Chapter 1

Jess POV

Me, Rob, Douglas, Tasha, Ruth, Mikey, Dad, and Mom were all enjoying dinner at my house when the doorbell rang. I ran to go get it. I opened it and standing there was Krantz. He was holding five books. I was really surprised. He was suposed to leave me alone, except for an emergency. He didn't look stressed so I figured it was a social visit.

"Jess. So nice to see you again. These are the statements you gave to the F.B.I. Wr told you that they woukd go public. They are. We are giving you and your family a preview. They will be public next week." He shoved the books into my hand, turned around, and left in an unmarked white van.

I brought them inside and told them what Krantz said. Ruth was the first to react. " Well then lrts read them."

I cleared began reading.

It's all Ruth's fault.

Ruth started to say something but I cut her off.

Really. It is. It all started that afternoon in the burger line in the cafeteria, when Jeff Day told Ruth thet she was so Fat, they were going to have to burry her in a piano case, just like Elivis.

Mikey growled and put his arm around Ruth. Before he could od anything stupid, i conyonued to read.

Which is totaly stupid, since- to the best of my knolage- Elvis was not burried in a piano case. I don;t care how fat he was when he died. I'm sure Priscilla Presley could have afforeded a better casket for the king then a piano case.

And secondly, where does Jeff Day get off, saying this kind of thing to somebody, especialy to my best friend?

So I did what any best friend would do under the circumstances. I hauled off and slugged him.

"Jessica Mastrani! You are grounded young lady. I cannot believe you wauld do that. Poor Jeff. He was such a nice boy."

My mom didn't like it very much when i pointed out that he killed Amber Macky, Beat a girl, and burned down Mastrani's , so I started to read.

It isn't like Jeff Dy doesn;t deserve to be slugged, and on a daily basis.

And it's not like I really even hurt him. Okay, yeah. he staggered back and fell into the condiments. Big deal. There wasn't even any blood. I didn't even get him in the face. He saw my fist coming, and at the last minute he ducked, so instead of punching him in the nose, like I intended, I ended up punching him in the neck.

I highly doubt it even left a bruise.

Mikey was patting me on the back. Rob smiled that half amused ahlf disgested smile that I love. And my mom, well. she blew up. Screaming at me for violence, bla, bla, bla.