Senior Year Secrets

The First Secret

The message stayed on Amara's phone for several minutes.

You have no idea what you're about to uncover.

She read it again.

Then again.

Tessa leaned over the table.

"Another one?"

Amara nodded.

Tessa took the phone and read the message.

"Okay. This is getting creepy."

"I know."

"Should we block the number?"

Amara shook her head.

"No."

Tessa looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because if we block it, whoever is sending these messages might stop."

"And that's bad?"

"I want to know who it is."

Tessa sighed.

"You're going to get yourself into trouble."

"Maybe."

"But you're still going to do it."

Amara smiled.

"You know me."

The next morning, Amara arrived on campus early.

She had spent most of the night thinking about Sarah.

She knew almost nothing about her.

Only that Daniel knew her.

Only that something had happened between them.

And apparently, someone believed Amara needed to know about it.

She decided to start with the simplest thing.

She asked around.

Not directly.

She didn't want people knowing she was investigating Daniel.

During lunch, she and Tessa sat in the cafeteria.

Tessa looked across the room.

"See that girl?"

"Which one?"

"The one sitting beside the window."

Amara looked.

"Yes."

"Her name is Michelle. She's in Daniel's class."

"Okay."

"She might know something."

Amara frowned.

"Why?"

"Because she used to be close to Sarah."

Amara nearly dropped her spoon.

"What?"

Tessa shrugged.

"I heard it from someone."

"When?"

"Yesterday."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"I wasn't sure it was true."

Amara stood.

"Come on."

"Where?"

"To talk to her."

They walked across the cafeteria.

Michelle looked up when they approached.

"Hi."

"Hi," Amara said. "Can we ask you something?"

Michelle looked between them.

"Sure."

"Do you know Sarah?"

The smile disappeared from Michelle's face.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then she asked, "Why?"

"We're trying to find her."

"Why?"

Amara hesitated.

"We heard she used to be close to Daniel."

Michelle looked uncomfortable.

"Who told you that?"

"No one. We just heard."

Michelle glanced around the cafeteria.

"Sarah left last semester."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"You don't?"

Michelle shook her head.

"She stopped coming to lectures. Then one day, she just left."

"Did something happen between her and Daniel?"

Michelle looked at Amara carefully.

"Don't get involved."

Amara's heart sank.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?"

Michelle didn't answer.

Instead, she stood up.

"I have to go."

"Wait."

Michelle stopped.

"Was she dating Daniel?"

Michelle's expression changed.

Then she walked away.

Amara watched her disappear into the crowd.

Tessa crossed her arms.

"That was definitely a yes."

"We don't know that."

"Come on."

They returned to their table.

Amara couldn't stop thinking about it.

If Sarah had been Daniel's girlfriend, why had she left?

And why did everyone seem afraid to talk about her?

That afternoon, the project group met again.

Daniel arrived last.

"Sorry."

"No problem," Kelvin said.

They started working.

Amara tried to act normal.

She couldn't.

Every time she looked at Daniel, she wondered what he wasn't telling her.

After about thirty minutes, Daniel noticed.

"You've been quiet."

"I'm tired."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

He nodded.

The meeting continued.

When it ended, everyone started packing.

Daniel stopped Amara.

"Can I talk to you?"

She looked at him.

"About what?"

"Sarah."

Her heart stopped for a second.

"You know about the messages?"

"No."

"Then how—"

"I can tell you've been asking questions."

Amara said nothing.

Daniel sighed.

"Sarah and I were together."

She looked at him.

"For how long?"

"Almost two years."

"And what happened?"

He looked down.

"We broke up."

"Why?"

Daniel hesitated.

"Things happened."

"That's not an answer."

"I know."

He looked at her.

"But it's the only answer I can give you right now."

Amara felt frustrated.

"Why won't you tell me the truth?"

"Because it's complicated."

"Everything about Sarah seems complicated."

Daniel didn't respond.

He picked up his bag.

"Please, Amara. Let it go."

He walked away.

Amara stood there, watching him leave.

She wanted to be angry.

But something about his expression stopped her.

He hadn't looked guilty.

He had looked hurt.

That night, Amara sat on her bed scrolling through her phone.

She searched Sarah's name on social media.

Nothing useful came up.

Then she noticed an old post from one of Daniel's friends.

It was from almost a year ago.

There was a picture of Daniel standing beside a girl.

The caption was simple.

Some things are worth fighting for.

Amara zoomed in.

The girl was Sarah.

But there was something else in the picture.

A second person stood in the background.

Amara recognized him immediately.

It was Kelvin.

Her project partner.

She stared at the screen.

Why had Kelvin been there?

And what did he have to do with Sarah?

Before she could think any further, her phone vibrated.

Another anonymous message.

You're looking in the wrong direction.

Amara stared at it.

Then another message arrived.

The person you should be asking about is Kelvin.