Chapter 3

Jordan

‘Jordan, have you heard?!’ Ruby ran up to Jordan’s locker.  

Jordan rolled her eyes and slammed the locker. She shoved her hands in her white jacket and started in the other direction.  

Can’t I be left alone?  

Ruby gasped and appeared in front of Jordan.  

‘I’m talking to you!’ 

‘I don’t want to gossip Ruby!’ Jordan tried to go round Ruby, but she was like a wall. 

‘It’s not gossip! It’s true, Leah’s back I thought you’d want to know.’ 

Jordan balled her hands in her jacket. Ruby followed her arms. Jordan wanted to knock her teeth right out of her gums.  

‘I’m not in the mood and if I were you I’d stay away from me from now on.’ She said through clenched teeth.  

Ruby gasped when Jordan brushed passed her. Jordan was incredibly difficult to deal with. Ruby locked their arms together and dragged her to the outdoor cafeteria. Despite Jordan’s growls and pulling.  

‘Stop fighting and look!  The girl in the black sunglasses.’ 

A girl in a jeans jack, white top and pulled back hair sat with a group of seniors. The jawline was the same, the same full cheeks and small frame. They had to have the same chocolate eyes. The girl's hair appeared thicker and curly.  Leah always straightened her hair.  

‘What… the hell?’ Jordan whispered. Her skin felt like ice cream falling off a stick.  

‘It’s so weird but that’s not the strangest part.’ Ruby said.  ‘She claims she isn’t Leah, can you imagine?’ 

‘Then who is she?’ Jordan shrugged.  

‘I think they said her name was Lindsey. Weird isn’t it?’ 

Jordan nose flashed pink. She tore her gaze away from the table. It didn’t make any sense. Lindsey’s parents moved away eight months ago and there hadn’t been any updates in her case.  

Who the hell was she?  Jordan couldn’t get her face out of her head.  If she was Leah, why was she pretending?  Was she in danger?  Lunch was over.  Jordan watched as the girl walked to her locker that was on the same row as Jordan’s.  The way she walked was the same. The glasses couldn’t hide who she was.  

Jordan hung back and tailed her. She had Art, but she went into Mrs. Elgar's English class. Lindsey found an empty seat at the back of the class. All eyes followed her as she shifted through tables.  

Jordan claimed the seat in the back right next to Lindsey. It was so clear despite the glasses. Jordan’s face burned with emotion, the tears threatened to burst.  

‘What do you want?’ Lindsey’s voice rasped.  

‘I need to know who you are.’ 

‘I’m not who you think I am. I’m Lindsey Goodman. I’m not from this creepy little town.’ Lindsey shoved her book in her bag and stood just as Mrs. Elgar marched in. 

‘If I hear one word out of you lot the class will carry the school bus from the parking lot to the football field!’  

Every mouth shut, heads faced forward and Lindsey slowly sat back down.  She sighed,  it was going to be a long day.  

***

Clem and his new buddies wanted to drink at a park in their cars. Lindsey wanted to lock herself in her room and sleep for a good few hours.  Clem dropped her in the neighborhood.  

At least people weren’t falling over themselves trying to get a look at her. 

‘Who the heck's Leah? Why did she have to disappear?’ Lindsey mumbled.  

A front door slammed and a young man strolled out. He was dressed in a white shirt, army green pants and a gold chain. He staggered when he saw Lindsey.  Their eyes locked for a split second before Lindsey broke contact and rushed her pace.  

‘Ugh!’ 

Dad’s car wasn’t in the driveway.  A couple of hours alone in the kitchen would help her relax.  She had the house to herself until the sky turned to darkness. Her Dad’s truck pulled into the driveway and suddenly her eyes felt heavy and her bed called her to sleep.  

‘Hey honey! How was school?’ Margaret emerged into the kitchen with bags of groceries.  

Lindsey scratched the back of her head. ‘Uh, it was average.’  

‘Well sounds calm.'

It was anything but.  Lindsey thought. 

The doorbell sounded and Lindsey frowned. Who could that be?  

‘Lindsey could you get the door?’ Dad called. 

Mom wasn’t surprised by the guest that stood on their porch, she busied herself unpacking the groceries. 

Lindsey skipped to the door,  the moment she opened it she wanted to slam it shut.  

‘You? What are you doing here?  How many times must I say it?  I’m not Leah!’ She threw the door closed but Jordan jammed her foot between the doorframe. 

‘Hold on, I didn’t come to bother you.’ Jordan pulled out an English textbook from her red bag. 

‘I figured you’d need this for Elgar’s assignment.’ Jordan offered a pressed smile. 

Lindsey mentally slapped her head. She’d totally forgotten about the homework too! 

‘Thanks… listen I’m sorry I shouldn’t—’ 

Jordan gently raised her hand. ‘It’s alright. Do you know whose house this is?’ 

Lindsey frowned.  ‘Uh, mine.’ 

Jordan rolled her eyes.  ‘Funny. It’s Leah’s.’ 

Lindsey’s body froze over as if she’d been rolled up in a blanket of snow. She grabbed the door and shut it behind her. 

‘Who on earth is Leah King!’ She burst out low enough not to alert the neighbors or her parents. 

Jordan sighed and shoved her hands in her jacket.  

‘She was— she is my best friend.  She went missing eight months ago and her parents packed up and moved two months ago. The police have nothing. It was like she vanished into thin air. Then you showed up.’ 

Lindsey pressed her back against the door. She shook her head.  ‘That’s horrible… but we can’t look that much alike.’ 

Jordan shook her head and teardrop accidentally escaped.  ‘You have no idea how wrong you are. Talking to you feels like a dream or a hallucination.’ 

The door swung open,  Lindsey froze when her Mom appeared on the door. 

‘Oh Hi!’ Margaret smiled immediately.  

Jordan quickly brushed her cheek and shook Margaret’s outstretched hand.  

‘You’ve made friends so quickly Lindsey that’s great. But why are you keeping her out in the cold?  Don’t you want her to be your friend anymore?’ She planted her hands on her hips. 

The girls chuckled.  ‘No, Mom she was just bringing my book back she’s not staying long.’ 

‘How thoughtful. What’s your name sweetheart?’ 

‘Jordan. Jordan Mackenzie.’ 

Lindsey realized she hadn’t even known her name. 

‘Well see you Jordan.’  

Lindsey and Margaret waved before they shut the door. Jordan stepped off the porch. Jordan felt a part of herself was trapped in the house and another part of her ran into the Hollow woods where her best friend likely laid.