189 Chapter 189

Going back to school was so surreal. I walked among hundreds of kids who knew nothing about what they didn't know. I had been just like them once, really not that long ago. Walking around with no idea how much evil there is in the world and how close to home that evil can strike.

Lots of people said hello to me in the hallway and welcomed me back. I knew most of that was because of Elliott. Everyone on campus had loved him, and his death had sort of made me a celebrity since I had known him personally, outside of school. They all knew I'd attended his memorial. Sometimes they asked me questions about it, which was a bit macabre. Today, they nodded and smiled, said they were glad I was feeling better. No one seemed to think I resembled Edward Cullen at all or accused me of being too sparkly under the fluorescent hallway lighting.

"Hey, you're back," Lucy said, giving me a quick hug as we headed to choir class which we both had first period. "You okay?"