I yank my car keys from my torn pants pocket. I don't know where to go. Do I go to Avery, she's had experience. Or do I go to Alex and avoid interrupting Avery and Cody's time? I make the turn to Concord, deciding on Alex. I wear a bra and torn jeans. I don't care, sobbing the whole way, I run up to Alex's apartment and slam on the door. He opens it, not expecting to see me.

"Ruby? Oh my god—what happened?" He asks pulling me in the door. I sob into him, for the second time today. This shouldn't be happening as often as it is. He realizes my shirtless-ness and grabs a tee shirt from the ground. He slips it over me and asks more questions, "Who hurt you? Was it the murderer?"
"My dad. My dad hurt me...." I say, still crying. He gasps and pulls me closer.
"Where was Cody?" He asks, rocking me.
"Avery's. He's still there. That's why I'm here." I say. I stand here, wanting him to hold me here forever. On the top on my head I feel a drop. We aren't outside, so I look up. Alex has watery eyes.
          "Are you crying?" I ask. His faint blush shines.
          "Yeah... I just don't like it when the people I love get hurt..." He says. The people he loves? Loves?
          "You love me?" I stutter. His face goes white, the color draining.
          "No—I mean—yes..." He says before muttering "shit."
         "Can you fall in love in three weeks?" I ask, looking up at him.
        "I think I have..." He says. I grin wide and pull him into a kiss. His lips are soft.

       I wake up and see Alex's empty bed. I glance around at his room and finally look down... I'm not naked. Phew... The night's memories slowly come back to me. I hear talking from the next room. I hadn't planned to eavesdrop until I heard my name.
         "So, it just slipped?" Alex's roommate asks. I hear an exasperated breath.
         "Yes, I didn't mean to say it," Alex says.
         "Was it true?" The roommate asks again.
         "Of course it was true. I love Ruby, a lot, but I didn't want her to know I loved her." Alex explains.
          "Why not?" His roommate asks, baffled.
          "We've been dating for three weeks, I knew she wouldn't say it back..." Alex says, which got me thinking. Did I not say it back? I thought I did. Then, I realized I kissed him... I didn't say it back.
            "She'll say it eventually..." His roommate yawns. I feel like a total bitch.
           "I hope so, but what if she breaks up with me because I'm moving too fast?" Alex panics.
          "I don't think she will. That's a stupid reason to break-up with someone. Right? Plus, she slept over here, it's not like she stormed out." His roommate says.
"She might have only slept over here, because she has nowhere to go..." Alex says.
"Don't freak out, Alex. Your depressing me...." The roommate responds.
"I'm just really worried..." Alex complains.
"Okay, now you're depressing my donut. You'll live, Alex." He jokes.
"I'll just freak out in silence then..." Alex says. I walk out of the bedroom.
"Or, you can kiss me..." I say, catching both his and his roommate's attention.
"How much of that did you hear?" Alex asks, eyes wide.
"Most of it..." I say walking towards him. He facepalms as his roommate snickers. "Alex, there's nothing to worry about..." I say.
"Huh?" He says, looking up from his palms. This time, I pull him into a kiss. When he pulls away, I keep my face near.
"I love you too, Alex," I say. He presses his face to mine, once more. His touch is soft and his taste is sweet. It's probably from the donut he was eating, but I'm happy either way.
         "Okay, lovebirds, you literally have a full vacation for that. Come eat a donut. I've already had three and I'm supposed to be on a diet," his roommate, Zane, says. I laugh and grab a chocolate donut.

After breakfast, I say goodbye to Alex and decide to go to the library. Last night I warned Cody, who stayed at Avery's. I walk into the library and savor the sweet smell of books. There, I see Mr. Atkins. He immediately approaches me.

"Hello, Ms. Rose." He says. I swallow, pretending I don't know anything about Avery's baby. Tomorrow is Monday, he'll learn of it then. The school is finally reopening.
"Hello, Mr. Atkins," I respond.
"The Aristotle Book was interesting, why did you highlight those parts?" He asks. I can feel the blood drain from my face.
"I didn't, they were left in a message for me," I explain.
"Ah. I forgot you were one of those girls. How's Avery holding up?" He asks.
"She's, uh, fine..." I say. He nods. "Bye, Mr. Atkins," I add as I walk toward the teen center.

I sit in one of the bean bags and grab a magazine. A red-haired girl sits down next to me.
"Are you like actually Ruby Rose?" She asks.
"Yes? Do I know you?" I ask her.
"No, but can I do an interview?" She squeals.
"An interview?" I clarify.
"Yep! I've heard so much about the Friend Case. I've been obsessed with it!" She says, more excited than she should have been. I give her a small smile.
"Uh, ask away...I guess..."
"Do you really get messages from him?" She says.
"Yes...but, him? You know it's a guy?" I ask.
"All signs lead to it being a guy, obviously." She says. "Who do you think it?" She asks.
"Honestly, I have no fucking clue. Who do you think it is?"
"Okay—don't be offended—but I think it's Jake..." She whispers.
"Well, Jake is dead. I attended his funeral, so I think that rules him out. What else you got?"
"Right, sorry for your loss. I heard he's leaving you clues... is that true?" She asks.
"Yes, it's true..." I sigh.
"Really? It's like Pretty Little Liars! That's my favorite tv show, and you're living it" She says, I roll my eyes.
"Okay, well, I'd happily switch with you, I'd rather not be harassed as all my friends die, but you know, Pretty Little Liars." I mock. She isn't phased.
"Who do you think is next?" She asks. I keep a straight face and glare.
"You..." I croak before cackling. She giggled nervously.
"No, you actually might want to stop talking to me. He seems to kill everyone I meet." I say, in all seriousness. I didn't mean to scare her, but she took me seriously and left. I felt kinda bad, but I didn't want her to die.

She got me thinking. Who could it be? Suddenly, I felt no trust for anyone in my life. My father just tried to attack me, it could be him. Alex and I met under weird circumstances. Avery's been with me since the beginning and has never seemed too worried about it. Cody was one of the first people I told about telling the cops. Jake could have easily faked his death and is truly alive. That girl I talked to could have been the killer, she seemed to know everything about the case. Hell, it could be Mr. Atkins. He was holding that Aristotle book. I'm not sure what to think anymore.