Almost Human (#Wattys2018)

Chapter 5

I laid in bed, eyes wide open, the next morning. I hadn't gotten much sleep. It wasn't very easy.
Olivia's dead and I killed her. Mostly because these words haunted me.
Ate at my conscience. Buried me in guilt.
I kept telling myself, no ones gonna miss her.
But  there was no way in hell that might help one bit.

Hm, look at me, thinking like a criminal already.
What would my parents say if they found out?
Would they sell me out to the cops themselves?
They'd look at me like their greatest failure.
Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that.

I checked the time on the clock by my bed. Half past nine.
I'm sure skipping school would be just perfect.
Olivia's dies and Trent isn't in school.
No one really likes her, but eventually they'd starting asking questions.
And I'm sure the accident is already on tv.

I dragged myself off the bed, performed my morning routine and headed downstairs.
Halfway down, I heard  an engine sputter, more like a cough.
I picked up the pace, knowing it was Luke's truck.
Luke's my best friend and all but he knows no chill when it comes to football.
For some reason the door is unlocked so he just barges in.

"You're not skipping practice today! We need you!" He says, even before he's through the door.
I only shrug.

"Just eat something and then we're leaving, alright?" He commands.
"Yes, mother." I mutter.
"That's the spirit."
***

"I don't think throwing a ball takes that much practice." I complain in the locker room.
"Where and when to throw it does." Doug answers.
Everyone in the locker stares at him.

"What?"
"That may just be the first smart thing you've ever said." James answers.

Everybody cracks up.
Except me.
As of today, I have no vibe.
I'm just gloomy.

"What's up with you man?" James asks.

It takes a while to figure out who exactly he's talking to.
Oh come on.
What do I say to that?
I'm on my man-period?

"Uhm..." I begin.

Just then, there's a knock on the locker room door.

Whew, saved by the....yeah.

"Luke?" A girl asks.
It has to be Kate, Luke's girl.

Why is the cheerleader captain here? I ask myself, picking up my helmet.

"Has anybody seen Olivia?"
My helmet clutters noisily to the floor.

Well, that was unexpected.

Just the mention of her name, God.
I need to get my shit together.

"No. Why?" Luke asks after the awkward silence.

"No one can find her."
Figured.
***

The game was slow, not what any of us expected. We still won though.
With my help of course.

The game took my mind of of....yeah.
At least for a while.

The image of her face right before it happened kept creeping into my mind.
Rendering me silent for a short period of time.

Then I spotted someone coming from the bleachers.
Brianna.

I think she could help get my mind off of.....why can't I even say her name?!

I meet up with her before she reaches the school building.
"Hey"
"Trent, hi." She says, somewhat surprised.

"I didn't think you liked football." She smirks.

"Not really."

"So why di-" Oh. I see.

" You're pretty good at it."

"Pfft. I know that already." Ugh. Worst response ever." These guys are the secret." I flex my biceps.

"Gee, lemme guess, thunder and lightning." I chuckle at her comment.
As if it wasn't what I was going to say.

"Let's get outta here." I suggest.

"Where?"

"I dunno. Let's just go somewhere."

"I'm going out with someone I barely know. How do I know you're not gonna rape me or something?" She jokes.

"It isn't called rape when you wanna do it too."

"Me?"
"Don't lie. I know you want a piece of this fine specimen."

"You're super cocky. But maybe. If you're not a little boy that is."she whispers the last part.

We both crack up at her dirty yet somewhat seductive joke.

Oh okay. There's a sexy side to her. A bad girl.
I like.

"What are you two laughing about?" Someone asks.

No.

I can't mistake that voice anywhere.

But it can't be.

It just can't.

Dead people aren't supposed to be alive.
Right?

But then again.....there's only one way to be sure.
I turn to see who said that.

"Trent."

"Olivia?" Jesus Christ. Lord almighty.

The girl who died yesterday is standing right in front of me.