by Amare, Mercy
Dad pulls into the garage, and turns off his SUV. “At least we have Hawaii to look forward to.”
I try to smile, but I can’t. “I can’t wait to get away from Mountain View for a little while.”
“Me too,” he says. “We leave early Saturday morning. You should double check your suitcase and make sure everything is packed.”
I laugh as we get out of his SUV and walk into the house. “Dad, Veronica helped me pack. She is probably the most organized person I’ve ever met. Trust me when I say that I’ve packed everything.”
I walk up to my bedroom, and when I walk inside, Toby and Gabe are waiting for me. Gabe gives me another hug.
“Could this be anymore fucked up?” I ask them.
“At least it wasn’t you,” Gabe says. “I keep having these nightmares where I find your body. Kihanna, I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“We won’t let anything happen,” Toby says. “I think it’s time we go to the police.”
“After Hawaii,” I tell him. “I just… need this. I want to go on this trip and forget that I ever had a stalker. When we get back, I promise I will go to Dad.”
“Okay,” Toby says. “So what do we do until then?”
“We wait,” Gabe answers. “I don’t think there is anything else we can do.”
I’m waiting for my stalker to make the next move. I just hope it doesn’t mean lights out for me.
Thursday, December 16
10:00 AM
Forever seventeen.
Today, I am wearing all black, but it’s not to make a statement this time. This time it’s to honor somebody. It’s to say goodbye to yet one more person in my life. Toby, Gabe, and I are going to a memorial for Jacqueline Hoff. Sure, we didn’t exactly get along, but she is dead because of me. She’ll be forever seventeen.
We all sit and listen to all the wonderful things people have to say about Jacqueline. Stuff like how great of a daughter and friend she was… She was a straight A student. She had recently been offered a new movie deal, and after graduation she was going to start filming. She took ballet since she was five, and she was actually really good at it. She was also good at basketball. She and her dad played one on one every Sunday afternoon. She had one younger sister, Janet, who was taking her death the hardest out of everybody.
I can’t help but cry during her memorial. I don’t think there is one person here that isn’t crying, because despite how cruel she was to everybody in our school, she was only seventeen. She was supposed to grow and learn, but that opportunity was taken away from her. Stolen by a sick pervert. She will never film that movie. She will never get married. She will never have children. She will never have a future. The only thing that is left of her is a memory. She’ll always be that young girl who died.
After the service, we all get into Gabe’s car, but none of us say a word. Really what can we say? Nothing will change the fact that she’s gone. Nothing will change the fact that in a few months, I will probably have the same fate.
A few miles down the road, I open my purse to grab a piece of gum. When I do, I notice a piece of bright pink paper inside. I pull it out and hold my breath as I read the words on the paper.
I can’t wait to go to Hawaii with you. We’re going to have so much fun.
I look over at Gabe. His eyes are on the road. Then I look at Toby, he’s just staring out the window.
I take the note and stick it back in my purse. I can’t bring myself to show them the note. Not yet anyway. I have already put both of them through enough. So for now, it’s my little secret.
The end, for now.
Look for Stranded in Paradise, book 3, coming soon!
As an indie author, I rely heavily on my readers to get the word out on my books. If you loved this story, it would mean the world to me if you left a review where you purchased it! <3
Check out my other books!
The Rock Star Trilogy:
— Jaded (Book 1)
— Faded (Book 2)
— Hated (Book 3)
The Kihanna Saga:
— The Fab Life (Book 1)
— I Hate Goodbye (Book 2)
— Stranded in Paradise (Book 3 — coming April 2014)
— It’s So Obvious (Book 4 — coming June 2014)
— I Need You (Book 5 — coming August 2014)
Stand Alones:
— Don’t Tell
— You Got Me
— Char
Acknowledgements
It’s hard to believe that I am now publishing my eighth release. It just doesn’t seem real. I am so grateful that I am living out my dreams through writing, and it wouldn’t be possible without you, my readers. Thank you for buying my books, reading them, and reviewing them. As an indie author, I rely a lot on word of mouth. So thank you for helping get the word out.
To my husband, Shane — without you I don’t think I would be writing. Thank you for encouraging me to finish my first book and for encouraging me to publish my books. Without you, all these stories would still be in my head. Also, thanks for not bothering me and letting me write (Most of the time).
Thank you, Holly, for coming along on Kihanna’s journey with me. You’re the best beta reader ever. Thanks for giving me chapter by chapter feedback. You pushed me to keep writing this story, so thank you!
To Delanie Roberts — thanks for being AWESOME. I’ve had so much fun talking with you. I love hearing what you think of my characters, and I can’t wait to hear your theories on this book ;).
Tess Watson, thanks for always being a friend. I have no doubts that you will find your very own Stephan soon. When you do, you better not forget about me.
Laura Heritage at PS Cover Designs… Thank you for creating the covers for The Kihanna Saga. They’re the BEST. It’s amazing how well each cover captures the books. And thank you for all your help with editing. I’ve learned SO MUCH from you! Congratulations on the newest member of your family.
And last, to all the new author friends I’ve made — Wendy Owens, Felicia Tatum, Sarah Marie Cradit, Brandy Ribeira, Nikki Goodwin, and Stephanie Parent (just to name a few)… Thank you all for encouraging me, pushing me, doing writing sprints with me, and just being there when I need to talk. <3 You rock!
<3 Mercy Amare
Find me online:
Website: http://www.mercyamare.com
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Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6464549.Mercy_Amare
Email: [email protected]