83 Days Since

Part 2- The Hero

Nick Goode knew how to keep a secret. He maintained his cool-guy persona as the most popular boy at Sunnyvale High and wise older brother to student body president, Will Goode. Due to their clear heads and quick actions, the Goode brothers emerged from the Nightwing Massacre as heroes.

"Please, Nick. Mom said I could go if you drove me." Will whined to his brother in the pristine hallway of their school.

"Nick, are you going to that shit party tonight?" Cheryl asked, eavesdropping from a few lockers away. Will gawked as Cheryl sweeps her bouncy blonde hair off her shoulder.

"Probably not," he smiled faintly, barely acknowledging her. 

"Too bad. I was excited to see you there. I've never been to Shadyside before." She walked away pointedly, ignoring the peering eyes of judgmental classmates and gossiping students. 

"She is so hot," Will admitted readily to his brother, watching every swing of Cheryl's disappearing body. 

"Did she say Shadyside?" Nick asked breathless, thinking back to his last experience in Shadyside. Maybe I'll see her , Nick thought selfishly. He last time he saw Ziggy, a paramedic had wheeled her bloodied, half-dead body away. He finally agreed to drive his annoying little brother to the party and immediately envisioned the thousands of ways tonight could play out. 

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Nick walked into the shabby house with the bomber jacket his mom bought him at the beginning of the school year. He liked the fur lining but the whole thing seemed to be trying too hard so he had buried it in his closet- until tonight. From the corner of his eye, he saw a mousy-girl already trying to revive someone on the torn couch. Someone is already drunk, he thought to himself judgmentally but Will, trailing behind Nick, just pointed and laughed. 

"Wow, isn't that.. it's that bitch from Camp. Shadysider trash, already drunk," Will laughed, making his way to find the keg as soon as possible. The party sounded around them actively as students from all over the area came to smoke, drink, and dance, with the promise of "slumming it" with the poor kids. 

Nick's heart skipped a beat and pushed his way to Ziggy's unconscious body. She looked so pale against the dirty upholstery. 

"Hi, do I know you?" The mousy girl asked, blocking his path. 

"No, uh. I just-" He knelled down to face Ziggy, "I know her-"

"No - Did Carter send you? I don't care. Zig- Ziggy, wake up! People are going to draw on your face if you don't wake up." Tracey sounded annoyed. 

"I won't let anyone draw on her" Nick promised 

 "Nick?" Ziggy gasped. 

"Yeah, hi, Ziggy. I haven't seen you since-" He trailed off uncomfortably. 

"What are you doing here?" Alerted by his presence, Ziggy immediately felt the panic that enveloped her that night eighty-three days ago. From behind him, Cheryl groaned for Nick to join the party. She resisted Will's attempts to dance with her. 

"Do you want to go somewhere quieter?" He interrupted, fighting the urge to place the palm of his hand against Ziggy's cheek affectionately. His hand reached out, inviting Ziggy to take it. She did not.