School Spirits | I Don't Do Friends

6- way too soon.

Caroline sat out in the parking lot until the truck was towed away. She finally went to sit on the pavement next to Wally.

"It's hard to believe at first. You get used to it." Wally put a hand on her shoulder.

Caroline was worried about her father. What would he do without her? He had asked that question himself not so long ago.

"So you've been here this whole time?" She looked back to the school building.

"Yeah, I can't leave." He explained.

Sometimes he felt trapped, well most of the time. Every so often he would go to his scheduled classes and pretend he was alive again. It makes it easier.

"You can't? Why?" Caroline asked. If it wasn't for Wally she would be on her way home.

"You can't leave the place you died. You're stuck here until you cross over. The after-after life."

All she could do was nod along and pretend this was okay. Pretend she wasn't thinking, wake up, wake up, wake up!

"Meat-head! It's time for group!" They heard a voice boom from the school doors.

"I'll be there in minute! Don't wait up!" Wally yelled back.

There was an 'Ugh' and the doors slammed shut.

"That's Rhonda. She died in the 60s, psycho guidance councilor." Wally stood up and pulled Caroline up with him.

"What group?" Caroline asked, referring to what 'Rhonda' said.

"It's a support group, like Alcoholics Anonymous, just for dead people. I'll show you." He put his hand in the small of her back and lead her into the building.

She let him. Which was very out of character, she figured some of her was still in the passenger seat of her father's pickup truck.

She walked into that gym like a deer in headlights. The room went silent when they saw her. Another death.

Wally only left her to pull up an extra chair.

There was a few people sitting in a circle facing each other. Caroline took the seat next to Wally.
He gave her a reassuring smile.

"Welcome, I'm sure Wally filled you in on your situation?" A man who looked to be in his 30s spoke. His clothes looked older.

He said it like she didn't just die.

Caroline just nodded.

"I'm Mr. Martin, I run the group. To welcome a new member we usually start with an ice breaker." He explained.

Mr. Martin sat up straight, he had shoulder pads and glasses. Caroline wanted to say he looked nerdy but refrained.

"I'm Caroline, I just died in the parking lot. Some douche in a blue truck." She cleared her throat.

"Wait you're the girl Wally's always following around." A girl with curly hair and a black hat observed. She had a grape lollipop between her teeth.