PROLOGUE

────────── INEZ PATTERSON WAS finally free. No parents. No rules. Just a weekend with her friends and boyfriend. Every year, for one weekend the group gathered up in the bitter weather that Blackwood Mountain had to have essentially a weekend free from anything going on in their lives to just drink and have fun.

Her eyes shifted over to Josh, who had his arm around her and was leaning into the arm of the couch. He was already 3 beers in, his fourth one in his hand. Chris and Oliver were just up with him, the drunkenness starting to settle between the three boys.

Mike was sitting on the floor with Emily and Oliver was beside Inez and Beth was on the other side of him. Those were the only other couples in the group, the rest were scattered around, occasionally taking drinks of their beer and exchanging conversations with one another.

She could feel Mike's eyes burning through her skin. She tried to shake the thought, she hated him with a passion, he was such a dick but the previous night they both got a bit too drunk and exchanged a kiss. Inez couldn't express her regret and she made him swear not to tell anyone. If Emily found out she'd be absolutely pissed and Inez couldn't handle herself if Josh found out. He was nothing but ever sweet to her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Emily nudge Mike before glancing up at Inez, Inez quickly broke eye contact and glanced at Josh.

a few hours later . . .

The group had split up, Chris, Oliver, and Josh were passed out on the couch, and Inez had lost sight of the twins. Jessica held up a piece of paper in the air, with a large grin on her face. They were planning on 'pranking' Hannah.

"Oh my god!" Emily exclaimed. "I can't believe you actually did this!"

Jessica put a finger up to her mouth. "Shh," she told her.

Inez watched the two before Sam spoke up. "Don't you guys think this is a little cruel?"

"Oh come on." Jessica groaned. "She deserves it."

She shook her head. "It's not her fault she has a huge crush on Mike." she pointed out.

Inez looked up at Mike for a moment, she didn't expect him to step in, she glanced at Matt, wondering if he'd do anything to stop the prank, even though he didn't have much of a say, but he didn't say anything.

She felt bad for being involved but it was just a prank.

"Hannah's been making moves on him," Jessica said, a small smirk on her face. "I'm just looking out for my girl Em."

Jessica started to walk out of the kitchen and the rest of them followed. Emily turned to look at every one. "Just because Mike is class Prez, does not mean he belongs to everyone, he is my man."

Mike shook his head, letting out a dramatic scoff. "Hey, hey, Em, I am nobody's man."

She shrugged. "Whatever you say, darling!"

Everybody, minus Sam went the the guest bedroom. Inez could hear Sam call out for Hannah. Emily and Jessica hid under the bed, Matt took his camera out and got into some cabinets while Ashley and Inez ducked behind a partition, Mike stood out in the open as he waited for Hannah.

"She's here! Shh." Emily hissed quietly.

Inez could hear the door open and then shut. "Mike?" Hannah questioned. "It's Hannah. I got your note."

"Glad you could make it," Mike said. "Maybe... we should start with a little making out and see where it goes from there?"

"Yeah..." Hannah mumbled but she started to unbutton her blouse.

"Oh, hell yeah..." Mike mumbled.

Jessica began to laugh. "Oh my god!" She tried to whisper, "She's taking her shirt off!"

"What...?" Hannah questioned, before she realized what was going on. "Oh my god. Matt?"

She spotted Matt as he stepped out and then Ashley and Inez revealed themselves as well.

Inez glanced at Mike, who looked a little guilty, which surprised her. "Uh... I'm sorry Hannah, this all got outta hand but..."

He was cut off when Sam came into the bedroom. "Hannah, hey honey... don't it's just... a..."

"Mike!" Hannah raised her voice at him.

"Hannah, it was just a joke," Inez said quietly, Hannah glanced at her and shook her head before running out of the room. Inez wanted to follow after her but hesitated and decided to stay put.

"You guys are jerks!" Sam snapped before going after Hannah.

Emily rolled her eyes. "It was just a prank." However, the group followed Sam, and they ran into Beth.

"What's going on?" She asked, they gathered on the front porch.

"Hannah!" Sam called out.

"Where is my sister going?" She asked.

Jessica groaned. "Ugh, it's fine she just can't take a joke."

"It was just a prank Han!" Emily yelled out.

"What did you do?" Beth asked, her voice rising after every word.

"We were just messing around Beth, it wasn't serious," Mike reassured her.

"It got out of hand," Inez admitted, receiving a glare from Jessica.

"Were you a part of this?" Beth asked her, before shaking her head. "Don't answer that, you all are jerks!" Beth started running in the direction Hannah ran, calling out for her.

Inez looked down, the guilt already beginning to bottle up inside of her.

"Should we go after her?" Mike asked.

"Y'know, I'm pretty sure you are the last person she wants to see right now," Sam told him.

a few hours later . . .

Everyone had passed out asleep minus Sam and Inez, they were both sitting in the living room waiting for the twins to return, but they didn't and both girls were growing more worried. Inez tried to wake Josh up, but he was too drunk, same with Chris and Oliver, and everyone else still just assumed Hannah was being dramatic. She had no clue how she was supposed to tell Jos what happened.

"We need to go look for them," Inez suggested, Sam looked up at her. Inez could tell she was exhausted. "Or call someone."

"We should have gone after them from the start." She pointed out.

"I shouldn't have pulled that stupid prank, I should have tried to stop Emily and Jess." She admitted, she twirled her fingers in her lap.

Neither of them expected that that would be the last night they ever saw the Washington twins. The night everything changed. The night that caused Joshua Washington to break.