Five Total Strangers

Brecken demands everyone get out of the SUV so they can search the bags. Brecken accuses Kayla of being the thief because she is the only one not missing anything. They all argue over the search, not trusting any person to conduct the search. Mira suggests they all empty their own bags. Mira empties her bag first, revealing a few art supplies and toiletries. Josh goes next, revealing a couple more books, some snacks, and school supplies. Harper is next, with clothing, toiletry bags, and a hair straightener. Kayla has a couple crumpled dresses and an old ID, but she panics and begins searching her own things, clearly missing something but refusing to say what. Brecken’s bag is the opposite of Harper’s messy bag, carefully packed and organized. Inside is Josh’s missing book.

An anonymous letter dated June 12 accuses Mira of ignoring or avoiding the writer. The writer knows she has been working on a bleak painting of a carnival and believes that it depicts the letter writer as part of the crowd. The writer insists that they can’t wait much longer to be together.