It had been a quiet day, or as quiet as life could be lately. I’d spent lunch with Jake in the library, going over notes for our next exam.
But Sarah was nowhere to be found. I’d texted her earlier, wondering where she was, but she hadn’t replied. It wasn’t like her to be so distant, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
As I walked out of the school gates, I spotted them—Sarah and Alyssa—standing together near the parking lot.
Sarah’s face was pale, her usually calm expression replaced with something I couldn’t quite read. Alyssa, on the other hand, looked completely rattled, her eyes darting around like she was afraid someone might overhear.
The moment they saw me, Sarah stepped forward, her movements sharp and purposeful.
“Emma,” she said, her voice low but urgent.
“Hey,” I said cautiously, stopping in my tracks. “What’s going on?”
Sarah glanced at Alyssa, then back at me. “We need to talk.”
“Okay…” I said slowly.
“Not here,” Sarah said, shaking her head. “Your place. Now.”
The three of us walked to my house in near silence, the tension so thick it felt like I could cut it with a knife. My stomach churned with anxiety, a million thoughts racing through my mind.
When we got inside, Sarah didn’t wait for me to offer her a seat. She paced the length of my living room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Alyssa sat on the edge of the couch, twisting her hands nervously in her lap.
I closed the door behind me, my heart pounding. “Okay,” I said, dropping my bag by the door. “What’s going on?”
Sarah stopped pacing and turned to face me, her eyes sharp and serious. “Emma, there’s something you need to know.”
“What is it?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Sarah hesitated, glancing at Alyssa again. Whatever this was, it was big.