For Nevermore Season 1

like “met wewy goo” through her filled mouth. “It’s from our new neighbor across the street. She’s lived in Aurora Falls for like an hour and a half, and already knows where to get better Italian sausage than Josie after living here forever. Want some?” Noella held her fork out for Mako.
    “Um, gross, no. I wouldn’t eat that if you paid me.” Mako opened her lunchbox and pulled out a different version of the same healthy lunch she always had — a high-protein sandwich on wheat bread, and a strawberry banana smoothie (with flax seed) from her thermos. “So is this the new neighbor who’s your cash cow for the new babysitting job?”
    “Mmmm-hmmmm,” Noella said, still chewing. She swallowed, then added, “Yeah, the girl’s name is Tori, and she’s pretty awesome. I really like hanging out with her, even though she’s only eight. Her mom, Jen, pays me the same as I was making at Keefer’s, but without the crappy hours, gross old coffee grounds, or having to wait tables for EnvyUs.”
    “Not to mention none of the murders,” Mako said. If it had been anyone else, the comment would have made Noella bristle at best and be furious at worst. But it was Mako, so she broke into a fit of laughter instead.
    “Yeah, not to mention the murders,” she agreed.
    Mako’s phone buzzed in her backpack, loud enough for them both to hear. She pulled it from the side pocket, looked at the screen, then raised her eyebrows at Noella. “It’s Sam,” she said.
    “What’s it say?” Noella leaned across the table to look at Mako’s text.

    “Hey Mako. Home sick 2day. Noella with you? Got her message yesterday and want 2 talk.”

    “What message?” Mako asked.
    Noella looked at the table, then dropped her forehead into her palm. “Oh my God, I actually thought that maybe Sam wasn’t at school because he was avoiding me, and now he wants to talk to me? No way.” She shook her head. “Tell him I’m not here. Tell him I moved to Japan.”
    “What did you say in the message?” Mako pressed the question, eyebrows raised as if Noella was about to deliver the juiciest secret ever shared between them.
    Noella sighed. “Only that I was pretty much in love with him and had been for forever.”
    “No way!” Mako gasped. “Really?”
    “Wish I was lying.”
    “Wow,” Mako was still shaking her head. “Holy crap! You ever hear of maybe dropping hints, testing the waters and such? Wow.”
    “I dunno what came over me,” Noella said. “Text him back. Tell him I’m not here.”
    “I can’t tell him you’re not here, Noella. He’ll know I’m lying. When have we not had lunch together in the history of like ever? Do you think it’s a coincidence he picked now to text me? He almost never texts me.”
    Noella’s skin was a new shade of blue, and she looked like she was close to hyperventilating. “Tell him I went to the bathroom. Everyone has to pee, even best friends. Actually, tell him it was number two. That oughta buy me a few extra minutes.”
    Mako’s thumb danced across the screen as she laughed.
    “I’ll tell him you have explosive diarrhea,” Mako said with an evil grin.
    “Don’t you dare!” Noella said.
    Mako showed the screen to Noella:

    “She went to the bathroom. Want me to have her call you when she gets out? Should be soon. Not sure if it’s #1 or #2!”

    “Ha-ha,” Noella said, laughing. “Go ahead. Send it.”
    Mako hit “send.” A few seconds later, her phone buzzed:

    “Yes please...”

    “What do you think he’s going to say?” Mako asked.
    “I have no idea,” Noella shook her head. “But I’m not sure I wanna find out. Seriously, I feel sick now.”
    “Are you gonna call him back?”
    Noella didn’t get a chance to answer. She opened her mouth, but she swallowed her words when she looked up and saw Becca standing in front of their table, her face red and brow in a knot, with Vicky just behind her.
    Becca leaned into the table, her eyes on Noella. Vicky leaned in a few inches behind. “Listen, you freak,” she snarled, “you need to stay away from Sam. He doesn’t like you, and he never will. He thinks you’re a pathetic basket case. Everyone in the whole school thinks you’re a pathetic wacko loser.”
    Noella’s throat trapped her voice, and shoved it down to the bottom of her belly. She and Becca had managed to pretty much completely ignore one another without ever having any sort of direct, personal conflict. But this was as in-her-face as