I drop the scoop and practically fly up the stairs, grabbing the baseball bat stowed in the corridor on the way. I push open the bedroom door and Cory jumps up, dropping the controller, "Dude what the hell?"

I look at the screen, now playing a montage of a guy running through a musty-looking house, and lower the bat, "Sorry, I thought you were getting murdered".

He sits back down, "Well it's nice that you care so much but you really need to chill out".

I close the bedroom door, "You are way too calm for someone who nearly got stabbed two days ago."

"Well, it helps that I was high" he hesitated, "and I guess this is the best I've felt since Maya dumped me".

"Aren't you two on a break?"

"This feels different, she hasn't talked to me, she's blocked me on Instagram, and she's deleted our pictures from her social media too."

"You've been busy".

He sighs, "Thanks for inviting me, dude, you really didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to" I lied, "I think we should hang out more."

He brightened up almost immediately which made me feel less terrible about lying to him.

After playing three games and winning two, I put down my controller, "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, fire away"

"Does Peyton have anything going on with anyone?"

Cory squints at me, "What are you talking about?"

I wince, "Hypothetically if I wanted to ask her out on a date, do you think she would go for a guy like me?"

He leans back and closes his eyes, "Honestly, I don't know. If you asked me this two years ago, I would tell you to go for it, but ever since the tragedy, Peyton has been different, Maya too."

"Wait, what tragedy?"

"Maya and Peyton had another sister, Valerie. She died of a drug overdose, there was this kid, who took her out one day and made her try heroin. It wasn't a clean batch and when he realized, she was dying, he left her there and made a run for it. They found her body the next day."

"Wow"

"Yeah, it was tragic, the whole town was in mourning for a week. Valerie was an amazing person. Anyway, after that, things were never the same. Maya stopped going out of the house, I tried to help her, but she just wouldn't talk to me, about anything. I wanted to be there for her, but she wouldn't let me. Her parents finally put her into therapy and since then she's been doing better."

"What about Peyton?"

"Well, she used to be the most popular girl in high school, had her heart set on a modeling career, and wanted to get out of town as fast as possible to follow her dreams. Now, she just scrapped all of that, she's studying to be an accountant and volunteers at the local library."

"That's...... I don't know what that is".

"It's weird, she hated math".

I was silent for a bit, still processing all that information. Maybe this town wasn't as quaint and idyllic as my father had made it out to be even before the bodies started dropping. Coming here was a mistake and if I didn't figure out a way to catch this serial killer soon, I'd probably be leaving this town in a body bag as Cathy had predicted. And honestly, that wasn't a very appealing thought.

"Hey, do you think...?" I pause as I realize that Cory has fallen asleep. I sigh, it was my turn to keep watch and make sure no one slit his throat in his sleep. I settle back against the beanbag, sure that I won't be falling asleep anytime soon.

                                                                                    ***********

When I wake up, sunlight is streaming through my windows and Cory is drooling in my gaming chair, which means he is alive. Mission accomplished.

I don't have school today, so I am in no rush to get up. I stare at the ceiling for some time, thinking. I can't seem to get Peyton off my mind, and it was starting to get kind of annoying. I mean, I am a loner, that is my thing. I'm not supposed to like hanging out with people, much less gorgeous girls who are way out of my league. Plus, there was the issue of the serial killer using my high school as a hunting ground and the issue of the voiceless girl screaming in my head, and the issue of why the hell, I couldn't catch a fucking break for once in my life.

Cory wakes up with a start and glances around, confused before looking at me, "Oh hey".

I stretch, yawning, "you ready for some breakfast?"

By the time we go downstairs, my dad has already made enough food to feed an army. "Hey, Mr. Hill," Cory says, slipping into his seat, "it's nice to meet you".

"Oh, the pleasures all mine," my dad says, before giving him a mock salute and transferring two pieces of hot bacon to his plate.

I roll my eyes. My dad was happier about the sleepover than I was because in his eyes it meant that I was finally making a friend and wasn't going to die sad and alone. I had my doubts about that honestly.

I pick at my eggs, "What are you going to do today?"

My father removes his apron, "I have a client meeting at noon which I need to prepare for and well your mom's getting home the day after".

"Can I go out for ice cream? It's kind of hot today"

My father looks confused, "Are you asking me for permission?"

"I will need to borrow your bike if you're not using it".

"Just bring it back safely, is Cory going with you?"

Cory looks embarrassed, "I have to get home, my mom is spring cleaning today and she really needs my help for that".

"That's cool, we'll leave together," I say, before my dad can say anything else, "I'll be back in time for lunch."

Once we reach the main road, Cory and I go our separate ways. I can see the ice cream shop in the distance, and it isn't a minute too soon either, I already feel like I'm going to melt into a puddle.

The bells chime as I push the door open and step inside, relaxing as a blast of cold air hits me. I order a chocolate chip cup and settle down with it at one of the tables. I'm just about to stick a spoonful of ice cream in my mouth when someone slips into the chair in front of me. The first thing I notice is her light purple nail polish and I immediately know who it is.

Peyton grins at me, "Did I scare you?"

"No"

"Liar" she sticks her spoon into her mint Choco chip, "you look like you just saw a ghost".

I don't want to tell her that that's my 'the girl I like just caught me by surprise and I don't want to do anything stupid' face so I just smile back, "Well there are enough cold spots for a ghost".

Nice one Lucas, I'm sure she's going to be dying to spend more time with you.

To my surprise, she chuckles, "You're weird, you know that?"

"I don't try very hard".

She licks the ice cream carefully off her spoon, not that I notice, and then puts it down, "I need to ask you something".

I don't even hesitate, "Sure, ask away".

"How's Maya doing?"

I blink, "She lives with you, doesn't she?"

"Yes," Peyton drops her gaze, "but she hasn't been spending a lot of time at home lately, so I was just wondering if she's doing okay in school."

"She seems fine," I say, "except for the finding a dead body part, I guess".

"Yeah" Peyton bites her lip and then looks up at me, "Will you please just look out for her? She's not with Cory anymore and I just, I don't want her to do anything stupid."

I want to tell her that Maya and I aren't exactly close which would make it hard for me to keep an eye out for her, but I honestly can't say anything other than yes to Peyton. Especially when she's looking at me like that. I don't have any siblings, but I'd always thought that if I did, I would do everything in my power to make sure they didn't feel lonely or abandoned the way I did. So, I nod, "I promise".

She gives me a wan smile, "Thank you."

"No problem"

She takes another bite, yes bite, of her ice cream, "I would stick around for some more time but unfortunately, I've reached the best part of the Big Leagues and I'm dedicating today to finishing it."

"Well don't spoil anything for me, I haven't started it yet."

She looks surprised, "You play video games?"

"Of course, I play video games, I love them".

"That's so crazy" she glances at her watch, "I have to go but why don't you text me on Instagram, we can chat sometime. My handle is PurpleQueen."

I gasp, "You're PurpleQueen?"

"Yes, I know it's a stupid username but..."

"I'm Raider"

Realization dawns on her face, "Oh my god, are you serious?"

I laugh, "This is insane, small world huh?"

She gets up, "I really have to go, we'll talk about this later?"

I get up too, I don't even know why, "Yes, definitely, I'll see you."

With one last wave at me, she leaves, and I watch her go, sitting down only once she's out the door. I can't stop smiling. What are the odds that I liked Peyton even before I knew her? That we liked the same things? That she actually wanted to talk to me?

The bell chimes again and I look up to see her running up to me. "Hey," she says, out of breath.

"Hey," I say, "did you forget something?"

"Yes," she says, "would you want to come to my place to hang out tonight, about 7? We could play something and talk maybe".

I'm genuinely struck dumb for a minute, and she backtracks, "I mean, like if you want to, and if you're..."

"Yes" I interrupt, "I'll be there, sharp 7" I realize how eager I sound and wince internally, "or like quarter past 7, depending on traffic and everything."

She smiles, "Can't wait".

*************

My favorite color is pink, but green is pretty too and sky blue is such a gorgeous color, but sunflower fields are so pretty too.

I'm totally unbothered by Cathy's ramblings because I, Lucas Hill, have a date with the most beautiful girl in town. I pull on my favorite graphic hoodie and a pair of comfy sweatpants and stuff an extra pair of jeans in my bag just in case I fall off my bike or something before I get to her house.

The doorbell rings and I jump. My dad isn't supposed to be home yet and I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to meet Peyton at her house, so I honestly have no clue who is at the door right now.

I go downstairs and open the front door. Mia is standing on my front porch, shivering and it is then that I notice that it is raining, quite heavily, and Mia is soaking wet, her hair plastered to her face.

"I didn't know where else to go" she mumbles, "I don't have a vehicle and I can't find her, and I don't know where she is."

"Who are you talking about? What happened?"

"My mom" she looks like she's trying not to cry, "she didn't come home, I don't know where she is, I need to find her".

"Okay calm down alright, deep breaths"

"You have to help me find her Lucas, please" her face crumples, "I can't lose her, I can't lose her too."

My alarm buzzes, the alarm I kept to ensure that I would leave my house on time for the date I'd been looking forward to since the day I met Peyton. The girl who is waiting for me right now, no doubt with a big bowl of popcorn, a box of videogame CDs, and a smile that can quite literally light up my day.

Then I look at Mia, the girl who helped me prepare for my first sleepover, the girl who volunteered to help me catch a serial killer, the girl who is currently standing in front of me, drenched, looking at me like she expects me to slam the door in her face.

"Mia, I'm sorry"

Her face drops.

"I don't have a vehicle either, but we can probably ask Cory if we can borrow his dad's car."

For the super annoying guy, who sure has a lot to say about my chapter lengths