My Unplanned Plan

Chapter Two

I'm being violently shaken while a voice screaming "Alice!" over and over again. The last thing I remember was falling asleep at around 9, when we were somewhere in Kansas.

"Alice! Wake up! Time to release the flow!" My dad yells once he realizes I've come to. I'm not necessarily in the mood to do anything, but I know this will be our last stop til Elizabeth, Colorado. I practically fall out of the cabin while reaching for my phone. At one o'clock in the morning, I'm surprised and probably happy that a gas station here is open 24/7. Even though we are buying gas, I always feel bad if I use the restroom without buying anything inside. My debit card is always inside my phone case for easy access, so I can buy anything at my leisure. Once I've freshened up in the restroom, I grab a Dr. Pepper and some Twinkies, pay, and then get the hell out of there, for I'm pretty sure they haven't cleaned anything in a few months.

"Dad, that place is terrible. Let's not ever go there again," I point out, while he loads up the truck with gas.

"Well, why would we have to? I don't think we have any reason to go back there anytime soon. Or ever!" God, he can be so self centered sometimes. Obviously I had at least a few friends I'll miss back there. I guess at the age of 16 he suspects I can drive back on my own time, but with what car? We didn't have one back in Oklahoma, and I doubt he'll be buying one at our new "home."

After about 5 minutes, we were back on the road and I was already almost asleep again. I don't intend to wake up again until Elizabeth, and before I know it, I'm in dreamland.

I'm walking through the halls of my school I just left behind, but no one can see or hear me. I'm not sure why that is, but every time I try and say hi to someone, they ignore me. One person even walked through me! I'm not even sure how that is possible... Everyone at this school seems sad. The clock shows it's 8:45, right about the end of passing period to third block. Third block is when the announcements are supposed to be shown on the projector. Not knowing what else to do, I head on over to my foods class for this period, and sit in my usual spot. Although, when I get there, flowers decorate my seat. Little did I know that all my classes had my seat decorated. The announcements begin with the pledge, and I stand on instinct. The first thing that comes on after is not the usual "Hello my name is..", but what seems like a slideshow. Every picture that yearbook and my friends had of me were featured on this slideshow, with words of remembrance every now and then. When that was over, the principal had started a prepared speech.

"I know most of you heard the tragic news of Alice Woods' passing, and some may be curious as to what happened," my passing? "Well I'm here to tell those of you who have not heard yet, whether it be through friends or national news. Yesterday after school, Alice had left with her father to start a new life in Colorado. Towards the end of their long trip, near Elizabeth, Colorado, the driver of a large semi-truck had fallen asleep at the wheel. The two vehicles had collided head first at about 80 miles per hour. All passengers were killed instantly and presumed dead at the scene. The truck that had been victim of this lousy driver, happened to have Alice and her father in it. There will be a service at Memorial Hill this Friday to remember the Woods' lives. Thank you." The principal had shed a few tears during that speech, even though I had hardly met the guy.

I was dead? I can't be! I'm right here! I tried screaming for everyone to listen to me, but no one heard. I was screaming and screaming with tears welling up in my eyes and I couldn't take it anymore. It was like I was a ghost. I hated this feeling so much and I didn't know how to let everyone know that I was there, and this was all some mistake! But they didn't hear me. They couldn't. Even if they wanted to I was just a ghost of what was there at some point, observing the outcome of my absence. Something started shaking me and wouldn't let go! "What are you doing?!" My pleading was no use, and the shaking had become more and more violent.

"Alice wake up it's just a dream! Please Alice!" I finally heard my dad begging, with a few tears rolling down his eyes. I have had dreams like this in the past, where I felt unheard, but this was one of the worst, like it was making up for the time I hadn't had them.

My cheeks were wet, and I couldn't figure out what was happening for a few seconds. "Alice please, I thought we had ridden you of those horrid dreams. Did you forget to take your medicine?"

"What? No, I just.. wait shouldn't you be driving?"

"I pulled over once you started screaming and crying. It started as just simple movements, but then you became violently upset."

Why was this coming back?

"Dad? Where are we?"

"Just outside of Elizabeth..."

Where I supposedly died. I couldn't sleep for the rest of the trip.