As It Was (COMPLETED) (wattys2023)

On The Outside

Garrett kept a few paces ahead of me, his right hand positioned just enough to be able to shift at any second and push me back. He'd been relatively quiet most of the drive here, only occasionally speaking when he needed directions, or the silence became unbearable for him. Being here now, just a couple blocks from Lincoln Heights, his entire demeanor had changed. He was nothing like the angsty teenage boy constantly complaining about food and football back home; he was acting as a protective shield, ready to jump into action at any second.

I heard the commotion before we came upon the memorial. It stretched on for as far as I could see down the road; crosses with photos and roses surrounding each one. Not even ten feet away stood a large plaque- all forty people lost listed from top to bottom. I had seen it in passing on one of the news stations.

"Ev." Garrett had slowed to a stop, falling into step beside me. "You okay?"

I looked from the stone to the boy beside me. He was shifting anxiously on his feet, hands now tucked into the pockets of his jeans as he eyed me worriedly.

"I'm okay." I whispered, but that changed in an instant.

The moment my eyes fell on Naomi Chao embracing Brady's mother, I staggered back. She looked much better than she had at the trial; her hair was now cut shoulder length, the bright spark had returned to her eyes, but she still stood with a flightiness in every move she made, as if, like me, she were ready to turn and run at any given second.

She must have felt eyes on her because her head whipped in our direction and her body tensed. Another girl, one I'd had a couple classes with but hadn't ever really known passed that, whispered something to her, before Naomi stalked across the sidewalk to where we stood.

I had thought that maybe she'd come over and hug me, comfort the way I would her if roles were reversed. What she did was very much the opposite.

"What are you doing here?" she spat. "You have a lot of audacity showing your face here, Rodgers."

The words were so venomous, so bitter and angry, that I flinched. I hadn't ever stopped to consider the seething hatred that she had for Clark would extend to me.

"Naomi—" I started, but she pressed her sharp acrylic against my chest, interrupting me before I could even begin.

"They're dead because of you, Everly." she nearly shouted, gaining herself a crowd of people as they all approached to see where the screaming was coming fromjhumnnnnnnnnnn. "Brady is dead because he tried to sacrifice himself to save you. Miles' fucking brains will forever be on that tile because he was so in love with you that he didn't see that you were just as fucked up as your brothers were. Everyone is dead because of you and your sick fucking family."

I felt Garrett's hand catch my elbow and he looked to Naomi with a warning look. "That's enough."

"You should be dead. Or maybe sitting in prison beside your crazy brother." Naomi adds, then turns her full attention to Garrett beside me, "You don't know shit. Whatever lies she has fed you is not the truth. Her family is sick. Her mom still runs off to visit the psycho."

I started to turn away, but her words stopped me in my tracks. "Miles was right about him. He was just wrong about you. If he'd never wasted his time loving you, he wouldn't have died trying to save you. I hope you and your family rot in hell, Rodgers."

Garrett must have seen a shift in my expression because he tried to grasp my shoulders, but I dodged his hands, "Everly!"

I didn't bother to turn around, I couldn't. All I could do was run. Away from Naomi. Away from Garrett. Away from Lincoln Heights.