I transferred the rent to Barnett and moved out the next day. Since he had helped me before when my old apartment didn’t work out, I asked Barnett if he could help me move my stuff into the new house. He just said he was busy and hastily closed his apartment door on me. I got Lily to help me instead, but I couldn’t keep my mind off Barnett the entire day. As we moved boxes and bags, my mind drifted to Barnett helping me with the back support belt, his strong arms wrapped around me as he strapped on the Velcro. I couldn’t help but think about his perfect form as he lifted the boxes, and I wondered why he didn’t want to help this time. After all, we did seem to have such fun moving me in to the other apartment… “Hello? Earth to Anna!” Lily said as she waved her hand in front of my face. I shook my head. I hadn’t realized that I had spaced out thinking about Barnett. I blushed. “What were you saying?” I asked. “I was asking where yo

         I froze and listened to the night. For a minute, there was nothing. Then the screaming started again.        “No! No!”        My heart pounding, I cautiously reached under my bed. I grasped for the bat that I started keeping near me since the incident with Tom. Its hard, grainy surface gave me a sense of security and confidence as I gripped it tightly.        Bat in hand, I slipped out of bed and snuck out of my room. As I approached the end of the hall, I peeked around the corner.        Nothing appeared out of order. The door was still locked and closed, the TV was off and stayed mounted on the wall, and all the furniture still stood in place. Even Arthur remained on the couch, fast asleep.        I was about to search the kitchen when the screaming started again from the living room.        “No! Pleas

         “Come over here,” Arthur said as he sat me down in the closest chair. “There you go.”        I slumped forward and put my face in my hands. My head swam. Tears trickled from the corners of my eyes.        “Anna, are you okay?”        Arthur’s hands on my shoulders grounded me. I took deep breaths, inhaling his cologne. My head slowly steadied itself.        I wiped my tears and forced a smile for him.        “I’m all right. It’s just that…some of what’s in that article is tough for me.”        “So, some of it is true?”        “The facts are true, but what they read between the lines are not.”        Arthur tilted his head.        “Meaning…?”        “Meaning, I had nothing to do with my brothers’ deaths. I was

“Please tell me that you’re not wearing that,” Lily said as soon as I entered her bedroom on the yacht.I rolled my eyes and waved my dress bag at her.“Yes, it is. I just brought this incredible dress that my best friend bought me as a backup in case I got my modest wear filthy.”Lily stuck her tongue out at me.“What were you even doing that required such morbid attire?”

I woke up with a blinding headache the next morning. Nauseated, I could just barely sit up without vomiting. I couldn’t even remember what happened the night before after I started using the barf bag.Groaning, I looked at my phone. 10:30 a.m. Shit.I was so late. The last time I was late was when my apartment flooded, and Arthur didn’t take it too well then. He certainly wouldn’t take a hangover from my best friend’s birthday party as a better excuse.I checked my notifications. I already had four texts and two missed calls from Arthur. I would have so much