THE WEEKEND PASSED BY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE AND BEFORE I KNEW IT, IT WAS TIME FOR TRYOUTS.

Between balancing my schoolwork with my personal situations, I had almost forgotten that Evan and I had agreed to try out for ShadowHill's soccer and volleyball teams. If it wasn't for my twin's gracious reminder this morning, I would have nearly missed an opportunity.

My sleep schedule has been unbalanced since the day I decided to crack the mystery behind Caleb's sudden death. Some nights, I would get my usual six hours of sleep. On other nights, I would be lucky if I even got an hour of sleep.

This resulted in me being extremely cranky in the morning and today was no exception.

Despite wanting to burrow in the darkness of my covers, I forced myself out of bed and opened the curtains to allow sunlight to spill through the window. The radiance of the sun blinded me but I managed to not scream as I dragged myself into the shower.

It was quiet around the house since my brother was still asleep and my dad left for work extremely early. Quietly, I managed to brush my teeth and shower in silence, the only sound being the water coming from the showerhead.

By the time I got out of the shower and managed to dry my hair, Evan was already up and using the private bathroom in Dad's room.

I guess I took too long for him to bear.

Within fifteen minutes, my brother was done and already pulling on his clothes and drying his hair while I still contemplated on what to wear for the day. By seven o'clock, I was done and bounding down the stairs, my heavy bag in my hand.

My damp ponytail slapped the back of my neck as I slid my way into the kitchen, settling my bag on a nearby stool.

"What's wrong with you this morning?" my brother asked as I rummaged through the fridge for orange juice

"I'm hungry" I simply said, grabbing the bottle of orange juice from the fridge and two glasses from the cupboard. I poured two glasses for both of us and proceeded to look for the box of pop tarts.

"That's it? You look like you haven't slept in three days and the first semester isn't even over" Evan commented, sipping on his juice. "Then again, you're taking all AP classes so I can't blame you for looking a bit dead."

"It's not because of my classes" I reassured him, taking the box of pop tarts out from the cupboard and taking out the remaining ones.

I popped them into the toaster and threw the empty box into the recycling bin. "I've just been busy with extracurricular activities."

"And your love life" he added on, giving me a sly grin. I frowned at him, shaking my head.

"Nothing there to bat an eye at" I simply replied back even though I was certain of what he was hinting.

"Really? So you and Greyson are not going on a date?" he asked.

The question caught me off-guard. I choked on my orange juice and set the glass down, turning around just in time to see the pop tarts pop out of the toaster.

"Who told you that?" I asked, passing him two pop tarts. Evan shrugged, taking a bite of the sugary treat.

"He was talking about it with a couple of football guys in Calculus. I didn't ask much but I didn't need to. The whole class could practically hear him."

A frown formed on my face as I bit into my pop tart. "Did he now?" I questioned, crumbling the pop tart on my plate.

Evan nodded. "Don't get mad at him. He wasn't saying anything bad about you. He seems crazy about you."

"Let's see if I will reciprocate the same feeling" I muttered underneath my breath, finishing my pop tart.

Evan nodded once more but reached out to touch my wrist. I looked up to meet his concerned eyes. "Are you sure you're okay? You know you can tell me anything right?"

I sighed, running my fingers through my wet ponytail. "I know Evan. I'm just overwhelmed."

"With what?" he asked. "Classes? Tests?"

"Everything" I replied back, finishing my breakfast. "Things have been moving very fast. It's taking a while for me to adjust" I half fibbed as I put my dishes in the dishwasher and grabbed my bag.

Evan nodded and did the same thing, grabbing the car keys from the counter as we made our way out. "I know but we're in this situation together. Might as well make the best of it" he said, bumping my shoulders. "Besides, I'm supposed to be the brooding twin. Can't have you take my place."

I couldn't help the smile that lit up my face. Together, we drove to school in comfortable silence. The air smelled of citrus and sweets and the crisp air of autumn kissed my fingers through the window. Soft country croons sang through the radio and my brother hummed in his usual off-key manner that made me laugh.

The tower of ShadowHill High met us in the early morning as we parked our car. The parking lot was busy as usual and I put in my headphones to block any noise out. Evan bid me goodbye and made his way to the other side of the parking lot to talk to the soccer team about tryouts.

The duffel bag weighed on my shoulders as I pushed through the crowd and made my way to my locker. A dark silhouette was already waiting for me as I made my way over. As I got closer, I was able to trace the blue eyes and silky black hair to match Greyson's appearance. He wore a crisp blue shirt that matched his eyes and his smile seemed to match the brilliance of the sun's rays.

"Hey," he greeted me just as I opened my locker.

"Morning," I said back as I pushed my stuff into my locker.

"Need any help?" he asked, reaching out for my stuff. I placed a few books in his hand before finally fitting my duffel bag into the locker.

"What's that for?" he asked as I adjusted my bag on my shoulders.

"Volleyball tryouts. I heard ShadowHill has a pretty impressive athletics department. I want to try my luck" I explained, taking the books from his hand.

We began walking to my first-period class, our steps slow and in sync with one another. "Volleyball is extremely tough here. Mercedes is the captain. You should ask her for some tips. Maybe she'll even put you on the team without tryouts."

He nudged my ribs at his last statement, causing me to stifle a laugh. "Thanks but no thanks. Back in Willoughby High, I was the star volleyball player. It's safe to say that I have more than enough skills to earn a spot."

"But that's Willoughby High. I'm sure that the school is not as aggressive in the athletics department as we are" he teased. I stopped in my tracks and turned around to meet his gaze.

"Say that to my state championship ring and all my trophies" I shot back, causing a large grin to appear on his face.

"I like a girl who is competitive," he said, leaning in.

I felt my breath hitch in my throat as he took a few steps closer to me until there was little space left between us. People pushed past us and shoved us out of the way but I saw nothing but him.

"Let's see if you can handle it" I replied back, sparking a gleam in his eyes.

He reached down and took my hand in his causing me to jump at his touch. He seemed to take this as a challenge and took my hand once more.

"I need to ask you a question" he simply stated.

"Ask away" I replied back.

"How do you feel about candy apples?" he asked, giving my hand a squeeze.

I looked down at our interlocked fingers and back into his scheming eyes.

"Does this have anything to do with our date?" I questioned.

He didn't answer me in words but his smile said it all. "You tell me" he finally seemed to spit out.

"Well, in that case, I love candy apples but I hate being late to class." I pulled my hand away from him and tucked my hair behind my back.

Greyson smiled and nodded his head. "Fair enough. I'll see you later."

He began to walk away but turned back once again. "Good luck at tryouts," he said with a wink before disappearing into the dispersing crowd.

Taking in a sharp breath, I hurried my way to the first period and took my usual seat next to Mercedes. Her feet were on her desk and the sweater dress she wore seemed a bit odd for the warm climate of the school.

"Hey there" she greeted as the bell rang. I smiled at her and dug through my bag for my laptop and homework.

"You're the captain of the volleyball team right?" I asked her. Her brows pushed up in surprise but she pursed her lips and nodded.

"For two solid years. Why what's up?" she asked, popping a piece of gum into her mouth.

"Well, I am trying out for the team today. Any advice?" I asked.

Her brows furrowed in deep thought. She pulled out her laptop and her homework as the teacher went around and checked. As he brushed past our table, she turned back to me.

"Do you have any experience?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. I used to be on the volleyball team back in Vermont" I informed her.

She smiled and nodded, running her fingers through her hair. "How good were you?"

"The star player not to toot my own horn" I replied back.

A laugh left her lips. "I like your confidence," she said, popping a small bubble with her gum. "Well, I will assume that you know how the whole thing works. However, don't get too nervous. Just show me what you got and you should be fine. Knowing that you were good enough to be on a volleyball team back in Vermont, I know you'll be fine."

She gave me a wink. "Greyson told me athletics are competitive here" I informed her, causing Mercedes to laugh out loud. Several heads turned, but she ignored them all, catching her breath in between words.

"If he can make the football team, you can make the volleyball team" she replied back, sarcasm dripping in between her words.

We didn't talk much throughout the rest of the class. Mercedes plugged in her headphones and worked on trig identities while I half-worked on the assignment and created a list of suspects on the side of the notebook.

When the bell rang again, Mercedes grabbed my hand as I was about to leave and turned me around. Her demeanor was much calmer and her grip on me relaxed. She darted her eyes to the floor, her voice low.

"How is Phoenix doing?" she asked, a blush coating her cheeks. "I haven't seen much of him since the incident."

"He's okay. I can't really speak for him, but he was pretty offended, to say the least," I said, shrugging my shoulders. Mercedes bit her lips, staining her teeth with the red lipstick on her mouth.

"I can't blame him," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "After our history."

"Your history?" I questioned, raising my brows. "What history?"

"Phoenix and I used to date. For quite a while" she sheepishly admitted.

I raised my brow and let out a low sigh, clearing my throat to cover my surprised tone.

"Really? For how long?" I asked.

"Two and a half years. From eighth grade to last year" she said, still not making eye contact with me. "Things started to get complicated and we just drifted apart," she said, her tone dying on the last few words.

Her fingers dug into the spine of her book, her feet shifting around.

"Well, why did you two fall apart?" I asked. I could see her lips pursed in a thin line and her eyes shifting around the room in an uncomfortable manner.

"Um...I started to have feelings for Caleb and, at that time, he and Stephanie were on a break. I kissed him at a party and Phoenix found out. I broke up with him a week later."

A heavy sigh fell from her lips as she looked up at me again. "Just tell him I am sorry," she said, letting go of me. "See you at tryouts," she said as she brushed past me. I turned and watched her dark silhouette disappear from the doorway.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY CLEAR SUSPECTS YET?"

I looked up to meet Phoenix's gaze as he carved the last piece for the wooden frame. His fingers were coated in slick oil and his black hair was tied up in a bun. He briefly looked up to meet my gaze, a small smile on his lips.

"Or are you delusional once again?"

I rolled my eyes as I sorted through the flower arrangement he got over the weekend. I kept pricking my fingers on the plastic thorns as I weaved the stems into assortments of flower crowns.

"I have a few suspects" I reminded him, keeping my head down. "There is Greyson, Katherine, Alex, Tyson, Stephanie, and Mercedes." At the mention of the last name, Phoenix's head perked up, his subtle smile replaced with an obvious plan.

"Why Mercedes?" he asked in a harsh tone.

I opened my mouth but closed it once again once I realized that nothing was coming out. I ran my tongue over my chapped lips, feeling my throat close up suddenly.

"Anyone that is or was close to Caleb is a suspect. I am just expanding my options" I fibbed.

He humph left his lips as he arranged the wooden beams into a large picture frame. He grabbed some screws and a drill and began drilling the screws through the tough exterior.

"If you say so" he mumbled, a frown still on his lips.

Before I could reply, the doors to the woodshop opened and Lycon came in with a bag.

"I ordered some food for us because the cafeteria food is definitely not edible," he said, taking out three large take-out bowls.

An alluring smell came from the bowls and my stomach grumbled underneath my shirt. Phoenix laughed and wiped his hands on a rag. "Go and eat, Ivy. You're causing an earthquake."

I flipped him off but obeyed as I wiped my hands on a rag and washed it in a nearby sink.

I broke apart the two chopsticks that came with the meal and opened the bowl to reveal Chicken and broccoli stirfry with dumplings. Not waiting for another second, I dug right in, picking up a generous amount of meat and noodles.

"Jesus Christ, have you never had Chinese takeout?" Lycon asked, digging into his own meal.

I shrugged, slurping the noodles in my mouth. "It's been well over five years since I have had any sort of takeout food. Give me a break.

"What a modern sin" Lycon replied back to which he earned a glare from me.

Phoenix laughed once again, drilling the screws inside the frames.

"Anything new?" Lycon asked, biting into a dumpling.

I shook my head, moving my chopsticks around. "Not really. I haven't been up to par this week. My mind has been somewhere else."

"Like what?" Phoenix asked, washing his hands in the sink. I shrugged, biting my lip.

"Volleyball tryouts" I quickly said, stabbing a piece of pork with my chopsticks. Phoenix looked at me intently, a frown on his lips as he sat down.

"With Mercedes?" he questioned, a disapproving hum leaving his lips. "That's disturbing."

"What do you have against her?" I asked as he took a seat next to me. He took his food and stuffed a generous amount of noodles and rice into his mouth. He and Lycon exchanged knowing looks, but neither of them answered my question.

"Everything, but it's none of your concern. It's history now" he replied back after a few minutes had passed by.

"History? There is a history between you two?"

Phoenix frowned at me, pursing his lips together. "I'm not getting personal with you, Ivy. Forget it" he reassured me in a harsh tone.

I nodded my head, keeping my lips pursed so that my secrets wouldn't spill.

"Moving on, has anything happened with our line of suspects?" Lycon asked, pushing away from the awkward tension.

I shook my head, swirling my chopsticks around the stirfry. "Not really. I'm working with Greyson because he's the only one willing to participate. Mercedes is a bit of a standoff and the rest aren't saying anything."

"No surprise there. I guess we'll have to deal with Greyson for now" Phoenix said. "When is your date again?"

"Probably a day or two after Stephanie's get-together. He asked me this morning if I liked candy apples" I informed them.

Lycon raised his brow at me, a sly smile on his face. "Well, do you?"

I rolled my eyes at his question. "Hilarious" I responded back. "Anyway, I don't know what he is planning, but I am definitely going to be recording everything. Some things are just easily heard."

"Can't argue with you on that" Phoenix said. "In the meantime, we need to finish Caleb's frame. The principal is going to be barking up our asses by the end of this week to see if it's done."

He gestured towards the homemade frame and interlocked flowers.

"You should feel honored. She could have picked anyone" I reminded him.

"That's exactly why I am not thrilled about it" he retorted, shaking his head. "She could have picked anyone."

Before I could respond, a fist pounded on the glass door and Jolie entered without a second thought. Her dark hair was weaved into braids and she held a beige folder that didn't seem to fit all the papers jammed inside.

"What's wrong?" Lycon asked her as she took a seat next to him.

She slammed the file down on the table, shaking the containers of food. "Watch it. You almost made me spill my stirfry" Phoenix exclaimed. His sister shot him a dark look, shaking her head.

"Like you don't eat that every week" she replied back, ignoring her brother. "Look I finished printing out a majority of the files and I was going through them when I stumbled upon a clue."

Jolie shuffled in the pile until she pulled out an old newspaper. It was grey and dusty and covered in soot. We all coughed and covered our food, pushing it to the far end of the table. She slammed the newspaper down and flipped it open to the second half of the newspaper.

"Before we started posting most of the student activities and gossip online, the newspaper used to have a column dedicated to student activity. I remembered a specific article that I wrote last year about Caleb. Remember the notes that were going around?"

Jolie pushed the newspaper towards me. I grabbed it and read the article out loud.

A series of scandalous notes have been making their way around the hallways of ShadowHill High. Presumably from a student, the notes have detailed information about the victim's darkest secrets or the worst thing they have ever done. It is determined to be blackmail and although it all seems to be for fun, one specific note has definitely set a firestorm in the community. Football star Caleb Hollow has received one of these notes. However, instead of containing empty secrets, it has detailed descriptions of how Caleb betrayed the person after so many years of friendship and how the football star is nothing but a manipulating, egotistical liar. It goes on to mention several personal events, but it is the end of the note that catches everyone's eye. The last sentence of the note threatens to kill Caleb and get away with it. The Football star is currently being investigated. He has been excused from the school premises and these notes are being taken as evidence that will eventually lead to an investigation and a possible trial. No word from the Hollow Family.

"Holy shit" was all I could say as I pushed the newspaper back. "That is terrifying."

"And a major clue. I bet the police still have these notes in their office" Phoenix said, reading the article. "We need to get our hands on the case file."

"And how are we going to do that?" I asked him.

Phoenix smiled and turned over to Lycon who gave him a perplexed expression. "My dad is a police officer and he works with Greyson's dad who also happens to be chief of the police department in ShadowHill. I may be able to get access."

"Do all of you just have connections throughout this town?" I asked, gesturing towards the three people sitting in front of me.

Jolie shrugged, reaching up to untie her hair and run her fingers through her tangled locks. "It's a small town, Ivy. Everyone has connections."

WHEN THE LAST BELL OF THE DAY PIERCED THROUGH THE HALL, I WAS ALREADY SPRINTING DOWN THE HALL TO MY LOCKER.

I could feel a bolt of nerves shoot up my arm as I fumbled with the combination of my locker. A bead of sweat was forming on my forehead as I pushed my bag into my locker in exchange for my duffel bag.

My fingers were shaking as I grabbed a bottle of water from my bag and took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. Suddenly, I felt faint and short of breath as I clutched my shirt.

"Don't you look nervous?" At the sound of Evan's voice, I looked up to see my twin heading towards me. His dark curls tumbled over his face and he leaned on the door of my locker.

"I'm having a fucking breakdown" I replied back, running my fingers through my hair. "You think I will make it?"

"Considering you were the best player on the volleyball team back in Vermont, I don't have a doubt in my mind. You're going to crush it!" He held up his hand in a balled fist, waiting for a fist bump. I rolled my eyes but obliged, pumping my fist with him and blowing it up.

Sound effects and all.

"What about you? Are you trying out for the soccer team?" I asked him, noticing he was not in a soccer jersey. He shook his head.

"It was supposed to be today but it got canceled. I am actually going to the athletics office to talk to the coach. I'll take a while so I should be done by the time tryouts are over."

"Okay. Thanks, Evan" I said, taking a gulp of water from my bottle. "Guess there is no turning back now."

"You'll be fine, Ivy. I believe in you." Evan gave me a quick hug and ruffled my hair."Go kick some ass."

I thanked my brother and we parted ways as I headed upstairs to the second gym on the fourth floor. The large windows of the newly renovated floor welcomed me with warm rays of the sun. I ducked into a nearby bathroom and changed into my old volleyball uniform. The shirt was a bit loose and the black shorts were a bit tight on my butt but nothing I couldn't handle.

I tied my hair into a high ponytail and proceeded to walk out towards the open doors of the gym. I could hear the familiar sound of a ball shaking the ground and girls screaming as their hands made contact with the hard shell.

A smile came on my face as I played with the necklace around my neck. Kissing the gold charm, I tucked it underneath my shirt and braced myself. I walked towards the gym, feeling my heart pound in my chest. In my bag, I could feel the vibrations of the phone. Quickly, I took it out and saw a text message from one person.

Phoenix: Good luck at tryouts. Don't mess up.

Despite the sour tone, in the end, I smiled at his message and quickly typed back a reply before heading into the gym. The deafening sound of volleyballs pounding against the floor flooded my ears as I set down my bag. I looked around to see girls, both returning and new, on the court. The returning players were practicing while the new players stood on the sidelines, waiting for their turn.

"Ivy, glad you could make it." At the sound of a familiar voice, I turned around to see Mercedes and Katherine head towards me. They were both in tight black shirts and white and maroon shirts with the words "ShadowHill Ravens" written on the front.

"Wouldn't miss it" I replied, catching Katherine's eyes.

Her cold eyes scanned my outfit. "Willoughby Panthers" she read the logo on my shirt, rolling her eyes. "I believe we beat them in a tournament last year," she said, twirling her fingers around me. "Are you sure she is competent?"

My cheeks burned red at her comment. Mercedes frowned at her with a death glare. "If Ivy was the star player on the Willoughby volleyball team, I'm sure she is more than okay for our team."

"I'd rather see that," Katherine said, turning her attention to me. "You're up. You and the rest of the newbies versus our varsity players. Any slip-ups and you're out" she demanded.

Before Mercedes could say a thing, Katherine took the whistle around her neck between her teeth and blew sharply. The shrill sound cut through the lighthearted atmosphere.

Mercedes gave me an apologetic look, patting her hand on my shoulder. "You'll do great," she said before walking away. Katherine stood at the edge of the sidelines, her brilliant red hair a stark comparison to her pale skin.

"Alright here is how this is going to go. Newbies versus the varsity players. I'm going to split you up into groups and you'll play in small quantities. Any slip-ups and you are immediately cut. We are only taking six of you so give it your best shot."

She blew the whistle again and proceeded to split us up into three groups. I ended up sandwiched between two other girls. One was ghostly white with dreamy blue hair and daring green eyes while the other was dark-skinned with kinky, bouncy curls and smooth skin.

The whistle blew again and the ball was thrown in our direction. I felt my heart soar as my hand came in contact with the ball and I pushed it over the net. The girl with blue hair switched sides with me while the dark-skinned girl stood in the back, her tall stature needed in case the ball went astray.

We continued to play for ten minutes and when it came for us to switch teams, six new players have already been cut. I swallowed hard as I stood in the new court. The other two girls next to me were a bit shorter than me but they could both jump a lot higher than I could so they rotated from front to back. We all played in synchronized harmony, the ball hitting my hands as I passed it to my team members who leaped in the air and struck the ball to the other side of the next in a powerful thrust.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Katherine watching me like a hawk while Mercedes went around, cutting people who were not good enough to make the team. Even though I could feel my heart pound in my chest, I shook off the nerves and turned my attention back to the game just in time. The varsity players spiked the ball over the net.

It whipped past my team players but I was quick, running to the back of the court and jumping off my feet with all my might. Using both my hands, I smacked the hard shell of the ball in a powerful slap. My hands blistered and turned red from the sheer force I used. I watched in a delirious state as the ball barreled and tumbled over the net to the other side where it nearly missed one of the varsity player's face. Luckily, they moved out of the way in time and the ball hit the floor in a defeated humph.

"Nice shot, Ivy!" my blonde-haired teammate exclaimed, giving me a high five.

I smiled, feeling my body growing hot and the sweat trickle down my back. From the corner of my eye, I could see Katherine nod her head in approval. Trying not to smile wide, I focused on the game as we played a few more rounds. With each victory, I won for my team and with each slap of the ball that blistered my sore hands, I could see my confidence growing in my body.

By the time twenty minutes had passed, the thirty girls who showed up for tryouts were now down to eight.

"Take a breath, everyone. Be back in five" Mercedes demanded. Without hesitation, we all rushed out of the gym and into the chilly hallway. Some collapsed on the wall while others rushed to refill their water bottles.

I breathed in deeply and hunched over, catching my breath. My face was hot and sweaty and I could feel my heart hammer wildly in my chest. My mouth was a bit dry and for a moment, I could not see what was in front of me. Managing to pull myself up, I stumbled over to the bathroom and splashed water on my face.

I looked up to see my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks were flushed bright red and my baby hairs were out of the sleek ponytail I had tied them into.

"Two more minutes left!" I could hear Mercedes's voice scream out into the hallway. Quickly, I redid my ponytail and ran back outside. I stopped by the water fountain for a quick drink and went back into the gym.

I rejoined the seven girls waiting, panting out of breath.

"The eight of you standing here have proven to be determined and truly one of the best players Katherine and I have ever seen in quite a while. However, we only need six of you so two of you can not stay. So here is what is going to happen."

Mercedes grabbed the volleyball from Katherine's hands and tossed it to the dark-skinned girl. "Elena, Chanel, Ivy, Sarah, Echo, Winter, Deana, and Xiara. You will be competing against Katherine and me. We will pair you up to two by two and in the end, you will all be grouped against us and our strongest players. Whoever is the weakest link is out. Got it?"

We all nodded and they proceeded to split all of us up into pairs. I ended up with Deana, a short, thick girl with beautiful dark skin and dreadlocks. She smiled at me as she braided her dreads behind her back, securing it with a black band. We were second to last so we both sat on the bench in awkward silence, watching the other girls play. Xiara and Echo were a strong duo as their strikes were solid but Echo seemed to lack strength in her arms as she failed to hit the ball a couple of times even though it was in her grasp.

"Wow. Some of these girls are extremely talented" Deanna commented, watching as Winter and Elena played an intense game with Katherine and Mercedes. I nodded, feeling a knot build up in my stomach.

"Yeah, really talented," I said, my mouth becoming dry.

Deanna turned to me, her eyes smiling at me. "Don't worry too much. I saw you play and you're seriously skilled! You got this!"

Although I barely knew her, a warm feeling spread through my body. I returned her smile and nodded my head. "Thank you! You're pretty talented yourself."

Deanna shrugged, tossing her ponytail. "Thank you."

Another ten minutes passed by before Mercedes and Katherine called us up. We got up and faced them on the other side of the net. Katherine had a frown on her face, her red hair striking against her pale skin. Mercedes had a determined look on her face, passing the ball over to her teammate.

Deanna and I shared a look that seemed to be saying 'good luck' before Katherine threw the ball up in the air and hit it with blunt force. Every sense in my body kicked into overdrive as I ran and hit it back over the net, watching as the ball landed in Mercedes's grasp.

Deanna and I quickly switched positions, her taking the forward position while I lounged in the back. Mercedes's ball sailed across the net with speed but it was not enough to escape Deanna's grasp as she hit it back before it was halfway across the court. Katherine struck back, but the ball didn't make it over the net.

"Fuck" she cursed under her breath as she picked up the ball and threw it into our court.

A smile erupted on my face as I grabbed hold of the ball and hit it over the net.

This went on for about twenty minutes before Mercedes called time and the game was over. I gently set the ball down and high-fived Deanna for our teamwork. As we made our way over to the bleachers, I looked back to see Mercedes and Katherine looking at me.

Mercedes gave me a warm smile but Katherine had a scowl on her face, her eyes flashing with hate. She shook her head and called over the next pair to fight for their spot on the team. The individual games went on for another twenty minutes before we were all called to the court to go against the official volleyball team.

Eight girls versus six girls. Highly unfair but there was nothing we could do about it. Mercedes served the ball. It flew over the net with speed. Xiara hit the ball with force but it went backward instead of forward. I scrambled to get the ball, my knees buckling as I managed to hit the ball. It went up in the air and Echo hit over to the other side.

We all erupted into small victory cheers, but it was short-lived when Mercedes spiked the ball and it went over the line and crashed into the wall. I went to grab it and tossed it to Chanel who served the ball. It flew over the net and nearly missed Katherine's head, but Mercedes managed to get it and hit it to another team player.

This game went on for about thirty minutes. The sound of hands slapping the hard surface of the ball echoed throughout the gym. My hands were raw and blistering my knees were seconds away from buckling and giving up and my chest ached every time and drew a breath in, but the sweet stench of victory kept me going.

The game stopped about forty minutes in and Katherine gathered the volleyball in her hands. "Thank you for trying out. It's going to be a hard decision since all of you are quite skilled. Mercedes and I will need some time to discuss each of your strengths and weaknesses but check your emails. You should be receiving a decision by then."

She dismissed us with an authoritative wave of her hand and, just like that, tryouts were over. I gathered my stuff and took the last sip from my water bottle. As I made my way out, Mercedes looked up from her spreadsheets and smiled at me. She gave me a thumbs-up and proceeded to look back down. A warm feeling flooded my body as I left, a smile tugging at my lips. I reached into my pocket to text my brother, but I was met with a message from an unknown number.

Frowning, I opened it and read the message.

Hey Ivy. It's Lycon. My dad is going out of town for this conference with the neighboring police departments so he won't be at work. Now is our time to find those files. Tell me what you think. I already informed Phoenix and Jolie. Thanks.

I stared at the message for a long time. Even as I texted my brother to come to pick me up from practice, it still lingered in my head.

It was only when we arrived home did I replied.

Okay.

Sucking in a deep breath, I called Phoenix. He picked up on the second ring with a groggy voice.

"What do you want?" he asked in annoyance. I rolled my eyes, pushing my anger aside.

"What should I tell my dad when I'm going out really late at night?" I asked him.

"Sneak out. He'll forgive you" he responded back.

"Are you stupid or are you dumb? My dad will kill me! He'll never trust me outside of my bedroom ever again!" I hissed.

He cursed under his breath. "Why are you asking me? My dad doesn't work in the police department. Ask Lycon."

"Well. I'm talking to you now so get over it. Besides, my dad will be more lenient with me if I tell him I am doing something with you because he has already met you. Lycon will only raise his suspicions."

"This sounds like a you problem. Leave me out of it" he hissed back.

"Fine. Have fun doing the chemistry pre-lab by yourself. I already finished mine and I will not be giving you the answers. Trust me, it took me quite a while to solve the problems. It will take you an eternity to finish knowing how slow you are."

Another silence hung between us before he sighed. "Fine. I'll think of something and text you later" he huffed. "Goodbye Ivy."

Before I could get another word out, he hung up.

Cursing him, I stripped off my clothes and headed straight for the shower. An hour passed before I finally decided to do some homework. I exchanged my contacts for glasses and threw everything on my bed before spreading it out. I continued on with my assignment for history, slowly tuning out everything around me.

Minutes turned into hours and hours turned into what seemed like years. The sun slowly sank behind the horizon and hues of orange and yellow splashed across my bedroom walls. A cold chill rustled past my shoulders through the open balcony doors but I barely paid any attention to it as I submerged myself into work.

It was only when my phone beeped did I snapped back to reality. Checking my messages, I saw that it was from Phoenix and quickly opened it.

It read: Tell your dad we have a chemistry lab to work on. We are partners after all.

Sighing in relief, I texted him back and perked up when I heard my dad pull up in the driveway. Abandoning my work, I raced down the stairs to eagerly welcome him.

"Is that you, Dad?" I said as I ran down the stairs in a hurry.

My dad looked up from his phone with a smile on his face. "How did you know?" he asked. "I could have been a burglar for all you know."

"No burglar would double-check if their car is locked by pressing the button twice" I retorted back to which he rolled his eyes and patted my head.

"Maybe it's an insightful burglar." I huffed and lightly punched him in the arm.

"How was work?" I asked.

He huffed and threw his bag on the couch. "Tiring. That's all I can say. I've never seen so much blood in one day."

I shrugged my shoulders, heading over to the kitchen. "I don't see the problem in that," I said.

"Of course you wouldn't" he commented. "So what's for dinner?" my dad asked. "I've been in the mood for some garlic bread all week."

I rolled my eyes as I gathered the ingredients for dinner. "Lucky for you, I am feeling generous today. How do you feel about my world-famous pasta?"

"Sounds fantastic" he muttered, adjusting his watch. "Where is your brother?' he asked.

I shrugged, cutting up some red onions. "In his room being emo as usual. Nothing less to expect of him." I popped a sliver of red onion into my mouth before continuing.

"Has he said anything about me so far?" my dad asked, watching as I chopped up some garlic and bell peppers.

I shook my head, thinly slicing what was in my hand. "No. He hasn't said anything. I think he's finally starting to move past this. Very slowly but surely so don't worry too much about it."

My dad huffed, watching as I rinsed my hand and got the saucepan out. "Okay," he said after a while, watching me make dinner. "I'm going to take a shower. You know how I feel about wearing scrubs inside the house."

"Wait! I have something to ask you," I asked as I coated the pan with oil and tossed in the onion and garlic. My dad perked up, watching me with a questioning look.

"What is it?" he asked. I chewed on my lip, running my fingers through my hair.

"Well there is this AP chemistry lab report that I have been having a lot of trouble with and since I and Phoenix are partners, I was wondering if I could go over to his house and study with him? He knows the material better than I do."

"And why is that? You are just as smart as him" he retorted.

I blushed at his compliment, ducking my head low. "I am not doubting myself. He simply knows the curriculum better than I do. Remember Dad, I am still new here." He sighed, raising a brow at me.

"Are you sure this isn't a rouse to spend some alone time with this guy? You guys have been getting awfully close."

"Dad, never insult me like that," I said, shaking my head. "If I had a boyfriend, you would be the first one to know about it" I replied, going into the cabinets to look for the red pepper flakes and the cayenne pepper. "But no. I simply want to study with him."

My dad's laughter followed me. "Fine. Finish dinner first though and don't stay out too late."

"Trust me. I won't" I replied back.

"And if you do anything with Phoenix, please use protection! I am really not trying to be a grandfather right now."

A disgusted scoff escaped my lips, my nose scrunching up at the thought of Phoenix coming close to me. "Never utter those words to me ever again!"

My dad laughed and left the kitchen, grabbing his bag with him and heading upstairs. For the next thirty minutes, I stood in the kitchen and prepared dinner, getting myself lost in the familiar routine and exotic smells that were arising from the kitchen. It was almost seven-thirty when I removed the garlic bread from the oven, setting it down on the counter.

Footsteps pounded on the stairs and Evan appeared in the kitchen, his eyes wide. "You're making pasta?! Why didn't you tell me?!" he exclaimed, bouncing into the kitchen.

I scoffed, watching him in delight. "Of course, you only come when there is food," I said, watching as he opened the fridge and grabbed the chilled glasses I had placed in there.

It was a tradition that ran in my family for as long as I could remember. Each week, we placed two wine glasses in the fridge to chill them. Whenever we were in a bad mood, we had the option of grabbing one and pouring ourselves a glass of wine. It first started with just my parents but when Evan and I became old enough to drink responsibly, we were allowed to participate as well.

I have since upped the number of glasses to three.

I watched Evan grab the wine bottle from the counter, pouring the dark liquor into the glass.

"Already? School hasn't been that bad" I said, watching him fill it halfway up. He set the bottle in front of him, taking a sip from his glass. "I know. I am just in the mood to drink wine. It goes great with pasta."

"Whatever. My work here is done. I have to meet up with Phoenix" I said, rinsing my hands in the sink.

My brother raised his eyebrow, a smile creeping on his lips. "To make out with him? Look at you getting into the game already."

I grunted, hitting him on the shoulder. "No. I need help with a lab."

"So why can't he come over? Afraid dad will catch you in the act?" he questioned.

I rolled my eyes. "You and Dad are deplorable. I can't. This house has too much testosterone" I said as I walked out of the kitchen.

My brother's voice followed me upstairs but I tuned him out, grabbing my bag and packing it with notebooks to make it seem like I was actually going to do some work. After that, I made sure to grab my cardigan and phone and texted Phoenix for his address. Awaiting his reply, I bounded down the stairs and shouted a quick goodbye to my dad before grabbing the car keys.

"Don't crash it" Evan said, pouring himself another glass.

"Don't get drunk and please be nice to Dad" I retorted, giving him a hard look. He sighed but nodded, raising his glass to me.

"Have fun" he replied, watching as I exited the house. I hopped into the car and threw my stuff into the backseat.

As the car roared to life, my phone beeped again, Phoenix's name appearing on the screen.

42 Cedar Grove Avenue.

Smiling, I texted him a quick reply and drove out into the early evening. 

How long have you been smiling?

It seems like it's been too long

Some days I don't feel like trying

So what the fuck are you on?

~ All the kids are depressed by Jeremy Zucker