I don’t know whether it was the blush I knew had taken over my cheeks, or my unwillingness to answer his questions that prompted him to leave so he could shower. He said that he’d be in and out in six minutes. Seemed like an oddly specific time, but I nodded my head as he told me to wait in the basement for him. He showed me where to go before I watched him race up the stairs, leaving a dusting of dirt in his path, and wondered exactly what he had told the other guys.
I’m sure by tomorrow Mindy would know and I’d have my answer. I cringed at the thought. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know now.
The basement was much nicer than I had expected. Normally when I pictured basements I thought of the dark and dreary cellars in movies and scary stories, but this was the exact opposite. It was a warm red color, with black and gold accents. There was a sofa on my left side against the wall so whoever was down here could easily watch the television on the opposite wall. There were two other doors, one that I assumed led to a bathroom, and the other seemed to have an office from the minimal sight lines I had into the room. There was a desk and a spare bed as well. Overall I felt safe down here, when normally I would feel trapped and confined.
I made my way to the couch and got comfortable, pulling out my laptop and getting ready to read. The nice environment was uplifting. I had been worried because after reading some of Sophie’s diary, it reminded me a lot of myself. Sophie knew her transition from a populated beach town to a secluded town, where the population was equal to the size of her old high school, was going to be difficult. She knew she could make friends quickly, but she couldn’t help but feel self-conscious because she was the new person, which unfortunately meant everyone would be watching her and waiting for her to slip up. Her worries weren’t far from the truth. She wrote about how everyone would already know each other, and even though she was outgoing, she knew it would be hard to assimilate into the community and become a part of everything as she had done in her hometown.
What got to me was that she explained how she started to feel as if she didn’t belong in her family. Now that she had been confined to a small town and spent more time with them, she couldn’t explain why she felt as if she were an outsider. She had felt like an outsider when she came here; I felt like one my whole life. There was something missing. I never felt included and secure until I came into this room. Something connected with me emotionally, whether because I knew Sophie’s innermost thoughts, or because there was a growing connection between Mason and me as I had never experienced before with someone. There was something different, but I didn’t want to think about it. Once I did, it would become real, and I wouldn’t be able to ignore it anymore.
I opened the file for Sophie’s diary and scrolled through it. It wasn’t long before I got to where I finished reading last. My eyes scanned the entry, not seeing anything new. It was still the same type of idea. She was writing about how she didn’t know anyone or even her way around town. She hoped that she would get used to it since it was pretty small. She missed her friends, the comfort of being surrounded by people and still being able to be invisible. In Shady Hallows, since she had arrived, she was never invisible. Not that she liked being alone and secluded, but sometimes it was nice not to have everyone watching, and wanting to know every personal detail. She went on to say that she had conflicting feelings about Shady Hallows.
She didn’t like constantly being in the spotlight, but it was also kind of nice to have people who wanted to know her just because she was shiny and new. The entry ended with a question that really made me think.
“How long will it take for me to be forgotten?”
I knew she meant it in the way that she wouldn’t be the new girl in town forever, but it was sad to think that she was already being forgotten. She was the shiny new penny in a handful of faded coins, but then she was gone. She was murdered, and remained the hot topic until her murder was brushed away and swept under a rug. Now she was yesterday’s news. It was a sad thought.
I scrolled to the next entry, skimming through it before moving on. I got a few entries down before I recognized the event that Sophie had written about. It was the day she’d heard my yells in the woods and came to my rescue. It was by far the most interesting entry I had read yet.
Today was a bit strange to say the least. Mason and I were on another forced outing where our parents wanted us to explore and make some new friends. Neither of us was in the mood to meet new people, so we decided to explore. Naturally we ended up in the woods, where we figured we would find the most interesting things. Man, were we right.
After a while of wandering aimlessly through the forest, I heard a scream up ahead. That’s when I met her.
She recounted the tale of her saving me in vivid detail.
Honestly, it must have been fate. She was literally hanging from a cliff. I had to lay down flat on my stomach just to reach her hand. She was a lot heavier than I expected. When Mason and I were finally able to pull her up and I saw her face, I just couldn't believe it.
She looked so much like me. It was so creepy. If I didn’t know any better, I would have sworn we were sisters. It was like I was looking into a mirror. It had to be a sign, not that I’m huge on “signs” but I believe in fate. I saved her because I was meant to. Most likely because she looked so much like me.
Even our names sounded like they belonged together; Sophie and Casey. It couldn’t be a coincidence. I just can’t shake the feeling that it meant something. I felt so lost in this town, and then was able to make a difference by rescuing her. It was like I was saving myself before I fell into a hole, like the depression I’ve been feeling lately. Moving to this new town has been hard. The thing I hate the most is that I had to leave all my friends behind and start over. Helping Casey made me feel like I was needed.
I couldn’t tell Mason how much our resemblance had affected me because after she left all he did was talk about how pretty she was, and if I pointed out that she was a dead ringer for me then he’d never pursue her. Plus if I told him then I wouldn’t be able to tease him about his crush once we started school. I have a feeling about them. I give it a month. He’ll be dating her in no time, especially if I can help him out along the way.
I continued reading as she explained that once school had started she had encouraged Mason to ask me out, but he had shied away, convinced I wouldn’t be interested. I couldn’t stop the goofy smile that twisted my lips upwards. He thought I was pretty.
Luckily, before I could delve further into those thoughts, I heard Mason’s voice as he raced down to the basement to join me. “I told my parents that you’d be staying for dinner, if that’s all right with you?” he asked, coming to join me on the couch.
“That’s fine. Thanks,” I replied, trying to ignore the way his leg pressed against mine as he sat next to me. He leaned in and I hurriedly scrolled to the next entry, not wanting him to see what I had just read.
“What part are you on?” he questioned as he leaned closer. He smelled like citrus body wash, and as he leaned over a drop of water fell from his hair and landed on my thigh.
“Hey,” I said, feigning a scowl. “Keep your water droplets to yourself.”
Mason cracked a smile. “My bad,” he said, wiping the water from my thigh with his hand.
I was like a stick of butter on a sunny day. I almost melted into a puddle on the couch. I resisted grinning like a fool, and returned my attention to the computer. “I just got to a new entry.”
We skimmed over the passage together. It was different from the other ones I had read so far. This one was completely centered around one guy: Cole Fletcher. Sophie was nurturing a schoolgirl crush on him, and was insistent on getting him to notice her as more than just the new girl. She wanted to impress him. I knew Cole. He was a senior, and he was pretty popular with the girls in our town, and in the town over. He was handsome and a smooth talker—two very dangerous things when it came to the heart of a young girl. Especially someone Sophie’s age who would be willing to d
o anything to get a guy’s attention, and who might be easily manipulated.
Next to me, Mason was glaring at the computer screen. He reached over me and scrolled down so that he could read the rest of the passage. He had to know that his sister was old enough to be interested in guys, and see them as more than friends, but from the way he was glaring at the monitor maybe he’d thought she was asexual.
I focused back on the entry, reading more about Sophie and Cole. She went into detail about the first time she saw him in town while he was with some friends. She had gone to explore the town, and had bumped into him at the ice cream parlor. He’d flirted shamelessly with her, and had even gotten her number. She went on to talk about how he invited her to a party for the next night as well. The entry ended, and I scrolled to the next passage, which continued with Cole again.
Sophie started the passage on the night of the party. She knew that her parents were not going to let her leave the house for a party at such a late hour. She told Cole that she probably wouldn’t be able to make it, despite the fact that she really wanted to go and she didn’t want him to think of her as a stupid kid. She had texted him saying that she wouldn’t be able to go, but he had tried convincing her to sneak out and promised that she would be all right. Nothing would happen to her while he was around, and didn’t she trust him, and all of that bullshit. From my peripheral view I could see that Mason’s jaw was clenched in anger. I had to use effort to look away from him and continue reading.
Apparently Cole had shown up at their house, and was waiting for her in the front to drive her to the party. From what she wrote in her diary it seemed like she had really wanted to say yes and go with him, but she didn’t. She didn’t want to betray her parents, and have them worry about her. Anything could happen, and she knew that it was wrong to go. She just didn’t want Cole to write her off and never talk to her again. She came to the tough decision of not going, and when she told Cole he had seemed angry, but he left without her and it really hurt her feelings. She had a small hope that he just wouldn’t go, and he’d text her all night, but that hadn’t happened. He went to the party without her, and he didn’t text her back for the rest of the night, and not once the next day.
I felt bad for Sophie, knowing how much it hurt to have feelings for a guy and not have him reciprocate them. Even if he had been showing an interest until she didn’t want to sneak out, it still wasn’t her fault. But I knew from experience that she probably thought it was, and kept wondering what would have happened if she had gone with him.
Just as I was about to scroll on, I heard the sound of a woman’s voice at the top of the steps that led down to the basement.
“Guys, dinner’s ready,” Mason’s mom called, gaining our attention.
Mason stood in a hurry. I exited the folder and closed my laptop, pulling out my phone and sending my parents a quick text telling them where I was, and that I was eating dinner at Mason’s house. I knew they wouldn’t mind since I was here under the ruse of working on a project. Thankfully they hadn’t asked what class it was for because I didn’t have an answer for them. Who gives projects in math? It was the only class we shared, and I had a feeling if they asked they’d question my teacher and discover the lie.
I stood and followed Mason toward the steps, worried about meeting his mom, and having dinner with his family.
Well, what was left of it.
Chapter 14
War And Peace
The heat in my house was on so low that I could barely feel it. I brought my legs up to my chest and hugged the covers tighter to my body, but it was to no avail. I was still shivering. It had been hours now since the last light had gone off in my house. I had been the first one to retreat up to my room to get ready for bed. I heard John’s bedroom door close not long after. Surprisingly enough, he had been home when I arrived, and we’d spoken to each other for the first time in a few days. It seemed like he was no longer present in my family. I knew he was counting down the days until he could leave town and go to college. Once he left, he would only come back to visit. If he ever did. He wouldn’t ever live in Shady Hallows again if it were up to him. The thought saddened me. John and I weren’t close, but I didn’t want him to leave and only come visit on holidays.
Not long after John came up for bed, I went to shower and then changed into the pajamas I usually wear in the winter; sweat pants and a long-sleeved t-shirt. I was so tired that I didn’t even bother finishing up the last few questions of my math homework. Instead, I had climbed straight into bed. I’d had a long day, full of sleuthing, Mason, and his family. They were nice and welcoming. Throughout dinner his mom had watched me like a hawk. Whenever I made eye contact with her she would look down at her plate and pretend like I hadn’t caught her staring. I was sure that her interest in me had something to do with my aforementioned resemblance to her daughter. If I were her, I would stare too. Dinner was nice, and as soon as we finished Mason and I hurried back to the basement under the pretenses of working on our project.
We continued going through passages in Sophie’s electronic diary for another hour or two. Some stuff stuck out in comparison to the teenage drama that most girls her age went through. There was even a passage where Sophie had written about her thoughts on how good of a kisser Cole would be if she had the chance to kiss him. Mason had gagged, and made his distaste obvious. My heart had ached for her, wondering if she had ever gotten to have that kiss. I also couldn’t ignore the thoughts that came to mind about Cole possibly being Sophie’s killer. I’d known Cole for a long time, and he and the other members of the Fletcher family were good people. I couldn’t imagine him killing her. Especially considering the only conflict Sophie had written about that happened between the two of them was the party mishap. I didn’t think it was Cole, but other than him, Sophie’s family, her old friends, and me, there was no one else she mentioned.
Not long after I had lain down, my mom came to check on me. She was surprised that I had excused myself for bed so much earlier than usual. When she came in, she kissed me on the forehead, tucked me in tighter, and told me she loved me and wished me sweet dreams. It felt like I had been transported back in time to when I was seven. Despite her wish of sweet dreams, I had been lying awake in bed ever since, unable to sleep. My mind was restless.
Thoughts of Sophie and Mason swirled around in my head. I had read so much of Sophie’s diary that some of the thoughts that came to mind were hers, not mine. I was having trouble deciphering which thoughts belonged to me and which belonged to her in my sleepy state of mind. Too tired to be awake, but too cold to actually get to sleep. I hugged myself tighter, hoping that the fetal position would warm me up eventually. My thoughts drifted to Mason. I wondered if he was up, lost in thoughts about his sister. It must be hard to sleep, knowing that the room next door was now empty of a loved one.
I couldn’t prevent my thoughts from venturing back to the entry in Sophie’s digital diary. Mason thought I was pretty. I couldn’t stop the smile from stretching over my lips again. I wished he would tell me. Maybe then we could talk about something other than a possible murderer. I’d like to talk about something that made butterflies flutter in my stomach, and maybe experience a different butterfly effect when he leaned in to try and kiss me.
A loud vibrating sound caught my attention, snapping me out of my thoughts. My phone screen lit up from its position on my nightstand, brightening my room momentarily. I yawned, planning on ignoring it. Who would be texting me this late, anyway? I thought for a moment, realizing that Mindy was probably asleep by now. She was always an early bird, trying to get her beauty sleep. That only left one other person. I sat up hurriedly, ignoring the cold air as my covers fell from my shoulders and I scooped up my phone.
An instant smile tugged the corners of my lips upwards as I pushed the button on my phone and saw Mason’s name on my screen. I quickly typed in my passcode, wondering what the message would say. I furrowed my eyebrows as I read it, confused by his words.
That was all the message said. I didn’t know if it was a mistake or not. I started typing a message back, when my phone began to vibrate and ring quietly. The screen flashed Mason’s name. I quickly slid the answer button, picking up the call.
“Hello?” I said into the phone, my words coming out as a question. Why was he up this late? What did he want?
“Casey,” came Mason’s voice on the other end. “Come outside.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear at glanced at the time. 1:23 a.m. “Come outside?” I repeated. “Now?”
“Yeah,” he responded. “Just for a second. I need to show you something.”
Another yawn tore from my throat. “This can’t wait until tomorrow?” I asked. Even though I hadn’t been asleep, I was still crazy tired. Just the thought of venturing down the stairs and outside made my muscles ache. I brought one hand up and rubbed my eye.
His response came fast. “No. It’s important. I found something that links us in a huge way. I think you’ll want to see it now. Besides, I walked all this way at one in the morning. Humor me a little.” His voice was pleading, and he had a point.
The idea that he’d found something made me curious. What could be so important that he couldn’t wait until tomorrow to show it to me? Then he walked all the way over here, in the dark. If it was anything less than a confession of his undying love for me, I’d hate myself for getting out of bed for this. “I’m coming,” I whispered, ending the call. I climbed out of bed, heading for my door.
I was quiet as I exited my room, walked down the hallway, and descended the stairs. The stairs had a habit of squeaking whenever anyone walked up or down. Luckily for me, John had shown me how he snuck out to see his friends. I never used it before, but in this one moment I was thankful he’d taken the time to show me. When I reached the front door, after a smooth transition from the stairs to the ground floor, I unlocked it and pulled it open slowly, careful not to make it squeak either. My parents would kill me if they heard me leaving this late at night. Especially with what happened to Sophie, and then add it to the fact that I was meeting a boy. Poor Mason would be terrified at even the thought of being around me again.
Deadly Hallows (The Dead Ringer Series Book 1) Page 9