I woke up when I heard my phone buzzing. I saw Rusty was calling and picked up the phone.

“Yeah?” My throat was dry and I tried to find a bottle of water in my car.

“Hey, Tone. Do you want me to just meet you at the flat? Derek said he’d give me a ride there once it’s time to meet your mum. You won’t have any trouble moving all the bags will you?” I looked behind me at all of our suitcases that Matt helped me put into the car last night.

“I’ll be fine. I have a story for you, though. Real edge-of-your-seat tale.” I heard her laugh and I finally found the bottle I was looking for.

“Can’t wait. I’ll see you soon?”

“You bet.” I hung up my phone and finished the water.
The time read 8:39…fucking fantastic. I had twenty minutes to get my shit together before my mother arrived. I looked through my purse and found some mouth wash I had stolen from a hotel room a while back. Throwing off the cap, I drank half the bottle and swished it around. As I let the minty fresh liquid take the odor out of my mouth, I started to think about last night. Was I in any real danger? I mean, how many women blow off Bones member on the regular? Yeah I broke his fucking nose, but doesn’t that sort of thing happen all the time for them? I opened the driver side door and spit the mouthwash on the asphalt.

I saw Rusty pull up just as I was throwing my clothes from last night into a bag. She hopped out of the car after giving this new guy a goodbye kiss.

“So, how’s Derek?” I asked, waving to his car as it drove away.

“Cheeky, bitch!” Rusty laughed as she hit my arm. “He’s actually really sweet. We’re going out for dinner, tomorrow.”

“Well look who’s settling down!” I teased as I began to unpack the trunk.

“Please, this coming from Miss I’m-secretly-in-love-with-a-music-sensation?” I stopped moving bags.

“Don’t even begin to talk about that prick. I am so mad you wouldn’t believe –“ the sound of a car horn cut me off. I groaned as I saw my mum and dad pull up in their ridiculously expensive Mercedes. Before my dad could even put the car in park, my mother jumped out of the front seat and ran over to give me a hug.

“Oh, Antoinette, you look beautiful! Have you gained weight?” She looked me up down as she held me. I put on a fake smile and she moved on to Rusty. As she assessed Rusty and her current weight, I worked over to my father, who was taking a dolly out of his trunk.

“Hi, Daddy,” I said, kissing him on the cheek.

“Puppet, how lovely to see you! You are more beautiful than ever.” He smiled at me and I breathed a sigh of relief. Even though he was just as much a greedy bastard as my mother, my father was never one to judge me. I always loved when he got me ready for school because he would let me wear whatever I wanted and take whatever I wanted for lunch. My mother always had to plan my outfits and pack me a diet-specified lunch…no wonder I turned out the way I did. I walked back over to my car with my father and we began to take bags up to the new flat. When we walked through the front door, I was surprised to already see furniture.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you! Part of the negotiation was that you got to keep some of the model furniture for the flat. Isn’t that grand?” My mother cheerfully quipped as she noticed the expression on my face. I faked a smile yet again and dropped some of my bags in my room. Hell, it saved me a shopping trip. We went back downstairs to grab the rest of my things, and I stopped short in my tracks when I saw a curly-haired motherfucker loitering around my Mini. Before I could even open my mouth, my mother chimed in.

“Oh, hello! Who might you be?” She showed a toothy smile and stuck out her hand.

“Pardon me, ma’am. My name’s Harry. I’m a friend of your daughter.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it, sending my mother in a swoon.

“Antoinette, why didn’t you tell me you kept such handsome company? Are you helping her move in?” I cringed at my full name and walked over to my car, hoping Harry couldn’t stay long.

“Well, I was just here to drop something off, but I always have time to help Antoinette.” He turned and smiled at me. I wanted to rip his face off.

“Wonderful! What were you dropping off, dear?” My mother was so fucking nosey.

“Well, Antoinette told me that you were a huge Billy Joel fan, and she asked me to get you these.” He pulled a small envelope from his back pocket and handed it to my mother. If he called me Antoinette one more time I was going to run him over with my car.

My mother opened the envelope and gasped, “Oh, my! Tickets to his private show? This is amazing, Harry!” She kissed both his cheeks and I wanted to purge.

“And backstage passes so you can talk with him after the show! I hear he's an absolutely amazing man and performer. But don’t be thanking me; it was all your daughter’s idea.” I snarled but quickly hid my face as my mother ran over to embrace me.

“Darling, this is the sweetest thing you’ve ever done for me. Just wait until I tell your father!” She ran off to catch up with my dad, who was already bringing in more bags and ignoring this situation in its entirety. Once she was out of ear shot, I turned to Harry, who was looking so proud of himself.

“I am literally going to set you on fire. I will have charred boy band member for lunch if I have to. How the fuck did you know I was here?” I squinted my eyes but he just chuckled.

“I can find anyone if I have to, babe. Plus you asked me to get the tickets so I was just bringing them over.”

“Oh, no, Styles. I did not ask; you volunteered. And as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hot-tempered asshole who needs to learn when he’s not wanted.” I grabbed the rest of my bags and began to walk away, but he ran up and took them from my hands.

“I was just trying to help, Toni. I’m sorry for what happened at the club; it was an honest mistake. You just drive me up a wall, you know? I can’t read you at all.” We were in the elevator and I just wanted it to crash so I could fall to my death.

“Sorry I’m not a fucking novel,” I hissed as the elevator doors opened. “And are we not calling me by full name anymore? What a damn shame.” I stomped to my room with Harry dragging his feet in tow. We made our way into my bedroom and he dropped the bags on the floor. As I was turning to leave, he shut the door and spun me around.

“Admit it,” he snarled, pressing his body up against mine.

“Admit, what?” I asked, trying to break away from his hold.

“Admit that you like me.” He traced his long fingers across my lips. I rolled my eyes.

“I’d rather admit to fucking goats,” I spat, trying to stop my heart from beating so fast. He looked down and shook his head with laughter. He let me go and moved his body away from mine.

“Fine, Toni. But you can’t keep this up much longer,” he said, opening the door behind me. I glared at him before leaving his presence, my heart about to break free from my ribcage.

I walked back into the living room of my new flat just as my parents were walking towards my bedroom. Well that would have been awkward.

“Sorry, puppet, but it looks like we have to get going. Your brother has a football match this afternoon and we need to drive him over," my father said as I wondered if he could hear my heart beating. "Don't get into any trouble, and try and stop by soon, okay?” My father kissed my forehead and shook Harry’s hand. If only he knew.

“Bye, darling! Thank you again for the tickets and know how proud of you we are!” She shook me in a hug and then did the same to Harry. “Oh, and keep this one around, Antoinette! I just adore him!” she sing-songed as she walked out the door and hopefully out of my life forever.

“Toni, I think I hear your phone ringing!” Rusty shouted from her bedroom.

“Well, guess that means you have to leave. Pity.” I walked over to the door and held it open.

“Stop trying to act like you don’t want me around, Toni. If you didn’t you wouldn’t try this hard.” He shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the elevators. I slammed the door shut, completely frustrated that I had to see him in the first place. I walked over to my bedroom and grabbed my phone from the night stand, seeing I had a missed call from Matt.

“Hey, it’s me. I didn’t want to scare you last night, but I heard some loud noises outside of Poppy’s house a few hours after you left. I have to head to work now, but you should call her when you get the chance. Talk to you soon.” I deleted the voicemail and snapped my phone closed. That’s strange. But, Poppy was one to throw parties at the weirdest moments so it was probably nothing. I let the thought slip from my mind as I began to unpack my things.

----

A knock on my door woke me up from my nap. I had been unpacking for hours and must have fallen asleep. The door opened and I saw Rusty peek her head through.

“Hey, did I wake you?” I shook my head and she came in to sit on my bed.

“What’s up?” I asked, stretching my arms over my head. I looked at the clock and saw it was well past dinner time.

“I called Poppy to fill her in on everything with Derek and our new place, but she didn’t answer. And normally that’s nothing, but I’ve called her five times and still nothing. I’m worried.” Oh fuck. I had been so busy with unpacking I forgot to check on Poppy.

“I’m sure she’s just super hungover or something, Rust. I’m starved, so let’s grab a bite to eat and then we’ll stop by her place on the way home, okay?” She smiled and left to grab her purse.

After a satisfying meal at Nando’s, I reluctantly drove over to Poppy’s house. The twat probably lost her phone in the bathroom of some skanky bar. But Rusty cared, and I cared about Rusty, so there was no harm in checking in.

We knocked on the door and waited. Nothing. We knocked again. Nothing. This time I jiggled the handle and was surprised when the door opened. An awful scent of iron and rotten meat engulfed us as we made our way into the house. I pulled my t-shirt over my nose and mouth as we called out for Poppy, getting no response.

Rusty walked over to the bedroom and screamed as soon as she opened the door. I ran over and resisted the sudden urge to throw up. Sprawled across the bed, her throat slit and blood all over the once perfect white comforter, was Poppy. Rusty dropped to the floor in screams and sobs as I walked over to the body. Not wanting to get too close, I looked over at what was once my former roommate’s being. As I was about to look away, something lodged in the wound of her throat caught my eye. Leaning in, I saw what looked like a small bone. My stomach dropped to the floor.

“Toni, what do we do?” Rusty whaled as she shakily tried to stand up. I forced myself not to panic and tried to be strong for my friend.

“Call the police, Rusty. Tell them the truth; that we were worried when we hadn’t heard from Poppy and decided to visit her. When we got here the door was open, and we found her just like this. Then we’ll wait for them outside, okay?” She wiped her nose on her shirt and nodded. Leaving the room to make the call, I shut the door behind her and made a call of my own.

“Hello?” He answered on the second ring.

“I think I killed someone, Harry.”