THE SLOWEST BURN ~ wally clark x oc

~ messages ~

KAITLYN 

“Katie,

I finally had Mr. Torkelson as a sub in history today. He had a sweater on though lol

I know I can tell you about it later but I just really miss seeing you at school.

Love, Penny”

I smile at the silly memory. Mr. Torkelson has really thick white chest hair, but he tries to shave so you can't see it. It usually ends up showing at the neckline of his shirt, with this really abrupt line where the hair starts again. I told Penny about that last year, and she was gasping for breath from laughing so hard at my detailed description.

“K-

Aiden looked so sad today so I skipped geometry and sat with him at lunch. I know this sounds weird, but part of me hoped you guys would like maybe get married someday. I know you're still a kid but it's really hard not to think about all the things you'll never have. 

Love P”

Marriage. Jeez. I never even really thought about that. It was like I didn't have enough time at the end to really ponder all the potential milestones I'd miss. I push that thought down and read the next note.

“Katie-

I love you sis

I just love you so much

I miss seeing you here every day

How can everything keep going when youre not here?

Love Penny”

If only she could know that I am still here, in my own way. 

“Kiki-

I'm scared every day you'll suddenly be gone. Like I'll get a text or a call or something and I'll find out you're dead. I'm afraid to actually tell you this because I don't want to do anything to make you sad. It's not fair this is happening. I don't know how to deal. I hate that you're hurting. 

I love you

-Ali”

I smile at her dumb nickname for me. Then my face falls when I wonder how she ended up finding out. Did my mom call her? I picture Alison's phone buzzing. No one ever calls anyone, so she would know just from that sound that I'm gone.

“Katie-

I know we'll always be friends no matter what but I really hope you know how much last summer will always mean to me. It was like everything I hoped it would be. You're a beautiful person who doesn't deserve all this shit. I love you, friend

Love, Aid”

Ah yes. Last summer. Two months when me and Aiden’s friendship was something more. Most people never even knew about it, since it was during summer vacation. Then right before school started back up, I was so happy we could just mutually come to agree that we were better as just friends, and not be weird about it. Nothing would be able to break that kind of special lifelong relationship, we decided. “Lifelong” in the most literal sense, it turns out. 

And hey, at least I didn't die a virgin. It feels kind of morbid to smile about that after reading his heartfelt note, but it's also kind of morbid to be, well, dead and all. And it's not like I didn't make him smile a whole fucking lot last summer. Ha.

“Sissy

I love you

Dont leave me yet”