I stared at the fridge, the white appliance blurring into a blob. Tears stained my vision and soaked my face. Christie had her arms wrapped around me, sobbing into my shoulder. I was too numb to hug her back, to do anything but hold a staring contest with an inanimate object.

As soon as Christie relayed to me that Tasha had jumped off the roof of her two story house, I had rushed down the stairs, tears beginning to pour down my visage. I was immediately stopped my mom, who had demanded I explain why I was sobbing. Once I could form a coherent sentence, I explained to her and my dad that Tasha had committed suicide and that Christie had told me. Quickly, they instructed me to invite Christie over and for both of us to stay in the house while the adults handled it.  That's exactly what happened.

"It's all my fault," I whispered sullenly, but it sounded more like a distressed sob.

I felt Christie lift her head from my shoulder and retract her arms. "No, Connie. You didn't mean for her to die. You were just upset."

Distraught, I shook my head as my shoulders trembled. "No, it is my fault! What I said was horrible! She didn't deserve it!"

I felt an arm loop around my shoulders. She pulled me closer to her as she let out a sigh. "I know we're gonna miss her. Really, Con, don't let this get to you." Her voice with wobbly with tears and possibly fear. Slowly, she retracted her arm. When she spoke next, her voice was full of urgency. "Connie, you need to delete the messages before anyone sees them! You could get into a heap of trouble."

My eyes snapped to hers. Her icy eyes were nearly dry, slightly glossy and wide. Blonde strands pointing every which way, some clinging to her porcelain face and some pointing towards the roof. I allowed the back of my hand to swipe across my eyes, moisture leaving my face and clinging to the soft skin of my hand. Shakily, I pulled in a breath, blinking as her words sunk in. The wooden chair beneath my bottom suddenly felt like it had turned to metal, like electrodes were attached to my body. It felt like Christie could pull the switch at any minute, ending my meager existence because I helped end Tasha's.

"No," I sniffed, forcing myself to gather air into my lungs. "No. It's not right for me to play innocent. Tasha deserves justice."

Christie shook her head, anger pooling in her eyes. "No! They don't have the right to make you the villain. Of course I wish she was still here," she choked, promptly dabbing at her eyes with a napkin she grabbed from the center of the kitchen table, "but what's done is done. Really, you didn't push her."

I pressed my palms to my ears, staring out the window by leaning to the side of her. Tress swayed in the slightly breeze, light dancing on the grass as it snuck in between the branches of the trees. Shadows and light contrasted yet perfectly complimented each other. The few scattered clouds seemed to mock the leaves. The clouds could float away while the leaves were tethered, only to drift away when their time had diminished.

"Connie, Christie, are you girls okay?" I heard my mom ask, the sound slightly muffled by my palms.

I let my hands drop to my lap where I clasped them together. Hesitantly, I turned to my parents. Mom's dark hair flowed down her back and her bright eyes were glossy. Dad's blonde hair was a ruffled mess and his dark eyes were glossy as well. His lips were set in a thin line, hands clasped behind his back.

"Her mom said she had been down for a while," Mom breathed, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment before popping them back open. "She's not sure what set her off. They'll have to hack into her phone."

A sob escaped my lips but I had run out of tears to compliment it. My head pounded from the constant  crying. All heads instantly snapped to me, worry etched onto my parent's faces while Christie's held a warning glance.

"Connie, are you okay, hon?' Dad questioned, worry written across his face like F's littered Christie's latest math tests.

Feverishly, I shook my head, which was beginning to pound. "I-It was my fault," I croaked. "I killed her."

Looks of confusion coated my parent's faces. No doubt Christie was shaking her head, praying for me to shut my mouth.

"J-Josh broke up with me for her," I stuttered. "So, I played a cruel prank on her. I-I hacked into his account and pretend to break up with her. I was s-so mean. I didn't mean for her to die. I'm so sorry."

Once I had finished explaining, my mom's jaw was unhinged in shock. She stared at a point in space as Christie let out a huff of breath.

My dad still had his lips pursed, a thoughtful expression on his face. "When did this happened, Connie? When did you text her?"

"A few minutes before she jumped," I whispered, my voice weak and hoarse to my own ears. "Immediately, I felt horrible and attempted to confess. But she hadn't even seen that message before, you know." I felt emotionally numb, shoulders slumped and eyes stinging.

"I'm so disappointed in you, Constance," Mom sighed, staring me directly in the eye. "But I understand you were hurt and didn't mean to hurt her."

"Exactly what I was trying to convince her!" Christie practically shouted.

"But," Dad butted in, his expression turing dead serious, "you should have thought before you acted. Now, your friend is dead and everyone's going to blame you."

"Pete!" Mom scolded, narrowing her eyes at him as my bottom lip quivered, "The poor girls are both hurting right now."

He sighed, tugging on his hair. "You're right, but it's the truth."

Slowly, I nodded in agreement. "It is the truth, Mom. Really, what's my punishment? Are they going to send me to jail?"

Christie placed her hand on my shoulder. "It's going to be okay. Right?" The last word was directed at my parents.

Dad took a step forward. "Do you remember Brenda and Drake?"

Slowly, I nodded. They were my parent's closest friends. "Of course."

"Well," he gulped, surveying all the faces in the room before continuing, "I think this would be a splendid them for you to visit them?"

"What?" I shouted, hopping up from my chair. "W- what do you mean?"

Christie slowly stood. "I think he wants to get you out of here, away from the memory and the accusing people."

Mom and Dad simultaneously nodded.

My eyes snapped from my friend to my parents. "But, this is my home? How could I leave? Isn't that the coward's way out?"

Mom swiftly shook her head, taking a step forward and placing a hand on my dad's shoulder. "No. Sometimes, change is for the best. I agree. They've been wanting you to visit for so long. Brenda thinks you'll love it there! The ocean, everything!"

I took a step backwards, nearly tripping over the chair I was seated in moments before. "You can't be serious! I can't just run away from this!"

I gasped as I felt my phone being yanked out of my pocket. Christie grinned, placing her thumb over the fingerprint sensor. The phone swiftly granted her access. The dimly sunlight room allowed the phone's light to splay across her features.

"What are you doing?" I exclaimed, lunging for my phone.

She easily sidestepped me, rushing over to my parents. Before I could move an inch, she had their approval. I stood there, frozen in shock, as she deleted the evidence. I couldn't scream, couldn't protest. Instead, I numbly sunk to the plush carpet beneath my feet, my fate already sealed for me.

There was a loud rap on the door, startling each of us. After sharing a brief look with Dad, Mom rushed over to answer it. There stood Tasha's very angry mother, thrusting her now deceased daughter's phone into my mother's shocked face. As I took a step closer, I realized she had a screenshot of the evidence. I felt sick to my stomach as the angry mother's eyes landed on me,  practically oozing the rage and raw pain of losing her daughter.

"You," she spat, shoving my mom to the ground as she raced towards me.

I was frozen in place, shock and guilt consuming me. Without missing a beat, Christie slid in front of me, easily blocking the overweight lady's punch.

"Leave Connie alone!" Christie screeched. "Your daughter hurt her, too! What if she had decided to kill herself, huh? Because her boyfriend actually broke up with her for her backstabbing best friend. It was just supposed to be a prank. She even apologized, but the minute something didn't go Tasha's way, she ended her life!"

Tasha's mother seemed genuinely shocked, eyes wide. "I didn't know she did that to Constance."

"Really, miss," I spoke up, my whole body beginning to tremble. "I never meant to hurt Tasha. I never meant for her to die. But I deserve the punishment coming my way. I deserve the anger, I really do."

Her gaze softened. "I shouldn't take it all out on you. I know you're usually such a sweet girl." She seemed to gulp down her emotions. "But what you did was wrong! Tasha's still dead."

I nodded, staring at my feet.

"I'm not going to put you in jail, Constance."

My eyes snapped up to meet her dark ones. "Why not?"

She shrugged. "It won't bring Natasha back. But the rest of the town won't be as understanding."

Slowly, I nodded. "I know. But really, I deserve what's coming to me."

Christie stepped back to my side, lightly nudging me with her elbow. "Just say a simple 'thank you'," she whispered in my ear.

"Thank you," I repeated.

She swiftly nodded, a few tears slipping down her face as she spun on her heel and left.

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Wow I got a way better response then expected on chapter one. Can chapter two reach that level too? ;) tysm guys! Defeated to bcruzy_02 who is allergic to Nutella. May they find a cure for you, you poor soul.