Chapter 5

Riley Residence

Tatum, Sidney and Stacey are in Tatum's room laying in the twin beds. Her room is a pretty standard teenage bedroom filled with posters and messy. The mahogany desk is directly in front of the beds and books and magazines cover the desk. Clearly, Tatum didn't use that desk to study.

The three girls are already in their pajamas and Tatum wears the most gigantic grin ever. "God, I loved it! I'll send you a copy. BAM! bitch went down." The blonde punches a blue teddy bear. "I'll send you a copy. BAM! Stace Super Bitch." Tatum laughs, earning an eyeroll from Sidney.

Stacey chuckles. "It felt good in the moment. She deserved it for taunting Sid."

Dewey appears in the doorway holding an ice pack. "I thought you might want some ice for that right hook." He hands to Stacey who smiles.

"Thanks, Dewey." She places the pack on her knuckles and winces.

"I'll be right next door. Try to get some sleep." He smiles at the girls.

Sidney sits up straight on the bed and turns to Dewey. "Any word on my dad?" She asks hopeful.

"Not yet, but we're looking." Dewey shakes his head softly. "If you need anything..."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." Tatum motions at her brother to leave and he smiles before closing the door.

Sidney lies on her back and places her feet at the head of the bed. "Just another sleepover at the Riley's." The brunette states.

"Just like old times, ain't it?" Tatum smiles widely.

"No, nothing's like it used to be." Stacey claims and looks at Tatum. "Sometimes I wish this was just some nightmare."

Tatum sits next to Stacey and puts one arm around her shoulders. "Stace, I know we haven't talked much but I just want you to know that you're still my best friend."

Stacey's green eyes fixate on Tatum's hazel ones. "Even after I stole your boyfriend?"

"How could you steal something that wasn't mine to begin with?" Tatum hugs her friend. "Stu was always crazy about you."

Sidney suddenly rolls over at her side and looks at her friends. "Do you really think Billy did it?" Tatum asks the brunette.

"He was there, Tatum." Sidney sighs.

"And he had a phone." Stacey states.

"I knew this guy was too perfect." Tatum nods. "He was destined to have a flaw."

"Too bad his flaw is being a secret psycho." Stacey rolls her eyes and Tatum chuckles while Sidney remains silent.

There's a soft knock at the door and an older woman peeks inside. It is Mrs. Riley. She smiles at the girls. "Telephone, dear."

"Who is it?" Tatum asks while knitting her brows together.

"It's for Stacey." The woman replies.

"My mom?" Stacey smiles and Mrs. Riley nods, causing the blonde to jump out of bed and running towards the phone. "Hello, mom."

"Hi, honey." Ellen greets her daughter. "Dewey sent me a message and I just got it. He said you were safe but were attacked at Sidney's house. What happened?"

Stacey takes a deep breath. "I got your note but I didn't feel like staying alone so I decided to go to Sidney's." Her hands start shaking. "The killer called and then attacked us."

"Do you need me, sweetheart?" Her mom asks.

"No. I'm staying at the Riley's and I feel safe." Stacey smiles softly. "Don't worry about me."

"Of course I worry. You're my only child." Ellen replies. "I called your father and he said he's coming to town."

Stacey groans in annoyance. "You didn't have to call dad."

"Honey, I have to go but I love you."

"I love you too, mom." Stacey hangs up and walks to Tatum's room. "My mom called my dad." She drops on the bed and breathes heavily.

Tatum sits straight and Sidney throws a pillow at Stacey. "Is your dad coming?" Tatum asks.

"I have no idea." Stacey replies, holding the pillow.

It has been two years since her parents divorced and the only time Stacey spends with her dad is during summer vacation when she visits him in Paris. This year, he introduced her Celine, his girlfriend. She felt bad cause her mom was still in bad shape after the divorce. She was blindsided. Joe Hastings filed the divorce papers because Ellen didn't have time for her family. It was true but she loved him deeply. Stacey felt like her dad just didn't want to save their marriage and chose to leave.

...

About twenty minutes later, Mrs. Riley knocks on the door and enters the bedroom. "You have a phone call, dear."

"Is it my mom again?" Stacey asks in annoyance.

The woman shakes her head and Tatum scoffs. "Then take a message."

Stacey gets out of bed. "It's alright. I'll get it." The blonde makes her way to the hall and grabs the phone, placing it against her right ear. "Hello?"

"Hello Stacey." Her green eyes widen in shock and confusion. It's the same voice that has terrorized for the past few days.

"What do you want?" She tries to remain calm.

"Poor Billy. An innocent guy just trying to help." He states in a mocking tone that angered Stacey.

"Leave me the fuck alone." Stacey yells, getting the attention of her friends.

"Looks like you and Sidney fingered the wrong guy." The man states.

Sidney and Tatum walk into the hall and look at their friend. "Who are you?" She asks all flustered.

"Hang up, Stace." Tatum warns her.

"Don't worry. You'll find out soon enough." He chuckles. "I promise."

Mrs. Riley bangs on a bedroom door and starts screaming in panic. "Dewey! Dewey!"

"This is gonna be fun, Stacey. Just like old times." The man says before hanging up.

Dewey opens the door in his boxers and holding his gun. "What?" He approaches Stacey who just stands there in the hall holding the phone. "What happened, Stacey?"

The blonde girl buries her face in his naked chest and cries. "He called." She looks at Sidney. "Billy is innocent."

Tatum and Sidney embrace Stacey and take her to the room. The girls try to distract their friend by discussing school and some major gossip until Stacey falls asleep.

...

The next day, Stacey wakes up feeling renewed and ready for a brand new day. She looks in the mirror and smiles, proud of her seemingly normal appearance. She is wearing a white long sleeve blouse underneath a red velvet dress and black tights paired with black platform shoes. Her long blonde hair is styled in a low bun, golden strands framing her face.

She goes downstairs to the kitchen and sits next to Sidney and Tatum. She notices Dewey is on the phone, looking a bit disappointed. Mrs. Riley serves some pancakes for breakfast and puts the syrup on the table. "I think you girls should really stay home today." The kind woman seems concerned.

"Your objection is duly noted." Tatum smirks as her mother shakes her head in disapproval.

"I'd rather be around a lot of people, Mrs. Riley." Stacey replies with a gentle smile.

"That's code for Stace missing her boyfriend." Sidney laughs and Stacey sticks her tongue out.

Tatum pats Stacey's back. "I'm sure your precious Stuart is going insane without you." The green eyed blonde smiles and nods as she pours syrup on her fluffy pancakes.

Something gets the girls' attention as they all turn to the small TV in the kitchen. "Stacey Hastings who escaped a vicious attack last night was also in the house when Steve Orth and Casey Becker were brutally killed." A picture of Maureen Prescott is seen on screen. "It was only last year that Maureen Prescott was savagely raped and tortured by Cotton Weary." A picture of him appears on screen. He was attractive. "Cotton Weary is currently waiting appeal for the death sentence handed down after the young Sidney Prescott testified against him. She was the key witness in the state's prosecution..."

"It's never gonna stop, is it?" Sidney asks, angry at the news.

"You fingered the wrong guy..." Stacey whispers.

Sidney turns to her friend. "What?"

"Last night... the killer said I fingered the wrong guy and it made me think of how you identified Cotton." Stacey looks down. "What if he's trying to prove that Cotton is innocent?"

"I saw him." Sidney states loudly. "Are you saying I lied?"

Dewey gets off the phone and turns to the girls, not noticing the tension in the kitchen. "Billy was released." He informs with a livid stare. "His cellular bill was clean. He didn't make those calls."

"Somebody's messing with me, Dewey. I'm not making it up." Stacey looks at him with pleading eyes.

"I know." He looks at her with compassion. "We're checking every cellular account in the county. "Any calls made to you or Casey Becker are being cross referenced. It's gonna take time but we'll find him."

"And my dad? Any word on him?" Sidney asks with a worrying tone. Dewey just shakes his head and the girl looks down at her feet.

...

Woodsboro High School

Dewey pulls up in front of Woodsboro High. Tatum and Sidney hop off the car while Stacey stays behind, slightly unsure.

"Hey, it's school. You'll be safe here." Dewey reassures the blonde with a soft smile.

Stacey smiles and gets out of the car, immediately being questioned by a reporter. "How does it feel to almost be brutally murdered?"

Dewey jumps of the car and puts himself in front of Stacey, protecting her. "Leave the girl alone, will ya? She wants to go to school."

Stacey eyes her surroundings and spots Gale Weathers outside the news van. "Come on, Stace." Tatum calls her.

"Just a sec. I need to talk to someone." The blonde replies and Sidney notices she's talking about Gale and decides to join her friend.

The two girls approach the news van while Gale is sitting, retouching her makeup to cover the small bruise Stacey gave her. Gale spots them and stands up, somewhat fearful of the duo. "Stop right there." She shouts.

Stacey throws her hands in the air. "I'm not here to fight." She states calmly.

"Just stay back." Gale retorts.

"I want to talk to you." Stacey says in a shy demeanor, something unusual for such a confident young woman.

Gale turns to the van and starts yelling. "Kenny. Camera. Now."

Kenny turns to face Gale and then reaches for the camera. "Off the record. No cameras." Stacey demands.

"Forget it." Gale scoffs.

"You owe me." Stacey says with a serious look in her eyes.

"I owe you shit."

Sidney takes a step closer and glares at Gale. "You owe my mother."

Gale looks at Sidney with her piercing blue eyes. "Your mother's murder was last year's hottest court case. Somebody was gonna write a book about it." The reporter explains coldly.

"And it had to be you with all your lies and bullshit theories." Sidney is pissed off.

"What is your problem?" Gale steps in front of Sidney. "You got what you wanted. Cotton Weary is in jail. They're gonna gas him. A book is not gonna change that." She seems genuinely concerned.

"Do you really think he's innocent?" Stacey asks, knowing it pains Sidney.

Gale eyes the girls suspiciously. "He was convicted in a court of law." She points at Sidney. "Your testimony put him there. It doesn't matter what I think."

"During the trial, you did all those stories about me." Sidney looks down, trying to contain her tears. "You called me a liar."

"I think you falsely identified him." Gale confirms. "Yes."

Stacey holds Sidney's hand. "Have you talked to Cotton?" The blonde asked.

"Many times." Gale nods.

"Has his story changed?" Stacey was well aware of his claims.

"Not one word." The reporter explains. "He admits to having sex with Maureen but it's all."

Sidney starts crying and clenches her fists. "He's lying. She wouldn't have touched him." Her face is red and puffy. "He raped her, then butchered her. Her blood was all over his coat."

"He was drunk that night." Gale retorts. "He left his coat at your house, after your mother seduced him..."

The brunette interrupts Gale. "I saw him leaving, wearing it."

Stacey turns to her friend, guilt in her green eyes. "It could've been someone else wearing his coat. The same person who framed Billy."

"Yeah... The same person who planted it in Cotton's car, framing him. The same person who really killed your mother." Gale says in agreement.

Sidney wipes the tears from her face with the back of her hand. "No, Cotton murdered my mother." She turns around and starts walking towards Tatum.

Gale stares at Stacey. "You believe Cotton is innocent, don't you?" She asks.

Stacey looks at her friend and nods. "Sidney believes it was Cotton."

Tatum comes up and glares at Gale. "Nice welt." She smirks.

The reporter ignores her remark and steps closer to Stacey. "The killer is still on the loose, isn't he?" She smiles. "These murders are related."

"Yo, let's rock." Tatum call Stacey.

"I'm sorry I mangled your face." Stacey apologizes.

"Wait, Stacey... don't go." Gale pleads but it's too late.

Stacey, Tatum and Sidney walk away across campus while the reporters try to get statements from the other students. "You completely threw me under the bus." Sidney accuses Stacey.

"I truly believe these murders are connected." Stacey confirms. "The killer said I fingered the wrong guy, the same expression some reporters used to accuse you of falsely identifying Cotton."

"Yeah, but Cotton did it. I know it. I saw him." Sidney explains angrily.

Stacey places her hand on Sidney's shoulder. "Look, I'm not saying you lied. But it's weird that the killer is taking credit for a murder he didn't commit. Most serial killers brag about their kills." She sighs in defeat. "I'm sorry I didn't have your back."

"Just relax now. You're at school. No on can get you here." Tatum reassures her friends.

"But if it wasn't Billy, it could be anyone." Stacey replies. "He could be here at school right now." She looks at her surroundings, expecting to see someone act suspicious.

The three girls see a figure wearing a white mask pass right in front of them, which makes Stacey jump. "Serial killers are smart by definition." Tatum states. "They minimize their risk. They plan and pre-calculate everything. Showing up here would be the most lame brain move he could make." She finishes her explanation.

"He promised me he would be back." Stacey remembers what Ghostface told her on the phone last night.

Tatum embraces her friend. "I wouldn't put too much stock in a psycho's promise."

"Yeah." Sidney agrees. "We're safe here, Stace."

"Do you forgive me, Sid?" Stacey pleads with a small pout.

Sidney smiles and links her arm with Stacey's. "You're my best friend and nothing is going to change that."

"The trio is back together." Tatum cheers with a huge smile plastered on her perfect face.

Suddenly, Stacey spots that damn white mask and takes a step back, bumping into another masked figure. She screams and the two masked people laugh while running away. "Those fuckers." Sidney gets mad.

"I have a feeling this is just starting." Stacey looks around and moves her hand to her chest. Why was the killer targeting her? It's not like he wants to kill her. He had two chances of ending her life and decided to let her live. He even called her his final girl. She was more worried about her friends, especially Sidney. All she wanted was to find her boyfriend and let him hold her in his strong and familiar arms.