Over the intercom, they called my siblings and me to the office.
Zack walked beside me, finally talking.
"They found him on the field this morning," he said quietly. "Jake… he was murdered."
My chest tightened.
I knew Jake. Everyone did.
And yeah… I had a crush on him.
It felt wrong, knowing he was just… gone.
"That's why his mom was crying," Zack added.
I didn't know what to say.
So, I didn't say anything at all.
When we reached the office, chaos was already waiting.
Liv was being picked on by some new kid her age.
Before anyone could react—
Tori launched herself at him.
Full tackle.
They hit the ground hard.
"Tori!" mother shouted, rushing forward.
My parents pulled her off while Zack scooped Liv up like she weighed nothing.
The other kid's parents started yelling, arguing with mine—
Until they saw me.
Everything went quiet.
The woman stared at me like she'd just found something valuable.
"My… you are beautiful," she said softly.
I froze.
"My son Jason is about your age. You should meet him. He's such a sweet boy."
"I do not think so," my mother snapped immediately.
The woman just smiled like that didn't matter.
And all I could think was—
What the hell was that?
Why did she want me to meet her son?
Why did it feel like I wasn't being introduced…
But offered?
We left the office, and my mind wouldn't stop racing.
New students. New kids.
All of them were watching me.
What was happening today?
And why did it feel like I was the center of it?
Seth opened the car door, and we all piled in.
I still felt it.
That feeling.
Like eyes were on me.
"Mom," I said, trying to sound normal, "why are there so many new students today?"
No answer.
"And Zack's friend—"
"He's gone," my mom said quickly, cutting me off.
My dad stayed silent as he drove.
But something was wrong.
He wasn't taking us home.
We pulled into a Burger King.
All of us froze.
We had never been here before.
Not once.
The smell hit instantly—greasy, heavy, overwhelming.
My stomach twisted.
"Triple, triple, triple!" Seth shouted, practically bouncing. "Please!"
"They have triples?" Zack asked, impressed.
"I just want a salad," Lizbeth said.
Everyone turned and stared at her.
"Beth," my mom said slowly, "you're eating meat too."
Lizbeth rolled her eyes and looked out the window.
"I want the biggest stack of meat they have," Tori said without hesitation.
I blinked.
Why did that sound… normal to them?
Finally, the food came.
Burgers passed around the car, one after another.
I lifted mine, ready for the first bite—
Zack leaned over and bit it first.
"Hey!" I snapped, then stopped.
He was laughing.
Actually laughing.
I hadn't seen that since Zaylean.
And just like that… I didn't care about the burger.
His smile was enough.
Seth finished his food in seconds and turned, watching us like a hawk.
Zack smacked him lightly on the head.
"Mom, can I get another one?" Seth asked, pouting.
My mom glanced at my dad.
He sighed.
Seth got another burger.
"Who's that for?" Zack teased. "Your girlfriend?"
We all laughed.
"Girls are gross," Seth said.
We all stared at him.
He quickly added, "Not you guys! You all act like boys."
Tori grabbed him and gave him a headlock.
"Harder!" Zack laughed.
"Settle down," my dad said, but he was smiling too.
For a second…
Everything felt normal again.
By the time we got home, it was completely dark.
Too dark.
The streetlights were out.
All of them.
We stepped out of the car, heading toward the house.
I was last.
Standing in the doorway, something stopped me.
That feeling again.
Stronger this time.
Not just watched.
Hunted.
My eyes locked across the street—
And I couldn't look away.
A hand touched my shoulder.
I jumped.
My dad.
"See something?" he asked quietly.
I opened my mouth to say no—
Then headlights snapped on.
Right where I was staring.
A car.
An old, beautiful '89 Chevelle, deep blue, sitting in the dark like it had always been there.
The engine roared to life.
And it pulled away.
Gone.
I stood there, frozen.
Because I knew one thing for sure—
That car hadn't been there before.
I closed the door behind me and went to my room.
Standing in front of the mirror, I tilted my head.
There it was again.
A faint tint of dark red in my hair.
Annoying.
Guess it was time to dye it again.
Maybe blue this time.
Voices echoed faintly through the house as everyone talked downstairs.
But I didn't move.
Because something about today…
I didn't feel like it was over.