Sword Play by Linda Joy Singleton

short of a natural disaster would stop me from listening.
    “All during the prom, I kept thinking about the contract, feeling guilty, and not able to enjoy myself. I was so nervous. Afterwards, Kip drove a few miles to a hotel, but I couldn’t make myself get out of the car. I panicked and couldn’t go through with it. He got all pissed and called me ugly names. I was crying, begging him to still love me, but he didn’t say anything and just dropped me off at my house. Then he sped off without saying goodbye … and I never saw him alive again.”
    “Oh, Aileen. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
    “Except reject the love of my life and send him to his death. That’s why it was wrong for anyone to blame you. I mean, I was the guilty one.”
    “Kip was the one driving and at fault. Not you. Or me. I’ve put it behind me—you should, too.”
    “How can I?” She sniffled, tears shining in her dark eyes. “Don’t you see? Kip was my soul mate. My perfect other half and the only guy for me.”
    “You’ll find someone else.”
    “Never. I’ll always love Kip.”
    “Oh, Aileen. You don’t mean that.”
    “But I do. I’ve pledged myself to stay true to him forever.” She tucked the chain back in her top, then reached out with cold fingers to touch my hand. “I will never date again.”

Never date again? I hoped Aileen wasn’t serious. But what if she was? Death had a ripple effect and could tragically hurt so many people. Life may go on, but with pieces missing.
    Feeling protective of Aileen, I kept what she told me in confidence. When Dominic asked what I’d learned, I just said Aileen was still grieving for Kip.
    But alone in my room, I thought over what she told me and realized something important. Aileen must be the girl —the one Kip wanted me to help. And now that I’d met her, I wanted to help her, too. She was too sweet to be miserable and lonely forever. I needed to convince her to get out and start living her life again. Maybe love again, too.
    I didn’t know how I’d accomplish this, but I’d figure out something now that I knew who Kip wanted me to help.
    At least I thought I knew—until a few hours later when Amy rushed into my room and announced that she’d found out who Kip wanted me to help.
    And it wasn’t Aileen.
    * * *
    Amy sat on the edge of my bed, her legs tucked underneath her, leaning forward with an eager expression. Her long dark hair was tied back in a purple scrunchie and she wore a T-shirt with a stack of books smashing a clock and the logo, “So Many Books. So Little Time.”
    “Aren’t you excited by what I found out?” she asked.
    I could only manage a weak nod.
    “I knew you’d be! I wanted to tell you last night, only we got home late and you were already asleep. Then this morning you left before I even got up. Mom was yelling cause your note didn’t say much. She says you have to stay put until she gets home from a church auxiliary meeting so you guys can talk.”
    “Just great,” I said with a gulp.
    “It’s no big deal, only stuff about school.”
    “That’s what worries me. Did she say which school?”
    “No.” Amy shook her head. “But she seems pleased with everything, so it can’t be that bad.”
    “I hope not. So tell me more about Leanna.”
    “You were right to suspect her.”
    I remembered telling Amy that Kip’s ghost asked me to help an unknown girl. At first I thought he meant Leanna. But that was before I met Aileen.
    My little sister scooted closer on my bed, pushing back a loose dark curl dangling around her excited face. “Leanna’s got a secret.”
    “What makes you think that?”
    “Yesterday while Ashley and I had manicures, Leanna’s mother was getting her hair permed a few chairs away and I heard major stuff.”
    “Eavesdropping?” I teased.
    “And darned good at it.” My little sister nodded proudly.
    “What’d you hear?”
    “Mrs. Hurst was talking loud since her head was under a dryer so it was easy to listen.