Page 49 of Terminal Voyage

“This is the same shit you did in high school. All this drama. All this psychic bullshit. You always had to be the center of attention.”

“What?” Vanessa always had to be the center of attention.

“It was your move to get any guy you wanted. Create drama, play the victim, get rescued by the knight in shining armor.”

“That’s not true.”

“That’s how you got my boyfriend.”

“It is not. I didn’t steal your boyfriend. Trent came on to me at Becky’s party. I turned him down.”

“Not what I heard.”

I sighed in frustration. “People can say whatever they want. Doesn’t make it true.”

She glared at me.

“Why are we still talking about high school? I thought we put the past behind us?”

Vanessa shrugged.

There was a long silence.

I broke the tension and said, "Don't you find it the least bit odd that my regulator failed?”

"I think it's unusual, yes. But things like that happen."

"I think someone's trying to get rid of me.”

She balked. "Oh my God, are you serious?"

"Yes, I'm serious.”

"Who stands to gain by your demise?"

I looked at her like she was an idiot. "Isn't it obvious?”

She finally caught on. Her eyes narrowed at me. "Are you saying Declan sabotaged your regulator?”

I shrugged. "The thought had crossed my mind.”

Vanessa sneered at me. "No. Just no. Don't even go there. I don't want to hear any of that nonsense.”

I stood there like a child scolded.

Vanessa growled in frustration. "Are we going to have a problem?”

After a long pause, I said, "No. No problem. I'm just trying to talk through things with my friend."

"Well, maybe you shouldn't talk about every crazy thought that runs through your head.”

My jaw dropped, and I huffed. I was so mad and hurt. My throat tightened, and my eyes filled. I sat down on the edge of the bed and sobbed. "I just don't know what's wrong with me. I don't know if I'm losing my mind or what."

24

Vanessa softened and took a seat next to me. She put a comforting hand on my back. "I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean to attack you. I know you're on edge. My God, I’d be totally freaked out right now if my regulator failed. But nobody's trying to kill you. Nobody killed a woman named Kate on this boat. Just put all that stuff out of your mind. I think once you let all this stress go, you’re going to feel a lot better.”

I nodded.