Liana awoke the next morning to the smell of pork sausages and bacon, the inviting aroma wafting up the stairs and into her bedroom. Yawning slightly, she forced herself out of bed and stumbled over to the bathroom. After showering and blowdrying her hair, she returned to her bedroom and threw open the doors of her enormous wardrobe. After selecting a billowing flower-patterned high-waisted skirt, a plain black tank top and a pair of Michael Kors wedges, she slowly got dressed.

"Liana!" her mother called up the stairs. "I've made you breakfast!"

"Thanks, Mum!" she shouted back. Giving her hair one final shake, she picked up her Burberry tote and swung it over her shoulder. The tote clinked and she felt the cans of deodorant, hairspray and fragrance knocking together. Midday gym class had to be the worst invention in history of school schedules, but it didn't mean Liana had to resign herself to a stinking, bushy mess for the remaining three hours of school. Perrin, Darcy, Paige, Suki, the Wade twins and herself would often miss the first twenty minutes of their next classes for emergency damage control.

By the time she got downstairs, her father had already left for work and her mother was picking up her nautical-themed Kate Spade. "I've left your breakfast on the counter," she said over her shoulder. "Make sure you put the screen shield up after you park your car. It's going to be a sunny day."

Liana glanced outside. "The news said it would rain today."

"Since when do you watch the news, sweetheart?" Mrs. Slate asked distractedly, rummaging through her bag for her sunglasses. "I thought your idea of news was Famous magazine."

"I just felt like it, mother," Liana muttered, spinning the plate towards her and wrinkling her nose. "And if you know me so well, why the hell would you make me such a fatty breakfast? When was the last time I ate this many calories in one sitting?"

"I just felt like cooking," her mother shot back. "If you don't want it, throw it in the dog's bowl. At least Sookie appreciates what I do around here."

Liana thought for a moment. Her mother never usually made her breakfast. Sometimes, she'd leave the rockmelon out on the table counter-top to defrost a little. Her mother turned sideways slightly, and Liana felt her heart warm a little. Maybe her career-driven mother was trying to discover whether she had a nurturing bone in her body. Without thinking, she stepped forward and hugged Mrs. Slate, wrapping her arms around her middle and resting her head on her shoulder. "I love you, Mum."

Mrs. Slate stiffened slightly, and then relaxed. "I love you too," she answered. "Please just... drive carefully. You know I worry about you."

Liana wanted to say that she had no idea her mother even thought about her during the twenty-one hours she was awake, but she bit her tongue. Promising to ring her the moment she got home that afternoon, she let her mother go and started to eat breakfast.

As she chewed a piece of bacon slowly, she mentally assessed how much gym she would have to do that afternoon to work it all off. If Perrin wasn't busy studying for her stupid make-up algebra test, she'd cajole her into joining her for a quick jog. Liana turned her gaze towards the back window, which framed the backyard perfectly. The sun was shining, but there was a slight breeze to the plants which indicated that it was becoming windy and a storm could be on the way.

Liana ate half of her sausage before wrapping the plate with gladwrap and putting it into the fridge. She considered giving it to Sookie, but wanted to show her mother that she did appreciate the gesture. The little Chihuahua yapped excitedly around her heels, and Liana tried to dance out of the way so that she didn't step on her. "Shoo, Sookie!" she scolded. "Mumma doesn't want to step on your pretty tail!"

She fleetingly thought of what the other girls would say if they knew how often she talked to her dog. Liana valued her reputation at school, and prided her position within her sorority, but it was hard work; always making sure she was fashion-forward, keeping tabs on the comings-and-goings within the school and being conscious of everything she said and did. It was one of the reasons she valued being with Darcy and Perrin so much; she could let go of being perfect.

She locked the house and started towards the garage. Her prized possession, a bubblegum pink Volkswagen Beetle was parked inside, a gift from her mother on her sixteenth birthday. It was the envy of most of the girls in school, and those who didn't want it weren't even worth her time. The interior was a slick butter colour, and you practically melted into the soft seats. Liana adored her car, and would often take the long way home from school just for the chance to drive it a little bit longer. Perrin mocked her every time she insisted on taking the scenic route back, but she liked it just as much.

"Shoot!" Liana said aloud, lifting a slim wrist to her face and checking the time on her mahogany Mimco watch. It was almost time for her to be at Perrin's. Although wasn't so much a stickler for time, Liana definitely was. She scowled as she slid into the car, started the ignition and backed out of the driveway.

As she drove, she thought about the sorority bash at Reva Dalby's. Her nose pinched at the thought of having to spend any time out of a school day with Reva, but it was necessary. Reva might not be the nicest person on the planet, but she certainly couldn't be the worst. Reva was unkind, stuck-up, and had an exaggerated sense of her own importance, but that was what the sorority was all about. This party was supposed to be the event of the century. It was where the girls were supposed to let their hair down, but every upperclassman in the sorority would be keeping a close eye on all of the potentials. Liana stifled a laugh as she remembered the party that she had been a potential tap at, which had been held at Crystal Kingsley's acreage. There had been girls passed out all of the place, lying half in and half out of tents, face down in the dirt, and in the back seat of cars. Perrin had very nearly missed her shot at becoming a tap when she threw up all down the back of someone's pea coat. Liana had been the only one to see it, and had stuffed the coat underneath a car. She'd put her arm around Perrin and supported her weight as they made their way to a tent to go to sleep, pretending that they were just laughing and stumbling.

Liana looked wistfully into the distance. They'd become friends with Darcy later on, who Liana had admired for her gutsy determination. Darcy had single-handedly eliminated most of the taps by sabotaging their pledge tasks. It was frowned upon to mess with your own sisters, but what could they do when half of the pledge class had been eliminated already? Darcy Solomon was a dangerous enemy to have, but she could also be the most loyal and kind friend.

Paige Hanson had been in their pledge class too. And now she was dead.

It made her feel sick to think about it. Someone she knew had died. Even though they hadn't been the best of friends, it was still someone who she had been on a day-to-day contact basis with. Liana shook her head, trying to clear away the negative thoughts. She didn't want to think like that.

She pulled into Perrin's drive and honked three times. Of course, she wasn't waiting on the driveway; she was habitually late. After waiting a minute, she honked again. Still no response. Cutting the engine, she threw her handbag in the back and climbed out of the car.

She stalked up the front door and hammered on it. "Perrin!" she shouted. "Come on! We're going to be late!"

Liana counted to sixty in her head, and when there was still no movement, she reached underneath the flowerpot sitting on the cement pavers and retrieved the spare key. She unlocked the front door and headed straight for Perrin's room, which was on the second floor. "You better be dressed!"

She stood outside the bedroom door for a couple of seconds before pushing it open and singing, "Rise and shine, little -"

Her breath caught in her throat and she immediately clapped a hand to her mouth, stifling a scream. "Perrin," she choked out, trying to move forward but feeling as if she was stuck in quicksand. She dropped to her knees and retched.

Her best friend was lying upside down on her bed, her head hanging over the end. Her arms were flung out on either side, and her legs were at an odd angle to her body. She could have been sleeping, if it wasn't for the wide red smile cut across her neck. Perrin Thwaites was now very cold, and very dead.