I sighed, walking into the video store thinking about the 'conversation' I had just had with my dead mother, who couldn't defend herself against my harsh but true words. It wasn't like she could argue against them if she was alive. I knew the truth about her, who she really was.

I saw Randy smiling at me from the counter as I made my way over to him, pushing past random couples. "Hey Kat, what are you doing here?" Shrugging, I picked up a piece of candy out of the pick and mix before putting it into my mouth.

"I realized I haven't really hung out with you since all this shit started happening," I answered truthfully as my oldest friend smiled at me knowingly while putting videos on his cart. He turned and put his hands on my shoulders, comfortingly.

"It's okay, plus you've got a killer after you. Maybe we should be friends again when this all blows over," he laughed, motioning for me to sit on the cart before pushing it to the rom-com section.

I give him a soft glare, "You're such a dick, Rand!" I growl playfully, hitting him.

He rushed us to the action section, where we nearly knocked over some angry-looking dude, "watch it, jerk!"

we both smiled sheepishly as the guy walks off pissed "So how have you been?" I asked casually as I rifled through the video cases.

Glancing up, I noticed Randy looking at me with a raised eyebrow "is that small talk? Are you trying to make small talk with me? Are you feeling okay?" he questioned, putting his hand on my forehead with a grin.

Grabbing his hand in mine, I pulled it from my head. "I'm fine," I scoff, rolling my eyes "believe it or not, I care about you," I huff, knowing he was one of few people in my life I actually cared about "we've known each other since forever" I pointed out to him laughing and getting a smirk back.

"Forever's such a long time to be your friend Kat" Randy quipped as I glared at him mockingly, giving him a little push just for good measure as he pushed me back as we began to playfully wrestle. Randy was the only person I could be a child with again and not care about my reputation or weakness.

We both stopped quickly and turned when we heard someone clear their throat, only to see Stu looking at us, annoyed. "Well, this looks cozy," he muttered, sounding jealous as his jaw tightened when his eyes lowered.

I followed his gaze down to see mine and Randy's hands were still entwined together; I chuckled, seeing Randy blush as he quickly pulled his hand from mine; I knew he was into my sister, but I also knew he'd had a crush on me at some point too.

"So where did you slink off to earlier?" Stu asked me quietly as I looked at him confused, wondering how he knew I'd gone somewhere. "Sid couldn't find you," he added, sensing my confusion.

I shrugged, taking his outstretched hand as he pulled me off the video cart. "I went for a walk to clear my head," Stu looked at me knowingly. He knew all too well how overbearing it could get in my head.

"You know it's dangerous to go out alone now," I huffed and nodded, annoyed I hated this. A curfew was terrible enough. Soon we'll all have to use a buddy system just to piss.

"Jesus, this place is packed tonight," Stu mused as I looked up to see there were more people here than I initially thought. "We had a run in the mass murder section," Randy told Stu excitedly. Our group loved horror films except for Sidney and Tatum, who would both rather watch something more romantic.

"You coming to my fiesta?" Stu questioned Randy, who nodded while restocking one of the shelves

"Yeah, I'm off early 'cause of the curfew, you know," Randy explained, shrugging at us as I looked at Stu, surprised by his sudden party, one that I was not aware of, which in itself was strange.

"You're having a party?" I asked Stu with a raised eyebrow, "and you didn't tell me?" Stu glanced at me guiltily as I crossed my arms

"Yeah, sorry, it was just something last minute," the tall boy grimaced, looking at me apologetically.

"Soooo, are you coming?" he smiled at me with that boyish grin I loved

"Obviously!" I exclaimed with a grin

"Good because you know I need your help and for beer," Stu laughed when I hit him, gasping

"of course you need me. I plan the best parties".

A girl walks up to Randy, her eyes flickering between the three of us before landing on Randy. "What's that werewolf movie with E.T.'s mom in it?" Stu twirled some of my hair around his finger, making me lean back into his chest with a sigh as we wait for Randy to finish helping the girl.

"The Howling, horror, straight-ahead" Randy looks over his shoulder for a second and lets out an annoyed groan. "Now, that's in bad taste" I looked over to see Billy talking to some girls from school and offering them some of his candy.

"What?" Stu asked Randy, obviously not seeing the problem, which neither did I

"If you were the only suspect in a senseless bloodbath, would you be standing in the horror section?" I looked a Randy knowingly. He's never liked Billy, but that's probably because Billy has something Randy wants.

"What? It was just a misunderstanding. He didn't do anything," Stu said, sticking up for our best friend as I turned and put my arm around his waist as he threw his over my shoulder, hugging me tightly. This was nothing unusual for us. We've always been like this.

Randy laughed mockingly at Stu. "Your such a little lapdog. He's got killer printed all over his forehead," I felt Stu's grip tighten and knew he was pissed.

"Oh, really, How come the cops let him go, smart guy?".

Randy scoffed, leaning closer to us like he had a secret. "Cause they obviously they don't watch enough horror movies. This is standard horror movie stuff. Prom night revisited," I heard Stu let out a scoff as I rolled my eyes.

"Why would he want to kill me and not to mention his own girlfriend?" I asked him, confused as he eyed me before shrugging

"There's always some stupid bullshit reason to kill your girlfriend" my eyes widened significantly.

"Oh?" I say, shocked, starting to wonder about my nerdy friend

"That's the beauty of it all, simplicity. Besides, if you get too confusing, you lose your target audience".

Stu looked at Randy emotionless "Well, what's his reason?" he motioned towards Billy, who was still talking to the girls, who were now openly flirting with him.

"Maybe Sidney wouldn't have sex with him?" Randy suggested trying to sound nonchalant

"Ew!" I fake gagged, although I knew my sister still hadn't had sex with Billy.

Pulling myself away from Stu, I walked over to a different section to look at movies but still hear what they were talking about. "What? Is she saving herself for you?" I heard Stu mock Randy. Everyone knew about Randy's crush.

"Maybe. Now that Billy tried to mutilate her and Kat. Do you think Sid would go out with me?" Randy mumbled quietly as Stu belted out a laugh. I shook my head and walked further away from them and closer to Billy.

"So Billy, wanna hang out tonight?" one of the girls asked, trying to sound sexy.

"Sorry, I can't," Billy answered, not sounding apologetic at all.

"Well, maybe another time, I bet Sidney wouldn't mind," The girl tried again, making me snigger, so desperate.

I looked to where Billy was stood where I saw him looking at me with a small smile on his face while the two desperate girls are trying but failing to get his attention.

"The smell of desperation is gag-worthy over here," I drawl as the two girls turn slowly, their faces drained of color, knowing I heard them.

"Kat!" they both gasped.

Billy grinned at me as he continued to chew on his candy, knowing I loved to set these type of girl in their place as I opened my mouth to let out a scathing comment, Randy's words distracted me.

"Because he's probably DEAD! His body will come poppin' up in the last reel or something. Eyes gouged out, fingers cut off, teeth knocked out! The police are always off track with this shit!".

I frowned, wondering who Randy could be talking about, especially when Stu turned around looking for something until his eyes met mine and widened before turning back to Randy. "There's a formula to it.

Randy's voice rang out loudly as everyone in the store turned to look at my nerdy friend as Stu motioned to everyone that Randy was high.

Feeling a hand on the back of my neck, I instantly knew it was Billy. He handed me his candy before steering me over to Randy and Stu gently.

When Billy removed his hand, I walked over to Stu as Billy slowly stalks up to Randy, looking like a predator on the hunt. "I'm telling you, The dad's a red herring. It's Billy!" My eyes pop open, knowing my best friend was probably about to maim my oldest friend.

Popping a few jelly beans in my mouth, I watch as Billy comes up behind and grabs Randy by the collar. "How do we know it's not your not the killer, huh? Huh?" slapping Stu's hand away from the candy, I noticed Randy looking like a deer caught in the headlights.

I smirk at the devious smile Billy had on his face "Hi Billy," Randy squeaked out, stuck in Billy's firm grasp.

"Maybe your movie freaked mind lost its reality button. Ever think of that?" Billy drawled out as he held Randy tighter when Randy squirmed.

"you're absolutely right. I'm first to admit it. If this was a scary movie, I would be the chief suspect," Randy nodded profusely, looking at Billy worried.

I snorted at the thought of it, "You're too meek to kill someone, Rand."

Billy glanced at me with a smirk as Randy huffed at my words, "What would be your motive?" Stu questioned Randy as the smaller boy's gaze moved from me to Stu, and his expression hardened. Randy wasn't afraid of Stu like he was Billy.

"It's the Millennium. Motives are incidental" The boys laughed at him mockingly as I continued to eat Billy's forgotten candy.

"Millennium, hmm...I like that.

That's good. Millennium. Good kid," Billy told Randy ruffling his hair like a child as he walked toward me and put his hand in the candy pot pulling out a jelly bean.

Putting the candy into his mouth, he gave me a wink before stalking off silently as Randy fixed his clothes that had been grabbed by Billy, turning his gaze back to Stu and me. He looked incredulous. "You're telling me that's not a killer."