***

"So, we haven't gotten a chance to speak ever since you came back from Echo Creek", Miss Nadia says, "I was hoping to see you yesterday, right after you came but, your mom said you cancelled?"

"Yeah. I was a little overwhelmed", I explain. "I just wanted to have a normal day. Without any of this"

"I can understand".

Miss Nadia now opens up her little notebook. "So, how did you find your experience at Echo Creek? Let's start from the first day, how did it go?"

"It was kind of....hard. Just, to see all of Kylie's things there and meet her friends. Also, seeing Kiara and everything. Between my father and Kiara's mom...it was just a lot"

"I can only imagine. Did you speak to your father often throughout the entire period?"

"No. I still don't like him Miss Nadia"

"I think if Kylie's death should teach you anything, it's that people could leave your life at any moment. If there's one thing you can't take for granted, it's life"

Miss Nadia's words play through my mind. The agony of it was, what she was saying actually made me hate my father abit less. However, I wasn't ready. Not just yet.

"I've been doing what you said", I say in an attempt to change the topic

"What do you mean?"

"I've been trying to do some things Kylie would do"

A wide smile plastered on her face. "That's great to hear. What are some of the things you've been doing?"

"The really small things like hanging out with Kiara and going over to Sophia's", I say, "but, also I found her diary"

I brought the book out of my bag and showed it to her.

"I only started reading it a few days ago. I've been going page by page and it's like, the further I go, the more distant I feel from her."

"Do you feel like sharing some of the things you read that make you feel that way?"

I had to think strategically at this point in time. For one thing, I didn't want to make it obvious that I was looking for my sisters murderer and for another, I still really needed her help to put some missing pieces together. I mean, she was my sisters therapist and I'm almost certain that Miss Nadia knew some things about Kylie that I didn't.

"Well, I found out she apparently went to some camp"

"Okay. And why does that bother you?"

"Because I'm pretty sure she would never go to camp. She hated the idea of sleeping in a cabin with a bunch of strangers for weeks on end", I explain

"Maybe she had a change of heart?"

"I really doubt that", I say, "Did she ever mention something about it to you?"

Miss Nadia takes a breath. "I'm afraid not. To be honest with you, when she came back last summer she was pretty closed off. I could tell that something was bothering her, I just didn't know what. Maybe something happened at camp that she wasn't exactly proud of"

***

"Kelsie!", Sophia screamed at me from across the cafeteria. She walked up to the table where Ryder, Trip and I were seated having lunch.

"Hey Sophia", I said in attempt to be friendly

"So, the meeting today is gonna be abit later, will you manage to come by at 11?"

"Pm?", I ask redundantly

"Yes Kelsie Burklin. 11pm", she says

"Uh...I'm sure I can make it happen"

"Great. I will see you then", Sophia says and starts to walk away.

"Oh, would it be okay if I came with Ryder?", I ask spontaneously. Ryder raises her eyebrows in shock and looks at me.

"I really don't care", Sophia says and walks off

"Uhm, hello? When did I say I wanna come with you?", Ryder angrily states

"Please? You know I'm not gonna be able to face those shallow meat heads on my own"

Ryder rolls her eyes.

"Why are you even going to Sophia Leon's house? I've literally never even seen you guys have a normal conversation", Trip says while taking a bite out of his chicken mayo sandwich.

I gave Ryder an uncomfortable look as if to ask, "should I tell him?" She lifts her shoulders in an "I don't really care manner"

"Would you think I'm crazy if I told you that I don't think my sisters death was an accident?"

"I mean, she drowned, if it's not an accident, what would it be?"

"...A murder", I whisper

"What? You think someone drowned her?"

"Yeah possibly. That's what we're trying to find out later today at Sophia's house. Her dad carried out Kylie's autopsy and I'm hoping if Ryder and I go to his house, we could look through some of his stuff and find something that might help us uncover something that's so clearly being hidden"

"what exactly are you hoping to find?", Trip asks us

"I don't know, dna or something. Just, proof to show that my sisters death was a murder"

"And when you get the proof?", he asks, "what will you do with it?"

"Well", I pause. "We're gonna catch the bastard who killed Kylie"

***

The night time fell fast. I mean, ever since Kylie died, time goes by faster for some reason. I can't explain it though. I guess it's just one of those things you have to feel in order for you to really understand.

The way I moved tonight was easy. I got home from school around 5.20 and told my mom that Ryder was sleeping over tonight. As usual, she was too busy to really care. Ryder and I both don't have cars so we needed Trip to be our get away driver, so to speak. We told him to park the car a few feet away from my house at exactly 10.45pm.

Ryder and I had to change, obviously, so we did. Nothing too fancy of course. We ended up telling my mom that we were going to get a pizza from the 24/7 pizza place down the street. She didn't mind, she told us to bring her back a slice of pepperoni and olive pizza. And at that, we got into the car and Trip drove us straight to Sophia Leon's house.

"You wanna stay here and wait or should we call when we're ready to leave?", I ask Trip through the window of his car. Ryder had already walked up to the front door

"I can wait. I don't mind"

"Kay, thanks", I kiss Trip goodbye and walk over to Ryder

"Shouldn't we like, establish a game plan or something?", Ryder asks me

"Yeah, we probably should.", I pause. "We can just hang out or whatever for a second then, after some time, I'll ask to go use the toilet and you can say you wanna go too-"

"Then we look for an office and ransack the place", Ryder finishes

"Exactly", I say, "you ready?"

Ryder nods her head in agreeiance and I knock on the door, my knuckles clammy and pale. The door opens up suddenly and Sophia Leon stands besides it, dressed in her soccer uniform for some absurd reason.

"Kelsie Burklin! You finally made it", Sophia smiles

"Yeah", I hug her, "Thanks again for letting me come. I'm happy to be here"

"Oh please, the pleasure is all mine. Come in Si'l vous plaît", Sophia says and starts to walk towards the other girls. Ryder and I look at each other first then follow her lead. Mimicking her every step.

"I'm sure you already know the rest of the girls; Darla, Madison, Wendy, Kim, Tia, Randa, Lucy, Stacy, Adria, Felicity and Chloe"

The girls all say hello to me and Ryder. As do we. I'm fairly certain that I've never been so surrounded by this many females all at once.

Small conversation sparked amongst us for a while, nothing too serious or interesting. Most of it is about the football team and who wore what at the Met Gala.

"So, Kelsie, are you planning on taking up your sisters spot in the team?", one of the girls asked me. I'm really not even sure which one.

"Oh, no. I'm really not into that kinda stuff, Kylie was really more of the outgoing one"

"Nonsense. I'm sure you'd make an excellent forward for the team. You play do you not?", Sophia asks

"I do. I used to play with Kylie and my dad"

"Aw", all the girls swoon

"Why don't you try out tomorrow? we're looking for a new forward",another one of the girls asks

I look at Ryder for her reaction.

"...I'll think about it"

The rest of the girls squeal and giggle.

"Kels, do you wanna go to the restroom?", Ryder asks, evidently feeling uncomfortable and out of place.

"Yeah sure", I say and stand up at the same time as Ryder

"It's down the hall to the third left", Sophia says, "Oh, and do be careful not to enter daddy's office. It's right next to the restroom so you might get confused"

"Yeah, of course"

Ryder and I make our way down the hall and swiftly entered the office.

"Okay? Where do we even start?", Ryder asks me

"The drawers and cabinets?", I mumble. "Just, look into Anything closed. Anything that seems like it's trying to be hidden"

We look around quickly and try to find anything that might be important until finally, Ryder finds something. A folder.

"Kelsie?"

"Yeah?", I say, still looking through drawers

"I think I just found what we were looking for. You might wanna see this"

I walked over to Ryder and read the cover of the yellow folder. It read, "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL: BURKLIN CASE" in bright bold marker

I gulp, "Open it"

Ryders fingertips held onto the edge of the folder and before she could turn it open, a voice began to draw nearer to the office, causing us to switch our focus to the door.

"Don't worry girls, I'm just picking up a box of papers and I'll be right out"

"Crap!", Ryder and I whisper in unison.

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