Chapter 1

Kelly froze, then laughed and messed up my hair. "I swear I'll be home before midnight, okay?"

"God, you're just as old-school as Mom and Dad."

She turned back to the mirror, filling in her brows with this huge smile on her face.

My eyes stung.

"Kelly, please. Just stay with me tonight, okay?"

"Don't go anywhere. I need you so much."

She was still so young. Exactly how I remembered her.

She had no idea I'd come back from more than ten years in the future.

No idea how badly I'd missed her all that time.

Kelly didn't even turn around. She probably thought I was just being clingy.

"I'll bring you strawberry cream puffs when I get back, okay? The ones with extra cream."

I still didn't move.

She glanced back at me.

"And that LEGO set you've been dying for. The castle one."

I used to be obsessed with that set.

Now the words hit me like a punch.

She'd said the exact same thing last time.

Same words.

Same voice.

Back then, I'd teased her for ditching her own sister for some guy.

She'd blushed and bribed me with a limited-edition LEGO set.

And I'd happily caved.

When Mom and Dad came home asking where she was, I told them exactly what she'd told me to say.

That she was sleeping over at a classmate's.

Three months later, on the exact day she'd been dating Calvin for three months, that limited-edition LEGO set showed up.

That same day, Kelly jumped off the roof.

The box became a reminder of her death.

For more than ten years, I never opened it.

I couldn't.

"No."

I planted myself in the doorway, my back against the cold door.

"I don't want anything."

"No cream puffs. No LEGO. I just want you to stay home tonight."

"Kelly, please don't go. I'm begging you."

Kelly finally turned around. "What's with you? You look terrible."

I stood in front of the door, arms spread wide.

Her phone buzzed.

She looked down, and her face instantly lit up.

Calvin.

A screenshot of two movie tickets filled the screen.

[Seats: Row 7, 13 and 14.]

Then another message popped up.

[Don't be late for our first date.]

Kelly's whole expression softened.

She typed back fast.

[On my way.]

She grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

"Okay, okay. I'm gonna be late. I'll deal with you when I get back."

I stared at that message.

And something inside me finally snapped.

She reached over to mess up my hair again.

I smacked her hand away.

Kelly froze.

My eyes burned.

"He's a liar."

"Everything he tells you is a lie!"

"He doesn't like you! He's trying to hurt you!"

Kelly frowned, her voice sharpening. "What are you talking about? Why are you acting like this?"

"He's sick. He targets girls like you on purpose."

Her face flushed. "Enough!"

"Where are you getting this crap?"

"Have you been reading those dumb posts online again?"

"Keep it up and I'll have Mom take your phone."

She took a breath, her voice softening. "Sophie, I know you're worried about me, but you can't just accuse people like that."

I pulled out my phone and called Mom.

One ring.

Two.

Kelly's eyes went wide.

"What are you doing?!"

She lunged for my phone.

I dodged and held it over my head.

In the struggle, it slipped from my hand and hit the floor.

I didn't even look down.

"Mom! My stomach really hurts! Come home!"