I'm still smiling in class the next day as I continue texting my new friend. The fear over the murdered girl still hangs over the class but I feel pretty okay. I know for a fact that things will go back to normal soon. There's only so long that a tragedy can derail the curriculum.

Miss Laughlin sets her books down on the table and opens one of them, "We're going to learn a new concept today, so I need all of you to pay attention."

I put my phone in and open my notebook to take notes. Honestly, I'm not worried. Physics is one of the subjects I can actually sail through with minimum effort. I zone out as she goes on and on, but I'm jerked back to reality when she closes her book with a thump, "Amelia, can you tell me what the formula for torque is?"

Mia looks like she has no idea what's going on in the class, but Miss Laughlin doesn't move on, "Mia, do you have the answer?"

She doesn't reply, she just sits there frozen. Miss Laughlin studies her, "meet me after class." She then turns her attention to me, "Lucas?"

"It's radius into force into angle between force and the lever arm."

"Very good Lucas, you seem to be catching on quickly."

I nod, feeling pleased. I don't get compliments from teachers very often, but it seems like this town has actually made my life better, finding a dead body aside. I have PurpleQueen to talk to and Cathy to listen to, I'm not flunking any classes yet and I feel content after a long time.

When I walk into the study room, Mia is right there in her usual spot. She doesn't even look up as I walk in and somehow, I feel sorry for her. Against my better judgement and with a vague feeling that I'm going to regret it, I walk up to her, "hey."

"Hey," she says tentatively.

"I can help with Physics" I reply, "I like the subject and I think I'm pretty good at it."

She stares at me for a second, looking like she has no idea what to say, "uh thanks," she pauses, "I can help you with biology".

I shake my head, "how do you know I'm bad at biology?"

She grins, "I don't, I just know I'm really good at it."

Involuntarily, I smile back, "do you want to start right now?"

She looks down at the page in front of her, "Sure, can you tell me what the fuck a torque is?"

I laugh, "we definitely have a lot to do."

She gestures to the book in front of her, "be my guest."

I sit down and flip through her messy notes before shutting the book, "Let's focus on learning what torque is first."

Fifteen minutes later, she knows the answer and I'm feeling a sense of accomplishment. She puts her book inside her backpack, "I gotta go, you coming?"

"In a minute," I say, pulling out my phone. There's a notification from PurpleQueen and I type out a reply.

I don't sense Mia's presence anymore and I realise that she has left the room. I sling my backpack over my shoulder and read the long list of messages in the chat telling me about the new video game she got.

I walk out and almost bump into Cory, he looks distracted and though a part of me wants to ask him what's wrong, another part of me just wants to go home and get started on the new Netflix series that is based on one of my favourite games.

He solves the dilemma for me by blocking my way, "Did you know that Miss Martin gave Maya detention? She didn't even do anything, I swear that teacher does this on purpose. We were supposed to go for a movie date today and now I had to sell my tickets to Trevor."

"That sucks" I say, hoping that Cory would pick up on my impatience and get out of my way but he seems to be completely oblivious, "Plus Maya's sister was supposed to give me a ride home after the movie and now I need to get a ride with Trevor who is literally the most annoying guy I have ever met. Like why the hell would I want to know what your cat's favourite sleeping spot is?"

At that moment, I knew that if I could turn back time, I would have chosen a different route to go running. It's not that I didn't like Cory, it's just that he talked way too much and he very obviously couldn't take a hint.

"Hey, you're going home walking, right?" I hear him say as with dawning horror, I realise what his next words are going to be, "Maybe we could walk home together."

"Sure," I say, because honestly what else could I say?

"Great," he walks down the corridor and I trail miserably after him. "You're better company than Trevor," he says, without looking back.

"You're not," I mumble.

We stop by the detention centre so Cory can say goodbye to his girlfriend and I try not to puke my guts out while they make out for a whole two minutes. We finally leave when Miss Martin shows up and by the time I reach my house, I know almost every single thing there is to know about Cory. The guy really does like to hear himself talk and unfortunately he thinks I like to hear him too. Whether I like it or not, Cory is now my friend.

The door swings open before I have a chance to unlock it and my mom is standing there with her world's best mom apron that I made for her when I was like 7. The house smells of cookies and she smiles, "I thought you'd want to make the second batch."

Within fifteen minutes, I'm in the middle of stirring my cookie batter while my mom checks on the ones already in the oven. She puts a piece in her mouth and stuffs another piece in mine. I chew thoughtfully, "I think it's pretty good".

"I think it's perfect".

I grin, gesturing to my bowl, "no mom, this is going to be perfect."

She gives my head a playful swat and takes off her apron, "I'm going to go take a shower okay, let me know when you're done."

I nod as she leaves the kitchen, my phone has been buzzing nonstop and it's honestly been a struggle to keep myself from opening it. But my baking instincts win this time and I manage to suppress my curiosity till I put my batch of cookies in.

PurpleQueen: Oh my god, where are you?

PurpleQueen: Dude have you started watching the show? It's so amazing.

PurpleQueen: I honestly didn't think it was going to be any good but I'm so glad I was wrong. The characterization is just *chef's kiss*.

PurpleQueen: They stayed true to the characters and their stories while still making it seem fresh and new.

PurpleQueen: Dude, literally, are you dead?

PurpleQueen: I have so much to tell you.

PurpleQueen: Get the fuck on here.

PurpleQueen: Did you lose your phone?

PurpleQueen: Did you delete your social media accounts?

PurpleQueen: Are you living in a cave?

PurpleQueen: Ugh, you're so annoying.

PurpleQueen: Please come online.

I smile and type back.

Raider: Give me a minute, I'm not dead.

My mom comes downstairs right then and I have to put my phone aside while we have dinner together. It's only when I'm in my bedroom, getting ready to go to sleep that I remember that I need to text her.

My Wi-Fi chooses that exact moment to go dead and I sigh as I realise that not only am I not going to be able to text her back, I also can't watch the show she wanted to talk to me about. The only option left is to pass the fuck out so that's what I do.

I'm awoken in the middle of night by the sound of sobbing and I instinctively know she's back. Cathy. Where have you been, I mutter, and why are you crying?

They're dead. You didn't save them.

I freeze. Could she hear me? "I don't know what you're talking about Cathy" I say.

You should have saved them. You could have. Now they're dead and they're going to die too.

I sit up in bed. "Who's they Cathy?"

They're dead, they're going to die and you're going to die too.