revenge
＊＊＊
i wake up to Eddie's arm reaching over my face and his phone going off like crazy. i groan and push his arm off my face, hiding under the covers.
"hello?" he answers in a groggy voice
"what?!"
i sit up at the sound of Eddie's panicked voice. he has tears in his eyes and one hand tangled in his hair. i lean in to try to listen to the call but he gets out of bed struggling to put on his clothes with his phone tucked between his ear and shoulder. he rummages through his dresser and throws the clothes that i left from the rainy day at me.
i start to get dressed, "what's going on?"
i try to ask but he's too focused on sliding his belt on.
"please tell me you're kidding." his voice breaks as he questions whoever is on the line
"okay.. okay.. we're on our way." he hangs up the phone and runs out of the room. i follow closely behind and turn him around by his shoulders as he cries.
i lean down to his level and brush his morning hair out of his face, "what is going on?!"
he sniffles and grasps onto my arm as if he might pass out, "something happened to Will last night."
•
Eddie jumps out of the car as we get to the canyon. a group of people are surrounding the cliff. my heart is beating out of my chest as i hold Eddie's hand tightly. i almost forgot what i did last night but the scene in front of me brings it back to life.
Bev runs over to us with Ben at her side, "thank god you're here."
"what happened?!" Eddie asks as his eyes stare largely at the cliff. a few firefighters are hoisting something up by a rope.
Bev wipes at her tears, trying to stay calm, "Jane stayed at my dorm after the dance and she got a call this morning. apparently some park rangers were hiking down in the canyon with a group and they came across—" she covers her mouth as she starts to sob. Ben holds her tightly trying to calm her down.
he finishes for her, "they found Wills body.. police are saying he jumped. some animals got to his body though and all that's left is—"
he's cut off by a gut wrenching scream. everyone looks over at a woman screaming as body parts are lifted from the canyon. it looks like mush, but very clearly Wills face stared blankly at us. Jane falls to her knees in the dirt, sobbing so hard that no noise comes out.
i look down at Eddie and his face turns pale, tears threatening to spill down his cheeks. i catch him just before he falls to his knees, he holds on to me tightly and i hold his head against my chest as the firefighters walk by with what's left of his body. even i had to look away from the bloody mess.
Jane sees us and marches over, "YOU DID THIS. YOU REJECTED HIM AND HE KILLED HIMSELF YOU—" before she can say anymore her mother and brother pull her away.
Eddie stares wordlessly at Jane. tears running down his face. i pull his attention to me, cupping his face, "listen to me. this was not you. she's just grieving and wants to blame anything. he made a choice and it was not your fault."
he stares at me blankly, his arms hanging limply at his side and his knees digging into the dirt. i look up at Ben who shakes his head.
"let me take you home, you don't need to see this."
he still doesn't reply.
Beverly kneels down next to us, "Eddie, he's right. it's not your fault."
nothing.
