Once I was in my room I got changed and washed my face. I didn't want everyone to know I'd been crying when I reached the dining hall. Not that anyone would be surprised, there had been more and more people crying on campus with each body found.

Still, I wasn't usually a crying in public sort of person and I didn't really feel like changing that image.

Part of me really wanted to just pull away from the whole world and mourn the loss of a friend. But at the same time I didn't feel like I could let my guard down enough to do so while the killer was still out there. Maybe when this was all over…

So I decided to try for normality instead. And that meant getting tidied up, going to dinner and then to the library to study with Taylor.

I grabbed my study bag and made sure I had the books I would need to work on our current medical and anthropology assignments.

Just before I left the room I remembered Sam's advice, and added a little extra to my outfit…the silver bracelet my parents had given me for my birthday.

I locked my door and walked up the hall to knock on Emily's door.

"One second!" She called.

"Ok, it's just me." I called back, before leaning against the wall beside the door to wait.

The halls were strangely quiet. There were a couple of people talking quietly as they headed for the dining hall, but no one was lingering in the hallway chatting and laughing like you could usually expect.

There was an atmosphere of sadness and fear that seemed to have seeped into the building.

Finally Emily's door opened. I turned and broke into a smile.

She had apparently decided to counteract the atmosphere of the building with a bright yellow shirt covered and purple skirt. I couldn't help but notice that she was wearing her own silver jewellery. A necklace which, now I thought about it, she never took off.

"Love the outfit." I told her and she grinned.

"Well, being sad all the time is depressing." She informed me, "So I decided we both needed a break. This is for you." She held out a butterfly hair clip.

I smirked. "I don't think I've worn butterfly clips since I was six." I told her.

"Well then, I guess you're overdue." She reached out and clipped it into my hair…right on top of my head.

I looked up, trying to imagine how ridiculous it looked, then shrugged. "Thanks."

"No problem." She smiled, and then gave me a hug.

I hugged her back, closing my eyes for a moment when I realised just how much I had needed it.

When I let her go she gave me a gentle pat on the back, then leant inside her door to pick up her study bag. "I wasn't sure if you'd feel like studying..." She explained, then gestured to my own bag, "But, study it is."

I nodded, "Yup, now come on, let's get to the dining hall before all the good stuff goes."

She locked her door and we headed down the hall.

When we reached the dining hall it was packed with students, but strangely quiet. Everywhere we looked there were small groups of friends whispering and looking around suspiciously.

Emily and I looked at each other, neither of us needed to say it out loud. 'What now?'

I looked around, trying to spot Sari and Amelia, but the room was just too busy.

"There's Michael and Hudson." Emily nodded towards the serving area.

They were both in our anthropology class, and had been friends with Tom too. We headed in their direction, hoping they could tell us what was going on.

The two boys saw us approaching and acknowledged us with a little finger wave.

When we got within reach the two boys wrapped us both in a group hug. "Tom, man. I still can't get my head around it." Hudson said quietly as we pulled apart.

I just nodded.

"What's with everyone?" Emily asked, keeping her voice down.

The two boys glanced around, then moved in closer.

"They're saying it was a student." Michael told us, voice low.

Emily and I exchanged shocked looks. "The…the murders?" I whispered, and both boys nodded.

All three of us took a moment to scan the room, the small groupings and suspicious looks suddenly making sense.

Emily looked a little sceptical, "Did the police say something?"

Hudson shrugged, "Don't know. I heard it from Madison, who heard it from Jamie, who…"

Emily held up a hand to stop him, "Ok, I get the idea."

Hudson nodded.

Michael spoke up again. "Have you guys eaten?" We shook our heads. "Well, you should probably get in line. Looks like everyone's decided to eat early tonight."

I nodded, "Ok, thanks guys." I gave each of them another hug, and we went our separate ways. The two boys heading out of the dining room, and we joined the quiet line of students waiting for dinner.

"Do you think it could be?" I asked Emily.

"I guess anything's possible." She shrugged, "Maybe your FBI friends will be able to work it out."

I nodded a little, wondering what Sam and Dean would do if it did turn out to be just a dangerously crazy student.

"I just wish they could get here sooner…" I said out loud. "There's going to be another found tomorrow…isn't there?"

She just nodded sadly. There was no point denying it. No one had been arrested today, and so whoever…or whatever…it was would be attacking again tonight.

I hoped it wasn't someone I knew…and then felt bad. Even if I didn't know them, plenty of other people would.

I sighed. Taylor just put an arm around me sympathetically. I wrapped an arm around her too, knowing that this had to be just as stressful for her as it was for me.

After a moment she reached out and flicked the butterfly clip gently, breaking the tension a little. "So, what are we eating tonight?"

I went with it. "I don't know about dinner, but for desert I'm definitely in a cookie dough ice cream sort of mood."

She nodded with mock seriousness, "Good choice, good choice."

Hi everybody! I feel like this story is starting a little slowly, but I promise there will be action in the future!

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