10

It was Monday morning, and Laura continued power walking her way down a very steep hill to Roseford High, while worrying that she might be late. She, and practically everyone else she knew, had spent the whole weekend trying to cure their dreadful hangovers from Clarissa's party on Friday night. Laura woke up at about two in the afternoon on Saturday with a searing headache, puffy red eyes and the sound of her mother banging down her bedroom door. But she also spent the weekend trying to get over A's messages. While Laura tried to figure out whether Heidi was at the party or not (eventually she was told that she was at home sick) Tiana had gone to find out what kind of return 'A' was talking about. She hadn't heard from her since. Laura desperately wanted to know who she saw and why she left the party so abruptly. Perhaps she was busy with her friend Hayley who had left on Saturday?

Laura was breathing rapidly when she finally arrived at the school gates. As she took a moment to get her breath back, she noticed Sofia looking around the groups of people standing near the entrance to the main building. Laura decided to approach her, but she didn't know how Sofia would react. Maybe her kindness was for one night only.

"Hey Sofia." Laura said hesitantly.

"Hey! Finally! I've been looking all over for you," Sofia leant in closer. "Have you gotten anything else from A since Friday?"

"No," Laura replied. "You know what? I'm starting to think the whole thing was just little joke. Maybe someone accidentally stumbled upon our..." She thought for a moment. "Our secrets and chose to scare us a little."

"But why did Tiana leave the party then? I know she's gonna give us some ridiculous excuse, but I'm almost certain she left because of 'A'!" Sofia stated.

"I left because I had to!" Tiana had just appeared behind Sofia. "That's all you need to know!" She walked into the main building and through the rows of lockers that surprisingly were still in pristine condition. Laura followed, and then Sofia pushed herself in between her and Tiana, making sure that she was walking ahead just enough so that others would think that she was in charge of the group.

"Whatever Tiana." Sofia's walk was graceful. "Anyway, first Bradley came back and now his sister. What is this?"

"Abigail would have already driven them both outta town." Laura mumbled as she thought about Abi's actions. When Abi was still around and they were all in eighth grade along with Anna, Bradley was in the year above. Even though he was older, Bradley never retaliated. Back then, Anna also suffered at the hands of Abi, but now, Anna seemed liked a totally different person.

October 2010

"Look who it is. The dogrillas!" Abi laughed and Laura, Tiana, Sofia and Heidi went along with it. 'The dogrillas' was a stupid name they'd made up for Bradley and Anna because Abi thought they were just as weird as a dog-gorilla hybrid (if they actually existed). Anna and Bradley had just walked through the school gates.

"Just ignore her sis." Laura heard Bradley say.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Abi said when they walked past her.

"Abigail! Forget it!" Tiana yelled.

"What was that Tee?" Abi said sarcastically before they shared a confusing look as if they knew something the others didn't. Tiana didn't reply.

"That's what I thought." Abigail glared at Tiana.

Present Day

"Really guys, where is Heidi?" Sofia turned and saw something. "Hey when did your cousin Dan get back?

"I didn't know he was back." Tiana said.

"He's talking to Nate, I'm gonna go say hi." Excitedly, Sofia ran over to Dan and Nate.

Laura made sure that no one was listening, then spoke. "I think we should go to Heidi's house after school to see if she's okay. You in?"

Tiana nodded. "Sure!"

"And Tee...why did you really leave the party? You can tell me." Laura found her locker.

"It was nothing," Tiana attempted to smile. "Really!" She spotted her friend Kelsey. "See you later."

"See ya!" Laura fiddled with her locker until she got the right combination that allowed it to open. As soon as she pulled the door of the locker, a note on a piece of yellow paper flew out onto the floor by her foot. She picked it up and read it.

To Laura: Still whoring yourself out for cash? Well I've got something for you. $800. All you have to do is make sure the picture in the envelope gets out. ––A

Laura looked back at the locker. There was an envelope on the side. Cautiously, she pulled out what was inside. She re-examined the photo over and over again. "I can't..." She whispered.