Before She Was Found - Heather Gudenkauf Page 0,50

ever had a green river to drink and she asked me what it was. It was kind of cool knowing something that she didn’t. Before I could tell her what was in it my mom came into the room and said, 7Up and lime syrup! She said she hadn’t thought of green rivers in ages, that she used to drink them all the time when she was a kid. Sounds gross, Kendall said.

Since it was an early out today from school because of Thanksgiving, I asked Jordyn and Violet if they wanted to walk to Susie Q’s after school and they said yes. We sat in a booth in the back of the restaurant and looked at the menu. I didn’t see a green river listed but I asked the waitress if I could have one. I expected her to say no, but she said, Sure thing, sweetie. You want a wedge of lime with that? I said yes, feeling kind of grown-up.

Jordyn ordered a turtle sundae and Violet just ordered a small hot chocolate, which was the cheapest thing on the menu. I added a large order of fries to mine and acted all surprised that the waitress brought out such a huge basket. Violet gave me a little smile like she knew what I was doing. I pretended I didn’t see.

While we were eating, I asked Violet and Jordyn if they ever wondered if Joseph Wither could be real. Violet said no way. It was just a story that people told to scare each other but Jordyn thought maybe he could be real. Not real real, she said. More like a ghost.

Jordyn’s answer surprised me. I thought for sure she would laugh and say that anyone who believed that Wither is real is stupid. Then we got talking about ghost stories and scary movies and laughed and laughed. It was fun. Before I knew it, Kendall stomped into the restaurant and said that Mom was waiting in the car outside to pick me up.

Things are going really well with Violet and Jordyn. I forgot what it felt like to have best friends and it feels so good. The other day at school Melody Jenkins started walking really close behind me in the hallway. My shoe was untied and she kept trying to step on my shoelace so I would trip. I tried to ignore her and just walk faster but she stayed right behind. Then Jordyn came around the corner and saw what was happening. She rushed over and told Melody to stop it. Melody said something snotty and Jordyn told her to eff off. Melody opened and closed her mouth like a fish but didn’t say anything and just stomped off.

No one has ever stood up for me like that. Ever. Not even Ellie before she moved away. I actually like going to school now.

The only bad thing is the whole Gabe thing is still weird between Jordyn and me. Jordyn always makes a point to show me any texts he sends her. The texts are really no big deal. Just about assignments and Jordyn is always the one who texts him first.

Gabe and I still text using Violet’s phone. She even lent me her phone overnight so Gabe and I could text. Gabe and I also talk in person and that’s so much better than texting. Every morning Gabe and I walk into school together and he waits until I put my things into my locker. We don’t talk about anything special but it’s nice.

The green river was okay. It just tasted like 7Up but sour. I thought about going home and emailing JW44 and telling him that Susie Q’s still serves green rivers but then I remembered that I probably shouldn’t. What I should do is tell someone about him. A trusted adult. Not my mom or dad. They would freak out. Maybe Mr. Dover. But I know I won’t tell anyone about Joseph. He’s my secret.

The night that Violet let me borrow her phone, I used it to go to the DarkestDoor website to send Joseph a message. I told him I was using my friend’s phone and then Joseph said something that freaked me out a bit. He told me to take a picture of myself and send it to him. I got scared and told him I had to go. I didn’t talk to him for a few days.

But even when we aren’t sending messages back and forth, I’m thinking about Joseph.