SURVIVORS |J.FOLEY ¹

XV. living nightmare

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LIVING NIGHTMARE

"Sometimes... things just happen to you. They just happen. You can't help it. But it's what you do next that counts. Not what happens, but what you decide to do about it." Hannah stated.

Madison sat on her fathers bed. He wasn't home. Though, she did not want to be in her bedroom at that time. She'd listened to the tape the previous night, and she didn't feel comfortable enough with being there. So, she'd slept in her fathers empty room the previous night. Even if what Hannah said wasn't true, she didn't want to be there. Because some part of her felt like something did happen. But what part?

"And I've made some very bad decisions in my life. As you know. I told you there were more stories about the night of Madison's party. So here it goes."

"Clay!" A familiar voice called out as Clay Jensen walked out the front door of Madison's house. Clay turned his head and his eyes met with Jeff's. "Clay!"

"Hey, guys." Clay nodded his head towards Jeff and his friends. Jeff furrowed his eyebrows as he watched Clay try to walk away, he could tell that his friend was uncomfortable.

"Clay." Jeff called out again, making his way towards the boy and leaving his friends behind. "Dude, you're leaving?" Jeff questioned, holding his red cup up.

"Uh, yeah..." Clay trailed off, stopping in his tracks. Jeff reached Clay and looked at him, confused. "I kind of am." Clay mumbled.

"Looked like shit was happening for you in there." Jeff pointed towards Madison's house, smiling slightly for his friend as he'd seen Hannah and Clay together every second of the night.

Clay paused for a moment, raising his eyebrow towards his friend. "Did it?" He asked, curiously.

Jeff let out a small laugh, shrugging his shoulders. "Didn't it?" He asked, awkwardly, unaware of the previous events between the pair.

"I don't know, man. I just..." Clay trailed off, shaking his head as he looked away from his friend. Jeff's smile dropped from his face and he bit down on his lip, slightly. "I don't even know anything."

"That's why you got me, man." Jeff shrugged his shoulders, leaning forwards. "I know. Whatever happened in there, just give her a minute. Then go back inside and just find her." Jeff pointed back at the house.

Clay shook his head and looked back to the street again. "I'm going home." Clay told Jeff with a sigh escaping his lips.

"Just hang with me for a while, man." Jeff told Clay, hoping that he would stay. He could tell that Clay was unhappy and he wanted to help. He always wanted to help. That was the kind of person he was. He was a good person. "I'm going on a beer run soon. Come with me."

"You're driving?" Clay questioned and he raised his eyebrow, his eyes moving between Jeff and the cup in his hand.

"It's coca-cola, my friend." Jeff told him with a small smile again. "Two beers, two hours ago. I'm good." He nodded his head, pleadingly.

"No, no. Thanks, Jeff." Clay tried to smile at his friend. "Um, what happened to you and Maddy? I saw her inside but it didn't seem like you two were... you know?" Clay shrugged his shoulders, curiously. He didn't want to make things awkward.

Jeff lowered his head for a moment with a deep breath leaving his lips. "Yeah, man. I'm not really sure. I mean, she's perfect." Jeff chuckled, softly. "But, I know when someone's heart is in another place. And, yeah I have feelings for her, I mean... really strong feelings for her. But that means letting her be happy. And if that's with another man, then that's okay. I'm happy if she's happy."