Chapter 1

Ethel meets with Miranda and her group to discuss the upcoming murder.

I looked at myself in the mirror. The person I saw in the reflection looked confused and worried, but I was nothing of the sort. I knew exactly what I was doing. Thats just what I kept telling myself. There’s a reason Miranda wanted ME, I reassured myself.

I ran my hands through my soft, blonde hair. I contemplated whether I should add extra coat of mascara, but ultimately decided I was already wearing too much. It would be obvious that I was desperately trying to fit in with Miranda and her “group.”

I glanced down at my iPhone. 12:16

I had to be at Miranda’s at 1. I had 30 minutes more to sit in my bedroom and wallow.

I looked in the mirror again. Lowlights I thought. I wanted dark hair, but I couldn’t see it. I was always complimented on my golden waves. Why did I want to change the one thing I actually liked about myself? I rolled my eyes at myself in the mirror. “F**k you Miranda” I said under my breathe.

I looked at my outfit one last time. Abercrombie jeans and a sweater from Forever 21. Classy and casual. I put on a swipe of red lipstick. Oh what the hell I thought. I put on another coat of mascara, and off to Miranda’s I went.

■■■■

I pulled into her driveway. 2 other cars were there. Miranda had told me her parents were out of town, and that there were 2 other girls involved in the plan. One was her car, so one other girl was here. Unless they carpooled. I stopped worrying and forced myself onto the front steps of her mini-mansion.

I knocked twice and anxiously waited for her to answer. What will she be wearing? What will the other girls be like? I had seen them at school, but never spoken to them.

Before my mind could wander to irrational worries, Miranda swung open the door. “Hey babe! You’re just in time.” She flashed me a smile, and her unnaturally white teeth seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. Her dark brown hair was gathered into a ponytail at the crown of her head. She was wearing a green button up with dark skinny jeans. Beautifully effortless.

I smiled back and tiptoed onto the hardwood floor in her living room. “Oh my god, you guys haven’t even met Ethel have you?” she yipped like a Chihuahua. 2 girls sat on her black leather coach. They carpooled I thought. They all looked at me and shook their heads. Miranda glided over to the couch and introduced us. “Ethel this is Sophia.” Sophia blinked her dark brown eyes and managed a smile. Dark curly springs exploded out of her head. She was gorgeous. She was incredibly thin but her African descent gave her a reasonably sized hips. She was wearing a black fit & flare dress with a gold statement necklace just low enough to expose her prominent collar bones. I waved awkwardly and moved my eyes to the next girl over. Miranda shuffled around Sophia and introduced me to Paris. Paris had light blonde hair, similar to my color. Her tightly curled locks hit just below her shoulders, and her fake lashes could almost touch her powdery eyebrows. Her foundation smudged as she smiled at me, and I smiled back trying to hide my repugnance.

The two girls couldn’t have been more opposite. I couldn’t imagine either of these girls capable of murder. Miranda must’ve sensed my confusion. She walked across the room and whispered to me “They’re full of surprises.” I smelt cigarettes on her breathe. She smirked.

“Let’s go upstairs.” she said firmly.

My eyes darted to the other girls. They smiled at each other while they walked over to the staircase. I followed close behind.

Miranda led the way upstairs, but I could tell Sophia and Paris had been here before. Miranda and Sophia glided swiftly up the stairs in their bare feet, but Paris wobbled in her Jimmy Choos. I kept a good watch on her unsteady heels while she was walking up the stairs.

When we reached the top of the staircase, Miranda unlocked the doors to a ridiculously sized bedroom. I was stunned, but I didn’t expect anything less from Miranda. She motioned us over to her bed. We all found a spot on her silk comforter. Paris delicately placed her heels next to the bed glancing down at the them every few seconds. They must be new, I thought.

“Alright ladies.” Miranda said excitedly. “We have some work to do.”

My eyes darted nervously and I rose my thumb to the corner of my lip to bit my nail, but I quickly stopped myself. I glanced at the girls to see if anything of them had noticed. Sophia met my eyes and looked at me with disgust. Dammnit. I thought.

“Lila Stiles.” The name was slurred and said with disgust. Miranda looked at all of us waiting for our nods and smiles. Sophia and Paris picked up on the hint, and I was left staring into Miranda’s scheming eyes dumbfoundedly.

“15. Blue eyes. Light brown hair. Freshman.”

Paris let out a gasp and her eyes widened. “Freshman?! Miranda, we’ve never killed a freshman.”

I had a liking for Paris, despite her overdose of makeup. I could tell she was the most kind - hearted out of all three of us.

“I know, Paris. But I don’t see why not? They’re small, innocent, and stupid. Perfect targets. Right Soph?”
Sophia smiled and nodded. Paris looked down.

“Lila’s a perfect student. All A’s in every subject.”

Doesn’t sound stupid to me I thought. 

“The point is, teachers love her.” Miranda said as she pulled out a pack of cigarettes. “And when she dies, it’ll really stir them up.” She said looking for a lighter. Miranda sighed in frustration due to her lack of a lighter. Sophia pulled a bright pink one out of her purse and gave her a light.

“So. What do you think?” She said as smoke swiftly came out of her mouth.

I always thought there was an element of beauty in smoking, but when Miranda did it, it seemed horrific. The smell lingered and it was the only thing I could concentrate on. Perhaps the only thing I wanted to.

“It sounds great.” Sophia said. She smirked and looked at Paris.

“What she said.” Paris said with hesitation. She shot a smile at Miranda but I knew it was fake.

All three of them looked at me. I looked at Miranda. Her eyes seemed to say “If you screw this up, we’ll come for you.”

“I agree.” I stammered. Miranda and Sophia looked at me approvingly while Paris’s worried eyes were glued to the blank wall.

“Great. Lets get to work b*****s.” Miranda said lighting her cigarette. She gave us all a cigarette and a light, and we all smoked together in her room.

What a lovely group.

Reviews

[CLea]

Really interesting so far. I am interested to see how you further develop the story. Obviously you have the clique-y teen girl group which can be overdone, but with this spin of murder added to it, it could be a very deep and complex story. I am excited to see how and why the pieces of this story fall together through out this novel.