@everyone else - leave your comments or criticism or whatever but I'm only collaborating with TK so don't bother trying to write the story.
@Thrill - I think the rules were that neither of us could be a character and we alternate chapters.
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Chapter 1
Kara sat on her bed, her left leg stretched out in front of her. She studied her foot, the delicate outline of bones giving contour to nearly translucent skin. Choosing a dark red to contrast with her winter skin tone, she began to apply a coat of polish to each toenail.
It was difficult for Kara to focus. For every moment she spent painting, she spent two more glancing at her phone. It rested on the bed next to her, tormenting her with silence. She had everything, and tomorrow it would be gone.
It was unbelievable, really. She'd gotten Sloane the job at the gallery, why couldn't she have just been grateful instead of sticking her nose where it didn't belong? Fraud and embezzlement, Sloane called it, and she wanted Kara to turn herself in. She always had to do the right thing, even when it didn't affect her at all. Some best friend, Kara thought with contempt. Where did such treachery fit on Sloane's moral compass?
Kara screwed the lid back onto the nail polish bottle and lay back, closing her eyes and letting the waves of emotion flow through her. Bitterness, uncertainty...was this fear? Why couldn't Sloane let this go? Why couldn't she just stay quiet? Just disappear? A smile tweaked the corners of her lips as she imagined wrapping her hands around her best friend's throat, silencing everything that she knew for good.
She felt a sudden clarity and her eyes snapped open. Why couldn't she disappear, she thought. That would solve everything. Sloane wouldn't tell anybody until tomorrow, and if there was one thing she could count on, it was her best friend's honesty. Kara felt a rush of adrenaline as she got out of bed, she pulled on her socks and boots and tucked the gun from her nightstand into the waist of her jeans. Her mind raced with plans.
She wouldn't shoot her, not with her own gun. That would leave a trace. The gun would just be for show. An image flashed through her mind of a construction site near the park. It would be abandoned until sunrise. She grabbed her purse and filled it as she walked around the apartment. Duct tape, leather gloves, a knife from the kitchen. She wrapped a trash bag around the knife to make a sheath before putting it in her purse, then went back to the bedroom for her phone. She took a breath to calm herself, then called Sloane.
"Kara?" Sloane's voice sounded wary, yet hopeful.
"Hey," Kara said. She paused, letting a bit of fear creep into her voice. "What are you up to?"
The question took Sloane off guard. "Nothing, just getting ready for bed." A few seconds of silence hung in the air. "What are you doing?"
"I thought about what you said. About...what I did and what..." Kara's voice cracked, she felt her eyes burn where tears would have been. "I have to turn myself in."
Silence. Kara took a breath and continued.
"I just...I just need to talk, you know? I want to tell you what happened. Sloane, I know I have no right to ask you this, but can we just talk? And then you can take me to...you know."
Sloane's voice was warm when she replied. She was so fucking nice, wasn't she? "Of course. You know I'm here for you."
Kara smiled. "Meet me at our spot in the park? In like half hour?" She could practically hear Sloane nodding, the self righteous smile on her face.
"Yeah. I'll meet you there. And Kara...you're doing the right thing."
Yes, Kara thought to herself as she hung up. I'm doing what's best.
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