Forever After Never (Pine Harbour #1)

Prologue

Autumn

W ith my headphones in, I tried to block out the noise coming from the other end of the student halls.

Along with that noise, my telephone had almost vibrated itself off the end of the desk as it had rung at least five times in the last hour.

The overstimulation hit an all-time high.

“Ughhh, just leave a damn voicemail. I am studying.” I think the words out loud.

As much as I wanted to ignore it, the constant buzzing at the end of the desk and the racket from the atrocious music three rooms down was as irritating as a fly stuck in a lampshade. The more I tried to ignore it, the more annoying it got.

With a bin lorry added to the mix outside, I had just about had enough. When my phone rang for the sixth time, I slammed my headphones on the desk and reached for the telephone. As I swiped my phone from the desk, there was a sharp knock at my door. What now? I don’t think I am meant to study today. I’m not expecting anyone at all.

“Just a minute,” I shout with a little more irritation than I intended.

I open the door, and two police officers greet me.

“Miss Andrews?”

“Um, yes?”

“Miss Andrews, may we come in?” One of the officers says while removing his hat.

The tone of his voice is serious. My stomach drops into my feet, and I know to the depths of my soul that he is here to deliver unwelcome news.

Me: Ali, where are you? Answer you phone right now! Please. I really need to talk to you.

Alice: Hey, Queen, what's up? Sorry, I was working. Give me half an hour to get home, and I'll call you back.

Me: Alice, my mum and dad are dead.