Ghost

School II

Reese stands among the crowd of saddened students at Clear Creek High; the murders are impacting everyone in the worst way possible. Pictures of their fallen are scattered all over the school, each surrounded by flowers and candles, as well as mourning teenagers. Clear Creek High has become more of a memorial; a cemetery to mourn those who have passed in such harsh manners. Reese looks around him, witnessing the fall of the bitch royalty crowd, the muscle jocks, and the awkward loners.

"Reese."

The spiral of sadness and fear simmers down as the disturbed Reese looks at John in his eyes.

"What?" he says, holding himself.

"You said Marcus was dead?" he says shaking his head. Struck in anger and confusion, he punches the locker. Reese takes a step back, startled.

"I'm sorry.."

"You're lying to me."

"I'm not, John. I'm really sorry."

"Is Julie safe?" he says, nervously speaking. "I need to see her."

"John, listen." he says.

"I need to see her." he repeats, this time raising his voice.

"John, listen to me. I talked to her last night, and I think we figured something out." he says. He grabs John's shoulder and looks him dead in his eyes. "We think he's going to target you next."

John makes a face of disgust at Reese. In denial, he looks around him. "What the fuck, Reese? You're telling me my best friend is dead, the girl I fucking love is in the hospital, and now the killer is coming after me?"

Reese slowly nods. "He's going after everyone who was in on your whole cheating scandal."

John scratches his head and looks at Reese with a serious face. "I tried apologizing. I know, I fucked up bad. I just, I don't know what I want, okay?"

"You should start thinking with the head on your shoulders and not in your pants. That girl loved you." he says. "You hurt her because you only think about yourself, John. You always have. I mean, look at you! You're the star football player in the whole state. You've got a scholarship coming at you. Shit, even all the girls adore you. But I know there's one girl who will always adore you the most. And you let her down. I don't think an apology is going to make her feel any better."

"I know a simple apology isn't going to work. I really love this girl, and I would do anything to get her back. Anything. God, I was going to ask her to prom. I don't know how else to show how much of a fuck up I am. I wish she would let me in."

"I don't know, John. She's in a bad place right now with everything that's going on. Trust me, I know she cares about you just as much as you do. Maybe you should just give her space, y'know? Until everything clears up."

John nods, and looks down at the ground, his hands on his hips. "I guess you're right."

"She's been one of my close friends since middle school. It's okay. Well, listen, I am going to go see her again after school. Come with me."

Out of thin air, Dean appears in the center of the two boys, holding his back pack with two hands and a big smile on his face.

"What's up? Where ya going, Reese?" he says.

"I can't. Remember, we're going against the Vikings tomorrow, and I have practice today." he says looking up at the ceiling. Reese looks up at the ceiling as well, but he raises his eye brow. He looks back down and focuses on Dean.