It was Supposed to be Us

Six

POV-Luke

After the cops left, we sat with Mr. Mercer for a couple minutes, watching. We didn't have a specific reason for staying. It just felt wrong to leave after he heard about our deaths. He took us in for a few months. We can't just leave unless he's okay.

After a few minutes, Mr. Mercer began to pray to Alex. He was mumbling and crying, and Reggie and I didn't know how to comfort him since we couldn't touch him or speak to him in any way. So we just left, and it hurt just leaving him there on his own. We felt like we owed him so much, but there's nothing we can do when we're nobodies. Hell, we're less than nobodies. We have no bodies.

I grabbed Reggie's hand and led him out the door. Thankfully, the cops were still there. We climbed into the backseat and Reggie laid his head on my shoulder while Athena and Carlos spoke to each other about where they're going next.

"Luke?" Reggie whispered.

"What's up, my love?" I asked, turning so I could see him.

"This hurts," his voice cracked. "I don't want to go to the rest of these. We still have Willie, my parents, and yours. I don't want to deal with the pain of my dad not caring, my mom breaking, and your parents. . . I can't stand to see you hurting like that. And I don't even know where Alex is. . ."

"Hey," I turned and cupped his face in my hands. He looked at me just as tears started to roll down his cheeks. "It's going to be okay. I know it hurts but maybe when we're there they can feel our presence and it helps them. We don't know. So, yes, baby, it's going to hurt, but I'm here with you every step of the way. I'm not going anywhere. I'll help you get through this, okay? We're not going to these places to benefit ourselves, we're going to hopefully help them know that even though we left, we're not going anywhere."

Reggie nodded, but I could still see the clear pain he was in. I kissed his forehead and pulled him into a hug, letting him cry into my chest. He'stold me before that when he's upsset, just my scent makes him feel better. And, no, I'm not suffocating him, just holding him close.

Carlos and Athena got back into the car and started driving. The drive was short and quiet, but once we turned onto a specific road that I didn't know the name of, I knew exactly whose house was next.

POV-Willie

"You can see me?" Alex asked again.

Of course I can see him, what kind of crack is he on?

There was a loud knock on the front door, I went out to see who it was, but my mom had already answered the door. So I just listened to the conversation.

"Hi," I heard a woman speak. "Are you Madison Stewart?"

"Yes," my mom responded. "What's wrong?"

"We'd like to speak to your son, William," the woman replied. "And don't worry, he's not in trouble."

My mom nodded and turned to call me, but stopped when she saw me standing there, pale as a ghost. Who could possibly want to speak to me?

Alex walked up next to me.

"You should probably go," he said to me.

I nodded to him and walked to the door where my mom stood. On the doorstep was two officers. I swear whatever they're about to accuse me of, it wasn't me.

"William," the male officer spoke. "Would you mind stepping outside?"

I stepped outside with them, they walked into the driveway, so I shut the door and followed them. I couldn't see Alex anymore. I had no idea where he went. So it was just the cops and I.

"I'm Athena Grant," the woman introduced herself, "and this is my partner, Carlos Reyes."

"I'm Willie," I replied, my voice shaking with fear just like my body.

"We know you and Alex Mercer were in a relationship, which is why we're here," Athena started. My heart sank. What did Alex say?

"But don't worry," Carlos quickly stepped in. "We're not going to arrest you or anything. We couldn't care less about who you love."

That was a relief, but if it's not about that, then why are they here?

"We're here because earlier this evening there were three deaths that happened at the same time, with no known cause," Athena explained.

Three deaths? Why does this concern me?

"Alex was one of them," Carlos finished for her.

It took me a minute to process what was just said. Three deaths. No known cause. Same time. Alex. I just saw Alex. I was just talking to him.

"That's not right," I replied. "I was just talking to Alex, he was just in my room."

"Willie," Athena looked at me. "He passed away a few hours ago. There's no way he was in your room."

"He was asking how I could see him," everthing seemed to click, but not make sense.

Alex is dead, which is why he was confused about how I could see him. Because he's a ghost and he knows it. But why was it only Alex? Who are the the other two? Was it Reggie and Luke?

"Can I ask who the other two are?" My voice cracked as waves of emotion washed over me. Mostly saddness and loneliness.

Athena and Carlos shared saddened looks before Carlos spoke. "Luke Patterson and Reggie Peters."

The whole band. It had to of been Julie. She hated Luke for choosing Reggie. But they were at Bobby's tonight, Alex told me because I wanted dinner with him but he said Reggie and Luke made plans to have dinner with Bobby. I told him it was a stupid idea. He said he knew. So why did he go?

I fell to the ground and leaned against the car that we stood by. I wasn't crying. Just thinking. Alex is gone. Luke and Reggie (my all time favorite couple) are gone. And yes, mine and Alex's relationship is- was my favorite, of course. But besides me and him, Luke and Reggie are- were my favorite. That's going to take some getting used to.

"You ok?" Carlos asked.

"I will be," I replied, not sure I was being honest.

I got up and thanked them before heading inside. I couldn't find Alex anywhere and when my mom asked what happened I couldn't bring myself to say it out loud. So I told her I'd tell her later. I walked to room and laid on my bed, wanting sleep. But instead of sleep, I burst into tears. My world is gone. Everything is broken. No more band. No more friends. No more boyfriend. They're all just gone. And I wasn't there with them. And Alex is alone right now. I have no idea if Luke or Reggie are with him as ghosts. I just know that I only saw Alex. So I know he's here. But he's alone and chose to hide from me when I need him most. I want to talk to him, tell him that even though he's not technically here I'll still love him and be loyal to him. Just because he's dead doesn't mean our relationship ended. Is just love from a different angle.

I cried myslef to sleep, and every one of my dreams was about Alex and all the things we didn't get to do.