Prologue

*Mikayla*

He was right. It made no difference whether it was 6 months or 6 years.

I couldn’t undo what had been done. I couldn’t change the future. I couldn’t even predict it.

It was one night.

One night when everything changed.

It was so much more than just the betrayal.

It was the tragedy.

The deaths.

The Murders.

But it was also that feeling.

That feeling of falling.

Chapter 1

*Mikayla*

I finish getting ready with 15 minutes to spare. I look in the mirror to make sure everything’s in place. I’m nothing special to look at. I’m definitely no Megan, my best friend. I have naturally olive skin from being quarter Filipino on my mom’s side, slightly almond shaped eyes from that side too. Everything else is from Dads Irish/Scottish side. My dad’s 6 foot, my mom’s a tiny 5 foot nothing. Luckily, I’m a good in between.

I’m not naive in thinking that I’m popular based on looks, or extra curricular activity. I’m book smart, but not so much so that I’m socially awkward. I’ve made the popular list by association. My best friend is the head cheerleader, and my hot boyfriend is captain of our basketball team.

I take one more look in the mirror, I’m good to go.

I open my bedroom door and virtually run into my parents who are standing just outside. They have that look on their face, like whatever they’re about to say is imperative and has to be taken seriously. My dad’s arm is wrapped around Mom’s shoulders. Emily, my 9 year old little sister, is nowhere to be seen. They take a step forward, united, causing me to take a step back.

I’m officially worried.

They keep taking steps forward until I’m forced to sit on the edge of my bed. I look up at my parents. They finally let go of each other and sit on either side of me.

Dad blows a big breath out and shakes his head. “Honey, your mother and I have something we need to tell you.”

I look at my mom, she looks away. She’s nervous.

Shit.

Dad continues, “We figure since you’re graduating in two weeks, and you’ve been 18 for a few months now… well, I guess we both decided it was about time we tell you something very important.”

I’m mentally scanning my brain for what the fuck this could be.

Im adopted.

I knew it. I was always different, less asian looking than I should be, and I don’t know where my nose comes from. No one in my family has this nose. Oh, God. Who are my birth parents? And Emily, what about her… is she adopted too?

“Mikayla?” Dad interrupts my raging thoughts.

Shit.

I close my eyes, hoping that by doing so, it might take away the sting of what he’s about to tell me. “Are you listening to me?”

I nod once, eyes still closed.

“Mikayla...” long pause. “…boys have a penis…”

My eyes dart open. My dad's stifling a laugh, my mom’s face is beet red with held in laughter. I’m glaring at them with narrowed eyes, waiting for my pulse rate to decrease.

I would have bet a million fricken dollars they were about to tell me something life altering.

I want to junk punch my own dad.

I know he’s behind this shit. This is totally something he would do. My mom, she doesn’t have it in her to think of something like this.

As I’m about to stand so I can turn and face them both, Emily comes running into the room with her life size Justin Bieber card board cut out. She’s hiding behind it, cackling to herself. Then she breaks out in song, waving the cut out in front of her.

“And I was like penis, penis, penis, ohhhhh

Like penis, penis, penis, nooooo

Like penis, penis, penis, ohhhh

I thought you’d always be mine, mine…”

I’m trying so hard to hold in my laughter, in case this is one of those situations where it’s funny for us, but inappropriate for a 9 year old girl.

I look to my parents and wait for their reaction.

Mom giggles and Dad breaks out in a weird dance, which I’m pretty sure is supposed to be something resembling ‘The Dougie’, and starts to belt out… “You know you love me, I know you caaaare…”

I can’t help but laugh. I start down the stairs to wait for Megan and James, shaking my head at their craziness. Of course, they all follow, Justin Bieber cut out and all, and keep singing, at the top of their lungs, mom included…

“And I was like penis, penis, penis, ohhhhh

Like penis, penis, penis, nooooo

Like penis, penis, …”

The front door swings open…

“What the fuhhhhhh…” Megan’s words die in the air when she sees Emily (and the Beibs) behind me.

James scratches his head, “Are you guys singing about Penises?… to Justin Bieber?”

They all start laughing and snorting. I love my insane family.

***

After a good ten minutes of photos, and my dad retelling the humiliation of the shit they just pulled on me, we’re out of the house and on our way to Bistro’s. It’s an Italian restaurant downtown that’s famous for loud atmosphere and big tables for large groups. Perfect for pre-prom dinner.

When we get to the restaurant we notice a few other tables with kids our age all dressed up. We don’t recognize them, they must go to different schools. The place reeks of new garments, cheap cologne, overpowering perfume, hair product and sexual tension. It’s everything prom should be.