The only bad thing is the whole Gabe thing is still weird between Jordyn and me. Jordyn always makes a point to show me any texts he sends her. The texts are really no big deal. Just about assignments and Jordyn is always the one who texts him first.

Gabe and I still text using Violet’s phone. She even lent me her phone overnight so Gabe and I could text. Gabe and I also talk in person and that’s so much better than texting. Every morning Gabe and I walk into school together and he waits until I put my things into my locker. We don’t talk about anything special but it’s nice.

The green river was okay. It just tasted like 7Up but sour. I thought about going home and emailing JW44 and telling him that Susie Q’s still serves green rivers but then I remembered that I probably shouldn’t. What I should do is tell someone about him. A trusted adult. Not my mom or dad. They would freak out. Maybe Mr. Dover. But I know I won’t tell anyone about Joseph. He’s my secret.

The night that Violet let me borrow her phone, I used it to go to the DarkestDoor website to send Joseph a message. I told him I was using my friend’s phone and then Joseph said something that freaked me out a bit. He told me to take a picture of myself and send it to him. I got scared and told him I had to go. I didn’t talk to him for a few days.

But even when we aren’t sending messages back and forth, I’m thinking about Joseph. After I go to bed I make up conversations in my head. He always says the right things. He’s always there when I need him. I can almost feel him lying there next to me.

Case #92-10945

Case #92-10945

Direct message dated December 1, 2017,
via DarkestDoor.com

Corareef12:

Hey, I tried a green river. It was good!

JW44:

I TOLD YOU SO. DID YOU SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE SPECIAL?

Corareef12:

Just Jordyn and Violet.

JW44:

WE’LL HAVE TO HAVE ONE TOGETHER SOMETIME.

Corareef12:

Yeah, right.

JW44:

WHAT DO YOU MEAN? YOU DON’T THINK WE’LL EVER MEET IN PERSON?

Corareef12:

I think that once I’m done with the school project you’ll probably just forget about me.

JW44:

NO WAY. I’D NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN. HOW IS YOUR PROJECT GOING? I THOUGHT OF SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PRESENTATION. SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE KNOWS ABOUT. ARE YOU INTERESTED?

Corareef12:

Okay, tell me.

JW44:

WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR ME?

Corareef12:

What do you mean?

JW44:

IF I TELL YOU MY SECRET YOU HAVE TO TELL ME ONE OF YOURS.

Corareef12:

I don’t have any secrets.

JW44:

COME ON, EVERYONE HAS SECRETS. I’LL TELL YOU MINE IF YOU TELL ME YOURS.