Free Blue Is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz Page B

her breath. "Drea, are you okay?"
    But her eyes aren't even focused on the package. They're focused on the salmon-pink words that are sprawled across the mirror. Someone wrote them using the lipstick she placed to her lips only minutes ago: I'M WATCHING YOU, DREA.

twelve.
    "Drea?" I cup her shoulder. 'Are you okay?"
    She manages a nod but continues to wheeze. I take her hand and lead her away from the mirror, away from the pink smear of lipstick scribbled across.
    This seems to help her a bit. After a few seconds, her gasping becomes less violent, less desperate. "We'll get through this," I assure her, but I'm not even sure she hears me. Her eyes are closed, like she's concentrating hard on catching her breath. "I'm here."
    But so was the person who left this gift. I look toward the door. I absolutely hate it that the shower room is on the ground floor of our building. If the exit door out in the hallway is unlocked, which it often is when the maintenance people are cleaning, it's like anybody can just walk in here from outside.
    I wonder if anyone saw who did this. If it has anything to do with that guy Drea's been talking to.
    But maybe it's not even a him. Maybe it's some girl who has a crush on Chad, but can't get to him because of Drea.

    Maybe someone like me.
    I brainstorm a mental list of all the girls who've crushed on Chad during the past year. But, aside from myself and Drea, the only one I can think of is Veronica Leeman. Veronica, who was here only minutes ago, who spat out her toothpaste at Drea and bitched at us for flashing her father.
    "Drea, are you all right?" I squeeze her china-doll fingers.
    She nods. "Panic attack. I haven't had one since middle school."
    "Do you want to go see the nurse?"
    "No. I just want to know who did this. Let's open it," she says, referring to the package.
    'Are you sure?"
    She nods and wipes the trickle of tears that's sliding down her cheeks. "I have to know" She slowly meanders her way to the wrapped-up gift, then turns to look at me. "Will you help me?"
    "Do you want me to open it?"
    She nods. "I'll open the card, you open the present. Deal?"
    "Deal." I sit down on the bench with the package on my lap the small, white envelope with Drea's name, facing up. I deposit the envelope into her hand and watch as she tears it open with her thumb. She pulls out a folded piece of lined paper, the jagged edges freshly torn from someone's spiral notebook.
    She unfolds it, smoothes out the creases, and reads the message. "This doesn't make sense.- She's shaking her head and scrunching up her face.
    "What does it say? Can I see it?"
    But she doesn't move or answer.
    "Drea?" I pry the note from her fingers. It's written like Chad's--in block lettering with a red marker--FOUR MORE DAYS.
    I look at her--at the fresh tears that stain her cheeks. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and rub the length of her hair and back, the way my grandmother used to hug me. "We don't have to open the box now," I whisper. "We can wait until after school, when we feel better. Or I can open it by myself later."
    "No," she says, wiping at her face. "Open it now. I have to know now"
    I nod, fully understanding how she feels. I have to know too.

    I pull the ribbon free of the package, then slowly work at the wrapping, untaping the panels with care, trying to sense any vibrations coming from the paper. When the package is finally free, lying across my lap is a long, white cardboard box. I smile, somewhat relieved, but I have no idea why. I look up at Drea--she shares that same look. I
    remove the cover and look down at the contents: four freshly cut lilies.
    "Lilies," Drea says, swallowing. "The death flower. Isn't that what you said?"
    I nod. There's no use lying anymore. Strength comes with honesty.
    "So, four lilies. Four days till death, right?" Drea's lips tremble, but instead of crying she starts laughing, hysterical laughter. She plucks a lily from the box and bats it against her nose. "I guess he was too