part0028

“ H annah, wake up!” Lydia yells, shaking my shoulders. “Guess what?”

I sit up straight, fear in my throat. “What, what’s wrong?”

Please don’t let it be another murder .

“There’s a party tonight!” she declares with a little too much enthusiasm. “And everyone’s going, including you.”

“Why do I have to go?” I glance down at the time. “And why’d you wake me up when there’s still a few hours left before classes start?”

My roommate hops around the room, arranging things here and there, reminding me of a frantic rabbit. “I couldn’t sleep,” she squeals, making me want to cover my ears. “Plus, I’ve heard some rumors about you, and I thought you might like to know.” She grins, flashing perfect, pearly white teeth.

Uncertainty and fear squeeze my chest. “Rumors?”

“Yes, rumors,” she confides excitedly, opening my closet and rummaging through it at a startling speed. “Practically everyone knows.” She throws over her shoulder.

“Knows what?” I ask, irritation starting to filter through the panic.

“That Jesse has a crush on you,” she says, turning and clapping her hands together like she just delivered great news. “All the girls on campus are green; I mean absolutely pea-green with envy!”

“Really?” I ask, relieved that word of what happened yesterday between Ethan and I hadn’t gotten out. “Oh, I see, I had no idea…” I trail off, trying to digest this new information.

My father had always said I was blind in the matters of love, that I didn’t see the way boys looked at me. Maybe he’d been right, after all.

“So, do you like him?” she asks in a sing-song voice while flitting through my closet again. “What’s not to like,” she mumbles under her breath.

“Ah, sure, as a friend,” I fumble for the right words. “He’s attractive of course; I just don’t see him that way.”

“Oh my gosh, girl!” she exclaims, hand to her curvy hip. “Are you serious? He’s the hottest guy on campus. He has that whole ‘Johnny Depp’ vibe going hard!”

She’s right, but there’s been way too much going on to think about dating. “The rumors are probably wrong, just because he’s been friendly doesn’t mean he’s interested.”

“Hmm, okay, honey.” She flips her long tresses of red-gold hair. “This…,” she says, pausing and pointing at me with a smirk on her pretty face. “This is what you call denial.”

“Well, personally, I think there’ve been more pressing matters, lately. Like two murders since school started.” I stand, stretching the cranks out of my neck. “But, hey, that’s just my opinion.”

She nods, pursing her lips. “True. But girl, we can’t let that ruin the rest of our freshman year.”

I like Lydia, but she doesn’t have much depth. “I’m going to get dressed and grab some breakfast,” I tell her, hoping for an end to the conversation. “It’s way too early.”

“Okay, suit yourself,” she says, closing my closet with a sigh. “But you’re coming to the party tonight, right?”

“Isn’t the curfew still in effect for midnight?” I question, pulling on a pair of faded bell-bottoms.

“Yes,” she agrees, plopping on her own bed and wiggling her eyebrows. “But we’re all crashing there, so it’s not even an issue.” She leans over and pulls her purple lamp shade on.

“Where?” I ask, curious despite myself.

“You know Amanda Tracey, right?” she affirms, bouncing off her bed again with renewed vigor. “Her parents are out of town for the weekend. Perfect timing, too.”

“Perfect timing?” I parrot, searching the hardwood floor for my shoes. “Perfect timing for what?”

“Halloween is right around the corner, and with all these crazy things happening around town, it’s sure to be spooky fun!”

She makes it sound like some sort of cliché scary movie.

“Right,” I agree vaguely, finally having spied my black flats sprawled across the room. “Well, I’m out of here. I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Hannah, you’re no fun, girl! I swear, it’s like you’re from another planet,” she reprimands as I close the door in her frowning face.

Finally, some quiet.

I can’t stop thinking about what happened between Ethan and me, or why I ever agreed to call him Ethan. Why did he ask me to call him his given name in the first place?

Had I unknowingly entered some silent relationship with the man from the get-go?

None of it makes sense, especially the way I’m feeling. I mean, I should’ve told Jesse the truth and gone to the police station last night. But reporting Ethan Winchester is the last thing on my mind. Instead, I find myself curious about what he’s doing, or if he’s planning to find me again and finish what he started.

I’m not holding my breath or anything, but a part of me wants something, expects something.

There’s a bruised ache in my chest, but I can’t decide if I’m floating or drowning.

Shaking my head, I decide right then and there that I need to skip psychology class for today. I need more time to clear my head and make a rational decision. The last thing I need is to make a complete fool of myself.

Out of the corner of my eye, just as I turn down another hallway, I see Jesse following me.

“Hey, Hannah, you skipping class?” he asks, catching me by the elbow.

The side door opens and a few students rush by, running late for class.

“Yeah, I’m not feeling so good,” I lie easily, starting to walk away again.

“If you think you’re skipping without me, you’re dead wrong.” His voice is way too deadpan, sending off warning bells in my already jumbled brain.

He busts out laughing, a wolfish grin lighting up his handsome features. “I’m just messing with you, Hannah.”

My nerves are just strung out and on high alert. “I’m the one who’s sorry, not enough sleep last night.”

“You’re having sleeping problems?” he asks with concern, raking a hand through his darkish auburn hair.

“Actually my roommate woke me up really early this morning.”

He coughs into his hand. “Any particular reason?”

I almost blush. “Something about a party,” I answer with a shrug.

“Ah, the party at the Tracey house,” he acknowledges. “You’re coming, right?”

“I’m not sure yet. What about you?” I ask conversationally.

“With you, of course,” he says seriously, inching closer. “You know, I’m already halfway in love with you, Hannah Vale.” His hand suddenly palms the side of my face.

Before I can respond, Ethan’s dark voice slithers up my spine. “Get your hands off her, or I’ll cut them off.”