Did Jodie told America's parents? The detective? Her father?

Scarlett preferred playing house in the tree fort more than racing. It wasn't that Scarlett was a sore loser, house was much better. Both of them would play either; best friends, a mother and a daughter, or sisters.

        They were like two peas in a pot or two cherries that you can't separate from each other.

"Of course I do. She's was my best friend," Scarlett said. "Still is my best friend."

Asher sat on the couch next to Scarlett. "I miss Lux. Never gotten the chance to play baseball with her or make a fort with her," he took a glimpse towards Scarlett and hugged her. "I know, you didn't mean to murder mom and Lux."

He knew.

Her phone buzzed, Asher gripped onto Scarlett's cell phone with shock. Scarlett yanked her phone from her brother's hand and horror filled into her eyes.

4:40 a.m., from America:
Mirror, mirror. Who the lunatic of them all? That right it's Scarlett Chase. Keep an eye open, it's hunting season on lunatic.

"Now I know what you mean," Asher said in shock. He couldn't believe what he saw, dead girl texting.

Scarlett's hands was covered in pink royal icing when her cell phone rang. Which made her jump from her seat. The pink icing oozed on her knuckles and in between her fingers, sticking there like glue. She used her nose and tapped the speakerphone button.

"Can I come over?" Zander asked, his voice echoes throughout the kitchen. "You need to see the messages pronto."

Scarlett laughed. "You can come over, I don't know how Jake could make decorating cupcakes seems so easy and no smears."

"He's a baker and had years of practice. How's the flowers patterns cookies going?"

Scarlett's eyes glimpsed down at her messy covered hands and the finished first batch of cookies. "Messy. First patch is done for Jake and you."

Call over.

Back to the flowers patterns cookies, Scarlett thought. If I had done it right, the icing for the flowers pattern is white and the pink royal icing is for the background.

Asher gestured into the kitchen. "If you need me, I be at Gunner's house playing basketball."

Scarlett looked up from the half-made second patch and glimpsed her eyes at her brother. "About what happen-" she was cut off.

"Don't worry you aren't a lunatic and I will try to forget about it," Asher walked off and through the front door.

Scarlett's cell phone rang again. This time she had to ignore it, messy hands at her disposal. The phone continue to rang while shimmering across the the countertop. Pausing a moment before a beep.

A text. She dropped the icing bag onto the salt and pepper tiles floor, wipe her hands, and check her cell phone. It was from Jake. Thankfully, it wasn't America or whoever is texting her from America's number. She couldn't fall back asleep after receiving the eerie message.

12:50 p.m., from Jake:
Going to be there in 5. See ya soon.

A spot of worry pressed the base of her chest. He never this eager to willingly take a trip to her. Which means only one simple thing- something is wrong.

12:53 p.m., her reply to Jake:
Where at?

His reply arrives in seconds.

12:54 p.m., from Jake:
Cat's Cafè.

Before leaving and meeting up with Jake, she rushed through her routine. Teeth brushed. Cherry red lip glossed. Tiny shot of red wine. She washed her pill down with Coca-Cola straight from the bottle.

1:01 p.m., her reply to Jake:
Meet me at Cat's Cafè. Jake's meeting us there too.

She placed her flowers patterns cookies in a container and gestured out the door. It occurred to her that she should had changed clothes. She was still in her yesterday wear: blue jeans, one of Annabelle's shirt, and red sneakers. All flecks of flour and faded, smear splashes of red and green food coloring. She licked dried pink icing off the back of her hand.

Outside on Second and Third Street, she made a left onto Washington, hardly packed with any pedestrians. Her body froze at the sight of strangers, glancing at her, clenching the container tightly against her chest. She shoved her left hand down into her bag, searching for the handy pocket knife always kept there. It's only the pocket knife that she kept gesturing again.

____________
Three mugs were already on the table
Frozen hot chocolate with whipped cream, for Zander and Scarlett. Coffee and extra sugar, black and sweetened for Jake.

"About time you show up. What took you long?" Jake asked and hugged Scarlett.

"Strangers and walked from home," Scarlett choked on her words. She handed Jake the container of cookies. "Homemade. Freshly made for you both."

She's dead. America loved this place, Scarlett thought. Her eyes took a glance at the cafè before taking a seat.

"You bake? That's certainly surprising to hear," Jake said as Scarlett took a seat. There were worry, tremor, and nervous in his voice.

She didn't know why Jake's called her, but if it bad news, she didn't want to hear it. Her whole life from her return, only been about bad news. Losing people from left to right.

"You're looking great," Zander said, there were worry in his voice too. "Did you took your pill today?"

Of course, she took the pill. Without the pill, she would go insane. "It's nothing," she said. "The pills that Ms. Trothon gave me months ago, are helping me be sane."

"And how's that going? Being sane."

"Wonderful, actually. I gaining memories back when secrets comes flooding in. Just gotta remind myself to take the pills."

"That's great," Jake replied to Scarlett. "We are glad everything going well."

Scarlett noted the worry tone of Jake's and Zander's voice. They didn't have to say anything, she knew what they were thinking. They been thinking about the months after Falling Rocks, when she returned home from the insane asylum. They were waiting for her to break back down and be the lunatic she always was. She remember Zander and America visiting her at the asylum years after she was admitted into sanctuary.

Don't make us look like fools, Scarlett. We're counting on you to get better and return home, America and Zander said every time they would visit Scarlett, but didn't meant any words they said. You are a lunatic, but you're still our friend.

"How's Asher?" Zander asked.

"He's good. He's start sophomore year next month."

Jake glanced at Scarlett across the table. His eyes were lightest shade of blue she'd ever saw.  But they were not an ocean pearl blue. He'd balled his hands into fists pressed atop on the table.

"Please tell us what wrong."

"It's Annabelle Ackerman," Jake said.

"What about her?"

"She's dead, Scarlett. Her messages are driving me insane."

There were four of them.
Now there were three of them left.