My Divine Talia

The Afterlife

          "Now what?". The question hung thick in the air as the five teens stood around in a darkened void. Nothing to see, nothing to hear. Constance's voice echoed to the extent of what seemed to be a space between all of the universe and no where. Her best friend Ocean for once didn't have an answer. Nothing to say as she looked around. Was this really it? They granted Jane Doe or- as they have now come to know Penny- another chance at life. They chose her. But, what about them? What about the most successful girl? Or the most romantic boy? The angriest boy in town, the most imaginative boy, or the nicest girl in town? What was left for all of them? The thought was too much to bear, for all of them had dreams, wants, and feelings. Regret and hope. No one could say anything as the blissful feeling of humbleness left them.
          "I'm not sure...." Ocean mumbled looking at the ground. It didn't even look like the ground. If she couldn't feel her own weight she was sure she would've been floating. Misha dropped to the ground with a heavy heart. His love, his passion for his fiancé, Talia weighed on him knowing he wouldn't get that chance to meet her in real life. Noel glanced at him and felt a pang of remorse for his so called friend. Ricky sighed as well and looked around. "There's nothing to do.". A thoughtful pause came about and then he spoke up again. "I had imagined so many things as to what would happen after I-" he stopped. "Me too..." Constance continued for her fellow choir member and sat down. Ocean, had looked around and with the last bit of determination she held wanted uplift the sour mood, she sat down close to her friend. "I wonder how we placed....in the competition?". Noel sat a few feet from Misha and pushed back his hair. "Why does it even matter? We're here to rot now...". Ocean looked at him with slight disappointment. "Still though. We had so much left to live for. I mean don't get me wrong I'm happy we all decided to send that sweet girl but....its shameful to say I wish it had been me.". The kids attention turned to the red head. "No...not shameful, that is normal feeling...I think, to want to go back to your life." the Ukrainian boy spoke. "I feel the same, and I can assume everyone else does too....". A rise of small mumbles came from the rest and Ocean forced a smile to him. "You....want to see your fiancé don't you?". Misha looked at her and nodded. "More than words can tell..". Noel sighed softly as Misha continued. "I can only imagine holding her in my arms....and hearing her voice. I was so close...this close to being with her.". He said sorrowfully as he held an inch of air between his fingers. "I'm sure your guys wedding would've been lovely.". Constance said trying to muster a bit of compassion for him. "Would we have been invited to it?". Ocean asked and Misha paused. "No...not at all actually....". There was a pause followed with a faint, "oh..." from the questioner. An awkward silence fell over the cast again.
     They sat in silence, going through their lives via memories. It was too silent, Ocean kept thinking to herself. She huffed out and attention again was on her. "You guys we can't just sit like this. I mean come on! Yes this sucks but we have each other don't we? I mean-". "Oh shut it you pandoras talking box! Can't we get a bit of silence!". Noel exclaimed. Ocean glared at him and he looked at her. "Well there's no need to be rude...". She mumbled. Noel sighed finding his comment to be rather harsh, he retracted it back, "I'm sorry....I just guess I'm a bit tense right now.". Misha looked over at Noel. "Tense for what?". Noel looked at him. So many running thoughts and he shook his head silently pushing them into the corner of his brain. "I don't know.". Misha felt for the boys emotional state and passed over the left over bottle from Penny's birthday party. Noel grabbed it and watched as the amber liquid swished around in the bottle. The image only bringing him to his fantasies and dreams. "If you have something in the mind you know you can say it. I mean....for everyone, like lady red said. We have each other....if we are going to sit here for....all eternity we might as well...talk?" Misha said. Noel downed some of the alcohol as the group complied. "Well besides us dying and all I thought the ride was-" Constance started quickly being stopped. "Wait so what was this thing about you not being a virgin Constance?". Ocean questioned remembering what the novelty god-like machine had insinuated just briefly.
              "Uhhhhh-" sweet Constance let out, along with a awkward laughter. "Well....uhm,". She froze under the crack of sudden attention by her peers. "All I will say  it is true what you think and no more questions after that thank you.". She said quickly and Noel looked at her impressed. "Ah deflowered before your adult years. What was it like??". He clutched the bottle and faced her. Constance looked at him and giggled awkwardly again. "Uhm, not good??". She questioned. "What? How can that be? Was your lover not good?". Misha turned to her now intrigued. She shook her head, "Try less of a lover and more of a stranger.". An audible gasp came from Ocean baffled by the mere thought of her friends crimes. "Wait wait wait, not only did you...have sex" she spoke, the last part being whispered. "But you did it with a complete stranger?? Constance dear you could've gotten an STD.". Noel smirked slightly. "That's amazing!". Ricky chuckled at Noel's remark. "I only wish I could've been able to do such beautiful act to my fiancé.". Noel intrigue in Constance sex life  was cut by Mishas words. "What?". He mumbled absent-minded and Misha nodded. "Yes! To share such intimacy with your loved one is man's greatest wish. Do you...not feel the same?". Noel paused as he had to remind himself what was known and unknown. He took another greedy sip from the bottle and pushed it back over to Misha. "No no, of course I do it's just...I don't know.". Noel stumbled on his words now thinking that he might've taken too big of sips from the drink. Misha questioned his fellow colleagues but stopped it at that. To the much relieved Noel, he brought his knees to his chest. "You know I've always wished to live-". "Your very barbaric way of life being a under the influence sex worker back when people believed slavery was okay.". Ocean interrupted. Noel groaned slightly and looked at her. "One more word out of you and I will personally make it my mission to give you the worst afterlife.". "I think it's very interesting Noel's dream life.". Ricky pipped up. "You do?". Noel smiled slightly. The smaller boy nodded. Misha agreed as he gulped down his drink. "I do as well, it is very tragic how you had such wonderful dreams but they never came true.". Noel felt a flash of a familiar feeling rise into him and Ocean sighed. "We all had dreams Misha.". Misha broke his look at Noel and looked at Ocean. "Yes but Noel's was madly epic.". Noel smiled wanting to move closer towards the Ukrainian boy. Constance giggled. "I still keep thinking about how you two kissed.". Like a child she giggled and Noel's cheeks grew three shades darker with red and Misha fiddled with the glass in his hands. "Like I had said Constance it is normal for men to show affection in my country.". Ocean who was still too focused on a Noel noticed his change in mood. Why did he look so suddenly.....flustered???