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The trailer hums with low tension. The only lightning comes from the flickering TV on mute and the cracked glow of a stove light. Everyone's crammed into the narrow living space, like this is another Friday night.
I can very much tell you it's not. So far from it.
Julia sits curled up in the recliner, she has the TV remote in hand—she keeps clicking at muted channels. She's not too sure what she's doing. She just can't sit still. She needs to do something. This feels like the evening they told her that her time, her life, as a cheerleader was over. She can't look at Steve. She swears the stench of him is still on her hands. Why won't he fucking go away!
June and Kaimer sit shoulder to shoulder on the tattered sofa.
Steve is next to them, Kaimer's other side. There's a little space between them. His leg won't stop shaking, he keeps pulling at his loose tie. He still feels ridiculous in slacks and loafers—the girl that asked them all to dress up is dead.
Reese paces near the door, arms crossed.
Eddie's slumped in a kitchen chair, staring at the floor. His curls are a darken molten mess around his head. With the light coming from behind him, it all looks like a halo.
Dallas stands near the sink, he grips the edge of it as his waist presses into the structure. Wesley leans against the fridge, arms crossed, he keeps squeezing at the bridge of his nose—like he's trying to will away a headache. Briar is seated on the counter, chewing at his blunt nails, not looking at anyone.
It's Eddie who finally snaps. He's quiet with it, Lydia and Max have finally settled in Dallas' bed, but he's angry with the burst. "You three aren't saying shit, and Chris, she's fuckin' dead. Just like Cassie—you guys said. You're telling me that's normal? I fuckin' know it ain't."
June, despite it all, is still a little bitter with the boy. She scoffs, but her voice is still so soft, so June like. "Of course there's nothing normal about any of this. We just left a dead girl out in the dark like trash."
Eddie's gaze snaps to her, it's a glare.
Julia and Kaimer share a glance. Steve shifts uneasy on the couch.
Reese takes in a breath, his eyes falling on Wesley. His pacing has paused, "One of you needs to tell us what the hell is going on. Please." Ever the gentle giant.
Dallas can't stop staring at his sock covered feet, there's a hole under his big toe. The tiles are cold under him. He sighs, doesn't even look up at his best friends. "We never told anyone, because how could we. It didn't make any sense. Cassandra that night made no fucking sense."
Wesley flinches a little at her name.
Briar scoffs, nearly rips at his cuticle. "It was like she was fuckin' possessed or some shit."
