8 - The Aftermath

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I stayed in bed for three days, and I was practically unbugged for the entire time. I listened to sad music and scrolled through pictures we sent each other. I read our text messages and our IMs, looking through the stupid shit we posted on Tumblr. Laughing, crying and numb.

Skye's older sister came over the day after it happened and cried with me, saying how sorry she was that this happened. She also brought over a cardboard box, with the words FOR CASEY scribbled in Skye's writing. She said she found this in Skye's room, and she didn't look through it because "you two were close, and there is probably a dead body or something in it."

After Skye's sister left, I went through the box, which took fucking forever considering whenever I took something out I started crying.

Her laptop, her massive collection of hair dye, her favorite sweatshirt, her combat boots, the journal we passed back and forth but became lost, and a lot of other things. The one that made my cry most, every picture ever taken of us all in a photo album. Skye even made little notes in the margins, complaining about blur and glare and saying how old we gotten, among other things. I practically slept with the thing, it no doubt became my most treasured item.

I was living fine in my little depressed bubble.

Then Friday rolled around.

"WAKE THE FUCK UP YOU LAZY PIECE OF SHIT OR I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD I WILL GO BUY A FUCKING HOSE TO GET THE HOSE!" I was jerked awake from Michael screaming from the opposite side of the door. I was quite shocked that I was awaken to Michael yelling at me. Nonetheless, he would go buy a hose, so I did force myself out of bed.

Trudging down the hall, I felt like one of those people with the little rain clouds over their head. My heart was heavy, and I missed the comfort of my bed. I so desperately wished that I could go back to bed, but I doubt that will happen before eight. PM.

"Hey Casey!" Joel greeted in his usually happy way. "I made happy pancakes!" He said in his Caboose voice. He took the canister of whipped cream and sprayed it into the form of a smiley face. I look at him with the same unamused look on my face. "Um, alright." He says in response, grabbing another plate with pancakes and spraying whipped cream on it. "Sad pancakes?" I just stared at him. Joel thought for a minute before using the whipped cream once more and making eyebrows on the pancakes. "Angry pancakes! Rrrrrr!" Finally, that induced a chuckle from me, and Joel counts it as a win, handing me the plate and a fork. "It's good that you're still able to smile, I thought I would never see it again."

"I'm fine." I lie.

"That's good, because you're coming to the office." Michael says, joining you at the breakfast bar.

"No."

"Yes. You need to have some human interaction. Plus, the girls wanna have a girl day with you."

"So I assume everyone knows."

"We didn't tell them, if that's what you're implying. It was in the paper, and the used a picture that had you in it. People recognized you, and then it spread."

"Great."

"Hey, at least they will have some sense not to bring it up. Except Gavin. And Kara. Maybe Brandon. Also Chris. But besides them, you'll be fine. And avoid Blaine. He's a douche."

"Joel?"

"You're going." Joel said. Before I could argue, his phone started buzzing, and he went to answer it, walking out of the kitchen for some more privacy.

Silence ensued soon after, and we just ate our breakfast in the quiet. "You know, you don't have to go."

"No, I will." I reply, and I heard a sigh of relief from Michael.

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