Blurry

By Sherri Fulmer Moorer

What happens when Little Miss Perfect’s life is turned upside down? Rachel Shull is about to find out. A year ago she broke up with her boyfriend, Danny, over suspicions that he was hiding something from her. Now Rachel’s life is full of accomplishment, achievement, friends, and even a boyfriend. It all seems perfect, until a childhood friend dies in a tragic accident. When it’s discovered that Danny had a heated argument with Kirsten shortly before her death, suspicions about his double life resurface. As the case unfolds and tragedy strikes people close to Rachel, she discovers that Danny isn’t the only one with dangerous secrets. Life in the small town of Woodland, South Carolina becomes blurry with lies and deceit, and Rachel finds herself questioning everybody; even her new boyfriend.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781613090251

Sherri Fulmer Moorer

What is reality? Do we experience it, or create it? Or, in a universe of expansion and chaos, is it a canvas where we experience all possibilities of existence?Welcome to a place where you can explore the fragile state of reality. Where every thought, word, decision, and action are steps to break or create the nature of what is real. Where all things work together in the multidimensional flow of reality to make all things are possible.

Book preview

Sherri Fulmer Moorer

A Wings ePress, Inc.

Young Adult Novel

Edited by: Jeanne Smith

Copy Edited by: Joan Powell

Senior Editor: Anita York

Executive Editor: Marilyn Kapp

Cover Artist: Jinger Heaston

All rights reserved

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Wings ePress Books

Copyright © 2011 by Sherri Fulmer Moorer

ISBN 978-1-61309-025-1

Published by Wings ePress, Inc. at Smashwords

Published In the United States Of America

Wings ePress Inc.

3000 N. Rock Road

Newton, KS 67114

Dedication

First and foremost, I want to thank God for giving me the inspiration to write this book. We did it!

This book is dedicated to my family: My husband, Rick; my parents, Freddie and Kay Fulmer; and my brother and sister-in-law, Stephen and Nicole Fulmer. Thank you for your constant support of my writing and for all I do.

Prologue

Kirsten checked her watch, shifting around nervously. Jake was late. He always kept her waiting. She shouldn’t put up with it. Didn’t he know how dangerous it was for a young woman to wait outside a dark building, alone? Yet she did it again and again, knowing it was wrong.

In more ways than one.

She was taking her cell phone out of her purse when she heard footsteps. Blowing a sigh of relief, she snapped it shut.

It’s about time you showed up… she trailed off, dropping her phone.

Danny smiled as he rounded the corner. Waiting for someone?

What are you doing here? Kirsten snapped, pushing her blonde hair behind her ear. I thought you had a race tonight.

He smiled and threw up his hands in an exaggerated shrug. I’m just taking a stroll on a winter evening. It seems a lot of action takes place around here on the weekend. I figured I might as well have a piece of it. He looked around. What are you doing here?

Kirsten tried to suppress a shudder. Even in the dark, she swore his red hair and green eyes were flaring like they always did when he got angry. She straightened up and looked him in the eye. I’m meeting a friend who’s helping me with some stuff.

Danny laughed. The heck you are. He grabbed her arm and slammed her against the wall. Why don’t you be straight with me, Kirsten? We’re in the back of the University dorms! Just admit it. You’re here to meet your other boyfriend!

She tried to wiggle free but knew she wouldn’t succeed when his grip tightened. Looking around, she saw the alley was empty. Where was Jake? Shouldn’t he be here by now? It was clear there would be no happy ending. Her plans were ruined. She had to fend for herself. You can’t handle the truth, she hissed, glaring at Danny.

Danny laughed again and loosened his grip. Would I be here if I couldn’t handle the truth?

Kirsten sighed. You want it straight? Fine! I’m meeting a guy here.

Why are you hooking up with guys on campus when you have a boyfriend at home?

Don’t do this, Danny. This is awkward enough. Look, it’s over between us. She glanced around. Why don’t you just leave?

He grabbed her by both shoulders and slammed her against the wall again, hard enough that she saw spots. She cried out in pain.

Why, Kirsten? Why did you do this to me? What have I done to deserve this?

She laughed bitterly. I did it because I hate you. You’re an awful person!

Her laughter was cut off by a slap. The force of it knocked her down. Fortunately, the spots had cleared. She grabbed her phone and dashed for her car. Danny was right behind her, and she knew she couldn’t outrun him. Looking around, she saw a stack of bricks against the building from construction on the adjacent parking garage. She grabbed a few and threw them at Danny. Luck was with her. He dodged every brick except the last one, which hit him in the stomach. He stopped and doubled over, giving her enough time to dash around the corner and jump in her car. She started the engine just as Danny threw himself on the hood. Screaming, she shifted the car in reverse and slammed the gas pedal against the floor. It worked – the inertia threw him off the car. Backing into the road, she breathed a prayer of relief for the fact that no traffic was coming. Once she was on the road, she picked up her cell phone and checked it. Thankfully, the damage was mostly cosmetic. The battery needed to be snapped back into place, but otherwise there were only a few scratches. She squeezed it, hesitating. Who should she call? Jake had abandoned her. Most of her friends were an hour away. She remembered that Rachel and Natalie were on campus for Band Clinic. Maybe they could help. They used to be friends but drifted apart since she and Danny started dating. That was natural. It’s hard being friends with someone when you’re dating her ex-boyfriend. Shaking her head, Kirsten realized she had little choice. They were all she had right now. She flipped open the phone and dialed a number she was surprised she still had in her contact list.

Hi, this is Rachel. I’m at Band Clinic, so I won’t be able to talk to you until Monday. Have a great weekend!

Just her luck; she got voicemail. Natalie recently got a new cell phone and she didn’t have the new number, so it was Rachel or nothing.

Rachel, this is Kirsten. I know I’m the last person you expect to hear from, but I need your help. I just broke up with Danny and he’s angry. I barely got away from him, and I’m scared. It’s nine o’clock Saturday night. I’m on campus. I was hoping you could let me stay with you and Natalie tonight. Please give me a call if you get this message. She snapped the phone closed. She pressed the brake at a curve in the road, but the car wasn’t slowing.

Now what? She asked to no one in particular. She put more pressure on the brake, but it went straight to the floor and nothing happened. She panicked as she saw a road sign indicating a curve ahead. She knew there was a bridge over a river just around that curve. She pumped her brakes and tried to pull her car toward the shoulder on the opposite side of the road but a car coming around the curve forced her to swerve. Her car spun out of control. She tried to pull up the parking brake but it was too late.

She screamed as the car bounced down the cliff, into the cold water below.

Rachel’s Blog Entry: Sunday, March 2

Time: 9:30 P.M.

Mood: Ecstatic!

Band clinic was the best ever! I had a great time, and I finally made Honors Band this year. I met so many great people, and a lot of them are going to the University next year. It’ll be great to already have friends when I start in August. I’m surprised more people from Woodland aren’t going there–it’s only an hour away. But most of my friends are going to school out of state or to Technical College. Natalie told me an agent in New York is interested in signing her after graduation, so she’ll be leaving. I was hoping she’d change her mind about modeling and go to the University with me, but it looks like that won’t happen. It’s a great opportunity for her, and I know she’s dreamed of being a model her whole life.

The good news is that I made a lot of friends over the weekend. Be sure to check my webpage for pictures of me, Natalie and the gang. My favorite is the one we took just before we left the hotel for the concert last night. One of the hotel employees took it so I could be in it. That’s Layne with me a (saxophone player from Westwind Mountain, just a little over an hour west of us–he’s going to the University next year). There’s also Natalie (a clarinet player, and my partner in crime at Woodland High) with Layne’s friend Brooks (a drummer, he’s a junior and hasn’t decided on a college yet), Cecelia, or Cici (a clarinet player, from Palmetto Beach–she’s going to the University next year), Darren (a trumpet player from Columbia–he’s a sophomore) and Maggie (another flute player from Columbia, she’s a junior but will be at the University in a couple of years). Aren’t we hilarious, in black dresses and suits? Honors Band is the only one that plays with a full orchestra. The other bands don’t have a strings section. I loved it.

Good times and hope for future friendships to develop–but unfortunately tomorrow is back to reality. For some reason, I dread it. I don’t know why. I’ll be glad to see my friends, but I’ve been living in a dream world since Band Clinic started Wednesday and I’m not ready to return to the same old stuff tomorrow. I don’t know; I have an ominous feeling about going back. I’m sure it’s the blues. I’ve looked forward to Band Clinic every year, and this was my last time going. Plus, it was so much fun to be with new people on campus. Now I’m looking forward to college more than ever!

Yes, time to get back to the real world. At least I have hope. Graduation is closer each day, and my life will change drastically after that.

Bye!

Rachel

One

Welcome back to reality, Rachel Shull heard as she dug her Psychology book out of her locker. She turned to see her best friend, Natalie Bruin, standing beside her.

Welcome back indeed. I didn’t miss lugging around this load.

Natalie laughed and adjusted the strap on her book bag. Me either. I could have stayed there forever. Then again, I suppose it’ll be reality for you soon.

Not soon enough. Check this out, Rachel said, pulling a picture out of her book bag.

Natalie squealed with delight. The picture! You got it printed already!

The pharmacy on Main Street does prints. That’s your copy.

I suppose your copy is on your bedside table? Natalie asked with a twinkle in her eye.

Rachel smiled. Of course.

Who’s the hippie? a voice boomed behind them. They turned to see Joshua Miles shaking his dark brown hair out of his eyes.

Good morning, Josh,