“I don’t think I’m giving it up Aunt Karen. I’m just giving it a break.”

After hearing the news about my parents, I woke up in a hospital for the third time in my life. Apparently I passed out cold from shock and dehydration. They called it a mental meltdown. My aunt didn’t say any more about what I’d heard and I didn’t ask. I wasn’t ready to know what happened.

After the doctor cleared me to go home I started having a panic attack all over again. All I kept thinking was how I couldn’t go back and so my aunt and I came to an agreement that I needed a vacation. We were able to finagle a doctor’s note excusing me from school for a few days. My aunt called up Karen who agreed to watch over me. It was only supposed to be for a few days but every time I thought about going home my anxiety rose.

Keiran had finally done what I think he was always trying to do. He ran me away from home and everyone I loved. He could have Six Forks and the school but he couldn’t have my sanity.

“Well if you ask me I think this boy deserves the kissing end of my nine up his ass.”

“Aunt Karen!”

“Hmmp! What ever happened to the days when a boy simply bought a girl flowers and if she was really special he’d buy her candy before sex too?”

“I think it died in the seventies,” I laughed.

“Shame.”

I’d told Aunt Karen all about Keiran and me the first night I was here. I felt guilty for confiding in her and not my aunt but it just all came out. I knew sooner or later I would have to tell her. It wasn’t fair for her to not know anymore. She took me in when I wouldn’t have had anybody. I owed her so much and I would start by giving her my honesty.

“Have you talked to Carissa yet?”

“No, not yet. I just need some time.”

“Time doesn’t wait for anyone Lake, remember that.”

We sat and talked for hours and before I knew it, night had fallen. Aunt Karen left to go make dinner and as I was watching TV the door opened and Uncle Ben, my godfather, walked in.

“Hey, Lake. Isn’t it past your bedtime?”

I laughed. “No, Uncle Bennie. I’m not eight anymore but I do think it’s past yours.” He chuckled and ruffled my hair before rushing off to find his wife. When he entered the kitchen, I heard her giggle like a schoolgirl with a crush and the unmistakable sound of heavy kissing. I always thought they were the most romantic couple I’d ever known.

The three of them had been best friends since college. It had been love at first sight and they have been happily married since their senior year. Their only bad time was when Aunt Karen suffered two miscarriages before her body and the couple gave up on trying. It broke Aunt Karen’s heart that she couldn’t give him the children they always talked about but Uncle Ben said she was all he ever needed. It’s been five years since her last miscarriage and now they were talking about adopting.

I guess happily ever after was only meant for a few.

* * *

My vacation was drawn to a halt the next day, when I got a phone call from my aunt telling me there were detectives looking for me. I immediately panicked, thinking they somehow found out about my being kidnapped by Mitch and how much they might have told my aunt. I rushed back to Six Forks and drove straight to the station, reciting the story Keiran told me to give that night if anyone ever asked. I walked into the station with my nerves in my stomach and threatening to come up at any moment.

“Miss Monroe, so nice of you to pay us a visit,” a detective who I believe said his name was Daniels spoke to me. He looked and acted like the typical ass hat detective with thinning hair and a bushy mustache. He also tried too hard to be intimidating. If I weren’t already so nervous, I would have laughed.

“My aunt said you were looking for me?”

“Yes, you missed your scheduled interview.” Shit, Trevor and Anya! With Mitch returning from the dead I’d forgotten about their disappearance.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t told…”

“A phone call was placed to your aunt who notified us that you were out of town. Any particular reason why?”

“I’m transferring schools.”

“I see,” he wrote something down before looking back at me. “Tell me about your relationship with Trevor Reynolds and Anya Risdell.

“Nonexistent. We weren’t friends.”

“Why is that?” he asked with suspicion.

“Were you friends with every person you went to high school with?”

“No, but there must be a reason why one of them would allegedly attack you in a bathroom stall and receive a broken arm by Keiran Masters for the trouble.”

“It isn’t alleged because Trevor Reynolds did attack me. Instead of treating me like the criminal you should be searching for him harder. He needs to be put away.”

“We’ve called off the search.” I didn’t bother to hide my surprise as I stared back at him. “I can see this news surprises you.”

“Why did you call off the search?”

“Because there has been a new development in the case. Trevor Reynolds and Anya Risdell were both found this morning.”

“So why am I here?” I stood to leave, not really caring about the answer. I needed to get the hell out of there.

“Because they were both found burned alive in a field just outside of town. They’re dead Miss Monroe and I think you know who did it.”

Dead? He didn’t bring them back?