"We're working on it. Carter's friend, Jason, is trying his best to help us."I confessed while looking at my friends, they were one of the reasons I still wore a smile. We were all sitting at the Smiths as planned, that place had became one of our habits and refugee.

"I still can't believe someone is stalking you...oh my god!" Lila muttered as she fidgeted in her seat.

"I'm so sorry, I really should have told you sooner! We have to be careful even if he seems to be only after me. He knows how important you are so he won't think twice to use one of you to reach me."I stated while scanning my friend with my eyes. Maddie closed her eyes a few seconds while trying to calm her breathing.

"Elle is right... we have to trust the boys. I should have followed you though. I knew something wasn't normal as soon as I saw Carter standing next to Nathan in the parking lot." My friend Nicole said before taking a gulp of her orange juice. She was still not wearing her old glasses and her face had a shining glow.

"I lied to you Nicole!! You couldn't have known I was in danger!" I stated under my breath after finishing the last bite of my apple pie.

"We should do a sleepover! I think it would be a great idea after all the shit that has been happing lately." Madelyn proposed next to Lila, the latest applauded three times.

"Oh hell yes!!!! Let's do it! Are you in?" Lila continued while staring at Nicole and I.

I really needed some time with them too, it would cheer me up. In addition to it, we had no school for a week because they had administrative things to do. I had no plans with Carter and I've been trying to avoid him since last night. I still couldn't believe Madden kissed me.

"I'm in too! My parents are out of town again... we can do it at mine's? You can bring Cali too." Nicole proposed as her eyes connected with mine.

"Deal! My parents are always at home lately to take care of Daryl." Lila bellowed, talking about her brother.

"God! I can't wait for tonight! It's gonna be fun. I can come pick you up?" Maddie proposed and her eyes went back and forth from Lila and I.

"It's ok... if you don't mind my dog dirtying you car." I replied, making my friends chuckle.

"So...8pm at Nicole's." Maddie formalized.

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I stood up in front of my mirror eyeing my outfit whose consisted a pair of leggings and and a big sweatshirt and as I was about to head downstairs my phone started ringing, I fished it out of my pocket before swallowing. Carter.

"H-hi." It was the only thing I dared to say after finding the courage to answer.

"Hi Angel! How are you? Where are you now?" I recognized some familiar voices in the background as he asked.

"I'm f-fine and I'm still home. The girls and I are doing a sleepover at Nicole's."

"Are you sure everything is ok? You sound sad...did I do something wrong?" I heard Carter and I tried my best to fight back the tears that were begging to exit my eyes. All I wanted was to shout "no you didn't but Madden kissed me and I feel like I'm betraying you!".

"No no! You didn't... I'm just tired and scared." I defined before taking my backpack. I heard Carter exhale and I could picture him passing his hand though his hair.

"Carter I-I have something to tell you." Those words left my lips before I could stop.

"What? What happened Elle?" Carter pressed on as his tone was full of concern and irritation. A car honked saving me from this torture.

"Oh! Maddie's here! I have go! I'll call you tomorrow! Goodnight!" I stated in a few breaths and hang up before he could protest. I walked to the front door, tonight was a girls' night so no boys, no worries and no freaking masked man. Let the party begin.

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Nicole's mansion always took my breath away. She also decided to surprise us with spaghetti cooked by her hands and Lila decided to make cocktails, it was my first one and I couldn't deny how good it tasted. At 9am music was bursting out of Nicole's high speakers, our bodies moving in sync.

High all the time, high all the time

I wanna be high all the time

Would you come with me?

We were singing in harsh breaths, our skins covered by sweat and excitement when Nicole's bedroom's light went out. A scream escaped Maddie's and Nicole's throats as I turned off the music before trying to turn on the light again...nothing.

"I think there's a power outage or something..." I swallowed while looking at my friends, fear paralyzing her words and features.

"Ye—yes, what can we do now?" Nicole asked while trying to calm her breathing.

"Do you have candles? I think we could use it? Going out right now isn't a good idea." I pointed my finger at the window to deepen my statement. It was raining and dark, and none of us were electricians. So candles was the best and safest option.

"Yes... in the kitchen!" Nicole stated before heading upstairs, the girls and I following her with our phone's light on. Nicole grabbed her big candles and I noticed in that right moment that her hands were shaking.

"Nicole...let me help you!" I took the lighter between her hands before lightening up a candle. Its light making me feel safer.

We were about to return upstairs with our candles when suddenly we heard a brutal noise that made us still. My heart started beating faster and faster while Cali barked.

"Oh fuck! I'm scared." I heard Maddie's trembling voice. I suddenly grabbed a knife, making the girls gasp.

"Elle! Don't!" Lila muttered as I took a few steps forward. I glanced at them before gulping.

"Did you close all your wind-" I didn't have the opportunity to finish my sentence as arms circled my waist, my knife falling instantly. A scream escaped our lips.

"I'm glad to see you closed the windows, Elle." A familiar voice whispered and I stopped my fists before they could reach their destination.

"Carter!!!!!" I screamed as Vaughn and Sawyer appeared behind the shadows. Our fear turned in anger in a few seconds.

"I can't believe it." Nicole whispered while staring at Vaughn.

"You fucking scared me! I could have knifed you!Huh! How did you come in?" I shouted and my comment only made Carter laugh, I wanted to swipe his little smirk.

"You can't be by yourselves. It's dangerous! It could be the masked fucking man and do you think you would be able to fight him? And it's not difficult to open a closed door if you know how to do it." He replied with anger as the lights were back on. I folded my arms and didn't dare to fight him because I knew he was right. We all knew. Nate arrived in the kitchen a few minutes later, with Cali following his shadow, and Maddie's gaze connected with his before she looking way.

"Damn! Is that a cocktail I'm seeing?" Sawyer broke the silence as he took the last cocktail on the counter. After taking a gulp he complimented and winked at Lila, making her blush.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Carter muttered under his breath while Vaughn started arguing with Nicole.

"I hope you don't mind Nicole but we're staying tonight. We're joining your sleepover!" Sawyer laughed hard. High all the time...yep.

I turned on my feet to head upstairs. All I wanted was to sleep, after all our night was officially over.

"Tell me, Elle. What happened?" Carter insisted as he grabbed my arm, making a protest escape my lips. His eyes were full of worry, begging me to tell him everything. I held back my tears while biting my lip.

"Madden kissed me."

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