"Black roses and a card with a death thread. You shouldn't have," I say with a broad smile as I open the door to Mason who stands there with them in his hands.

He looks up at me dumbfounded and as if in deep thought responds, "I- didn't."

My face falls as I move aside, letting him in. I put a hand on my waist and sighed, "A girl sleeps with you after knowing you for 5 minutes and you couldn't bother to get her something."

Mason cocks his head to the side looking at the items in his hands, his confusion still etched on his face with tightly knitted eyebrows and his lips to the side. "I found them outside your door."

"Oh-" I pout at the fact that he couldn't even lie and say they were from him. Ugh men. I point to the kitchen table where a couple of more cards are scattered around, a teddy bear with a necklace of a wooden board that held my name and a knife in its chest bleeding out, and more black roses I had already put in vases so they wouldn't wither away soon and say, "You can put them with the rest."

He warily eyes the things and cautiously walks over to them, places the things in his hands with them, and runs his hands over some of the death notes. They varied in statements such as, "Hope to see you dead soon," or "Once a murderer- always a murderer." That one to me felt stupid because it's not like I could bring someone back to life and pretend they weren't dead. Who could?

"Jesus, Brianna. Why does this town hate you so much?"

I purse my mouth and go to sit on the couch, in front of the puzzle I have been working on all morning. The puzzle was a huge galaxy with tiny black pieces that I had to try and make sure it fit, it was harder than it looked. "You already knew, I killed a girl."

"I thought that was a rumor," he says, clearly exasperated. I watch as he runs a hand over his face, clearly bewildered at the reveal.

I cross my legs and look up at him. "I'm not sure why when I cleared things up for you when we first met." I narrow my eyes at him, "also, aren't you the mayor's son? Seems like something you should know but I've never seen you before. What's the deal with that?" I put my hand on my lap and scan him from head to toe. "Feels like you were a well-kept secret or you just don't pay much attention to the town's affair. Nothing here stays secret."

He huffs and takes a deep silent breath before responding. His gaze flickered to my scrutinizing one as I impatiently awaited his response, my foot tapping on the coffee table where puzzle pieces lay sprawled everywhere. "I didn't grow up in this town, I was sent to an academy a couple of cities away. Recently decided to come back, so no- I didn't know any of the rumors that were true."

"Interesting," I hum and shift my gaze back to the puzzle once again. I pick up a piece and try to fit it into another jagged one. It looks as if it should fit perfectly, but alas, the piece does not.

"How did- you- know?" he questions, a bit hesitant. Each of his words came out calm and calculative, clearly, he was starting to feel weary of my presence but I could tell he was also intrigued. If he wasn't, why was he still here?

"You were at her memorial service yesterday," I told him.

"She's the one you killed?" His mouth falls open as he takes a seat. "Why?"

My eyes glance over to his wide-eyed expression. "Why are you still here if you're scared of me?"

"I'm not-" he responds quickly.

"Lier-" I say and point at his trembling hands that continue to tap on the counter, the small thumping of the impact annoying me. "I don't owe anyone explanations on why I killed her- so leave."

He stands up and walks over to me. I am pushed back onto the couch as he settles himself on top of me. His fingers are on my chin as he holds my face to stare at him. "I'm not afraid of you Brianna. I think you had your reason- I just wondered why." I push him off of me with a laugh and once again pick up a puzzle piece. I was getting ready to throw them all to the ground with my growing agitation that they didn't fit. The silence that settled on us is shortly lived as he declares, "we should go to the police."

"For what?" I ask him, not taking him seriously.

"People want you dead, you need protection."

"Ha," I let out a hollow chuckle. "You really didn't grow up in this town." I point a lazy finger at the stack of cards once again, "I wouldn't be surprised if one of those cards was from the head sheriff himself, Mr. fucking Lee."

"What-" his face morphs into one of utter shock, which I still didn't understand why. "You don't seem surprised or nervous," he tells me as he finally takes in my bored demeanor.

"Why should I be? I knew the town wouldn't take me being here too nicely. I'm actually glad about the gifts, unlike some people who don't get the girl they fucked anything," I say in a sour tone. He really should have bought chocolates or something.

He gives me a deadpan face and I shrug. "Then why come back- I just don't understand."

"I have bigger things to do in this town Mason and then I'm out of here."

"What kind of things?"

"You actually believe I had a good reason to kill her?" He nods his head. "But you don't even know me. Why do you believe that?"

"Well, you haven't lied to me since we met."

I laugh. "Your reason is stupid but I'll allow it. I did have a good reason to kill her. You see-" I lean closer to him, "Gracy wasn't like any other girl. I swear- she was different." I give him a grin then add, "she was an utterly selfish bitch."

"Will I hear why?"

Just then our attention turns to the knocks on the door. The first one is a hesitant one, the next is a meak one, and lastly is unabashed and loud. I turn to him with a wide smile. "Seems like I have unwanted company and you've worn out your welcome."

"Wouldn't you feel safer if I stayed, in case whoever is behind the door tried to harm you?"

I shrug, already knowing who was behind the door. Three girls I wanted to stay away from but I guess they missed my company so much they came to see me again, even probably after being warned to stay away. I give him a wider grin and usher him out the back door. "They can try but they won't succeed." I push him lightly, "now go and don't let them see you. Wouldn't want the press knowing the mayor's son is fraternizing with a killer."

I watch as he disappears as the knocks come again, more frantic. I go and open the door with a raised eyebrow as I watch them unphased. "What, no pitchfork or half the town with torches? You guys are getting boring."

They roll their eyes and make their way inside. I can see as they scan the familiar house, memories of the times we spent here running through their minds. I would be lying if I said I hadn't gotten nostalgic when I had first stepped inside this old house, but just like the house, those memories were old and long forgotten. It was best not to dwell on them now. I look at Sydney and my eyes can't help scrunching up as I take in her long gray pants and a gray turtleneck with wide black-rim glasses over her face. I can't help the devilish smirk that makes its way to my face as I shake my head internally. Then I turn my attention to Mother Mary in her holier-than-thou outfit and can't help but scoff because if the church knew her dirty little secret, they'd be kicking her out faster than when her parents found out. Then my mind drifted to something else as I bit my lip. I wonder if she'd let me borrow it sometimes for a roleplay with Mason? My mind was going wild with ideas of how to put it to good use, not like she was. Then there was unabashed Belinda who had made her way to the table filled with people hoping for my pending doom. Her pointer fingers intricately trace over my name on the wooden board that hung on the bloody teddy bear.

"Seems like someone beat me to the perfect welcome-back gift," Belinda muses with a smirk on her pink-tinted lips. Belinda was a lot like me, not that either of us cared to admit it, but she was unapologetically living her life and we loved to watch the world burn before us, even better if we were the ones who lit the match. I always hated how she could be so naturally skinny, while I had to work for the body I had, she didn't. Even now, she wore a yellow ruffled skirt with a white crop top that hugged her tightly, but not an ounce of fat was showing. Unbelievable.

"So," I give them a teasing smile as I point my fingers across from each of them, "to what do I owe this sudden intrusion?"

"What did we intrude on?" Belinda asks as she still runs her hand over the board, clearly entranced with it. My eyes narrowed down to her hair and face, when she entered she had walked the farthest away so I hadn't noticed the disheveled hair and her rosy colored cheeks. She had just come from doing R rated things that I wondered if she even washed her hands, and now those hands were on my pretty board. Ugh. As if reading my mind she turns and smiles, lifting her hands in defense, she says with a wink "I washed before and after." Then resumes looking through the cards and reading their wishes for me.

My attention is drawn to Sydney who acts as if she was dealing with a child. She clamps her hands together and with a high pitch voice, one would categorize as baby talk, she says, "She was puzzling." I instantly rolled my eyes. With how they were, I'm surprised my eyes haven't been permanently stuck like that.

I see her welcoming closer to it and intercept her way quickly and nod. "It helps me remain calm and de-stress," I tell them. Itzel is the first to scoff. My eyes narrow down at her. "Do you have something to say?"

"Why are you here?" she spits out in anger.

I feign innocence and look around the house as if confused. "It's my house?" Then I point at her, "which brings the question why are you here considering I don't remember personally sending out a formal invite."

Belinda laughs from her corner and she snarkily replies, "You'd probably burn if you got near the church grounds.

I point at Itzel, "if she survives, I think I'll be just fine."

"WE-" Itzel says through clenched teeth as she points between us, "are nothing alike."

I look at her and shrug "yea. I'm much prettier and not a liar."

"Shut up-" she snaps at me. I give her a single unimpressed blink but she continues, clearly not getting the memo that I didn't care. "We are not your puppets to control anymore Brianna." She turns around with crossed arms, "we never were."

I leisurely walk over to my couch and take a seat as I observe them from here. All their attention is on me. I sigh and decide to speak. "I never treated you like puppets or did you forget that I not only protected my secrets but yours as well. You can hate me all you want sweet innocent Itzel but don't blame me for your own screw-ups. Or aren't you happy I'm back because now you can fully blame me for all your wrongdoings? I thought you three would jump with joy at that notion." They all stay silent for a moment, except for Belinda who goes back to tracing my name and she hums to herself. She was clearly enjoying the tension in the air.

Growing annoyed, I stand up and make my way to the kitchen. I grab a bottle of alcohol and pour myself a cup, sitting on the kitchen island. They walk in and stare at me with raised eyebrows.

"Isn't it too early for that?"

I look over at Sydney and give her a deadpan look, "save the sermon-" Then I point at Izel, "that's her job."

Belinda walks in and grabs the bottle. She grabs the cylinder glass cup and I watch as the golden liquid pours into it with a slosh. "You came back because of that message didn't you."

This catches my attention as I look over at her. "Did you receive it too?"

She shrugs, "we all did."

Sydney scoffs, "you can't seriously tell me you came back because of that?" I stayed tight-lipped and that gave her her answer. "Unbelievable," she throws her hands in the air and moves to get a cup herself. "You can't seriously believe that text. I mean it was sent after she was dead. When would she have had time to send it? It doesn't make sense."

"Well if you are all convinced it's not real then why are you all here."

"To tell you to leave," Itzel speaks as she grabs her own cup, "you don't belong in this town anymore. I'm not sure you ever did."

I ignored her as the image of the last message I received from Gracy had come through on my phone, moments after I had killed her. It always plagued me if she had sent it or if someone else had found her phone and pressed the cute little arrow button, wanting to keep us on edge.

You think all your secrets are safe, but I made sure to have one last box hidden in a place only I know.

~Gracykins

I down the liquid in one swing and pour myself some more as I mutter to myself, "Gracy freaking Hall." 

>>>>> 

So I wanted to check in and ask how the story is going so far? I'm honestly so surprised I was able to write this because I do have another update. 

Also, omg. I have a story. So, I had to throw away trash at my job and tell me why, we have those big dumsters right, So I'm over here struggling to keep it open with one arm and throw away some trash especially since I'm obviously shorter. Then the other day I took them out and even put some boxes to help me keep it up. I was thinking, wow I'm so smart. I'm genuinely so happy until I'm finally done with all the thrashes and go to put the boxes in as well. Well, one of the boxes gets stuck so I turn the corner only to notice a giant opening on the side. I could have been throwing it so easily but nope, life clearly loves me suffering. 

Anyway, please vote, comment, and share. :)