It couldn't be. It couldn't. But I had to know.
I pushed myself up and walked slowly across the room. In the box was a screen name I didn't recognize.
Girl_with_a_Pearl: Reed?
My blood ran cold. As I watched, the computer bleeped again. Another message popped up.
Girl_with_a_Pearl: Reed? R U there?
I sat down in Natasha's chair. My mouth was clammy and sour. My fingers trembled.
Rbrennan391: who is this? Girl_with_a_Pearl: prove u r Reed.
My heart stopped beating.
Rbrennan391: how?
Girl_with_a_Pearl: ur middle name, brother's name, dog's name, u have 10 seconds.
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What the? How could I type that fast when I was about to quake to death?
Rbrennan391: Hyra, Scott, Hershey. WHO IS THIS???
There was a long pause. I sat there, petrified, waiting for the computer to tell me that Girl_with_a_Pearl had logged off. Then, suddenly, the bleep.
Girl_with_a_Pearl: It's Taylor. Whatever they told you about me is not true. It's all lies, Reed. All of it. You have to believe me. . . .
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CONFESSIONS
Here's more Kate Brian to read while you're waiting for coming in April 2007.