READER'S ROCK LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE VOL 2 ISSUE 4 NOVEMBER 2014 Vol. 1 Issue 8 Feb. 2014 | Page 31

VISIT FRAN VEAL’S WEBSITE

My parents weren't who I thought they were. My best friend isn't who I thought he was.
The killer isn't who I thought he was. And scariest of all, I'm not who I thought I was.

Matt considered this for a moment and then
laughed softly, pointing to my head. “I like you better as
a brunette.”
I glanced down at my hair and giggled a little.
I'd forgotten about the wig. I pulled it off, shaking my
brown hair down around my shoulders.
“Better?” I asked, smirking a little.
“Much.” He smiled, making my heart ache.
“What are your plans, now that you've managed to
break all the rules of the hospital by kidnapping me?”
I took a deep breath, leaning closer to him,
longing for him to kiss me–not wanting to make the first
move.
“I guess I'll have to go back to the house and
see if I can find anything about what was going on with
my mother.” The Box. It's probably in the Box.
Matt sat up straighter, putting a hand on my
arm.
“Your mother? Why do you think this has to
do with your mother?” He looked at me intently.
I hesitated, not sure how much to tell him. “I
don't know how to explain it. I just need to go back to
the house and see if I can find something.”

home,” I said abruptly as I turned the key in the
ignition.
“Hannah, there's something you're not telling.
This is me, remember?
I shook my head. “There's nothing, really. I
can't.” I stopped abruptly.
“Can't what?”
Can't tell you about Valeria, I thought,
wondering why I couldn't bring myself to say it out loud.
Especially if my suspicions were correct. Instead, I
smiled at him, tenderly brushing a curl off his forehead.
“Your parents will be wondering if I kidnapped you,” I
said softly, reaching for his hand and squeezing it. “It's
time for you to go home.”
We drove the rest of the way in silence. He
didn't let go of my hand until we got to the house. His
parents rushed out to the car, thanking me for bringing
him home. I wondered if they'd still be as grateful if they
knew I'd possibly risked his life by waking him up. I
walked with them to the door, but refused when they
asked me in. Diane was especially insistent.
“Aunt Laura will be wondering where I am,” I
explained weakly. I couldn't let them suspect that I
actually intended to go back to my parents' house
tonight.

“You don't need to go back there alone.”
I laughed out loud. “Like you're in any shape
to go with me! I wasn't going to go tonight, anyway. I'll
wait and go in the morning with Aunt Laura.” I really
was getting good at this lying stuff.
The clock on the dashboard read 9:00.

Excerpt

“I've got to go. I mean, I've got to get you

I kissed Matt good-bye on the cheek and tried
to ignore the questions in his eyes as I walked back to
my car. I sat there for a minute, wishing things could be
different, and then reluctantly started the car.
“Good-bye, Matt,” I whispered as I drove
away into the night.