Page 6 of Soul So Dark
Gross.
But, now, everyone knows who I am. I’m Dallas Lutz, Colson’s sister, and the stepsister of the murdered girl from Canaan.
As soon as I reach the bottom of the stairs, I duck into the restroom next to the cafeteria doors. It’s empty, until a minute later when a small group of girls walk in. I’m otherwise oblivious to them, tucking my grey tank top back into my high-waist jeans until I hear one of them speak.
“Colson’s back,” I pause when I hear his name, “I saw him in Calc.”
“Are you going to his stepsister’s visitation?” another girl asks.
I decide to stay put until they leave as to avoid another potentially awkward situation.
“Probably,” the first girl replies, “any chance to see him, right?”
Her tone gives me pause.
“Classy,” comments a third girl.
Suddenly, the bathroom stall feels much smaller than when I walked in. I tilt my head slightly to peek out the crack in the door. Three girls mill around in front of the mirrors. A blonde one tosses her hair back and begins gathering it at the top of her head. I recognize her from Psychology. She’s a senior, but I’ve never spoken to her. Another with freckled cheeks leans against a sink, tapping away at her phone.
The last girl with straight, dark hair leans into the mirror to wipe away something under her eye. “I kind of wish I was seeing Colson somewhere else. Afuneral’snot really where I want to spend my Saturday morning.”
She must be the one who has a class with Colson. And what’s she getting at?
“Why?” the blonde girl snickers, “Don’t you want to seduce him among the tombstones?”
The freckled girl on her phone glances up with a snort.
“No,” the dark-haired girl replies with a roll of her eyes, “but it’s not the worst idea, he’s hot as hell.”
“What about Bryce?”
“WhataboutBryce?” the dark-haired girl sneers with contempt.
“She’s been after him all year.”
“It’s notmyfault she has no game,” she laughs in response.
“There’s still Mason…” the blonde girl chimes in, “and Aiden…”
“Aiden’s a psychopath,” the freckled one says.
“But a beautiful one,” the blonde one replies.
“Anyway,” the dark-haired girl interrupts her, “I’m guessing Colson won’t be much fun to talk to on Saturday.”
Are you serious?
Heat radiates across my cheeks. Are they really talking about Evie’s funeral like it’s some party? I stay put, resigned to waiting until they leave.
“I still can’t believe he’s back at school already,” the freckled girl says. “Did you know he’s the one whofoundher?”
A lump rises in my throat.
Please, don’t…
“What?” the blonde girl’s voice hitches in curiosity.
“Yeah,” she replies. “Colson pulled her out of the creek, after she’d been there—dead—for a week.”
