Suddenly hot
I'm suddenly cold
Suddenly human
I'm suddenly a fool

"Maeve, let me walk you home. It's not safe these days, you know."

Whether it was because I didn't want to spend anymore time in Adelaide's presence or because Levi's offer didn't just seem like something out of good will.

It felt like a command. If it were a question, the only answer would be yes.

Without waiting for my response he took my hand in his and swiftly walked past Adelaide.

I was five feet eight inches but the wide strides he took while walking mad me feel like a midget. I was basically running to keep up with him and we had barely even gotten two miles from school and I was already gasping.

He, however, was unfazed. He was an athlete after all. Mooresville's pride.

"I live just across the street. I can take it from here. Thank you." I tried not to stammer and felt a glimmer of relief when I spoke three whole sentences clearly.

He, however, did not stop.

Did he hear me? I do not know.

Did he ignore me? I do not know.

But we took a whole turn from my street and went the other way. My hand still in his but for some reason it felt tighter and for some reason it felt like he wasn't just holding my hand he was strangling me.

I was starting to gasp but not out of fatigue.

He took me to the local library. A big building that was previously on its last leg before community advocates raised money to restore their precious town heritage.

Before I knew it he dragged me into the bathroom on the highest floor of this three story building. It was usually empty seeing as no one would want to run up a flight of stairs before they eased themselves.

I didn't know what to do, what was happening or what was going to happen. My brain had subconsciously prepared for the worst ever since he grabbed my hand back at school.

Although my mind went through a thousand scenarios, my eyes saw one. One very strange scenario.

All thirty five of my classmates were here.

All standing, still in their uniforms and looking, no, staring at me.

My breath was again hooked in my throat and I only remembered to breathe when Ian cleared his throat.

"We're all here right?" Mai asked and everyone nodded.

"And we know why we're all here right?" Levi pressed on and everyone nodded, hesitantly.

"I'll take it from here." Ian adjusted his glasses. A habit I had noticed he did every time he was stressed.

"It makes no sense. I don't understand how this is remotely possible but as we all know, Adelaide.. is not dead." He started. "And we all know.. that she should be. We all know the news is now saying that maybe the severed head wasn't hers but we all know that isn't the case. It can't be the case."

I am a liar. I am a horrible person who deserves punishment worse than death.

I said before, Adelaide my best friend is dead.

Now, circumstance has shown that that entire statement was false. And what it should say is;

Adelaide, the girl I never really knew, is alive.