Innocent Bystander

Chapter Fourteen: It's Quiet Uptown

AN: TW: Alice has her first PTSD attack. Once again, I apologize for any inaccuracies.

Okay, I'll stop with the long author's notes now. Enjoy the chapter.

Narrator: She did not end up stopping with the long author's notes. (I'm so sorry LOL).

I was released from the hospital that evening, but I stayed out of school for two additional days afterward, since my arm still hurt a little bit. While I was out, both myself and Gabe were diagnosed with PTSD. Nolan, by some miracle, never got it. I had nightmares practically every night - before and after my diagnosis, and I spent my absent time watching TV, catching up on schoolwork, and talking on the phone with either Nolan, Katie, or Gabe. This was to keep my mind off of what had happened at the hospital Monday night.

As for the memorial service that Friday, I was told that the buses would be taking all the students uptown. Gabe dropped the permission slip off on the way home from school on Wednesday (his parents suggested he should stay home as well, but he wanted to - and I quote - "Suck it up and stick it out". Thus, he only stayed home on Tuesday.). Mom signed the form for me, and he brought it back to school the next morning.

Speaking of Gabe, Nolan told me he'd been spending a ton of time with Katie as of recently. I thought it was great that my cousin and future cousin-in-law got along and balanced each other out so well. I was also glad that Gabe was learning a ton from Katie, and educating himself on supernatural issues. I knew it was only a matter of time before they would become an official item and live happily ever after. Needless to say, both myself and Nolan shipped "Gatie" like FedEx.

I went back to school the day of the memorial service. Since this was basically a mass funeral, I did my hair up and put on a nice black dress, black tights, and black flats (Because, fun fact, I can hardly walk in heels). Mom dropped me off on that particular day so that Gabe wouldn't have to burden himself with picking me up and dropping me off just yet. I got to the school kind of early since I didn't exactly know what time the busses were leaving. I had only been inside for ten seconds when Nolan, who was all dressed up and looking like a full four-course meal and dessert, saw me and ran to me excitedly.

"Alice!" He called out as sped over to me, "Alice, guess what!! Guess what!!"

"What is it?" I asked hopefully.

"Mon - Sorry, I mean-" Nolan paused to kiss me, since he knew the name "Monroe" was a trigger for me, "Miss You-Know-Who quit on Tuesday!"

"No way!"

"Yeah! Liam just texted me about it! He only just found out about that today."

"Call me selfish, but that's the greatest thing I've heard all day."

With that, Nolan picked me up and spun me around. After setting me down, we kissed again as one of the male teachers rounded the corner.

"No making out in the halls!" he called out to us.

We just looked at him, back at each other, and laughed.

"Oh, and by the way," Nolan stated. He kissed my forehead and we locked eyes, "You look absolutely stunning."

"Thanks," I said, beaming up at him, "You don't look too bad yourself."

***

We hung out in the lobby for about fifteen minutes, waiting for Gabe, Katie, or any member of the "Puppy Pack", consisting of Liam, Theo, Corey, and Mason, (I'd been told Theo thought the name was kinda tacky, but the group went with it anyway) to show up. Eventually, Gabe walked in, wearing a whole suit and tie.

"Ayy, Alice! You showed up!" Gabe exclaimed as he walked toward Nolan and I. For someone who'd been diagnosed with PTSD only days prior, Gabe sure was good at holding himself together.