Page 4 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

“You’re the one who wasbest friendswith the killer.”

Tobey might do something crazy, like assume Jun is on Amelia’s side, but I’m not Tobey. I know Jun, even if I’m not fond of him. I’ve shared a stage with him. There’s no way he’s the killer... even if the two of them seemed quite cozy at the end.

That seemed to be Amelia’s game. Make a friend and kill them. For all I know, he was next on her list.

I believe I’ve disarmed him, but I don’t feel any triumph. Reminding him of his late friend is a low blow.

Jun averts his gaze in favor of a spot on the floor. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I should back down. But I won’t.

“You don’t have the best taste in friends.”

“And?”

“Forgive me for not wanting your advice on the matter.”

“You’re not forgiven.”

“Oh, no.” I gasp. “Whatever shall I do without the forgiveness of the great Jun-seong Park?”

His expression goes flat. “Continue suffering, I hope.”

In perfect timing, Tobey and Caldwell approach. There’s a camera in Tobey’s hand and a smile on her face as she meanders toward us.

“See anything suspicious?” she asks, shoving the camera into my face.

Her dark French bob has been made messy by the windy day, her blunt bangs in different directions, framing earnest brown eyes. The rest of her is utterly perfect: brown-checkered pants, covered by a matching cardigan.

I am grateful to have my friendship with Tobey, and we’re stronger than ever, but she’s annoying now that she’s working on her little Strode documentary. Or maybe I’m just not in the mood. I love acting, but reality television has never been a dream of mine.

“As much as the camera loves me”—I gently push it away—“I don’t want it in my face right now.”

Capturing my guilt and disappointment on camera doesn’t sound glamorous. I give Jun a brief, wary glance. Not only is Tobey trying to film my misery, but she’s talking about the documentary in front of Jun, who knows nothing about what we’re doing.

All he knows—all anyone on campus knows—is that we stopped Amelia. The murderer. Would they believe us about the rest? That there may be more people waiting to kill, for reasons we still haven’t discovered?

“But—” Tobey starts.

“There’s nothing suspicious here,” I say. “That’s all.”

Jun holds his head higher, the pained look slipping off his face as if it were never there.

“Sorry.” Tobey passes the camera to her dutiful boyfriend—Caldwell.

Caldwell and I are friends now, I think. There’s no reason for me to mistrust him anymore, and as long as he doesn’t hurt Tobey, I suppose I don’t have any complaints. But I’m always keeping my eye on him, as I would anyone Tobey dates, and I make sure he knows it.

“We should go now.” Caldwell gives me a pointed look. “We only have an hour for lunch.”

Right. I have plans with them, but I’m not happy about it. Not anymore. Nothing can make me happy now that my dreams are dying, and Jun has put me in a particularly foul mood.

He’s smiling, as smug as ever.

It’s as if I can read his thoughts:there you go, being a third wheel again.

“I’m sure you were just about to go,” Jun says.

“Yes.” I lift my head higher, tossing my hair over my shoulder. “I was actually, and I am. Goodbye.”