CHAPTER ONE

She was devastated. She was truly devastated. It's just a dream she tried to convince herself, but she knew very well deep in her heart it was the truth. The hard, hard truth. But what, what could she possibly do about it?

Mom and dad were nearby; I saw them approaching me so I faked my best smile. "Hey mom, hey dad! You guys looking for me?" I said. "Alex, you've got us worried," said mom. "Yeah, you haven't ate for 4 days, you have bags under your eyes, you try to avoid everyone, you barely talk at all, honey what's going on with you?" said dad. Tell them. Tell them now. They can help you. They'll know what to do. No. I can't tell them. They'll lecture me on how I should have told them before, blah blah blah. Besides, they are too overprotective. I'll get in more trouble that I'm already in. "Mom, dad, I'm fine. Stop worrying so much about me. Please," I said. I cannot believe I didn't tell them. No, I couldn't. I will put everyone in danger. It's better if I stay shut.

Few hours later, my older brother Justin came through the door of the sandwich shop. "Guess who got to be president of the Teen Scientists Program-wait don't guess, it's me!" he bragged. He said it in my face about 9 times, and when he saw that I didn't say anything, he asked me what was wrong. "Nothing," I whispered. I whispered not because I wanted to, but because my throat was dry. "Alex, I know when something is wrong with you. You can tell me. I'll be there for you. You're my little sister, I have to help you, but you have to let me," he said. "Justin, I told you I'm fine. Now go somewhere else, and leave me alone," I said, trying to hold my tears in. "No Alex, no! I refuse to leave you like this. You've been like this for about 4 days! You would usually make fun of me or try to get me mad. If you don't tell me, I'm afraid I'll have to use the truth spell on you, Alex," and with that, I decided I must tell him.

"Meet me at my room, at around two in the morning when Mom, Dad, and Max are asleep. Don't make noise," I said. Then, I left the shop and went upstairs.

What have I gotten myself into? Will I really tell him? Justin? Yes, he's my brother. He will help me. Anyways, if I didn't help him, he was going to use the truth spell on me. But what if he judges me? After all, who will do such a sick thing? I am in deep trouble.

Justin was punctual. At exactly 2:00 am he was there, knocking slowly in my door in case anyone heard him. I slowly got up and walked towards the door. I put on an "I was sleeping" face in case it was mom or dad. Thankfully, though, it was Justin. Justin, my life. I smiled weakly. He will never forgive me. Ever. Well, whatever. I will tell him.

"Will you tell me now?" he pleaded. "Yes, I will," I said. "You see that girl, Amy you were going out with? She was being mean and nasty to me. Because I overheard her say she was cheating on you with that new kid Josh," I said. He looked truly shocked. "WHAT!" he whispered loudly. He was crushed, I could tell. "Is there anything else I should know?" he said, furious. "Yes, there is," I said.

I tried to find an easy way to tell him this. "After I heard her say this, I went up to her and slapped her. I scram at her and she slapped me back. She said you weren't worth it. She told me to tell you that you're a stupid waste of time. So I..I..I," "You what, what did you do?" He had a tear running down his soft cheek. I hesitated, sighed, and finally let it out. "I..I killed her."