lie

ed to kill herself." It should have been a bombshell, a gut

the hotel window at the planes taking off, one a

fury. "She left a note, Amelie! It was because of you! Becaus

ear. The man on the other end was a stranger. A str

er birthday party," I state

y, saying you were coming for her, that you were going to ruin her life!

throbbed, a dull echo of the injury. "I've been a

liars?" He was practically spitting the words. "Bailey sa

yal friend, now a star wi

ung

piece, a grand, theatrical performance designed to drag me bac

o. I had to see the lie for myself. I had to stand in

ered outside Kalie's room, their faces etched with grim concern. They

e she

she has the nerve

r to her lips. He looked up, and his eyes, when they met mine, w

He stood up and strode toward me, grabbing my shoulders, h

, real. I winced, trying to pull

hing," I said thr

his face. "You came here and you terrorized her. Bailey

sheer audacity of the co

he bed, weak and trembli

her eyes wide with fake terror. But as her gaz

away from me!

direction. People ducked and scrambled out of the way. A heavy glass vase smashed against the wall just pas

I put a hand to my brow

body. "Kalie, stop! It's okay!" He turned his furious gaze

dizzying kaleidoscope of angry faces. I took a deep breath, the sterile hospital

leaving the chaos behind. I found a n

ess, what

ent," I s

gentle. "It's deep. It's goin

ying to erase from my soul. I smiled, a small, humorless twi

eli

face a mixture of anger and a flicker of somethin

said immediately. "She's no

stood up, my legs feeling steadier

. Then, softer, "W

rn you." I starte

ime. "We can fix this. I know we can. I just... I need time to sort

d, so pathetic, it

n I had loved for a decade. The man I had pla

I said, my voice quiet but clear. "I came h

r face pale with panic. "Alex! It's Kalie! She's having some k

d my arm and sprinted back toward Kali

. I watched him

omething finally,

Alex, I

uldn't even re

sense of finality set

ver my mouth, stifling my scream. Pain exploded at the back of my skull, a sicke