Chapter 1

I woke up, grabbed my phone from the nightstand, and turned off the alarm.

Truth be told, I was sick of "Without You" playing every morning. But as long as my roommate Casey Wren hated it, I wouldn't change it.

"Are you seriously not tired of this song?" Casey had complained more times than I could count, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I think it's catchy," I replied, forcing a smile to hide my annoyance.

"Your taste..." Casey rolled her eyes. "I just don't get the appeal of these kind of repetitive songs."

I usually just clamped up and gave her a peacekeeper's smile at this point—she fell for it every time, and it saved me from her endless ranting while still allowing me to get under her skin.

But today... I chuckled to myself. No more dealing with Casey's attitude or tiptoeing around her moods. "Without You" had served its purpose because...

Last night, I ended her life.

A future without Casey promised infinite possibilities.

Her room was, as expected, empty. After getting ready and putting on my best outfit, I left, filled with anticipation.

I was Zach Young's secret affair, but lately, he'd been getting cozy with Casey. This morning, without her in the picture, I had ample time to confess to Zach and make our relationship official.

By the afternoon, we'd be at the drama club's rehearsal together. Afterward, the director was set to announce the leads for the new play. Zach, being the star of the club, was a shoo-in for the male lead.

And without Casey, the female lead was undoubtedly mine.

What a perfect ending, a perfect beginning. All I needed was for Casey, the thorn in my side, to disappear, and everything would be mine.

Standing outside Zach's apartment building, I watched the elevator numbers descend eagerly, wishing time would move faster.

"Ding," the elevator doors slid open, and there she stood, blocking my way.

"Leah?" That voice was unmistakably hers. My eyes widened in shock, as if I'd seen a ghost. She cocked her head, silently questioning my silence.

After what felt like an eternity, I took a deep breath and whispered, "What are you doing here... Casey?"

"Me?" Casey's lips curled into a sly smile. "I spent the night at Zach's, remember? I told you over the phone."

"Oh, right... I forgot," I stuttered, my excuse feeble.

"Why are you here, Leah?" Casey asked, hands on her hips and a smirk on her face.

"I... I'm here to deliver a new script to Zach," I blurted out, the lie sounding even less convincing to my own ears.

Surprisingly, Casey believed it. With a wave of her hand and a quick "I'm heading back," she strode away.

Only when she was out of sight did I release the breath I'd been holding, the frustration and confusion pouring out of me. Yet, despite it all, my resolve to confess to Zach had vanished.

Casey was supposed to be dead. How was she standing before me, alive and well?