Table Of ContentCONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
For those who supported me from the beginning
CHAPTER ONE - LIZA
“She lived a good life,”
“Why would anyone want to do this to her?”
“She was just a teenager,”
“There are some real psychos out there,”
“I’m moving to Canada,”
The whispering was starting to get to me. I snapped my book shut and
let out a much-needed exaggerated sigh. “Can we go home now?”
My best friend of three years, Katie, raised her head from her magazine
but still did not meet her gaze with mine. “I still have a few pages left,”
I leaned back in my chair and opened my book to where I left off. I tried
my best to ignore the whispers but it was very hard. I had thought the public
library would be an escape from the news circling around town, but I was
anything but right.
The news spreading around town was that Ellen McHannon was
murdered. Ellen was a senior. Three weeks ago, she turned eighteen. As far as I
knew, she was liked by many. Nobody knows who would want to kill her. Of
course, the police have made connections to similar murders but they do not
know for sure.
Don’t get me wrong, I felt bad for Ellen. I didn’t know her well but I
knew her well enough to not want her murdered. The thing that annoyed me the
most was the whispering. People seemed to care a lot when you are dead.
“Katie,” I implored, glancing down at my watch, “It’s getting late, you
know Jeremy is going to kill me if I get home past my curfew.”
Katie slammed her magazine down on the coffee table. “Jeremy is away
on a business trip, don’t try to fool me. Besides, we’re going to the movies
tonight,”
I gave her a courtesy laugh, “Making plans without consulting me?” I
questioned.
“Oh, come on,” she whined, “I want to get out of here and have some
fun.”
“No one is stopping you,”
Katie quirked a brow, “I can’t have fun without my best friend,” she
paused to think, “We can even invite Sean if that’s what’ll make you go.”
I closed my book and set it on the coffee table. “Inviting my boyfriend
will not make me want to go to the movies with you.” I poked the inside of my
cheek, not wanting to give in.
“Fine,” she spat, leaning back in her chair. “I guess I’ll be the one
keeping Sean company.”
My eyes bulged, “No you will not!” I yelled with a hint of jealousy.
Katie wiggled her eyebrows, “How are you going to stop me?” she
teased, inching forward with a huge grin on her face.
“By going to the movies with you,” I muttered under my breath, sinking
into the sofa.
“Now that sounds like my Liza,”
“Oh shut up,” I snapped at her, grabbing my keys from my back pocket
and twirling it around my finger. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,”
▪▪▪▪▪
“That was the worse movie I have ever seen!” Sean complained,
snaking his arms around my waist and pulling me towards him.
“Oh, really?” Katie questioned, “I could have sworn you cried over that
one--”
“I was allergic to the perfume in the theater,”
She scoffed, “Just admit it. You enjoyed it.”
Sean shook his head, “The only part I enjoyed was seeing Kristen
Stewart somewhat naked,”
I playfully punched him in the shoulder, “Watch it,”
He raised his hands in defense as he continued to walk beside me.
“Babe, I have to stop by the grocery store before I go home so I’ll see you
tomorrow at school.” He leaned in and planted a sloppy wet kiss on my cheek.
“Gross,” Katie commented.
I ignored her as always and waved Sean goodbye as he ran across the
street, getting into his car.
“You and Sean are perfect together,” Katie said, “I mean he loves you,
you love him. It’s almost like puppy love.” She pouted and furrowed her brows,
imitating a puppy.
“I guess you can call it that,” I said, biting my lip. “I need to go home,”
I changed the subject, “Do you think you’re going to be okay or do you want me
to take you home?”
She thought it through for a moment, “You know what; I’ll just wait
until my brother gets off work. He’ll give me a ride.”
I flashed her a small smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Turning on my
heel, I headed for my car. I crossed my street and accidentally stepped into a
puddle, getting my feet wet. I sputtered profanities as I took off my sandals and
continued to walk barefoot.
The wind blew harshly against my brunette hair. I heard crunching
noises that came from behind me, slightly becoming closer. Somehow, I could
not shake the feeling that something or someone was watching every move I
made. I turned around, looked over my shoulder and stared into the distance. I
narrowed my eyes, trying to see farther in the midnight darkness. I fished inside
of my purse for my cell phone and watched the screen roar to life.
11:39
I knew my brother was on a business trip but I also knew that he had
ways of knowing where I was at all times.
Slowly I turned around, walking forward with my sandals in hand. A
cold gust kicked up, wrapping around me like a winter coat. I reached my car,
pressing the unlock button on my key and got in. Turning the key in the ignition,
I sat back in my seat waiting for the car to heat up. These winter nights
sometimes got the best of me.
Just as I was about to reverse out of my parking spot, my cell phone’s
screen lit up, indicating I had a new text message. I glanced down at the screen
and smiled sheepishly to myself at the caller ID. Pressing ‘read’, I watched as
the message soon filled the screen. I read it repeatedly until I finally decided it
was time to get out of here.
‘ I love you Liza –Sean
CHAPTER TWO - JACOB
“Just give me ten shots of the hardest thing you’ve got,” I said
nonchalantly. I was sure bags hung underneath my eyes and my hair was a
tousled mess but I didn’t care. I have been going through this for years now and
I still couldn’t find the one. Where was she? I was tired of waiting.
The bartender handed me a glass of an unknown substance. I didn’t
bother to ask and I didn’t bother to care. I gulped it down. Slamming the glass on
the counter, I turned to face the television. They were broadcasting the news on
Ellen McHannon. I sighed to myself. I didn’t need any more reminders on how
she broke my heart.
She should have just loved me.
If she loved me then we would not be here. She wouldn’t be breaking
news and I wouldn’t be getting drunk. If only she knew that, I just wanted to
care for her.
But she made it so difficult.
I tore my gaze away from the television and stared blankly at my empty
glass, “Keep them coming,” I said hoarsely.
The bartender obeyed and refilled my glass to the rim, “Having a rough
night?”
I forced myself to look at him, my eyes burning from the movement.
“You can say that,” I replied.
He nodded, “Everything always works out. Getting wasted is never the
answer.”
I glared at him, refusing to let myself blink. “Keep them coming,” I said
bitterly, finishing the glass. I really didn’t need advice from someone who
worked in a bar.
“Don’t drink yourself to death, now,” he warned, refilling my glass.
I ignored him. He wouldn’t understand anyway. I fished out a hard
twenty and placed it on the counter in front of him. “Have a pleasant night,” I
said, sarcasm dripping from my words.
I eased off the bar stool and walked out of the bar, feeling somewhat
satisfied. I began to walk out on the sidewalk when a teenage couple caught my
eye.
The male was an average jock. I could tell by the way his shirt fit tightly
around his muscles and the arrogant smirk that seemed to be plastered on his
face. The female, however, was beautiful. She had long brunette hair that ended
at the midst of her back. Her porcelain skin was complimented with soft
enchanting cobalt eyes and a well-rounded, slightly upturned nose. Her full pink
lips stretched out into a smile as she looked at her boyfriend.
She was perfect.
The male planted a kiss on her cheek and ran off while she was left with
what I was guessing was her friend. They talked for a bit until said female
walked across the street, leaving her friend behind.
I was too intrigued by her beauty that I decided to follow her, hoping to
get a closer look at her. She stopped to take off her shoes then began to walk
again. I slowly crept behind, being careful not to get too close.
She stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder but I hid behind
a nearby boulder, not allowing her to see me. She stood like that for a moment
before she began to walk again and got inside of her car. She sat inside for quite
a while before she actually reversed out of the spot and drove off.
She was the one.
