I was mildly lost in thought, trying to grasp the way they were behaving when both sets of eyes snapped open. I felt a cold wave prick across my skin as I locked my gaze with Ella. A small tear pooled from her normal grey-green eyes and slid down her face. Chances eyes had yet to meet mine but I already knew. I looked at my pack, only the original Virals left now. First to rise, last to stand. Hi started to cough awkwardly which only made the air seem more fragile. Like one wrong sound and everything would fall around us. Shelton was rocking on the balls of his feet, fingers pulling at the earlobe without mercy. Ben stood as solid as a rock. His face was blank and unable to read. I had a feeling he was hiding relief under that copper skin. Seconds dripped by unbearably slow. Ella was looking at the ground with silent tears still dancing from her eyes. Chance was looking at an expensive painting on the far wall but I knew his mind was light-years away. Ella looked up at Chance, her eyes darting across his features like she was searching for something. Either she found it or decided to disregard it entirely, being that she decided to talk.

"This entire thing has been a roller coaster, a goddamn roller coaster that spins and loops and tossed you around like a doll. I wanted to be normal when I was first infected, but when I found out what I had become the mere thought of the old me was sickening. Now that I'm regular old Ella again…"

She wasn't able to finish because tears started choking out her words. Chance seemed to snap out of his trance. He pulled her close and held her head steady. She clung to his faded tee and burrowed deeper into his chest. Chance lifted his head and held his gaze until our eyes met. Once he had my attention he mouthed 'go'. I didn't wait for a second invitation.

The car ride home seemed slower than the car ride there. Shelton and Hi talked in low whispers, mostly about Ella. None of us had expected Ella to be the one to freak. I tried to tune most of it out. I knew deep down Chance was hurting just as much as Ella. I could taste the unsaid words of my boys in the air. But instead of trying to deal with the problem at hand we explored our subconscious on our own. If deep thoughts had a smell, the car would reek. I don't know what Ben was thinking of, but he was so out of it that when his phone rang he almost drove us off the road. Ben fished the buzzing phone out of his pocket with one hand and jerked back onto the road with the other. His face formed a quizzical look, but he answered anyways. His brows scrunched back together as he tried to keep up with the voice behind the phone. I strained to listen, but kept my gaze focused outside. I didn't want Ben to think I was eavesdropping. The voice was high-pitched and was talking faster than I could keep up with. Ben listened for another moment before cutting in.

"Listen Ru-"

He was instantly cut off by higher pitched squawking.

"Of course not, why on earth would I have Terrence's number?"

I whipped my head around and tried to get Ben's attention as soon as I had it I mouthed Terrence Bradley? But Ben just shook waved his hand in a dismissing matter. He continued talking to the frazzled voice on the line I had heard him call Ru.

"I can't exactly meet you right now I'm with my gang."

"I really don't think we should drag them into this."

"Ru. No Ru, Ruby you listen to me, I'm sure its noth-"

The voice on the other end continued to interrupt Ben until they felt the message was delivered. Then they just hung up. Ben pulled the phone away from his ear in and let out a sign. I could already tell whoever this Ru was, was getting their way. Ben tossed a glance to me first then to the boys in the back. We all agreed to tag along to whatever crisis was happening. After Ben relaxed a fraction I hit him with my questions.

"Ru?"

"Ruby Jenn, she's one of my friends at Wando." Ben kept his eyes on the road.

"Was this Ruby chick talking about Terrence Bradley by chance?"

Ben glanced at me for a fraction of a second before giving in.

"Yeah." I watched Ben carefully.

Hi piped up; "Tor is this Terrence Bradley that got his boat burnt in that fire you're obsessed about?"

I didn't even have to look at Ben for this answer, I already knew it.

"Yes Hiram, yes it is."

We arrived at the docks by in Mount Pleasant around fifty minutes later. Ben walked casually down the walk looking for Ruby. I scanned every face trying to pick her out. Ben pulled out his phone and cussed. I cocked my eyebrow but Ben just shook his head. He turned us all around and led us back off the dock and onto the beach. I instantly knew which person was Ruby. She was small, and reminded me of a doll from behind. Long thick brown hair curled all the way down her back. Her skin was a deep brown earned from hours in the sun. Ben and I approached her, While Hi and Shelton melted back into the crowds. A serious situation that involves pretty girls isn't their strong suit. Ruby looked up as we approached, but turned her deep blue eyes back to the ocean. Her eyes looked like they were permanently glazed over, and even her abundance of freckles couldn't hide the dark purple bags under her eyes. She nodded her head to acknowledge our presence but didn't speak. I shifted uncomfortably. I had a gnawing feeling she was waiting on me to leave. I reached up to smooth my red mess, when she spoke.

"I'm worried about her Ben."

"Me too Ru, me too."

"Are you Ben? Are you really, when's the last time you've texted her?"

A guilty look spread across Bens face, he dragged his large hand across the side of his face, stalling for time

"Just like I thought Ben, when it comes down to it you don't give two shits."

"Hey now, let's be fair" More words danced across Bens tongue but his lips never allowed them to leave. I stood completely still, hoping to disappear. Every instinct was telling me to ask questions but I knew better. Sometimes you learn more when people think you don't care.

"She's been missing for a week Ben. Seven whole days!"

"Why haven't there been any reports?" Ben started to look worried, which made me worry.

"With her mother? Really Ben? Sometimes I wonder how you haven't failed out of school yet."

My lips tingled with hot words to throw. This Ruby chick was being a bitch.

"Well wouldn't the school contact someone?" Ben was searching desperately for an escape.

"I've been covering for her." Ruby small hands found her hips.

"Why would you do that Ru?"

"We both know she's close to being booted from Wando, I can't stand to see her move to another school this year.

"Well, Ruby, you're the one who set her up with Terrence." At this I perked up, she noticed.

"Tor? Do you know Terrence?" Her blue eyes stared at me unblinking. I was more surprised at the fact she called me Tor, than the fact she addressed me at all. I sputtered out a response.

"Yes, well not exactly, I mean he goes to my school but I'm not friends with him or anything, I mean he is senior so."

Ruby eyed me funny but she obviously wanted more. She raised her eyebrows but I was at a loss of information. She prodded me further.

"Has Terrence been acting strange, or hanging around other girls, is there anything useful you can give me?"

I remembered the boat fire, and his behavior. I started rambling again.

"Well the day after Terrence's boat was lost in the fire he-" I stopped abruptly. As soon as I mentioned fire a look of cold terror flashed across her face. Ben shot her a glance and her features tried to go back to relaxed.

"Is something wrong?" I spoke innocently,

Ben was shooting Ruby looks but she ignored him.

"Tor, do you know if it was a motor failure or…?"

"It was arson."

Another look of fear crippled her features but she recovered faster. She changed the topic quickly;

"Sorry to interrupt Tor, what were you saying about his behaviors after the, f- uh the incident."

She didn't say fire. I looked her over for the umpteenth time before speaking. Her fingers were moving quickly, picking off every chip of purple nail polish they came across.

"Well he was acting bored, but overly bored, he was obviously on edge under the tough guy act. He kept looking over his shoulders and I didn't see him alone all day. He was really clingy to his friend Bo and this girl."

"What girl."

"Um Peggy something. She's a sophomore, really white blond hair and dark eyes.

"I know the one." Ruby's voice came out cold and dry.

I was about to question her when my phone started ringing, I looked the ID and made a face. Whitney. I looked up before answering. Ruby nodded her approval, not that I need it.

"Hi Tory Doll!"

"Hey Whitney."

"Now dear, you know that weddin of mine is comin up faster than ya think. You're going to need to find a dress if you're gonna be my maid of honor." Her accent was worse over the phone; I almost missed the part about her mentioning maid of honor.

"Maid of honor? What since when? I thought that one friend of yours with the fake boobs was going to do it."

"Victoria, that's no way to talk 'bout a dear friend of mine." I could almost see her large lashes fluttering. I didn't get the chance for apologies, she kept on talking.

"Now hon it's a quarta till four and I want you at Bridal Spins in 35 minutes, can ya do that?"

I groaned rolling my eyes.

"Whitney I'm in Mount Pleasant with my friends right now, I don't think I can make it all the way to Downtown Charleston by then."

"Tory don't be coy, that's only like a twenty minute drive. Now I'll be seeing you there by Four thirty or your daddy will be hearing about this.

Blargh.

As soon as I hung up Ben was all too quick to offer me a ride. Ruby shot him a pissed look but he shrugged it off. I had so many questions but now is not the time. Great, another thing to add to my unhealthy list of procrastination. The thought of all the stuff I was putting off made my chest feel tight. We rounded up Hi and Shelton, and I was off to meet my doom.