Page 7 of Oliver

The detective looks between us and nods, folding his little damn book back in his pocket before standing. “Please give me a call if you think of anything else.”

Ignoring them both, I pass into the living room and sit down. This is all so fucked up. I foolishly thought it was my job to find my sister's killer and now I’m stuck in a nightmare in which I’m afraid I made things worse.

I should have told the police everything from the beginning because now they’ll be suspicious of anything I bring forward. Beyond that, I’m walking a tightrope and I could very well anger my newfound stalker if I do.

Chapter 2

Penny

I never thought I would walk these halls again. I was content if a little bored with finishing my high school work at home.

After the big scandal that supposedly ruined my world, I slowly came to the realization that without the specter of seeing my so-called friends, the perpetual ache in my tummy disappeared and I could finally take a full breath.

I was so stupid, but I only had myself to blame. I chose to surround myself with assholes and as a result, I became one myself. It’s a sobering reminder of how quickly you can lose your soul to the trappings of popularity.

With Dixie’s death though, that shit is far from my mind and thank god for that because I spent two fucking years starving myself to conform to the ridiculous standards of beauty we subscribed to.

I joined cheer even though I hated it. I walked these halls like my shit didn’t stink and acted like a stuck-up princess because that’s what we did.

Every princess needs a prince, so I dated and subsequently fucked Jensen knowing he was a damn douche, and he took my virginity, a rite of passage that should have been gentle and kind and tore through me as though my pain didn’t matter.

My life crashed and burned long before the rumor spread to ensure my downfall.

Now I’m back after begging Mom to let me use her car, using the excuse that I had to turn in paperwork in order to participate in the upcoming graduation ceremony.

She bought the lie, but I could tell from the worry caressing her features that she didn’t want to give in.

I don’t blame her. I fled this place with my heart in pieces and in her mind, it killed Dixie. What she can’t see though is that it’s not this place that’s the problem. It’s us.

I put myself in a vulnerable position and so did Dixie. Ironically, I’ve done it again trying to find the person responsible for her death.

Once I pass through the doors, a shiver assails me as memories of Dixie dance over my vision. I can’t seem to dissociate Dixie’s death from this fucking place compounded by my own inglorious past.

Unfortunately, I can’t avoid the assholes but it’s worth it if I can find some damn answers. Still, I’d rather not run into Oliver if possible.

Of course, when I turn a corner, I spy the last person I want to see or second to last I amend.

She snarls at a girl as she stalks by and I step against the wall, catching my breath. It’s Sabrina. Once upon a time that was me, curling my hair and spending hours picking out my clothes. Now I don’t care. Hell, with Dixie’s death, it’s even worse. Shit. I’m not sure I brushed my hair this morning now that I think about it.

The irony isn’t lost on me. My first day as a freshman, I entered the halls of Sterling High with a flutter in my belly. I was finally a freshman. With my besties in tow, we were poised to have a stellar four years.

I was dating the hottest guy or so I told myself at Sterling. It was going to be epic.

Except what I didn’t understand was that those butterflies whooping it up in my stomach weren’t from excitement, but dread.

After eight years of maneuvering around my peers, I was exhausted from the constant pressure. I lost weight because I never ate. I obsessed about being the prettiest girl when I should have been happy with who I was. I put others down because that meant I was everything our little group of friends encouraged me to be.

I was one nightmare away from imploding and I couldn’t even see it. What I saw as success, clawing my way to the most popular, prettiest, supposedly happiest girl at Sterling was a lie I told myself.

Not only that, but I also couldn’t go back, I was so embroiled in that damn group, I couldn’t see my way clear.

Now, I’m faced with my bad decisions as I watch Sabrina bump the girl out of her way with her bag. Would that still be me if I hadn’t been betrayed and ousted from the friend group, I put above everything else?

Whatever.

Shaking my head from the past, I push away from the wall, ignoring the wide-eyed stares of my peers. I guess my hope to avoid everyone was wasted because these fuckers face me at every turn.

I thought homeschooling was the end for me but as it turns out, returning to this wasteland is worse.

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