- You Never Know
Chapter One: Secrets
Stacey Radford screamed. "No! Kristin, what are you doing?!" She tried to grab her friend out of the car's way.
She missed.
And it all happened. Tires screeching, Kristin screaming, the stunned face of the driver.
"Kristin!" Stacey shrieked, watching her friend being thrown fifty feet by the impact. "Nooo!"
She ran for her friend, tears flowing down her cheeks. Please be okay, Kristin. Please be okay.
Kristin was lying face down on the sidewalk.
"Kristin?" She said softly, tapping her friend lightly on the shoulder. Kristin didn't move. Not even slightly.
Stacey was getting nervous. No…it can't be…
Then she saw it. Blood. Flowing out of Kristin's head.
Stacey shrieked. No, please, no!
She was shaking, but somehow Stacey had the energy to go to the nearest payphone to call an ambulance.
The rest of the night was a blur. And Stacey found herself wrapped up in her own private thoughts. Why did Kristin do that? Why did she have to go into the car's way purposely?
Realization exploded in Stacey's mind. Suicide. Kristin wanted to kill herself.
But…why?
Kristin had everything going for her. A nice family, a nice house, she's even one of the most popular girls at school. She had a perfect life.
So why did she have to do that? Why?
Somehow, Stacey managed to survive the night.
She wasn't able to come to school the next day, though.
Especially after hearing that Kristin died in the hospital.
"Stacey?" Her mother called softly, knocking on her door. "Dinner is ready, do you want me to bring some food here?"
"No."
"Okay." Her mother said quietly. There was a pause. "Can I come in?"
"Sure."
Her mother opened the door. "Hi, sweetie."
Stacey didn't even look at her. "Hi."
Mrs. Radford looked at her daughter sympathetically. "I'm sorry to bother you. But, um…you haven't eaten anything since last night…"
"Mom? I just want to be alone right now." Stacey said, staring into the ceiling.
Her mother sighed. "Stacey, honey, I know this is hard for you…but you have to take care of yourself."
"Yes, Mom, I know."
Mrs. Radford hovered for a moment. "Sweetie…"
"It's okay, mom. Don't worry about me. I just…I just want to be alone right now, okay?"
Her mother nodded, and went out the room hesitantly.
Stacey groaned. She was so angry. Angry at herself, mostly, for not being able to save Kristin. But she was also angry at Kristin, for doing that.
Why? Why Kristin?
Why
?!Why do you have to go?
The phone rang. Disrupting Stacey's thoughts. She groaned and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Stace. It's me, Janine. Why weren't you and Kristin at school today?" A familiar, cheerful voice said.
"Because I…" Stacey's mind was blank. She didn't know what to say. "I—"
"What, Stace?" Janine pressed.
"Janine! Kristin's dead!" Stacey blurted out, tears stinging the back of her eyes.
Silence on the other end.
Stacey couldn't help herself. She burst into tears. "Janine, Janine are you there?" She asked between sobs.
"Stacey…" Janine's voice was trembling. "You're…you're not lying, are you?"
"No."
Another silence on the other end.
"Oh my god…" Janine's voice was rising. "I…can't…believe this…."
Another silence. And then click, she was gone.
Stacey tried to calm down. She took a few deep breaths.
Little did she know that it was only the beginning of her nightmare.