THE NEXT MORNING
782 Words
I barely slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Evan's voice again.
Riley.
Then I'd remember the message.
Stay away from him.
And Cameron's silence.
Did you know Evan was going to die?
He never answered.
I checked my phone.
7:41 a.m.
I groaned and dropped it back onto my bed.
I had school.
Of course I did.
I dragged myself out of bed and got ready.
By the time I walked downstairs, my mom was already in the kitchen.
She looked at me.
"You look tired."
"Thanks."
She laughed.
"You know what I mean."
"I didn't sleep well."
"Bad dream?"
I stopped for a second.
"Something like that."
I didn't want to tell her.
How could I?
Mom, my dead best friend called me last night and now some random person is texting me.
Yeah.
Definitely not.
I grabbed some toast and left.
The drive to school felt longer than usual.
I kept checking my phone at red lights.
Nothing from Cameron.
Nothing from the unknown number.
For once, I was almost grateful.
When I got to school, the parking lot was already packed.
I got out of the car and grabbed my bag.
"Riley!"
I turned around.
Sophie was walking toward me.
She looked at me for a second.
"You look exhausted."
"Thanks."
"You know what I mean."
"I barely slept."
She frowned.
"Why?"
I hesitated.
"I just had a weird night."
She looked at me.
"Okay... what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You've been saying 'nothing' for three months."
I looked away.
She was right.
Ever since Evan died, I'd gotten really good at pretending I was okay.
Sophie stepped closer.
"Is this about Evan?"
My heart skipped.
"What?"
"You heard me."
I looked around the parking lot.
"Why would you ask that?"
"Because you look like you've seen a ghost."
I almost laughed.
If only she knew.
"I'll tell you later."
She sighed.
"Fine. But you owe me."
We started walking toward the school.
I tried to focus on anything else.
My classes.
My homework.
The fact that I had a test I hadn't studied for.
Anything.
But then I saw him.
Cameron.
He was standing by the entrance.
He looked straight at me.
For a second, neither of us moved.
Then he walked toward me.
"Hey."
"Hey."
He looked at Sophie.
"Can I talk to Riley?"
Sophie looked at me.
I nodded.
She walked ahead.
Cameron waited until she was out of earshot.
"You shouldn't have texted me last night."
I frowned.
"You told me to trust you."
"I know."
"Then why are you acting like I did something wrong?"
He looked around.
"Because you don't understand what's happening."
"Then explain it."
He shook his head.
"Not here."
I crossed my arms.
"Then where?"
He looked at me.
"The diner. Four o'clock."
I stared at him.
"You better actually tell me something this time."
"I will."
He started walking away.
"Cameron."
He stopped.
I lowered my voice.
"Did you know something about Evan?"
He didn't turn around.
"I knew he was scared."
Then he walked away.
I stood there, watching him disappear into the school.
My stomach twisted.
Evan was scared.
Cameron knew.
And somehow, I was right in the middle of it.
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