"That's the plan?!" Helen shrieked practically jumping up and down from her seat across the room. "You're joking! You have to be out of your mind!"

The makeshift board was hung up in front of my window, littered with several papers and pictures each loosely related to each other. The thumbtacks all different colors; yellow, blue, red, green, and orange, were scattered like someone had tried to play darts with them. Some post-its had lost their sticky texture and fluttered to the ground and others slipped to places they weren't meant to. The map of the town had numerous roads and locations highlighted in yellows and pinks that it no longer resembled a map. The sea of writing utensils lying on the floor in front of the board made it so that no one dared to adjust anything.

Norah pushed her glasses up onto her head while trying to reason with the hysterical girl. "Just think about it for a second. It is what makes the most sense."

"Sense? It makes sense to get ourselves killed?!"

"We won't get killed. The plan ensures that," I added stretching out on my bed. Hours of thinking and planning had made Norah and I appear very nonchalant about the idea but I knew that when it came down to it we would be as frightened as Helen.

"Plus, it's all we got." This was ironic considering the mess of an evidence board we had. All of that planning and brainstorming for only one possible solution.

Norah got up from the pile of papers on the floor and placed the typewriter on the desk. "We are on a time limit. Theo is aware we know about his detective status so he's reported that to the investigation team. Instead of reacting we kept that information to ourselves and tried to use it to our advantage. Now they have reason to believe we have something to do with Victoria's murder."

"You don't know all that! You're just guessing!"

"It's an educated guess."

"Wow, I feel so much better!" Helen plopped back down in her seat with a sigh. She remained silent for a minute, smoothing out her shirt, pants, and hair in a chaotic manner.

After a moment she said, "Well . . . I guess you two are right."

Her sort - of - agreement was all we needed. Norah and I high fived in victory.

"So that's it?"

"That's it."

"We are confronting Hannah at homecoming." I mustered a triumphant smile though our chances at success were very low.

"There will be people there. Tons of people! It'll be hard for her to kill us in public."

Helen was still giving us the side eye. "And we'll have the mics on us, right? To catch a confession?"

"Yes and we'll all be there and look out for each other." I walked over to her and pulled her into a side hug. "You're braver than you think, Helen."

I thought back to the night she was helping me get ready for my date with Zac. She gushed about how brave I was about leaving the group and how she felt that she was a coward for staying. Yet, here she was. She had not only left Hannah but had agreed to try and take her down, assuming she was a murderer. She was braver than she thought. Maybe if we all believed that we would act sooner.

---------------------

"I can't believe Homecoming is this weekend," Shelby said while wrestling with her lunch container. Instead of eating the cafeteria food she had switched to bringing her own meals that were extremely balanced and healthy. When I asked what caused the change she simply pointed to her bare midriff and stated, "I want abs."

I nudged my burnt chicken nuggets around the foam tray. "I'm guessing you have a crew of people to go with."

"I have a few people in mind but I'm not sure I'll be able to pull it off in time. My dress isn't as epic as I want it to be either." She sighed, and stabbed her fork into a pineapple slice rather aggressively.

"Shelby, look at what you're wearing." She looked down at her tube top and striped jogging pants. "You have great style. It shouldn't be hard to find something to wear."

"No, that's why it'll be hard to find something. I have to top what I wear everyday! And it's not like you'll help me find something to wear since you're always busy running around with your not so much ex-besties and deceased bestie's boyfriend!"

I blinked at her, falling back against the seat as if she had shoved me.

She dropped her fork and rubbed her temples. "Oh my God, Arielle. I'm so sorry! That came out horribly wrong. That was uncalled for - I'm sorry!"

I supposed it was true that I was spending less time with her as of recently but I knew it wasn't without reason. To her it must have felt like she was losing her friend, that I had gone back to my old ways. However insensitive her comment was I understood where she was coming from.

"It's okay. I know what you meant."

"No, that was wrong. I just-" she looked across the cafeteria, "I just wanted to have that movie homecoming experience with the big friend group and perfect dress." I glanced back to see what she was staring at. It was Hannah with her freaky clone group. They were laughing and snickering together. It was like watching a TV rerun of your own show.

"Ugh! You know what? The whole homecoming thing is an overrated scam anyways. I'm not going." She went back to eating her lunch after a gentle pat on my hand, as Shelby as ever.

"I actually need to go find someone: my deceased friend's boyfriend."

She bit her lip, knowing she deserved that one. "I saw him going into the pool room."

She gave me a half smile as I gathered my things and left.

The double doors swung open creating a louder echo than I intended them to make.

After careful consideration - and by that I mean multiple conversations with the girls and staying up all night thinking it over - I decided that it would be best to tell Pete the truth. He deserved to know that Victoria had been murdered and to be semi-involved in figuring it out. He had been close to her after all and now he was close to me. I had willingly let him get close enough to me that it became his concern. Keeping him at arms distance wasn't fair to him. I had let the girls and I strongly felt that I could trust him too. He showed me I could trust him.

Pete was sitting at the edge of the pool, jeans folded up and dipping his legs in. He looked up at me with a smile and motioned me over.

"What are you doing in here all alone?" I asked, even though it was convenient for me.

"Just thinking. Taking a time out." He patted the empty space next to him and I sat, folding my leggings to dip my feet in.

"You don't mind me joining you?"

"Nah. I'd take a time out with you any day." A goofy smile appeared on his face that made me chuckle.

"I never asked you; did you get into the swim team?"

He sucked in a breath and avoided eye contact.

"What?"

"I- um . . ." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I never tried out. I was never planning to."

My eyes widened. "But that day we stayed after school and I helped you practice-"

"I wanted an excuse to hang out with you, okay? I get lonely sometimes. Sue me." He kicked the water at me and I shielded myself with a squeal.

"That's okay," I said wiping my face with my sleeve. The humidity inside the room made me wish it were short sleeves. "I do too."

"Is that why you came to see me just now?"

"A little more than that." I scooted away from the water and scratched my head, not entirely sure how to proceed -despite the fact I had rehearsed it in front of my mirror this morning.

"What is it?" He was watching me intently causing the butterflies in my stomach to scatter.

"I thought about what you said at the roller rink. You were right. I should tell you what's going on with me. You deserve to know and . . ." I closed my eyes and took a breath. "I want you to know."

My palms were sweating enough that I could no longer lean on them without slipping. My mouth was dry and for the first time in a while I felt a normal kind of nervous. My heart wasn't pounding because I had a stalker or becauseI was standing at the edge of a cliff ready to take my life - it was pounding because I really liked the boy sitting beside me.

But things were more complicated than normal. Not only was there so much going on but the fact that he was Victoria's first loomed over me like a rain cloud. It was clear that didn't stand in the way for him but what about me? How did I feel about that? Especially with her being dead. They never broke up. Death is what separated them.

Then there was Zac. Things were different with him than they were with Pete and I couldn't tell whether that made him better for me or not. Still, he had disappeared with little to no explanation but I was sure he had some kind of feelings for me.

It was all too much.

I couldn't give him any promises.

"Pete, you've made it clear how you feel about me and with the way I've been treating you I'm surprised you haven't changed your mind."

He gave me a smile as blue as his eyes. "Your life isn't exactly easy. I understand -"

"Yes, you understand." I held his hands in mine, probably squeezing them too tightly. "You're the most understanding person I've ever known and so I'm going to ask you to understand that I can't give you a definite answer about how I feel about you or what I want to do with those feelings - at least, not until all of this is over."

He nodded, staring at our hands as if they were as intricate as a starry night sky. "And you're gonna tell me what 'all of this' is?"

"Yes-"

The echo of feet strolling along the bleachers stopped me as efficiently as zipping up my mouth. I turned around half expecting to see that something had simply fallen over but was greeted by something more.

I hadn't seen her when I entered and I didn't see how I could have. She had been on the top row, the spot with the most shadow. Her lace black attire worked like the camouflaging of a chameleon. She was now hopping down the steps in a slow, indulgent manner. It was as if each second I spent on her gave her pleasure.

With her sparkling white teeth behind her dark painted lips she smiled and then shot a wink at Pete.

She was one of Hannah's freaky group clones and of course the spitting image of Victoria - or as close as she could be.

She had a darker air to her. Victoria had her breaking points in what she would do for Hannah but this girl gave the impression that she lived for the thrill.

I hadn't even noticed she was missing from the table earlier in the lunchroom.

So many thoughts were flying around my head at once that I couldn't grasp onto one in time. I definitely wanted to say something to her, whether it was a question or comment. It was too late though. The girl was gone.

Pete's mouth hung open. "I had no idea she was in here."

My instinct was to believe him. Yet, the side of me who was used to being lied to by her friends and detectives, she asked herself what if he had known. What if she was here because of him? For him? She did resemble Victoria . . .

A horrible feeling started to creep into my stomach. It made it hurt and made me feel gross. If my speculation was true then that would make me so dumb. Here I was getting ready to pour my heart out to him while another girl waited for him in the bleachers.

"I hope you didn't know because what I was about to tell you was classified information!"

It was a relief she revealed herself before I went into details about Victoria's murder. All she heard was -

Oh no.

Hannah made a deal with me that had a deadline for homecoming. If I get a true love's kiss I'm home free but if I don't she tells the cops about the July incident. Her new friend just heard me acknowledge Pete's feelings for me and imply I might have some of my own . . .

And wouldn't things go in Hannah's way if she were to know who I could possibly have that kiss with? Maybe even stop it by sending a Victoria clone to derail it?

"Oh my goodness . . ." Anger bubbled inside of me, my face felt hot and my fist curled. "That witch! I should have known! She never lets anything go so why would she give up on the deal!" I shot up and grabbed my things, my vision blurring from tears of frustration.

"I'm sorry . . . what?" Pete's expression mirrored that of a person trying to do rocket science.

"If you say you didn't know she was here then fine! Meet me at my house an hour or two before homecoming and I'll tell you the truth."

"Is this your way of asking me to homecoming?"

"Sure but this time make sure to only bring yourself." I was still practically seething with rage. "No more random Tori looks alikes eavesdropping in the shadows, okay?"

"I really didn't know! Whatever you're thinking-" I wasn't listening anymore. There was no more time to spare.

I turned on my heels and stomped out of the pool room.

Destroying Hannah was going to be quite enjoyable.

---------------

"Okay, so you're upset about today - understandable- but seriously you should take some time to unwind. Are you setting up that bubble bath I ordered?" Helen asked. I was on the phone with her after the long day of barely contained rage and frustration.

"Yes, I am - I am!" Turning the knob of the faucet and I left the bathroom to pick up my towel. The house was quiet since my gran had gone out to a new book club event at the library. She said she wanted to read as much as she could while her illness was still in its beginning phases. It broke my heart.

Unwind, I told myself. We have all the time in the world to worry but we won't now.

"Also, I assigned myself the task of picking out your homecoming dress! One less thing for you to worry about!"

"Thanks. I really don't think I could have brought myself to find a dress to wear in the middle of all of this."

She chuckled on the other line. "Oh, please. You couldn't find a dress even if it were from the comforts of a stress free, tropical island paradise."

"Hey!"

"What? Truth hurts."

"Okay, I guess we'll see if you really do come through with a nice dress this Friday."

"You know I will. An epic mission calls for an epic dress."

With all of my bathroom supplies gathered I was ready for my relaxing bath. Now I was just debating whether I should keep the door open for a little air or not.

"Oh, and Ari?"

"Yeah?"

"If you like Pete and think he's good for you, don't let Victoria get in the way of that. I know there's a girl code and all that but she's . . . no longer with us. Things change."

"I don't know about that."

"Other people may not agree with it but this is something that you get to call the shots on. You get to decide whether it's wrong or not. You've let other people make decisions for you in the past, we both have. This time make sure you're listening to your voice."

I scrambled for words, almost feeling myself choke up. "Thank you. I needed that."

"I know but for the record I am still team Zac."

"Team what-?"

"Gotta go! Love ya." She blew a kiss into the phone and then there was a beep.

"Okay then." I placed the house phone down on the toilet seat and undressed. The bath was warm and bubbly and even though every muscle in my body was tightened, I made an effort to relax.

Closing my eyes, I tried to picture all the things that made me happy. Like the hobbies that disappeared since Victoria's death. I thought of singing and what it would be like to sing in a place with great acoustics like a church or cave. I thought of my old ballet class and how much my feet have recovered since my pointed shoe days and how much joy going to church use to bring me.

Finally arriving at a place of peace, I felt myself actually relaxing. It was a new feeling and a missed one.

Whosh!

My head was underwater, completely submerged. Clasping the edges of the tub, I pulled myself up. I couldn't. I was being held down.

My hands shot up to my head and felt another pair of hands, gloved and tangled in my hair.

I clawed at them and kicked my feet, hoping to hit whoever was trying to drown me.

Trying to drown me.

Who was trying to drown me?!

My lungs started to burn.

I don't want to die.

I don't want to die.

I don't want to die.

It was maddening to think that at one point I did. All I wanted was to breathe the air again.

I mustered enough strength to kick myself up. I was above water for long enough to steal a breath of air before I was pushed down again, this time by my shoulders.

The gloved hands were cold and scary. I wanted them off me.

For a moment, I remained still. A chill ran through me that felt more like an electric shock than anything. It was a familiar feeling. Before I could grasp onto what it was, it disappeared making me feel stronger.

My hands were reaching for anything now. They found the handle of something and without hesitation, I blindly swung at my attacker.

I heard a distorted thud and a yelp. Taking it as a good sign, I kept swinging. The attackers grip weakened and I shot up, gasping and punching.

All I could catch was a blur of a figure dashing out through the doorway. The bubble bath's soap stung my eyes and I was coughing and sputtering like a dying woman. Perhaps I was on my way to dying.

The house phone wasn't far away. Wrapping the towel around me, I dialed 911 and closed the door just in case my attacker would try to come back.

"Hello?" My voice was raspy and my words were broken up by sobs. "I need help."

"911, what's your emergency?"

"Someone broke into my home and tried to drown me." The floorboards below me creaked and then the back door slammed shut.

Were they gone?

A calm voice soothed me from the end of the line. "Okay, take a few breaths. We are going to send help your way."

Just when things had a chance at getting better, they got worse. The stakes climbed higher each time. It was clear that whoever was behind this was desperate. They were panicking as well. It was also clear that they would stop at nothing to keep my head underwater and far from the surface, which in my case was the truth.

Their fear had to mean I was close.