A/N: So this story is just flowing out of me. I can't stop thinking about it and I just keep getting inspired to write, so I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I know I haven't introduced the Cullens (yet), but I promise that they will be in this story soon. Plus, many of you may be wondering where Bella is, well you'll find out next chapter.

Send me a review and let me know your thoughts, questions, or comments please…

DISCLAIMER: still not her…

MPOV

The next Saturday we were going to a funeral for Susie. It all happened so quickly. One day Tammy, Susie, and I were all hanging out, the next we were witnessing a murder. Now we were mourning the murder of Susie, a sixteen-year-old girl who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. It wasn't fair. But then again, was life ever really fair?

Tammy's family sat on the other side of the aisle. All of our school seemed to show up for the funeral. Everyone in black. Boxes of Kleenex and tissues were being passed up and down the aisles as we stared forward at the preacher and the large pictures of my best friend. Her urn was placed on a pedestal surrounded by flowers.

My parents held my hand or wrapped an arm around my shoulders while the service was going on. Tammy and I clung to each other during the reception that followed. I never understood why people gathered to eat after a funeral. It never made sense. And I couldn't force any food into my mouth right now. I pushed it around my plate while people kept coming up to me and Tammy offering their sympathy.

Finally, we were able to go home that night. Susie's parents made Tammy and I take a bouquet of flowers each and promise to come over to help her mother clean her room.

I got home that night and went straight up to bed. I hadn't eaten all day and was exhausted from the day's activities. I stripped down and hung the black dress up, placing it back in the closet. I turned back to my bed and saw an envelope with my name in black ink lying on the pillow.

I opened it and gasped when I saw what was written on it.

"One down…

By the way, you looked beautiful at the service today"

I fainted and landed in a clump by my bed. My parents rushed into the room finding me in my underwear holding the note. My mother screamed and I woke up. She was holding the note when I opened my eyes.

"Charlie… he was here! He was in Marissa's room!" My mother's face was as white as I'm sure my own was.

"Renee, what are you talking about?" Charlie's face was red as he helped me up off the floor and tried to cover my mostly naked body with a blanket.

Mom handed him the card and his face got redder as he read the note. He stormed out of the room within seconds and I could hear him a few minutes later yelling on the phone.

"THIS PSYCHOPATH WAS IN MY HOUSE, DO NOT TELL ME TO CALM DOWN. MY FAMILY AND I COULD HAVE BEEN HERE. I WANT PROTECTION FOR MY FAMILY AND MS. SWANSON'S. THIS GUY IS COMING BACK TO TAKE CARE OF THESE GIRLS. I HAVE THE CARD IN MY HAND THAT PROVES SUSIE'S DEATH WASN'T ACCIDENTAL." I had dressed in my pajamas and walked downstairs. My mother and I sat side by side while we watched my father on the phone. We wrapped our arms around each other.

"FINE, JUST GET THEM OVER HERE AND THERE. I'M NOT TAKING CHANCES WITH MY FAMILY'S LIFE!" My father slammed the phone down on the receiver causing it to come crashing to the floor. The sound of the crash caused both my mother and I to jump.

"Don't go anywhere without someone around you Marissa, do you understand me? This guy obviously saw you and your friends that night. I have a bunch of the guys coming here and to Tammy's house to keep you all safe. In the mean time, I don't want you without someone around you. And I want someone to check your car before you drive it each time. Promise me, please?"

I nodded not able to find my voice. I knew this was all to keep me safe, but I didn't feel safe. I didn't feel safe at all.

********************************************************

The next day I was exhausted from not sleeping at all. I forced down a bowl of cereal when a knock on the door caused me to jump a mile in the air. My heart returned to normal as I heard Tammy's light voice enter the kitchen.

"Come on, Marissa. We promised Susie's mom that we'd be there in ten minutes to help her. I don't know if she could do this alone. We need to be there for her." Tammy gave my mom a hug and headed out to their car.

"Bye mom. I'll call before we head home. I love you." I gave my mom a hug and headed out to Tammy's mom's car. We drove in silence and I noticed that we were being followed by a couple police cars. I guess dad was serious about the protection for us.

It only took us four hours to pack up all of Susie's things. Her mom made sure that we each took about ten to twenty things each for us to keep. She wanted us to have some things to remember our fallen friend. Tammy took a bunch of clothes, pictures, and dried flowers. I took a book that Tammy, Susie, and I had kept all our notes to each other in from seventh grade when we all discovered boys. I took a blue striped shirt that I had given her for Christmas last year. But I couldn't take more than pictures. I wanted to have as many pictures as possible. I felt like a part of me was missing without Susie here to giggle and talk about celebrities or boys. It was heart-breaking.

I returned home and had a quiet dinner with my parents. Just before bed, our phone rang. I heard my mother answer it.

"Jenkins' residence…"

She screamed and by the time dad and I reached her, she had collapsed beside the phone. I could hear a voice coming from the phone.

"He… hello?" I said timidly.

"Marissa? This is Officer Smithson. I'm over at Tammy's house. I need to talk to your father now."

"What? What's going on? Did something happen?" I felt the phone being ripped out of my hand as my father began speaking.

"Chief Jenkins… Smithson, what's going on?"

His face blanched and I saw his hand start to shake as his eyes flickered to me. He continued to listen to the officer on the other line. When he hung up, I finally demanded that someone tell me what was going on.

"TELL ME! TAMMY'S MY FRIEND. I HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!" I knew my face was red, but I needed to know that Tammy was all right.

"Marissa, you need to sit down. I have something I have to tell you."

I collapsed onto the couch and stared up at my father. He sighed before sitting in front of me. "Tammy went to bed early tonight, so no one was really paying attention. Her mother just went to check on her and found her. Marissa… She's dead. Someone strangled her tonight."

The last thing I heard before the world went black was my mother sobbing.