The thought sent a shiver through Nita. She really had been scared out of her wits just now. Thank goodness she''d run into Vinson Elliott.


    "But why are you here?" Nita asked, her curiosity piqued.


    She narrowed her eyes at him, suspicion creeping in. “Wait, don''t tell me—you''re a weirdo too, boss?"


    Vinson nearly lost it. "Nita, can you not be so dramatic? I came with Effie. She was worried something had happened to you."


    "Effie? Where is she?"


    Right at that moment, Effie spotted Nita.


    "Nita!" she called, instinctively letting go of Fidelia''s hand and running straight for her.


    In seconds, the two friends were hugging tight.


    "Nita, are you okay?" Effie pulled back a little, scanning Nita from head to toe. Only when she was sure nothing was wrong did she finally rx.


    As Effie checked on her, Nita was also sizing up Effie.


    "Effie, your face..."


    Effie brushed it off. "It''s nothing. I just tripped and fell."


    Her tone was light, almost casual, because Effie didn''t want Nita to feel guilty.


    Nita hugged her tighter, whispering, "Sorry... I made you worry again."


    Effie leaned her head on Nita''s shoulder and patted her back. “Alright, alright. How about not bawling your eyes out in front of everyone?"


    Nita gave a stubborn little snort. "Let themugh if they want. I don''t care what anyone thinks."


    Fidelia looked down at her


    now-empty hand, then over at Effie and Nita, still clinging to each other. For @moment, a wave of envy washed over her.


    She realized she didn''t have a friendship like that in her life.


    She used to think she and Isabel were close, but when things got dangerous,


    Isabel had run for it, ignoring her pleas to stay calm.


    That was the moment something inside her broke.


    Sure, Isabel could im she''d gone to get help because she was scared. But she hadn''t said anything like that she''de up with a flimsy excuse and expected Fidelia to buy it.


    After all this time together, Isabel wasn''t even half the friend Effie was. Effie had gotten hurt, and she still told Fidelia to run for safety.


    In that moment, Fidelia knew Effie wasn''t pretending; she genuinely wanted her to get away.


    Just then, Isabel edged over.


    She spoke softly, “Fidelia, I almost... Well, thank goodness Vinson and the others showed up when they did."


    Fidelia shot her a cold look. "You barely know those people, but you told me this would be a safe


    get-together. I actually trusted you and came along-look how that turned out."


    If only she''d listened to her mom and stayed home, enjoying a peaceful weekend. Anything would''ve been better than this disaster.


    "I...I know you like a little adventure, so I brought you along. I had no idea things would turn out like this. I''m sorry."


    "Sorry'' doesn''t fix anything. If it did, what would we need the police for? I''m not forgiving you."


    At that moment, Marcia and the others hurried over.


    "Fidelia!" Marcia rushed forward and wrapped her in a hug.


    Fidelia finally let herself break down, sobbing in her mother''s arms. "Mom, I''m so scared... I''m sorry..."