All Grown Up (Eden High)

I walked towards Liz with growing excitement. It had been a while since I’d heard anything about Jace, not since he went away to school with that bitch who was living my life. Every time I think about her, I want to scream and break something.

She’d had the nerve to send me a picture of her ugly ass kids, just to rub it in. But little does she know, I spend most of my days throwing shit at that image and imagining what I’m going to do to her and them once I get out of here. Even if it takes forever, I’m going to…

What the hell was that? What’s wrong with Liz? Why is she screaming? Why can’t I hear her? Cold, so cold and heavy. I feel so high up off the ground. Am I flying? Pain, pain, pain…. No.

LIZ

Miss. Summers, Miss. Summers, can you hear me? Listen, guys, she’s gone.”

“What do you mean gone?”

“I mean, she’s escaped into her head, and there’s no way of telling when or if she’ll come out.”

“But she wasn’t hurt physically, no injury to her head.”

“No, but she saw her best friend get almost decapitated right in front of her. It’s the mind’s way of protecting itself. You’ll have to question her later; you’re not going to get anything out of her now, that’s for sure.”

“Okay, thanks, doc. Well, looks like a dead end.”

“I’m thinking she wasn’t in on the hit. I mean, why would she put herself right there if she was going to end up like this?”

“Plus the fact that the arrow could’ve missed.”

“You don’t think there’s a possibility she could’ve been the target?”

‘Nah, I doubt it. I looked into her background; she’s clean. Now the other one…” The voices started to fade away as they left the room.

No, come back, I’m here; I’m awake. Why can’t I use my voice? Why can’t I move? Mandy! I felt my body begin to shake as images flashed across my mind. One minute she was walking towards me, words burning a hole in my tongue. I wanted to spew venom at her, to tell her to fuck off and leave me and my family alone.

While I watched her walking towards me, I regretted ever having met her. Ever being part of her crew, following her to do the shit we’d done. I should’ve gone to Shane and the others, tell them what I know, about the notes, about everything. But I was too afraid to even approach them. Not after what I’d helped Mandy do to Sian, Jace would kill me.

I was having those thoughts and many more when Mandy went flying through the air. It’s only after I looked up at her that I saw the arrow in her neck, pinning her to the wall. I started screaming again, but the sound was trapped inside. No one will hear me.

Alex

Jace must’ve taken classes in cock blocking one, oh one. I thwarted his ass this time, though. “I’ll be right back baby, let me answer this.” He better not be calling me with that wedding shit again. Guy’s like a dog with a bone when he gets something stuck in his teeth.

I rolled out of bed and grabbed the phone. “What’s up, bro?”

“Mandy’s dead.”

“What did you do? Where're the others?”

“It wasn’t me. I’m calling to see if it was you though I doubt very highly that you would be that stupid to do some shit I asked you not to.”

“Wasn’t me. It’s my girl’s birthday.”

“I thought of that.”

“How did she die?”

“Still trying to get the details on that one. The asshole cops were here, but dad and the lawyers ran them off with our alibi.” He told me about Lyon’s kid.

“So, they did it.”

“Looks like. We’ll talk when I get there. I’m just covering all the bases. Go enjoy the rest of your peace and quiet before we get there in a few hours.”

He hung up, leaving me standing there staring into space. I’m not sure how to feel about Mandy being gone by someone else’s hands. But then again, now I don’t have to worry about Jace or one of the others getting into trouble. If the hit came from Mancini’s end, I know it’s pointless to even worry about backlash; the guy doesn’t leave anything to chance with his nitpicking ass.

I started to tell her the news but changed my mind. Let her enjoy the rest of her birthday without inviting that viper into the mix. I’d barely got her to put all that behind her; no need to bring it back up now. Once we get back to L.A., it’ll be time enough to tell her.

“Come on, baby, it’s bath time.” She stretched and looked at me out of those eyes of hers, looking all sexy and shit. Nope, she’s had enough for now. If I keep this shit up, she’s gonna need a vacation after this.