This story is basically about a different group of people in a different town with different secrets. It's just my own spin on it. Hope you like it and feel free to leave a review.

1

Monday morning, Tiana Winters had just finished curling her light brown hair using a style she had never tried before. It was the first day of eleventh grade and she was looking forward to seeing everyone again. She went downstairs. "Morning sweetie," Tiana's mother Kate said as she poured some orange juice into Tiana's favourite glass. "Listen, I have something to tell you," Kate Winters took a deep breath. "Would you like to sit down first?" Tiana wondered what could be so bad that her mother had to ask her if she wanted to take a seat. Had someone died? "Mom just tell me. I can handle it!" Tiana perched on the end of the island in the kitchen trying to put on a brave front. Her mother put her hand on her shoulder.

"Bradley Stafford is being released on parole today!" Tiana's jaw dropped. She swallowed hard.

"Is he coming back to school?"

"Afraid so. Look, if you run into him just try not to acknowledge his presence." Kate smiled. "Now finish your juice, take a bagel and get going. You don't wanna be late on the first day." Suddenly, Tiana wasn't so excited anymore but she followed her mother's instructions. Outside, the fresh air soothed Tiana and she could sense the last traces of summer in it. It was such a beautiful time of year, however the events of two summers ago still haunted her. She tried to push those painful thoughts out of her mind however when she saw a large house a few minutes away from her own, she gave up. It was a house from her past. A young girl's house, which held a young girl's bedroom, which held a young girl's memories.

September 24th 2010

"This would totally look better on me. Sorry Tee," Abigail Du Mont eyed herself in the mirror.

"But I'm not giving it to you!" Tiana narrowed her eyes. She knew that she couldn't win with Abi but she still tried anyway. "I like it and who said it looks better on you anyway,"

"Actually I do think Tiana's the winner this time Abigail," Tiana's cousin Dan said as he peeked around Abi's bedroom door. He was with Nathanial and Abi's older brother Matt. Quickly, Tiana walked over to the door and shut it in their faces. "What's up with you?" Abigail said teasingly and then burst out laughing.

Present Day

"Tiana?" Someone called out from behind breaking her train of thought. She turned. Laura Wilde.

"Hey Laura. How's it going?"

"Good thanks, you?" The atmosphere was awkward. During the summer after Abigail disappeared, her best friends slowly grew apart. Being together without Abi just reminded them of it all. Now, it was like they were strangers.

"Yeah I'm okay. I just always feel weird whenever I see her house. Do her family still live here?"

"Yeah. It must be so hard for them." Another awkward silence. "Anyway, gotta go somewhere before school so I'll see you around?" Laura did the awkward itch. Tiana gave her a nod and continued down her route to school. Even though it had been two years, she still hoped that Abi was somewhere, alive and well. Tiana took her bagel out. But then again, what if Abi was dead? She wouldn't ever be able to eat again, walk again or smell the fresh air again. This morning, she actually thought her mother was going to tell her that Abi's body had been found. When Tiana got to school, she went straight over to Kelsey Mitchell and Haley Moore. Tiana became friends with them within the first few weeks of ninth grade when she was hardly speaking to her old friends. "Loving the curls Tee. Where'd you see the style?" Kelsey asked as she stroked Tiana's hair.

"A magazine. Forgot which one."

"Oh my god Tee did hear about Bradley Stafford?" Hayley asked, eyes wide. "Are we like, even safe?" Tiana walked over to her locker.

"Look, it's not like he's gonna try anything," Tiana realised that she had forgotten to mention it to Laura. "And besides, the teachers are gonna be on the lookout anyway!" Tiana looked around for any sign of her old friends. She wondered how they would take this. After all, they were all probably the most affected by what had happened. More damaged inside than anyone could ever imagine.