t e%en *nown about his &ull blood sister )illy" Sure+ 3 had a rush on him+ but thatwas only &rom a distane and at shool" 3 didn,t stal* him or anything+ 3 mostly+ =ustga-ed and hoped" The usual rush thing"

6oor )illy" She must ha%e been the little girl that had been sitting on the &ront ouhstaring blan*ly at the o&&in+ in the somber bla* dress that no hild should e%er ha%e towear" 6oor 6aws+ )i-,s dog he probably didn,t e%en *now what had happened to his

master" 3t was sad all around"My bla* at+ Sarlett+ as in the main harater &rom Gone With the Wind . Sarlett

@,Hara , was urled up ne;t to my &eet" She li*ed to do that when 3 was reading" 3 reaheddown and srathed her head+ lo%ingly" She started purring almost immediately"

D3 lo%e you+ 3 said and hugged her" My dad had gotten her &or me a&ter my motherdied" She was no replaement &or my mom+ but Sarlett was a great at" She lo%ed to bataround her toys and ma*e me laugh" 3 *new she,d miss me i& something happened to me"6oor 6aws"


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My mind &ound its way ba* to Ethan" ow+ Ethan,s sister had died o& a drugo%erdose" 3 hadn,t e%en heard about it at shool and no matter what he said+ some peoplehad to *now" Then again+ 3 tried to stay away &rom the gossips li*e 'riel beause i& 3 gottoo lose+ they tended to gossip about me" 'riel had already irulated too manymaliious rumors about me anyway"

3 was worried about seeing Ethan in shool" Surely+ he,d &orget about me by the timehe ame ba* to shool a&ter the &uneral and e%erything+ right> Kight>Dou,re still up> My dad po*ed his head into my room" He had ob%iously &allen

asleep wathing tele%ision+ sine his hair was all o%er the plae and his eyes were onlyhal& open and s9uinting at me+ D3t,s a&ter midnight"

3 held up my boo*+ D?ust reading+ dad"He waited &or a moment+ not so sure that was it+ DE%erything o*ay>3 smiled+ trying to loo* reassuring" DFine+ =ust reading"D@*ay" ou might want to go to sleep soon+ though+ you *now" Shool tomorrow+

he said and 3 heard him wal* into the bathroom and shut the door"My dad was ool li*e that" Trusting me to do the right thing and 3 *new 3 needed to

go to sleep" 3 set Twilight down on my bedside table and turned out the lights" 3t had beena long+ ra-y night" 3 wanted to &orget about e%er running into Ethan Kipley+ e%en i& hedid *now who 3 was" 3 stared at the lo* and tried to will my mind into slumber+ but it =ust *ept thin*ing and thin*ing and thin*ing instead"

So+ despite only about two hours o& solid sleep and lots o& tossing and turning+Thursday at shool went by without inident" Ethan wasn,t there to tra* me down at mylo*er &irst thing in the morning or waiting outside my &irst period lass" .ot e%en his&riends $a%e or Mi*e had stopped me in the hallway+ although 3 admit to du*ing into the bathroom when 3 saw them a&ter seond hour+ =ust in ase" 3 had worried all night &ornothing" 3 mean+ there was the usual 'riel al*er taunting+ but that was a normalourrene these days"

DHey+ :ait+ 3,m sure you ha%e your pi* o& Homeoming dates at the gra%eyardA'riel yelled at me+ when 3 wal*ed by her be&ore my &ourth period Chemistry lass"

3 *ept wal*ing" 3t was best to ignore her" orst ase+ she,d yell another insult a&terme" Best ase+ she and her &riends would laugh and then mo%e onto tormenting someoneelse"

'riel &ollowed me+ instead+ and aught up to me" 3 ould &eel her &riends+ Sarah andMegan+ wathing &rom a distane" hy was it ool to torment people> 3 mean+ weren,twe supposed to be more grown up in high shool> hy ouldn,t she =ust lea%e me alone>asn,t it enough that we weren,t &riends anymore>

DSo+ you didn,t answer me about your Homeoming date+ 'riel taunted+ as she &ellinto step beside me"

3t was useless to ignore her when she was wal*ing ne;t to me+ D'riel+ why don,t you =ust lea%e me alone>

Dow+ you,re not ignoring me+ &or one" That,s progress+ 'riel said"Dou ha%e new b&&s" hy don,t you go harass them> 3 said+ wearily+ trying to pi*

up the pae so that 3 ould get to my Chemistry lass &aster"DBeause you,re more &un+ 'riel smir*ed sarastially" D'nd+ there,s nothing wrong

with Sarah and Megan"3 was almost there+ D(ee+ than*s" (ood tal*ing to you too" .ow+ byeee"


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'riel stayed ne;t to me+ D3,m going with Ethan Kipley to Homeoming" 3,%e turneddown three other guys &or him"

My heart plummeted" @& ourse 'riel would get Ethan to as* her to Homeoming"She was e%il li*e that" 3 ouldn,t say anything to her omment" My heart was in my throatand blo*ing all sound" Maybe Ethan would dith her beause he was grie%ing &or his

sister" 3 stopped mysel&" .o+ that was mean hoping that Ethan would &eel that distraught+ but 3 still ouldn,t help wishing it+ =ust so he wouldn,t go to the dane with 'riel" She*new it bothered me too" That,s why she was ta*ing a moment to tell me" 3 had told her 3*inda li*ed him when we were still &riends &reshman year" Big mista*e"

D3 got an ama-ing dress and e%erything" E%eryone is going to be =ealous o& me+'riel was still tal*ing" hy was she still &ollowing me and trying to rub it in>

e were at the doors o& my Chemistry lass" She ouldn,t possibly &ollow me in+right> 3 *ept wal*ing+ not pausing to &ind out" 3 lost her at the doorway" 3 saw her standingaw*wardly &or a moment outside as 3 set my boo*s on my lab table and pretended toarrange them+ all the while pee*ing toward the doorway to see what had happened to her"' moment later+ 'riel was bliss&ully gone"

The Homeoming =ibe hurt+ though" 3 wanted to go to Homeoming+ whih was inabout two wee*s+ at the start o& @tober" 3 had no date prospets" .ot e%en my weirdnerdy Chemistry lab partner+ :yle ?ones+ would ha%e as*ed me to go with him"

e were e9ual soial pariahs and yet+ it would be worse &or :yle i& he as*ed me togo" He was a nie guy &or being weird and nerdy+ though+ and he de&initely didn,t deser%ethe torment he got either" 3 mean+ i& anything+ he deser%ed aolades" He was a sienewi-" He won last year,s high shool state siene &air and e%erything" He was anawesome lab partner and 3 li*ed him as a &riend+ not that we e%er hung out e;ept inChemistry" He was =ust really soially aw*ward" :yle mostly didn,t *now how to tal* togirls" es+ he tal*ed to me all the time+ but that was beause we were tal*ing aboutChemistry pro=ets" Still+ 3 *new he had a thing &or Su-ie hitsett" He,d e%en ha%e ahane with her i& he tal*ed to her" Su-ie was a super 9uiet girl and seemed really nie"The 9uiet thing alone would ha%e made her a soial outast li*e me and :yle+ but she wasalso really pretty+ so mostly people =ust let her be" She =ust didn,t say muh"

3t was &unny+ though+ about :yle,s rush+ beause 3 bet Su-ie would ha%e beenhappy to go with :yle to Homeoming" 3 got the &eeling that maybe there was somethingthere+ but both o& them were too shy to try and &igure it out"

There was this one time at the beginning o& the shool year that Su-ie wal*ed in alittle late and wal*ed past our table and she atually turned and said+ DHiA to me and:yle+ e;ept 3 ould ha%e sworn her ga-e was on :yle &or a solid seond" 3 said+ DHiA ba*+ but :yle didn,t say anything the deer aught in the headlights thing" Su-ie ne%erstopped to say+ DHiA again" She =ust wal*ed to her des*" Coinidene> 3,m not sure" 3mean+ she is the 9uiet girl+ but still seems li*e a solid maybe on a re9uited rush to me" .ot that :yle was e%er going to ta*e the hane and as* her"

Sadly+ all :yle had to do was wal* by three lab tables to do it as* Su-ie toHomeoming" 3 mean+ Su-ie =ust sat there alone and read be&ore e%ery lass or until herlab partner showed up" This wee* her boo* was &ride and &re0udice" )ast wee* it was )mma! )oo*ed li*e Su-ie was on a ?ane 'usten *i*" 3 lo%e the boo* and 3,%e seen both &ride and &re0udice mo%ies" Matthew M&adyen was a hot Mr" $ary+ but Collin Firthwas way se;ier in the miniseries"


12/91

'nd+ ba* to Su-ie" :yle totally had a hane+ 3 thought+ but he was too aw*ward tota*e it" (ood times at high shool Homeoming $anes+ all around+ 3 guess" 3t wouldn,t be &un i& it weren,t horri&ially pain&ul"

Spea*ing o& pain&ul < how ould Ethan ha%e as*ed 'riel to the Homeoming $ane>3t was un&air" 3 *now he,d ne%er ha%e as*ed me+ but 'riel> She was e%il" 3 mean+ not

really+ but it hurt more that he had as*ed her+ =ust beause she was my e; 3 mean+ who ares i& 3 was at hishal& sister,s &uneral &or apparently no good reason" He,ll totally &orget about it" Kight>

Kight>

Chapter 4: Confessing

Turned out 3 didn,t ha%e to wait until Friday to &ind out" @n most Monday+ Thursday+and Saturday nights 3 wor*ed at 6alos Gideo Store+ whih was =ust down the street &rommy house" 3 lo%ed mo%ies almost as muh as 3 lo%ed boo*s+ so it was a good a&ter shool =ob and 3 needed the money" 3 had been wor*ing there sine the end o& my sophomore

year and 3 atually li*ed it" They let me rent one $G$ at a time+ unlimited+ &or &ree" So+ i&3 wasn,t reading+ 3 was wathing one o& my &ree mo%ies"

'nd+ =ust beause 3 li*e &unerals doesn,t mean 3 only wath horror" 3 mean+ 3 doadmit that 3,m a total &an o& the horror lassis Ithe originals beause they,%e all beenremade they,re so goodJ+ li*e awn o( the ead + Halloween+ 2ightmare on )lm Street +and &"ycho+ but 3 also ha%e a huge thing &or hi* &li*s" 3,m a romanti" 3 mean+ ha%eyou seen Roman Holiday or Si3teen #andle" or The 2ote$oo > Sigh" So good"

6alos Gideo Store was a small store+ so there were usually only two people wor*ing"Some nights+ my o


13/91

the store+ at least twie" She ould 9uote mo%ies li*e most people ould 9uote sports,statistis" 3 was not that big o& a mo%ie bu&& yet+ although 3 tried to ta*e a mo%ie homea&ter e%ery shi&t and wath it" 3 =ust ouldn,t 9uote e%erything yet+ but 3 was getting there"

So+ 3 was alone up &ront+ reading the ending o& Twilight &or the third time" 3t was9uiet in the store" e were losing in a hal& hour and most people were already at home

urled up with their latest mo%ie rental and some poporn" e were only open until tenthirty+ but it was usually dead the last hour" 3 heard the =angle o& the %ideo store bells and loo*ed up" Someone was oming in

&or a mo%ie &i; be&ore we losed &or the night" 's soon as he wal*ed in+ though+ 3 *newhe wasn,t renting a mo%ie" The last person 3 e;peted or wanted to see had wal*ed intothe store and toward me"

Butter&lies &luttered in my stomah" 3 ouldn,t help them" 3 was both ner%ous andsared and he was also super hot"

es+ it was Ethan Kipley that was staring ba* at me and wal*ing in my diretion" 3&ro-e+ the opy o& Twilight still in my hands" Mo%ie reommendations &or Ethan Kipleyran through my mind+ almost ridiulously" 3,d reommend Loc, Stoc, and Two

Smoing 4arrel"+ 4lachaw own+ and &or &un Wall5)! @h (od+ what was wrong withmy brain>D3 was hoping you were wor*ing tonight+ Ethan said as he stood in &ront o& the

ounter+ his piering blue eyes wathing my &ae"He was in regular lothes tonight well3 had ob%iously also been rendered stupid" 3 was in big trouble" Ethan had not waited

to searh me out at shool on Friday" He had &ound my plae o& employment and huntedme down" .ow+ that was determination to get an answer out o& me" 3t,s not li*e 3 ouldlea%e wor* and run away and he *new it"

DSo+ how did you *now )i-> Ethan as*ed again"3 still didn,t want to answer" DHow did you *now where 3 wor*ed>D3 loo*ed you up on Faeboo*" 3t,s listed as your =ob+ Ethan shrugged"Sometimes soial networ*ing su*ed" 3 only had li*e &orty &riends and most were

*ids 3 met at amp in third grade or &amily" 3 needed to hange my pri%ay settings" ?ust beause you were unpopular doesn,t mean some stal*er wasn,t going to tra* you down" .ot that 3,d mind i& Ethan was stal*ing me beause it totally wouldn,t be stal*ing sine3,d totally swoon i& he delared his lo%e &or me" .ot that 3 had any delusions that it wasatually going to happen"

Ethan ontinued+ DSo+ )i-> How did you *now her>Ba* to reality" 3 was starting to sweat" There was no way out o& this" Ethan had

tra*ed me down at wor* a&ter all" ait a minute Ethan had tra*ed me down at wor*A@*ay+ not the time to be happy" 3 was in trouble here" 3 was being &ored to admit 3 was a&uneral rasher and although 3 don,t mind that part o& mysel&+ 3 *now my peer groupdoesn,t appro%e"

DellL 3 hesitated" D3t,s *ind o& a long story" .ot really+ 3 added in my head" 3glaned ba* toward 'nne,s o&&ie" She was busy wathing her mo%ie" 3 ould see theglow o& the tele%ision on her &ae through the small o&&ie window that loo*ed out ontothe store"

D3 ha%e time+ Ethan prodded"


14/91

3 was going to ha%e to tell him" 3 didn,t want toA 3 hedged+ DCan 3 meet you in thirtyminutes when 3,m done with wor*>

3t ga%e me another hal& hour to &igure out the greatest lie e%er told and i& 3 ended upha%ing to tell him the truth+ at least i& 3 got him to sit down with me+ maybe 3 oulde;plain so that he wouldn,t thin* 3 was suh a total &rea*" 'nd+ 3 didn,t want my boss to

o%erhear" 3 *now 'nne li*ed me as an employee+ but still she didn,t need to *now all o&the intimate details o& my li&e" 3 mean+ &uneral rashing wasn,t li*e doing drugs+ but still"3 didn,t want to ta*e the hane that she,d be appalled and &ire me"

DSure+ Ethan nodded" DMy ar,s par*ed on the street outside" 3,ll wait &or you tolose up"

D@*ay+ 3 gulped and tried not to thin* about the &at that in thirty minutes 3,d besitting in a par*ed ar with Ethan"

DCool+ Ethan said+ nodding again+ turning around+ and wal*ing out o& the store"3 had thirty minutes to ome up with something" Forget reading" 3 put my boo* ba*

into my sathel purse" 3 stared out into the empty %ideo store" hat ould 3 possibly sayto Ethan to ma*e this all turn out o*ay>

Thirty minutes later and lo*ing up the %ideo store+ 3 hadn,t ome up with anythingother than entering the witness protetion program and &leeing the state" Somehow+ 3didn,t thin* they,d ta*e me into witness protetion &or trying to run away &rom a uteguy+ who,s about to &ind out that 3 li*e to rash &unerals" Maybe 3,d get lu*y and alienswould abdut me"

DSo+ 3 was wathing a ?ohn Hughes mo%ie tonight < Some +ind o( Wonder(ul " 3 thin*you,d li*e it" 3t,s with Eri Stolt- and Mary Stuart Masterson and is a lassi teen mo%ieabout unre9uited lo%e and high shool" ou should ta*e it out ne;t shi&t+ 'nne wassaying+ as 3 lo*ed the &ront door"

Dh 'nne as*ed+ peering at me" Dou seem *ind o& distrated" Shoolalright>

Deah+ 3,m &ine+ 3 said and then ontinued+ seeing that she might press me" D?ustthin*ing about a guy"

D@hhh+ o*ay+ 'nne smiled *nowingly"3 attempted a smile ba*+ but lu*ily it was dar*+ Deah"D@*ay+ good night then+ :ait+ 'nne wa%ed+ as she wal*ed to her ar"D(ood night+ 3 managed as 3 pretended to wal* to mine+ as 'nne got into her ar

and dro%e away"3 wathed her ar speed down the road and had a brie& thought that 3 ould =ust dri%e

away too" 3t was an option+ but not the one 3 was going to ta*e" 3 may ha%e been a soialoutast+ but 3 was going to &ae Ethan li*e a man+ well+ a woman in my ase" Besides+ 3*new Ethan would &ind me at shool tomorrow anyway i& 3 didn,t tal* to him" He alreadystal*ed me down at wor*" 'nd+ shool ould be worse" 3 ould =ust see 'riel =oining in onthe on%ersation and emphasi-ing my &rea*y 9ualities" She,d probably e%en bring her&riends Megan and Sarah" 3t made one shudder" 'riel was worse than any horror mo%iemonster+ inluding Freddy :rueger &rom 2ightmare on )lm Street "

3 sanned the surrounding street and saw Ethan sitting in a sil%ery blue Honda Ci%iHybrid =ust ne;t to the par*ing lot+ staring at me" 3 was only a &ew &eet away &rom esape


15/91

and my ar+ but 3 &ored mysel& to wal* toward the Ci%i instead"DHey+ 3 tried to say asually as 3 opened his ar door and sat down in the passenger

seat+ but all 3 thin* 3 got out was a mumble"3 ouldn,t get o%er the &at that 3 was sitting in Ethan Kipley,s ar" 3 mean+ it was a

totally normal+ boring ar interior+ but yet it &elt li*e suh an ama-ing plae" That might

ha%e a lot to do with the &at that it was Ethan,s and that he was only sitting inhes away&rom me" Fous+ &ous+ 3 told mysel&"DHey+ he said in response+ so 3 guess my mumble did ome out oherent" DSo>

hat,s the story>3 gulped" This was it" 6ani sei-ed my hest" 3 ouldn,t e%en en=oy being in a ar

with Ethan Kipley+ 3 was so ner%ous" This ould be the losest 3 e%er got to him" The besttwo minutes e%erA @r+ at least &rom high shool" But no+ 3 was too busy &rea*ing out toen=oy it"

3 =ust had to do it" 3t was li*e tearing o&& a band Ethan loo*ed totally pu--led" Dhat>

D3 was &uneral rashing+ 3 e;plained+ D3 saw the obituary in the paper and 3 thought 3would go"DSo you didn,t *now )i-> Ethan as*ed"3 shoo* my head+ &eeling morti&ied" D.o"Ethan raised his eyebrows+ DKeally>3 ould &eel tears welling up in my eyes" $on,t ry+ 3 told mysel&" D.o+ 3 didn,t *now

her" 3 was =ust there &or the &uneral" 3 didn,t mean anything by it" 3,m sorry" She seemedool" 3t,s really sad"

DThat,s weird+ Ethan said and 3 &elt my heart sin* at the =udgment 3 ould hear in his%oie" Dhy would you want to rash a &uneral>

D3L 3 started" 3t was a 9uestion that 3 had been as*ed be&ore+ &irst by my dad andthen 'riel" 3n a rare moment o& distraught wea*ness+ 3 had atually on&ided in her e%enthough we had stopped being &riends" 3t had been a total mista*e" Kegardless+ 3 stillhadn,t ome up with a good answer to that 9uestion+ e;ept &or the truth" D3 li*e them"

Dhat> Ethan loo*ed utterly on&used" Dou li*e &unerals> hy> They,redepressing as &u*"

's 3 wathed Ethan run his hand through his sil*y hair in &rustration+ 3 &ought agirlish sigh and tried to e;plain something that 3 didn,t *now how to e;plain+ DThey an be" They an de&initely be the worst moment o& your li&e+ but there,s something reallyama-ing about them too"

D)i*e what> Ethan demanded" 3 &inally got a good loo* at him and yes+ he wassuper hot and only inhes away &rom me+ but 3 ould also see the desperate grie& in hiseyes"

3 loo*ed away &rom his eyes+ D)i*e how e%eryone remembers the person that diedand not =ust remembers < there are some great stories+ really great stories" Stories thate%en i& you *new the person well+ you might ne%er ha%e heard o& that story" 'nd+e%eryone with all these great stories about this person that they ha%e lost is in one room+and they,re all tal*ing about this person beause they all miss them" They,re all &eelingthat person,s presene together" That,s what it was li*e at my mom,s &uneral" 'nyway+that,s what 3 li*e about &unerals"


16/91

3 was loo*ing at my hands now" 3 &elt too embarrassed to loo* o%er at Ethan,sreation to my admission"

DThat,s true+ Ethan smiled slightly+ to my astonishment+ D3 heard some great storiesabout )i- today &rom the &amily and her &riends+ but 3,d muh rather ha%e her here withus than be at her &uneral"

His %oied ho*ed on the last word" 3 resisted the urge to lean o%er and touh hishand" 3 was a wre* too a&ter my mom had died" '&ter the &uneral+ wee*s went by in a blur"

D3,m sorry+ 3 said+ loo*ing into his eyes and 3 really meant it"Ethan nodded+ DSo+ you really didn,t *now )i- at all then>D.o+ 3 shoo* my head" D3,m still sorry+ though+ about her"D$amn+ Ethan swore under his breath"3 &elt mysel& sin* e%en deeper into the passenger side seat" 3 =ust wanted to disappear"

3 ouldn,t wait &or high shool to be o%er+ so 3 ould blend into and be swallowed up bythe massi%e population o& a state uni%ersity" How was 3 e%er going to &ae Ethan Kipleyagain a&ter this>

Ethan remembered 3 was still in the ar with him+ D3 was really hoping you *new)i-"3 was on&used+ Dhy>Ethan seemed suddenly an;ious" That was weird him an;ious to say something to

me" He ran his hand through his hair again+ his sil*y hair+ Dell+ uh+ 3,m really sorryabout this :ait and 3 don,t *now how to say it niely+ but 3 thought you might *nowsomething about the drugs )i- was ta*ing"

3t too* me a seond to reali-e what Ethan was implying" Then+ &or one+ 3 &orgot who3 was tal*ing to beause 3 was so &urious+ Dou thought 3 was a drug additA $o 3 loo*li*e 3 do heroin to you>

3 mean+ 3 am not a sti* &igure" 3,m your a%erage weight girl and a si-e se%en"Sometimes 3,m a si-e nine+ i& 3,%e been really downing the peanut butter bananamil*sha*es that 3,m addited to &rom the ired Co&&ee Shop" 'ren,t heroin additsemaiated or something> hat> 3 was super insulted" 3 don,t do drugs" .ot e%en pot" 3don,t e%en drin* e;ept &or that one time &reshman year when 'riel and 3 snu* into her parent,s li9uor abinet" See> She,s a bad in&luene+ totally e%il+ and orruptingimpressionable youth" Kegardless+ 3 didn,t e%en *now what heroin loo*ed li*e" Come on"3,m no drug addit"

D3,m sorry" 3 =ust hoped" 3t,s =ust really weird that )i- @$ed" 3 an,t e;plain it" 3,msorry i& 3 assumed that youL*new something about it" 6eople tal* about you at shool+you *now+ Ethan seemed really unom&ortable"

3 was going to *ill 'riel al*er beause be&ore her+ nobody tal*ed about me" EthanKipley assuming 3 was a drug addit was all her &ault" She told people all sorts o& ra-ythings about me" Then the rumors went wild and too* on a li&e o& their own and peopleembellished and totally hanged the stories so+ one minute 3 li*ed going to &unerals+ thene;t 3 too* part in withra&t rituals+ and some people e%en thought 3 had my own petemetery in my ba*yard" 3 guess now the rumor was that 3 was dealing drugs or hoo*edon them or something" (reat" My reputation had a soap opera li&e all o& it,s own and withit+ 'riel destroyed any hane o& a &un soial li&e that 3 might ha%e had in high shool+Dell+ let me set things straight" 3 don,t do drugs" 't all" 'nd+ o*ay+ the &uneral rashing


17/91

is a little weird" 3 *now it+ but e%er sine my mom died it,s the losest 3 e%er &eel to herand 3L

hoa+ 3 &elt the tears suddenly rushing up into my eyes again" My %oie was about tora* and &ail me" 3 needed to alm down or 3 would be &ull on sobbing li*e a baby in&ront o& Ethan" 3 stopped tal*ing and tried to ath my breath+ turning away &rom him and

toward the window"D3,m sorry" 3 shouldn,t ha%e listened to the rumors+ Ethan sounded sinere"3 turned to loo* at him+ wiping at my hee*s in ase there were any tears" 3 didn,t

need him to see them" 3 was humiliated enough"D3,m really sorry+ he ontinued" D3 =ust an,t belie%e that )i- did heroin" 3t totally

wasn,t li*e her" 3 thought maybe you *new something about it" )i*e+ i& you *new her+e%en i& you didn,t do drugs with her+ maybe you *new what really happened" )i*e whereshe was that night or who she was with"

Dhy would that matter> 3 as*ed be&ore 3 ould stop mysel&" 3 mean+ i& he wanted to*now the last &ew hours o& his sister,s death that was his business" 3t,s not li*e he wasgoing to be able to hange anything+ though"

Dell+ 3 =ustL Ethan started and then stopped+ thin*ing better o& ontinuing histhought"' sudden thought was nagging at my brain and 3 said it be&ore 3 thought it o%er+

Dait+ are you saying that you thin* maybe there,s more to )i-,s death> )i*e maybe shedidn,t o%erdose>

Ethan was silent"The silene dragged on &or a moment as 3 thought about it all+ Dait" ou don,t

thin* she was murdered or something+ right>My eyes were lo*ed on Ethan,s as he nodded+ D'tually+ yes+ 3 thin* it,s a de&inite

possibility"DBut who would ha%e done that> My %oie rose in pith"Ethan shoo* his head" D3 ha%e no idea" My parents are a wre* and totally sho*ed

and so are her &riends" E%eryone li*ed her" .obody wants to belie%e that she was a drugaddit" There were no signs+ at all" There,s supposed to be signs" She was happy" 3 barelye%er saw her upset" 3 ne%er e%en saw her drun*+ but they,%e all already aepted that )i-was on heroin anyway beause it,s on the polie report" 3 an,t aept it" 3t,s not at all li*e)i- to do drugs"

My brain was bu--ing+ DBut there,s been a lot o& heroin o%erdoses lately" 3t was inthe paper and e%erything" Maybe it was the ool thing to do and she =ust got arriedaway>

Ethan nodded+ DE;atly" 'nd+ they,re assuming that )i- was =ust li*e the rest o&them" They thin* there,s some *ind o& a drug ring going on at )aurel CommunityCollege" That heroin has beome the hip ollege drug o& hoie" They =ust an,t seem to&ind the supplier"

Dell+ maybe )i- only tried it one+ =ust to try it+ D 3 o&&ered" D'nd+ it =ust turned outtragi"

Ethan sighed" DBut she wasn,t the drug type" That,s what 3 *eep oming ba* to" 3tdoesn,t ma*e sense"

3 let this sin* in+ DSo+ i& )i- was murdered+ then the ob%ious 9uestion is do you thin*the others were murdered too>


18/91

Dell+ yes+ it,s a de&inite possibility+ Ethan said"My mind was awhirl with in&ormation" 3& Ethan was right+ there had been at least two

other o%erdoses that were potential murders" That would mean that there was a potentialserial *iller on the loose at )aurel Community College" 3t was only a hop s*ip and a =umpo%er to 6alos High Shool+ my high shool" hat i& the murderer stru* there ne;t> Had

the polie been &ooled by a drug trail+ when instead all the girls li%ing around 6alosCommunity College were really all in mortal danger &rom a serial *iller> @r was Ethan =ust a totally distraught brother unable to deal with sister,s death>

3 made a snap deision as my mind ontinued to go o%er the pu--le" There reallymight be something to his 9uestions+ D3 want to help"

3 wasn,t thin*ing about the bene&it o& alone time with Ethan either" 3 really did wantto help" He was so sad and 3 *now how that &elt" 3,d want to *now the truth too" @*ay+ atleast+ 3 wasn,t thin*ing about the bene&its o& Ethan time when 3 originally o&&ered myhelp" 'lthough now+ 3 ouldn,t stop thin*ing about it being alone with him"

Ethan raised his eyebrows in surprise+ but then said+ D@*ay"3t too* me a moment to proess Ethan,s agreement" He was e%en *ind o& smiling at

me" 3 mean+ it isn,t e%ery day that the most popular guy in shool tal*s to me+ learns 3,m a&uneral rasher+ and then aepts my help in%estigating his sister,s murder"

Chapter 5: Investigating

The two other deaths had happened in the last ouple o& months+ both girls+ and allthe dead girls had attended )aurel Community College" Hope&ully 3 was sa&e+ being stillin high shool+ sine the *iller had not %eered &rom his patternLyet" 3 had wathed way

too many horror mo%ies &or &ree &rom wor* to seriously want to ontemplate beingstal*ed and *illed by a serial *iller"

The &irst was @li%ia Keynolds+ twenty" @li%ia was &ound dead in her apartment byher mother+ a needle still in her arm" She had been there &or a &ew days be&ore they &oundher" The seond was Melissa :ent+ nineteen" ' teaher &ound Melissa dead in a bathroom stall at )aurel Community College" The syringe had &allen to the &loor" 3ntheory+ she had shot up =ust a&ter a math test" She was &ound within two hours o& ta*ingthat test" She had gotten an '" 'nd+ then there was )i-" ' polieman &ound her in her aron a Sunday night in a nie suburban neighborhood" ' stranger had alled the polieupon seeing a girl passed out o%er the steering wheel" She wasn,t passed out+ though+ )i-was dead"

Three girls were dead &rom an o%erdose o& heroin in =ust o%er two months" Stupid*ids+ drug ring+ or murder> 'nd why had they all been girls> asn,t heroin Din &or guystoo>

3 was leaning toward a %erdit o& murder or at the %ery least &oul play+ whih is why 3agreed to meet Ethan on Saturday morning" He was ta*ing Friday o&& &rom shool tospend it with his &amily" 3t turns out a lot o& &amily &lew in &or )i-,s wa*e" 3t had literallysho*ed the &amily into a reunion" Ethan had snu* out on Thursday night+ in order to getto me sine he thought 3 was a potential lead in his sister,s unsol%ed murder+ but he was


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stu* hanging out with &amily again on Friday" 3t sounded li*e he was loo*ing &orward toit now that the &uneral was o%er"

Friday &lew by &or me as 3 did my own researh and ounted the seonds to hangingout with Ethan" e planned to meet at a loal o&&ee shop+ ired+ bright and early at 8am on Saturday" ired had the best peanut butter banana mil*sha*es on the planet" They

ser%ed those in addition to the ie 6lus+ her *iller Iher alleged *iller+ 3 guess+ sine it was

still only a theoryJ should ome to =ustieA So+ Ethan and 3 were meeting to go o%er thedetails+ be&ore going to the polie" His &amily thought he was bere&t with grie& and indenial+ and he didn,t want the polie to thin* the same" 3 was basially going to be hisunbiased helper in going o%er the &ats o& his sister,s and the other girls, deaths"

'nd+ the sooner the polie started in%estigating )i-,s murder+ the better" 3 mean+aording to that 'OE show+ The /ir"t 67, that 3 wathed as 3 was internet sur&ingobituaries and news artiles+ the ase is already old and only getting older" Still+helping the polie reali-e it was murder and not an o%erdose would be a great start"Maybe they ould sa%e someone else"

3& )i- and the other girls were murdered there had to be lues" E%en the mostalulating o& *illers+ has to ma*e mista*es" So+ e%ery spare moment 3 had on Friday andearly into the hours o& Saturday morning+ 3 soured the internet" 3 &ound news artiles onthe drug problem at )aurel Community College+ as well as the obituaries o& the threedead girls"

3 read+ opied+ and pasted in&ormation &rom their Faeboo* pages" They were still upthere+ e%en though @li%ia had been dead =ust o%er a month and a hal&" They were reallysad to loo* at and read+ though" Friends had posted sympathy D3,m sorry you,re dead+omments and e%erything" There had to be lues there somewhere"

Ethan loo*ed tired when 3 spotted him sitting in a dar* orner o& the o&&ee shop+drin*ing a steaming up o& o&&ee"

3 ordered my usual+ super yummy+ hea%en on earth+ peanut butter banana mil*sha*eand went to sit down aross &rom him with my sta* o& artiles+ DHey+ so 3 &ound lots o&artiles yesterday" 3 was up all night loo*ing through them"

DMaybe 3 was wrong+ Ethan was slumped o%er his o&&ee and ob%iously ha%ingdoubts" (rie& will do that to you" p lose+ it was ob%ious he hadn,t slept" He was in thesame (reen $ay T


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them" They had ne%er been in any trouble+ o& any *ind+ in their li%es" .one o& them hadso muh as a speeding ti*et" 3t,s weird"

DSo+ why would anyone want to murder them> Ethan as*ed+ tiredly"3 loo*ed Ethan straight in the eyes+ DThat,s the 9uestion we need to as*" Ethan+ you

were right about this" 3 *now you are" )i- was murdered" Those other girls were

murdered" 3& we don,t do anything about it+ someone else is going to die" The polie needto start in%estigating these deaths as murders"DSo+ what do you ha%e> Ethan as*ed pulling the papers 3 had printed toward him"3 hesitated a moment+ be&ore 3 slid &rom the seat aross &rom him+ to the hair ne;t to

him" 3t,s a little weird sitting ne;t to the hottest guy in shool at a o&&ee shop+ e%en i&you,re only helping him in%estigate his sister,s murder and not on a date"

3 too* the papers and spread them out o%er the table in &ront o& us" 3 had alreadyorgani-ed them" 3 pointed to the &irst pile+ DThese are about @li%ia Keynolds" She was the&irst+ so there isn,t muh+ =ust an obituary and a loal olumn about ollege *ids anddrugs" Her Faeboo* page says it all+ though+ she was a ra&ty"

D' what> Ethan,s eyebrows arhed at the 9uestion"

D' ra&ty" She li*ed to ma*e ra&ts" Her Faeboo* page had tons o& home madeitems" She was a *nitter she made tons o& sar%es+ hats+ and sweaters" There,s e%en alin* to her *nitting blog" @li%ia was also getting into ma*ing =ewelry &rom some art lassshe was ta*ing" She ould sew too" She would so not be your typial drug user" 3 mean+her &a%orite singer was Taylor Swi&t+ &or goodness sa*e"

Ethan ra*ed a smile+ D$id you =ust say goodness sa*e>Des+ 3 smiled ba* at him"Dou,re weird+ Ethan said+ but he was still smiling at me"DThan*s+ 3 replied and 3 thin* he meant it as a ompliment"e sat in silene as Ethan loo*ed o%er the papers on @li%ia Keynolds" 3t was all

there and plain to see" @li%ia Keynolds may ha%e been the type to do pot in a hippie sorto& way+ but not heroin"

3 went on+ D@*ay+ pile two is about Melissa :ent" There was a little more about herin the news beause she was the seond o%erdose in two wee*s &rom )aurel CommunityCollege+ but this time+ they &oused on what the shool was going to do about the ob%iousdrug problem+ so again+ 3 turned to her Faeboo* page" 'nd+ Melissa was a good Catholigirl+ unless her Faeboo* page was lying" Her Faeboo* page said the words+ D3 lo%e(od and e%erything" Her groups listed were hurh youth groups and %olunteer ser%ies"She was so not a heroin addit type either"

Ethan pi*ed up the papers on Melissa" 3 wathed him loo* through them+ his brain&urrowed as he read" He was really ute" 3 &elt mysel& staring at him in &ull rush modeand shoo* mysel& out o& it" hat we were doing here was more important than my rush"'&ter reading so muh about Melissa and @li%ia+ 3 really &elt li*e 3 *new them" 3 didn,tthin* they had o%erdosed" E%en i& one o& them+ somehow had+ the ombination o& themdidn,t ma*e any sense"

Ethan nodded+ loo*ing up &rom the papers+ D'nd+ then there,s )i-"3 nodded ba*+ loo*ed at the third pile that was all about )i-" 3 had read up on her

already too" Still+ 3 loo*ed ba* at Ethan+ DSo+ what happened the night she died>Ethan too* a deep steadying breath and said+ De don,t *now e;atly" She was home

in the morning+ in her room" Then she went to go wor* at an animal adoption &or the


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6alos 'nimal Shelter at the par* on the orner o& 1/th street and Moorpar*" ' lot o& people saw her there" She was wal*ing with a really ute sraggly dog" E%eryone said sheseemed totally &ine" She was trying to get the dog a home"

DSo+ she wasn,t on drugs then> 3 as*ed"D.o" E%eryone said she was =ust )i-" .othing weird+ Ethan shrugged" DThey,re all

&loored she,s gone"Dhere did she go a&ter that> 3 as*ed"Dell+ she le&t there a little a&ter se%en" She helped get the animals loaded ba* up to

go to the pound and she spent a little while tal*ing to this ouple about the dog" '&terthat+ we don,t *now where she went+ Ethan said"

Dhat time did the polie &ind her> 3 as*ed"Ethan was solemn+ D'bout two and a hal& hours later" .ine 3t was a hard 9uestion &or me to as* Ethan"Ethan paused+ DThey thin* it was within the hour that they &ound her" Between eight<

thirty and nineEthan shrugged+ D.ot good &riends that 3 *now o&+ but 3 mean+ she saw them a &ew

times a wee*+ so they were on o*ay terms"DBut none o& them said they were with her> 3 as*ed"Ethan shoo* his head+ D.o"D'nd+ the polie didn,t &ind anything in her ar> 3 had to as*"D.o+ Ethan &rowned" D?ust the needle" E%erything else was the same =ust the stu&&

that was usually in her ar"


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D.o &inger prints> 3 as*ed"D3 don,t *now" They =ust ruled it an o%erdose" 3 didn,t see a report or anything+

Ethan said"D.ot that they,d gi%e us one+ 3 smir*ed"DThat,s probably true+ but i& we an get them to open the ase ba* up+ maybe they,ll

re 'nything that might help>

Ethan too* a shuddering breath and ontinued anyway+ DSure" She lo%ed animals"Her grades weren,t the best so she was going to )aurel Community College to get themup+ so she ould get into a good shool that would get her into a %eterinary ollege" Theyan be really hard to get into and she wanted it more than anything" She %olunteered at

the 6alos 'nimal Shelter a &ew days a wee* a&ter shool and she had a =ob at 6etsmart"'nimals were her drugs+ i& anything" She had lots o& &riends and she had =ust starteddating this guy she really li*ed+ so there was no reason &or her toL

Dait" hat guy> 3 as*ed+ interrupting Ethan"Dh+ 3,m not sure" 3 mean+ 3 thin* his name was Mar*" .o+ that,s totally not it" That

was the guy be&ore this one" h+ Tra%is> @r+ was it Brent> $on>Dou really ha%e no idea+ do you> 3 as*ed"Ethan was really onentrating" D3 an,t remember" 3 =ust thought it was another guy

and it was a sorta new guy"De ould he* her phone+ 3 o&&ered"Deah+ but she has li*e three hundred ontats" E%eryone she,s e%er met is in her

phone" 3 he*ed" Maybe i& 3 saw him" She did show me a piture on Faeboo*" Theyonly went out &or a ouple o& wee*s be&ore she died" 3t wasn,t super serious or anythingyet"

' thought was &orming in my brain+ Das he at the &uneral>Ethan thought &or a moment+ D.o+ 3 don,t thin* he was" 't least 3 didn,t see him

there" The whole &uneral thing was a blur &or me+ though" The only person 3 remember being there is you+ atually+ beause you ran away &rom me"

3 grimaed+ DThan*s" So+ do you thin* there,s any way he ould be in%ol%ed in this>Her semi

Ethan shrugged+ DSure+ i& he *new all o& the other girls"

Chapter : !leuthing

That is how 3 ended up at Ethan Kipley,s house+ with nobody home+ on a Saturdaya&ternoon" 'ny normal girl would ha%e been beside hersel& with ner%es at being alone inEthan,s house+ in his room+ on his bedL


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3t was a large bedroom atually+ bigger than mine+ at least" 3 was surprised to see thathe had a large boo*shel& &illed with boo*s" 3 *new Ethan was smart and suh+ but heatually read &or &un> Cool" There was a lot o& siene &ition on the shel%es" 3 saw uneand )nder’" Game and Stephen :ing,s The Gun"linger series" He readsA 3t was superse;y to me" @ther than that+ there were no posters on the wall+ =ust a &ew &ramed reords

spaed out deorati%ely a Beatles album+ a Clash 'lbum+ a Bob $ylan album+ and a&ew others" There was a guitar lying against the boo*shel&" $id Ethan play musi too>ow+ 3 was impressed" He really was the per&et guy" Sigh"

3 was stru* again by being alone in his house with him" To e%en be lose enough tohim to see the inside o& his bedroom was ama-ing" 3 ne%er would ha%e thought 3 would behere" 'nd+ 3 mean+ butter&lies were =umping around in my stomah+ but ome on+ we werein%estigating a murder+ romane wasn,t going to happen" 3,ll admit to being slightlydisappointed about that"

3t,s not li*e 3 planned it or li*e he e%en planned it+ being alone in his house" Hiswhole &amily was spending the day at his unle,s in a sort o& get out o& the house day"Sine he had spent the day be&ore with the &amily+ Ethan had laimed plans and delined

going" 3 was =ust e;ited that 3 had made the list o& Ethan,s plans"The plan+ as we were sitting together in his room alone I3 lo%ed being able to saythatAJ+ was to brea* into )i-,s Faeboo* aount and see i& she and the other %itims hadany &riends in ommon+ most partiularly )i-,s boy&riend Ted or Brent or Tra%is or Bobor whate%er his name turned out to be" e hoped to &ind that out &rom her Faeboo*emails as well+ sine her status was a non

DesA Ethan yelled"3 turned away &rom 6aws+ to loo* at the sreen" Ethan was into )i-,s aount"D3t was ilo%epaws+ i& you an belie%e it+ Ethan grinned and then seemed suddenly

sad as he said+ DSo totally )i-"


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D@*ay+ o*ay+ 3,m he*ing her too+ but do you *now how )i- *nows Su-iehitsett> She,s in our grade at shool+ 3 said+ while typing in Melissa,s name"

DThe 9uiet girl> 3 thin* they %olunteered at the animal shelter together or something")i- too* me to an animal adoption at the par* one and introdued me to Su-ie" 3 onlyremember beause 3 had seen her in shool+ but had ne%er atually heard her spea*

be&ore+ Ethan said+ staring at the omputer sreen"Dou *now+ you an be really arrogant+ 3 said+ without thin*ing+ as the results popped up"

Ethan turned away &rom the sreen to loo* at me+ Dhat>DSu-ie,s a really nie girl and really smart" She,s =ust shy" ou need to learn to get to

*now people be&ore you =udge their entire personalities+ 3 don,t *now what was wrongwith me" 3 was telling o&& the most popular guy in shool &or not ta*ing the time to &igureout that the 9uiet girl is =ust shy"

D)i*e you> he as*ed+ wathing me"3 ignored the 9uestion and turned to loo* ba* at the sreen and Melissa :ent and

)i- @,Keilly,s ommon &riends" 3 &elt Ethan loo* at me &or a moment more be&ore he

turned to loo* at them too"There it was+ only one &riend in ommon Troy Matthews+ Faeboo* &riend to allthree o& the alleged murder %itims" Coinidene> 3 thin* not" 'lthough+ one would thin*he,d delete them &rom his &riend,s list a&ter he murdered them+ but 3 guess not"

Chapter ": Finger#$ointing

3t too* me awhile to alm Ethan down" 'lthough+ it was an e;ellent lead+ =ust

beause Troy *new all o& the dead girls+ didn,t mean he had *illed them"De an,t =ust go to the polie and ause Troy+ 3 reasoned with Ethan" DThey,re

not going to belie%e us" Ha%en,t you seen li*e e%ery horror mo%ie> .obody belie%esteenagers"

Ethan loo*ed at me with &rustration and pointed at the omputer+ DBut it,s rightthereA He *new all o& themA hat more e%idene do we need>

D' moti%e> 3 %olunteered"Ethan shoo* his head+ D)et the ops &igure out a moti%e"D)oo*+ 3 admit it,s suspiious+ but there has to be more+ 3 argued"Ethan shoo* his head+ but 3 ould see that he was at the %ery least+ alming down"

D3,m still going to the polie" They ha%e to *now about this" 'll we need to do is get them

to hange their minds" e don,t atually ha%e to sol%e the ase"D3 *now+ but 3 still thin* we need more+ 3 said"DBut this is huge+ Ethan replied" DHe *new all o& them" The ops ha%e to *now"e had been arguing about this &or the last hal& hour+ so 3 nodded+ reali-ing that 3

wasn,t going to be able to dissuade him" 3 still didn,t thin* we had enough to go on" 3tould be a oinidene" Troy ould be a totally innoent guy+ who =ust happened to ha%ea lot o& dead girl spae &riends" Still+ 3 will admit+ e%en 3 had a %ague hope that the poliewould hange their in%estigation &rom drugs to murder and that Troy,s relationships to


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the %itims might be a atalyst &or that"The 6alos 6olie Station is a small polie station" My guess is that most o& their alls

are about domesti %iolene and petty rime" 3 should ha%e *nown that they wouldn,t*now what to do with a murder ase+ e%en i& it did &all in their laps"

Dhat an 3 do &or you+ Ethan> $eteti%e $i;on as*ed+ leaning ba* in his des*

hair as he too* a sip o& o&&ee &rom a steaming styro&oam up"$idn,t he *now that styro&oam was pratially non hat about sa%ingthe planet and all that> 3 didn,t say anything+ though+ e%en though 3 was thin*ing it" eweren,t here to sa%e the planet+ a&ter all" e were there to stop more people &rom gettingmurdered and sine 3 was the weird girl+ we had agreed to let Ethan do all the tal*ing" So+9uiet+ stay 9uiet+ was the mantra 3 *ept repeating in my brain"

$eteti%e $i;on,s o&&ie was a tiny ubbyhole in the 6alos 6olie $epartment and itwas littered with those empty styro&oam o&&ee ups" This guy li*ed his o&&eeLand*illing the planet" @ther than that+ there were papers e%erywhere" For a small suburbantown with no apparent rime+ other than a triple murder labeled as drug o%erdoses+ heloo*ed li*e he might be a busy guy" 'nd+ o*ay maybe there was more than =ust domesti

%iolene ases happening in the ity o& 6alos" Maybe it wasn,t the nie town it seemed to be" 3 *now 3 had always &elt sa&e there be&ore+ but maybe not so muh now"Ethan was in the middle o& e;plaining the situation+ when 3 tuned ba* into the

on%ersation and out o& my inner monologue+ DSo+ what that boils down to is that wethin* my sister )i-+ @li%ia Keynolds+ and Melissa :ent were all murdered" 'nd+ we thin*Troy Matthews might be in%ol%ed" He *new all the %itims"

$eteti%e $i;on had spent Ethan,s entire e;planation nodding+ but he hadn,t e%entouhed the blan* notepad and bla* pen lying on his des*+ Dou said they wereFaeboo* &riends>

Ethan nodded+ Des"DTehnially+ aren,t they all onneted through their shool> 3sn,t Faeboo* a soial

tool> For networ*ing> 3t,s possible that they all *new eah other too+ isn,t it> )aurelCommunity College is a small shool" ' tight *nit ommunity ollege+ i& you will"E%eryone *nows e%eryone else and e%eryone,s on Faeboo*" That,s why these o%erdosesare suh a tragedy+ $eteti%e $i;on had slipped into his proedural polie %oie"

3t was ob%ious to me that he was thin*ing ah+ these silly *ids+ trying to playdeteti%eA 3 was no silly *idA

DThey,re not o%erdosesA They,re murdersA 3 said and o*ay+ maybe 3 said it a littletoo loudly+ with a little too muh emphasis+ and totally out o& the blue sine 3 had =ust been sitting there 9uietly be&ore this"

D'nd+ how are you in%ol%ed> $eteti%e $i;on turned to me+ DBesides being Mr"Kipley,s girl&riend> 3,m sorry+ MissL

D:ait )eno;+ 3 said+ &eeling &rustrated"DMiss )eno;+ $eteti%e $i;on ontinued+ D3,%e wor*ed &or this polie department

&or the last twenty years" e,re he*ing these o%erdoses out+ but &or now+ they,relassi&ied as drug related deaths" There,s no e%idene leading us to belie%e these girlswere murdered"

DBut we =ust ga%e you e%ideneA Ethan ried"D'll based on how you &eel about your sister and other girls in similar situations" 3t,s

a oinidene" 3t is %ery possible that the girls all had lots o& &riends in ommon" They


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may ha%e e%en *nown eah other" 3t,s a %ery+ %ery sad situation+ but there is absolutelyno e%idene o& anything more than drugs" Troy Matthews isn,t a lead beause thereweren,t any murders+ $eteti%e $i;on was trying to be ompassionate+ but it ame out patroni-ing"

Dhat about loo*ing into i& he,s a drug dealer or i& they did drugs together or

something> 3 as*ed+ =ust wanting them to he* up on Troy in some way" 3 was gettingreally &rustrated"$eteti%e $i;on &rowned+ De,ll *eep an eye on him+ but there really isn,t any

e%idene that he,s in%ol%edLDThere,s also this email &rom Ganessa Martin that )i- ne%er got &rom the day she

died+ 3 said pushing a opy o& Ganessa,s Faeboo* email to )i- toward him"He glaned at it 9ui*ly and said+ DThis doesn,t say anything" )oo*s li*e she =ust

needed to tal* to her"Deah+ 3 *ept pushing+ D'nd+ then within hours o& that email+ )i- is dead" Maybe

Ganessa *nows something about that"De,ll loo* into it+ $eteti%e $i;on+ nodded+ but 3 didn,t belie%e him"

Ethan was seething+ but trying to hold his temper" 3 didn,t e%en *now him that welland 3 ould see that $eteti%e $i;on was &rustrating the hell out o& him" Hell+ $eteti%e$i;on was &rustrating the hell out o& me too and it wasn,t e%en my sister that had died" 3*new we were onto something" The polie had to listen" 3 mean+ what were Ethan and 3going to do with this in&ormation> The law had to help us out and use it to &ind themurderer and then arrest them"

D't least he* out Troy Matthews+ 3 pleaded" 3 was suddenly a&raid that we had blown our one and only shot with the polie and sol%ing )i-,s murder" That would be atra%esty"

$eteti%e $i;on srutini-ed us &or a moment" 3 got the distint impression that hewas trying not to roll his eyes+ while pretending to humor us+ instead" Seriously" 3t wassuper annoying"

D@*ay+ o*ay+ it,s time &or both o& you to lea%e now" 3 ha%e wor* to get done be&ore 3go home tonight+ $eteti%e $i;on gestured at the papers lying e%erywhere"

DThan*s &or nothing+ $eteti%e $i;on+ Ethan muttered+ bitterly+ as he stood up"3 didn,t e%en bother saying anything as Ethan and 3 le&t the o&&ie"

DCan you belie%e that guy> Ethan slammed his &ist against the steering wheel o& hisar in &rustration"

e were sitting in the 6alos 6olie $epartment par*ing lot with the ar o&&" Both o&us were really disappointed with the polie,s treatment o& the situation" 3 was sure$eteti%e $i;on was a good op+ but in this ase+ he was dead wrong"

D.ot really+ 3 said+ leaning ba* into the passenger seat" 3 needed a nap" 3t had beena &ore%er long day" Dhat do we do now>

Ethan rested his head against the wheel+ then turned sideways to loo* at me in de&eat+D3 don,t *now" hat an we do>

D3 don,t *now+ 3 replied ba*" 3 didn,t *now" 3 mean+ weren,t the polie supposed toin%estigate murders> hy were they ignoring this> 3 mean+ e%en i& we were only one perent on the right tra*+ shouldn,t they at least onsider it> They were too busy loo*ing&or a heroin ring in 6alos" Maybe there was one+ but 3 was betting that in this ase the


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drugs were being sold to someone in partiular and that person was supplying and *illingthese girls"

e sat in the ar in silene &or a &ew more moments+ the 6alos 6olie $epartmentli*e a window deoration out the &ront windshield"

DMaybe 3,m wrong" Maybe 3 =ust don,t want to belie%e )i- did heroin" Hell+ maybe it

was her &irst time e%er trying it and it =ust ended up with her @$ing" Maybe we should =ust lea%e it alone and let the polie do their =ob li*e $eteti%e $i;on said+ Ethan loo*edtired again+ as he leaned ba* against the dri%er,s side seat"

3t was hard to belie%e that =ust days ago we,d been omplete strangers" Ha%ing spentan entire Saturday with Ethan+ loo*ing into )i-,s murder had hanged things" 3 &elt bra%er+ muh bra%er+ D3 don,t thin* gi%ing up is the right thing to do" 3 thin* )i- wasmurdered" Melissa and @li%ia too"

DBut the polie don,t" They,re the ones that ount+ Ethan let out an e;asperatedsigh+ Dhat are we supposed to do>

D3 don,t *nowA 3 shouted" es+ 3 shouted at Ethan Kipley+ the most popular guy atshool" DBut we an,t =ust gi%e up" 3 thin* we ha%e the start o& something"

D3,m tired+ Ethan sounded de&eated" D3 want to gi%e up" 3 =ust ha%e to aept the&ats li*e my &amily and the polie want me to" 3 =ust want it to be o%er" 3 mean+ she,sdead" There,s nothing we an do about it now"

My ell phone bro*e o&& my annoyed retort" e ouldn,t gi%e up" 3t was 'nne &romthe 6alos Gideo Store+ Dhat,s up>

3 listened" @h shit" 3 ompletely &orgot about my shi&t at the store" D3,ll be there intwenty minutes+ 'nne" 3 totally spaed" 3 am so sorry"

Ethan was staring at me+ as 3 hung up" D3 need to get my ar" 3 &orgot about my shi&tat the %ideo store"

Ethan nodded and started the ar" He loo*ed ompletely drained+ D.o problem" e,ll be ba* at my house in &i%e"

Ethan pulled away &rom the 6alos 6olie $epartment and 3 &elt him pulling away&rom me at the same time"

DBut Ethan+ what about )i-> 3 as*ed"He shoo* his head+ DForget about this whole thing" 3,m sorry &or dragging you into

this"3 ignored his sel&


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loo*ing into it" e don,t need to tal* about it tomorrow"That was a total blow o&& i& 3 ould say so mysel&" Ethan was basially telling me that

he,d used me &or what he needed me &or and he didn,t need me anymore" 'nd+ maybe 3was ignoring the &at that he was ob%iously depressed and &or good reason+ but 3 ouldn,thelp it+ 3 &elt suddenly really angry+ Dell+ you,re welome" 3,m so glad 3 spent the last

two days doing researh &or you into your sister,s death" .ow that 3,m on%ined that shewas murdered+ 3 am so glad you are on%ined that she simply o%erdosed" Fine+ lea%e mewith the guilt o& *nowing that there,s going to be a ne;t %itim" Fine+ Ethan+ &ine"

'nd+ we proeeded to dri%e ba* to my ar and his house in silene+ as we both pondered my statement+ eah angry with the other"

Thus+ 3 spent Saturday night worried about getting &ired &rom my part time %ideostore =ob o%er a popular asshole+ who 3 had spent a per&etly good &ree wee*end daytrying to help" 3 was o%er an hour late to wor* and worse than that+ Ethan and 3 hadn,tspo*en a word sine my rant" E%en when we parted ways+ he hadn,t said so muh as athan* you" So muh &or the hope that he might say DhiA to me in the halls when wereturned to shool on Monday"

'nne was ool+ though+ about my =ob" 3t was the &irst time e%er+ that 3 had beenreally+ really late" 'lthough+ she did warn me that 3 should ma*e sure it ne%er happenedagain" 3t wouldn,t" 3 mean+ it,s not li*e Ethan was going to be distrating me &rom myresponsibilities again or anything"

'nne le&t a&ter hewing me out" E%en though she was really nie about it+ it was stilla hewing out" 3 hoped it would ne%er happen again and it probably wouldn,t" 3 wasusually a %ery good employee"

3t was Courtney )ewis and 3 wathing the store tonight" e got along in that waywhere you get along without really tal*ing" 3t was how 3 related to most other peopleatually"

That was why it was *ind o& &unny that 'nne was out the door &or about thirtyseonds+ when Courtney loo*ed at me and said+ DSo+ where were you>

D3 &orgot 3 was wor*ing+ 3 said automatially+ not loo*ing at her+ worried that my&ae would turn red beause 3 was lying" 3 pretended to dig in my purse &or my boo*instead"

3 &ound the boo* and loo*ed up to &ind Courtney still wathing me+ Dh 3 &eigned+ &eeling suddenly worried" 3 *new it wasn,t any o& Courtney,s business and all+ but 3 wasn,t good in soial situations as it was+ so pressuring me toadmit to a lie threw me &or a loop"

DThe guy you were late &or> 3t,s so ob%ious+ Courtney was wathing me+ wanting tohear my gossip &or some reason"

3& 3,d *nown Courtney better+ maybe 3 would ha%e gossiped to her about my rush onEthan+ but we ne%er tal*ed" 3 ouldn,t =ust ome out there with it" 3 mean+ Courtney wasolder than me by about three years+ in ollege+ and she might ha%e more e;periene onthat &ront than 3 did+ but 3 =ust ouldn,t trust her" 'riel had made me %ery+ %ery weary o&girl&riends and the damage they ould in&lit i& you trusted the wrong one" 3 had trusted'riel with e%erything and she had used it to try to destroy me" .ot ool"

'nd+ then it hit me" Courtney was in ollege+ )aurel Community College to be e;at"Maybe she *new something about the o%erdoses+ er+ murders" She ould be an in" @&


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ourse+ 3 was totally ignoring the &at that as o& this moment+ 3 was o&& the ase+ butwhate%er" 3 ouldn,t =ust lea%e it alone" .o matter what Ethan wanted to do+ 3 was alreadyin%ol%ed"

3 &a*ed a smile or maybe it was real beause 3 was thin*ing about Ethan+ Dell+ it,sthis ollege guyL

Courtney grinned at me+ D' ollege guy> here does he go>DTo your shool" Maybe you *now him> Troy Matthews> 3 as*ed+ hoping 3 loo*eddreamy eyed and in lo%e+ and that Courtney *new him"

Courtney shoo* her head+ D.o+ 3 don,t *now him" How,d you meet him>3 thought &or a moment+ D3 was he*ing out ampus+ 3 might go there+ and he

wal*ed up to me+ but anyway+ 3 &ound out that he dated one o& the girls that o%erdosedand nowL

Courtney loo*ed at me wide 3t wasn,t Melissa :ent+ was it>Dhy> $id you *now her> 3 as*ed+ not really answering her 9uestion on purpose"D.ot super well+ you *now+ but 3 do remember my &riend who was li*e &riends with

her &rom hurh group tal*ing about her and a guy+ Courtney started" DBut 3 don,t

remember his name &or sure" 3t ould ha%e been a Troy"Dhat happened> 3 as*ed+ genuinely urious"Dell+ Sandy was =ust telling me that this guy was totally into Melissa" He was an art

ma=or and ma*ing all this ool stu&& &or her" 3t was his way o& doing the whole romantithing" 'nyway+ she so wasn,t into him 3 mean she wouldn,t e%en *iss him+ but &or somereason she *ept going out on dates with him"

DShe wouldn,t *iss him> 3 as*ed"Courtney nodded+ D.o" 'nd+ don,t get me wrong+ i& she doesn,t li*e him she doesn,t

ha%e to *iss him+ but it,s =ust a *iss+ you *now> 3& the guy ta*es you out a &ew times+ *isshim+ maybe you,ll be into him a&ter all" 3 mean+ she *ept dating him and it,s not li*e it,sanything big" 3t,s a *iss"

DThat,s weird+ 3 said"Deah" 3t bro*e them up" 3 mean+ he was so into her+ but ome on+ he,s a guy" (i%e

him a *iss at least+ i& you want to *eep him around" 'nyway+ she was suh a straightedge" So weird she @$,d+ Courtney said" DSo+ you thin* this is the same guy> 3 mean+it,s not his &ault she did drugs or anything" They were bro*en up when she died by li*e atleast a ouple wee*s"

3 nodded+ D6robably not"Courtney nodded and then seemed to want me to ontinue tal*ing about Troy" 3

didn,t *now what else to say+ so 3 said+ D@*ay+ 3,m going to go resta* $G$s"3 grabbed the pile o& returned $G$s &rom the inbo; and wal*ed away &rom

Courtney+ thin*ing about what she,d said about Melissa" 3& the guy Courtney hadmentioned was Troy+ would Troy ha%e *illed Melissa =ust beause he ould ne%er ha%eher> Troy de&initely needed to be in%estigated"

3ronially enough+ as 3 was resol%ing to ontinue on with the ase with or withoutEthan+ Ganessa Martin was dying"


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meet them"3 sat in my ar+ pulled my ell phone out o& my purse+ and dialed" Ethan answered on

the &irst ring+ DHey"D3,m sitting outside your house+ 3 said+ glaning at his house+ toward where 3

thought his window might be" ' dim glow emanated &rom it"

DCome on up" 3,ll be right down to meet you+ 3 ould hear the springs &rom his bedmo%ing+ li*e he was getting up to head downstairs"Dour &amilyL 3 started"D3t,s o*ay" $on,t worry" They don,t *now what we,re doing" 3,ll =ust say you,re a

&riend" 3 ha%e &riends o%er all the time+ Ethan said+ hanging up"He had &riends o%er all the time+ huh> How many girls was he dating> as 3 ready to

meet his &amily> 3 mean+ we were =ust &riends" ere we e%en that> ait" Had EthanKipley =ust alled me his &riend> 3 got out o& the ar and wal*ed up to the house+ uriousto &ind out the status o& our relationship"

DHey+ Ethan said+ opening the door+ =ust as 3 was about to ring the doorbell"His hair was wet+ li*e he had =ust gotten out o& the shower" 3t was more urly than

wa%y when it was glistening with water" as it possible &or him to get more hot> 3 thin*not" 3 wal*ed past him into the entryway" 3 ould hear the murmurs o& a little girl tal*ingin the *ithen and a tele%ision on in the &amily room+ down the way" 3 glaned at Ethan+unsure how to proeed" $id his parents let him =ust bring girls up to his room on Sundaynights> $id 3 ha%e to meet them &irst>

D3 already told them 3 had a &riend stopping by" They,ll lea%e us alone+ Ethanshrugged+ guessing my 9uestion"

3 wal*ed in and he shut the door behind me+ be&ore he started heading up the stairs tohis room" 3 hoped his parents didn,t thin* what 3 thin* they were thin*ing" 3 wanted toreate a good impression+ you *now+ =ust in ase" Then again+ being that none o& themsaw me wal* in+ maybe they =ust thought 3 was a guy" Maybe" as it wrong to sort o&want to meet his parents now> ait a seond" @r+ was Ethan embarrassed o& me> asthat a possibility> 3 shoo* my head to lear it" e were in%estigating a girl,s death"6riorities"

's we wal*ed up toward Ethan,s room it ourred to me that there was one thing 3wanted to do be&ore we went to his room to disuss strategy" 3t was something we hadn,tdone the last time 3 was there+ DCan 3 see your sister,s bedroom>

Ethan loo*ed at me &or a long moment be&ore he nodded and wal*ed to the other endo& the hallway"

)i-,s room was deorated with pitures o& 6aws and other animals" She also had a boo*shel& in her room+ but although hers had a &ew boo*s+ there were a ton o& animal&igurines that she must ha%e olleted sine she was a *id"

Ethan seemed unom&ortable+ D3t &eels really weird to be in here now"D3 *now+ 3 nodded as 3 loo*ed around" 3t too* awhile &or my dad and me to e%en bo;

up my mother,s things" ho *new how long it would ta*e &or Ethan and his parents to pa* up a sister and daughter"

e were 9uiet as we loo*ed around the room" Ethan =ust glaned+ but 3 mo%ed&orward and into the room+ to ta*e a loser loo*" 3 wasn,t thrilled about rummagingthrough a dead girl,s things+ but it had

adventures in funeral crashing funeral crashing 1

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