Chapter 26

Britney's POV~~

I sat gnawing on my food. Nathan kept lobbing glimpses at me meanwhile I was extremely afraid and weary to even consume anything. I could feel the tension of everyone around the table, and it was because of me. The disclosure of mom's awful secret hadn't even been a week and now Dylan is gone. All because of that someone.

Eric had phoned me and enlightened me about everything that had occurred to them the same night I found out about my mom and Eva's dad. I was a wreck. My dad had urged me to come down for breakfast seeing as it's been an entire day and I haven't stepped foot out of my room.

“I will be in my room” I announced, nudged the chair backwards and got up. No one talked back, so I took that as an “okay” and shuffled back into my room.

Entering under the shower for about half an hour and getting dressed after that, I looked at myself in the mirror and inhaled deeply. I wanted to sleep in the whole day without having to leave my bed.

Apparently, that wasn't going to be possible. We had all agreed to meet at Sky's place, the best place where we could earn some secrecy.

The only aspect I dreaded about this meeting was seeing Eva. I still hadn't gotten over what her dad had been doing. But I knew I was definitely meeting her since she had been discharged from the hospital and was accessible to move around. I haven't been attaining calls from her since the day she was discharged.

When I learned she had lost consciousness and had been conceded into a hospital, my whole body had gone limp, and I cried my heart out that day. I had really wanted to visit her at the hospital, but I just wasn't ready to face her at that time. But today, I understood I had to face her, and I was ready for anything which was going to come up.

I peered at myself in the mirror for the last time and heaved a sigh. I grabbed my purse and car keys and headed downstairs. The dinning room was vacant, there was no sign of anyone. I looked into the kitchen and sighted my mom at the sink doing the dishes. Without a word, I turned back and walked out of the house, entered my car and headed straight for Scarlet's house.

******

Scarlet's POV~~

Selena, Ian and I waited patiently for the rest to join us. We had to know what we were gonna tell the cops if we were called in for questioning, which of cause we definitely will since its murder we were looking at.

“Do you think they are gonna show up?” Ian asked shortly while staring at me with a look a couldn't quite figure out. I nodded.

“Let's just wai...” a quick knock on the door made me look at them and I nodded yet again. I went up to the door and opened it.

“Hey”

Eva waved lightly. She looked exhausted, like she hadn't slept in days. There were eye bugs all around her eyes and her face looked pale, not that I looked good myself but hell, she was worse off. I forgot about the person beside her with his hands on his head while fidgeting nonstop.

“Sorry, come in” I said, opening the door broader for them to penetrate.

I shut the door and went into the kitchen to get them something to drink. Now we were all set except Britney. She was the person I wanted to catch sight of the most. It was her name that got us into this mess in the first place.

We were all impatient to know about the reason why she suddenly disappeared in the middle of school and why we were made to think the copycat had her.

“Are you sure you told Britney about our meeting?” I looked at Ian. He nodded absentmindedly. Suddenly we heard a bang on the door. I rushed shortly to get the door and lo and behold, just the person we had been waiting for.

She didn't look decent either. I smiled at her and paved the way for her to enter. She heaved a sigh and entered as if there was something she was dreading inside. I creased my brows concurrently and closed the door.

Now we were all seated, ready to gush out whatever strategy we had in mind and yet, not a word from anyone. It was pretty awkward. I glimpsed the distanced behavior between Eva and Britney. I wonder what was going on with them, I thought to myself.

“Ahem” I cleared my throat making everyone look in my way. I grinned awkwardly.

“I think we all know we are here for a motive, and we have to reach an agreement before the cops start trolling us for answers.” I turned my head to Britney.

“Brit? What happened which made you suddenly evacuate the school without notifying anyone, not even Eva?” I laid it all out. What everyone was curious to know about.

Everyone veered their attention to Brit as she crouched on the sofa beside Eric gulping her saliva and struggling to hold her composure, well everyone except Eva. She looked anywhere else but Brit's way, which reminded me of the fact that, we all showed up at the hospital when Eva was admitted except for Britney. But at the time, I assumed that maybe, she just couldn't make it because of something personal she had to take care of. But now, I undoubtedly know that, something was up with these two.

Brit shifted uncomfortably on the seat before opening her mouth.

“I was taking books out of my locker when I received a message from someone...the copycat before the third class that day, the message was something personal in my family which actually I didn't know of. So I took off home to inquire about it and the rest, you know how it ended.” Britney ended with a brisk glance at Eva.

We gazed at her as if she had accumulated another head on her neck.

“But your mom kept calling to know of your whereabouts” Selena chipped in. Brit pivoted in her direction.

“That was because I left the house for some air without notifying her.”

Judging from her shuddering stance, I felt the message she received was not of good news.

“So what are we gonna tell the cops? That some Heather copycat is haunting us?” Eric raised the question.

“The best way to avoid giving rise to the past is to tell the truth.” I stared at them one after the other.