the state of denial

Part 15:

After third period we all meet up behind the band room before going into the counselors office.

Cameron holds my hand and Jake holds Dani's. We begin to walk and Tori stops.

"Do they know about my amnesia?"

Tony answers "I fucking hope they do. Or else they're wasting time."

"They're going to ask about the accident." Cameron whispers to me. "You and Tori are the only ones who haven't been in for questioning, and Tori won't be much help sadly."

"Then why is everyone else here?"

"Because they're giving us free counseling. Like, therapy to not feel guilty about what happened. Something along those lines."

He tightens his hand a bit, but I don't say anything.

When we walk in they tell Taylor she has to go to class unless she was also close with Alex. To which we all say no. Even Zack.

It's weird. I haven't seen Taylor around much. Maybe Zack and her broke up and he hasn't told anyone yet.

We all get assigned a person. They tell me to sit with a woman in a dressy outfit.

"Are you Hayley Elise Merrick?" Even though she has my picture, she asks. And I instantly hate this all.

They ask so many bullshit questions.

"How close were you with the victim?" If I wasn't close with him why would I be here?

"Have you felt any different after the accident?" No I feel fucking amazing.

"How did you feel waking up from coma." I felt like shit. That's a real answer.

I only answered sarcastically and they said that was a problem. Although some answers weren't meant to be sarcastic. They just took it the wrong way. We spent all fourth hour in there. Then we went to lunch.

Sitting at that table was like going back to when everything was better.

Nobody sits in Alex's old chair. We all just take our regular spots. We tell tori where she sits.

We're all having a nice time until Tony and Chris come back. Tony takes his seat, and Chris sits in Alex's. we don't say anything, but it sets Tony off.

"Get off that chair man."

Chris looks at him confused as if saying what the fuck. "Why? I just sat down!"

"You can't sit there.. Go get another chair." He tightens his jaw and clenches his fists.

"No dude. There are no other chairs."

"Then stand up."

"Tony it's fine." Sam tells him, pulling at his arm.

"No it's fucking not. Chris get the hell up."

"Fuck you Tony. Alex is dead, we can't do anything about it."

Tony takes Chris out of the chair and drops him on the cafeteria floor. He kicks him on the sides, then he punches him. Punch after punch after punch. Zack goes in to break it up, only to also get punched. Tony gets up, Chris' face is covered in blood and that's when one of the teachers finally takes over.

None of us say anything. We just go on with the day as if nothing happened.

Sixth hour was the one class I was looking forward to the least. The one where the teacher asks what we did all summer.

He goes down the rows. And when it gets to me, he skips. That is until little miss teachers pet tells the teacher.

"Excuse me Mr.Jones, but you skipped Hayley."