Alexis stared at the single entry, failing to comprehend this. Penelope Goode, a literal good girl, killed someone? No, it couldn't be real. Did Odetta or Tellie know? Alexis flipped to the next page, reading furiously. The page was written through tears.

Dear diary,

I just screwed up. Father and Mother are so angry at me, they told me that their reputation was at stake. Like they didn't care about my well-being either, but does anyone care?

A lot of people care, Penny, Alexis thought.

It was supposed to be a prank, a little one that I came up with. Odetta and Tellie are turning me into a rebel, that's what Mother scolded me for. Not really, I was never a good girl after all.

My cousin, Helen, worked at a private pool as a lifeguard. I took Odetta and Tellie there, showing them the plan. Tellie agreed right away, something I can always count on. Odetta was unsure, but I won her over.

We snuck into the pool. The plan was that I'd jump in, pretend to drown, Helen would jump to save me, and I'd jump out. But when I jumped in...some other girl jumped with me. I think her name was Hespa Aigle, some basic girl who also happened to sneak past security. I thought she was Helen, so I swam out of the pool.

Turns out, that Hespa Aigle girl was frail and skinny as hell. She sank to the bottom, not knowing how to swim, drowning. So yeah, that's how I killed an innocent girl, dear diary.

"The worst part is," Helen told me, unable to look me in the eye. I hated that. "She couldn't swim, damnit. Yet, Hespa still tried to save you, Penelope. It's sick, utterly sick. Shame on you."

SHAME ON YOU. Those words stung.

Alexis blinked endlessly, unable to process. She closed the diary's cover, trying to think properly. Penelope Goode wasn't the good girl she appeared to be I suppose. The prank was bound to go wrong, she thought. Alexis felt bad for Hespa Aigle.

Aigle. Wasn't that the last name of Lypsie's care-taker? Mrs. Aigle could be related to Hespa, and that could motivate Lypsie to kill Penny. But why didn't she also kill Odetta and Tellie? Alexis was already way out of her head, but she had to know.

The next few entries weren't related at all, as if Penny could ever forget what she did, but one entry caught Alexis' eye.

Dear diary,

It's been awhile since I wrote about Hespa Aigle. Father and Mother aren't so mad at me anymore, and Helen has forgiven me completely. The Aigles were given money by Father to not press charges, thank God.

But...I can't help but think of Hespa. It was a dumb prank meant for Helen, not her. I didn't expect for it to go so wrong, it was all in good fun. I have nightmares, and it haunts me like the dead.

Odetta and Tellie refuse to speak about it, so I feel so trapped. I feel so...broken, yes, that's the word. I'm just hollowed out and shattered, it's sickening. I don't know how to fix myself, or how to forgive myself.

It's all broken glass to me.

Dear diary,

I'm joining the freshmen swim team. I'm doing it in Hespa Aigle's memory, or at least that's what I tell myself. Odetta and Tellie didn't seem too happy about it. They said I made a fool out of this horrible mess. I didn't know what to say, the girls always had my back. It was frustrating when I tried to make light of the situation, and I said I'm doing it for Hespa, didn't I?

It's so unfair...

I thought we were all broken together.

I thought we were all broken together. Alexis didn't like Penny's choice of words, it made her sound as if she was the one who drowned. Drowning, she thought, feeling sick in the stomach. Alexis knew that guilt all too well, and suddenly felt bad for Penny.

So that also explained why Penny hated it when Lypsie pushed her off the Midén, she knew Alexis shouldn't swim, and didn't want to make the problem have the same result as Hespa Aigle's.

She looked at the clock, seeing it's 7: 43 PM. Where did the time go? It was past dinner, but Alexis was still hungry. She looked around her room, deciding to hide Penny's diary under her pillow, pulling up her comforter.

Alexis didn't trust her friends, especially Odetta and Tellie for never telling her about Hespa Aigle. And because of the relation of the Aigles...Lypsie was also not to be left out of the equation.

She went downstairs, seeing Odetta Johnston sitting on a tall stool at the counter. She barely acknowledged Alexis' presence as she went to get a salad from the fridge. "I thought you hated Lypsie's salad."

"I can't really be picky this time, hm?" Alexis said, grabbing a fork and drenched dressing onto the bowl of leafy greens. She seated herself next to Odetta on a stool, feeling very awkward tension between them.

She should say something. Something about Penelope. "I miss Penny too."

Odetta looked shocked, but then the shock turned into anger. She stood up from the stool, rolling up her fists, shaking furiously. "You do-don't understand at all, Lexis. Th-this is too much and you're making a fool of yourself."

She left shortly after that, leaving Alexis alone to munch on her salad. She chewed lonely, spitting out a stem. She didn't want this to be the atmosphere for the remainder of the week until Lukas came back with the Midén.

"Alexis, want to go on a run with me?" Tellie's voice rang from the hall.

She turned around, her mouth still stuffed with veggies. "M-eh-me?"

"Yes, you," Tellie giggled, wearing sporty clothing.

Alexis wasn't exactly dressed for the occasion, but she didn't want to be alone. But at the same time—would she want to be alone with a suspected murderer? This is Tellie Hollows we're talking about, she convinced herself as she dumped her bowl into the sink. She wouldn't hurt me.

"Breathe through your nose and out through your mouth," Tellie urged, yelling at a panting Alexis. "No, no! Don't breathe through your mouth, you're not listening to me! Don't gasp for air!"

"But isn't ga-gasping like breathing?" Alexis wheezed, trying to keep up with Tellie. They were going on a track throughout the island, and Omfori was quite large. Thankfully, Tellie decided not to run along the whole island.

They stopped briefly and Alexis sat down at the sandy beach. They were back to where the church was, much closer this time. Tellie scowled, scolding her. "Don't sit on the sand, it'll give you cramps. Stand up, c'mon."

"Ugh!" she groaned, getting to her feet.

"I know runs aren't really your thing, but thanks," Tellie said, tossing her locks over her shoulder. "It he-helps a lot, with the whole Penny thing. I-I...I need this so badly."

"Hey, it's okay."

"No, I-I-I mean that my life depends on that scholarship for track. O-Odetta's right, we can't tell the police everything or their suspicions will turn to us," she said, shaking her hands. Her words were stutters, making it unclear. "God, Alexis, if I get that scholarship, it gets me out of town. I-I'll be free of the rumours surrounding my mother."

Alexis could relate—she wanted to get out of her parents' grasp and head to university to become an architect. It was her dream plan that seemed so far away, and it was. "I know, Tellie."

She started to cry and Alexis didn't know how to deal with it. "I can't lo-lose this, there's too much at stake. Alexis, I brought you here to ask you something—lie for us, for Penny. We'll make it up somehow, please."

Alexis was stunned. She didn't think Tellie out of all people would turn on Penny. It was unheard of. "Wh-what? No, no, no! I can't do this, Tellie. I'm a terrible liar and I wouldn't lie anyways! This is Penelope Goode we're talking about."

Tellie sat down, starting to sob uncontrollably. "I-I don't know what to do."

Alexis seated herself on the sand next to her. "Hey, it'll be okay. When Lukas comes, everything will be over when we get off the island. The police can't possible to-think one of us killed Penny."

"But one of us did," Tellie persisted. "I-I don't know who, but there's no way that Penny died on her own fault."

"You think it's Odetta or Lypsie?"

"It could be you."

Alexis paled, feeling uncomfortable. She wasn't guilty, but how could she convince Tellie? "I was upstairs, going to bed. You three were the ones with her, drinking your hearts away!"

She started to tear up again, and Alexis panicked. "I-I'm not assuming!"

"You're accusing," Tellie shot back.

Alexis sighed loudly, groaning. "I'm not, I'm just telling you—would Penny want this?"

Tellie didn't speak, resting her chin on her knees. They stayed silent for a few minutes as Alexis watched the sun go down. The yellows turned into orange, which then mingled the red sky.

"I'm sorry, Tellie," she said quietly, almost like a whisper. "The truth is, I feel bad that I'm not feeling emotion. I want to feel more emotion, I want to feel sad that Penny died. And I am, but I don't know how. I keep telling myself that it's a shock, but I'm still so...emotionless."

"That's funny because I'm upset that I'm so emotional." Tellie stood up and so did Alexis. "I-I don't know what to do, but I'll figure it out."

The two girls ran back to the House of Riches, going upstairs. Alexis headed to her room, and Tellie followed. They sat on Alexis' bed, talking lightly about track and school. It was weird to try and act until everything was back to normal.

Suddenly, Tellie stared at Alexis' pillow. Wait, does she see Penny's diary—

"Is that a Burn Book? O-M-G, I love Mean Girls too!" she exclaimed, oblivious. She grabbed the diary out of its hiding spot before Alexis could protest. She froze, as if she knew Penny had it before. "This is Penny's. Why do you have it?"

"I-I can explain—"

Tellie started to read the pages, cracking it open. Alexis flinched, but didn't argue, unable to speak properly. She flipped through some of the entries, her eyes going wide. "I..."

"I know about Hespa Aigle."

"Aigle?" she asked, trying to deflect Alexis' statement. "I-I didn't know that it was Lypsie's caretaker's daughter. Or niece, or whoever Hespa is related to. Alexis, you have to believe me!"

"This happened in freshman year, correct?" Alexis crossed her arms, huffing.

"Near the end of 8th grade," Tellie admitted. "We didn't know that Hespa couldn't swim, it was meant for Helen. I loved Penny, I didn't have any friends before her and Odetta. So I didn't hesitate to help out with the prank."

"But you knew it was wrong?!"

"Penny always had my back," she said, tears starting to stream down her cheeks again. "So when the Goodes paid the Aigles to not press charges, I didn't care. I didn't want to talk about it, but..."

Tellie swallowed hard, turning away. "I'm so sorry."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Alexis demanded, exhausted. She was tired of pretty lies and guessing all the time. "None of you told me...aren't we friends?"

Alexis cleared her throat, not wanting to hear the answer to her question.

"Forgive me, Alexis," Tellie pleaded, clasping her hands together.

"Uhm..." she trailed off, sick of lies. Everything was wandering through her head, and it was so loud. She didn't know who she could trust without them lying straight to her face. Alexis wanted to defend them so badly, they were her friends, but she couldn't.

Tellie started to sob, crying silently. "You want the truth? Here the damned truth, Alexis, no more lies. You have to forgive me, to forgive P-Penny. She always had our backs, no matter what.

"You know that running event that basically will give m-me my future scholarship? A bunch of lies! I was so tired, so sick of the pressure, and couldn't train for track even if my life depended on it!"

Tellie growled, frustrated as tears poured on. "So I told Penny to help me somehow, and you know how she did? She bought my winning place, that track trophy in the trophy case in our school?! Lies!"

Alexis was shocked as Tellie threw the diary at her feet. It landed on the tiled floor with a loud THUD. Alexis scooped it up, holding it tight against her chest. "Penny saved me, she's my goddamn saviour. She knows of my longing to get away, so she r-rescued me."

"Tellie..."

"I know, I suck!" she yelled, clutching her stomach. "But that's the cold truth, Penny saved me! Don't you dare talk badly about her with the incident with Hespa Aigle!"

Alexis went out to grab her, to comfort her, but Tellie pushed her away.

"Read the diary!" she yelled, walking out of Alexis' room. She followed after her, but Tellie slammed the door, locking. Alexis desperately knocked on the door, begging for her.

After a few minutes, Alexis gave up. She headed back to her bedroom, also locking the door. Read the diary, her mind reminded herself. Alexis opened the diary, skipping past the pages about Hespa Aigle and the swim team.

Dear diary,

I hope I did the right thing, the good thing to do. Tellie, my friend, she needed more time that wasn't there. I couldn't just let her future slip away by some no-good scouts. I asked Father a small favour to buy Tellie first place.

Mother didn't like the idea, but Father agreed. It doesn't even matter, Tellie would have won anyways. She looked so happy when the score came back to her, so I was also happy.

Odetta and Alexis were there too, oblivious. We cheered so loudly that some old woman told us to shut up. I went to privately visit Tellie, to cheer for her in the lockers.

But...I couldn't lie to her face, not after the Hespa Aigle prank. So I told her about buying her first place, and she didn't say anything. I wanted to shout, "Please say something to tell me you're not angry!"

We didn't speak to each other for a whole week.

Alexis remembered this all too well. She just thought Tellie was burnt out from the track event, so they kept their distance to relax. She never imagined that it was because of a fight.

But she visited me one day, in the girls' washroom. "I don't like what you did," she told me, crossing her arms. "I could have won on my own, Penny. What? Do you think I couldn't have?"

This made me beyond furious. I was looking out for her, I was being a good friend! I wanted to apologize, but did I? No, I didn't. I understood Tellie, we were broken together. "I just gave you a helping hand, I know you've been distracted from running lately."

"That's no excuse to—"

"Don't you get it? I saved you, Tellie! You told me that you want to get away from these little places in Richmond Hill, so yeah. People would never understand your struggle," I said. "We're broken girls."

Tellie softened. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah."

"You're right," she sighed, sweeping back her hair to her ears. "You rescued me, I would have been in a very different place without you..."

"We all are happy."

"We all are happy," Tellie repeated, echoing my words.

Alexis closed the diary, thinking wildly. So that's where Tellie got her phrase from, and Alexis recalled that she said that more often after a few weeks after the track event.

She reread the entry, feeling nervous. Tellie's words...they sounded as if she were planted into her mind. Was Penny feeding her lies? No, Penny was a nice and good girl.

Alexis realized that one of the entries she skipped was Penny meeting with herself. Alexis went back to the page and started to read again.

Dear diary,

I met a girl named Alexis Kathan, we had to work on a project, the four of us. Odetta, Tellie, Alexis, and me. She's such a quiet girl that it's sort of annoying. She didn't seem to have any friends even though she wasn't new to the school.

I did the nice thing, asking her if she wanted to go get lunch tomorrow with us. Alexis looked so happy, agreeing. I was getting more and more friends, this was amazing. I knew that the four of us would be perfect.

Just perfect.

Alexis shut the diary, furious tears falling down. They weren't perfect at all, if they were, Penny would be alive. The diary was tucked away in Alexis 'carry-on, deciding that hiding it under her pillow wouldn't cut it anymore.

This was enough to suffice today. Tomorrow, she will read more of the pages and hope for the best.

After all, Penelope Goode was the best.