Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
FINNEY SAT ON THE COUCH, HIS EYES STARING AT THE CEILING!
More than six months after the event, the most vivid memory of prom night had been all of the bodies he'd seen on his way out of the gym.
He'd leaned against Cherry the entire way out, muttering things under his breath.
The court case had been complicated, with both murderers being minors. It'd been hard to watch Chase's parents testify against their dead son.
Cherry had watched the cop car drive off with Finney in the backseat, a boy once disheveled and terrified now scarred and eternally guilty.
Parents lost children. Children lost siblings.
There was no way to rebuild after the disastrous, morbid events. All that mattered to Cherry, her father, and Finney was that they'd gotten through the trial successfully.
Finney's eyes moved to the fireplace and then the litter of wrapping paper and gifts on the floor. A generic Christmas playlist played over the speakers.
They'd decorated the tree together, baked cookies, and drank hot chocolate, yet nothing seemed to cheer him up. Even the gingerbread houses had depressed him.
Cherry reached over the edge of the couch and grabbed a cookie.
"Those are for Santa." Finney commented, finally breaking out of his silence.
She offered it to him. He took it, looking down at the fireplace. She knew trying to grow past the experience would be difficult, but she also hated that he blamed himself.
"It wasn't your fault." Cherry told him as he turned back to face her.
"He's dead because of me." Finney argued, yet his voice remained low. "I could've done it another way."
"He would've killed you." She reminded, threading her fingers through his hair.
Finney had wondered that for months. He despised being tied down to his regret even though he knew Chase would've jumped at the opportunity to kill him with not as much as another breath.
He knew he couldn't stay in that place forever. He had to move on, even if it was just little by little.
"We really need to make more friends." Cherry commented, looking throughout the living room.
Mia and Vance were having their own Christmas Eve celebration. Robin was visiting family in Arizona. Chanel had invited them to a party at her house, but they'd rejected in favor of spending time alone.
