Wild Ride - The Alternative Version (Book 2)

Chapter 75~From Crib To Coffin

Bad news? I thought we were done with bad things now! By the look on Dad's eyes, this is really bad. It may be even worse than just "bad news". Mom and Dad both look like they want to cry, and Mom won't look me in the eyes. I wanted Kaylee to come running into the living room needing something important to possibly keep them from telling me what was so bad for a little while, but I knew she went to Uncle Matt's house for the day to play with Mikayla and Hannah.

"...What is it?" I asked, trying not to let my voice shake.

Dad didn't answer for a moment, taking a deep breath. "About an hour ago, a little less than an hour, Danika was involved in a serious car accident." He paused as my stomach lurched with nausea. His voice cracked when he spoke again. "The person driving was going way too fast, and he took his eyes off the road for just a few seconds to look at his phone, and they met an oncoming truck. They... they were both killed on impact." 

Killed.

Killed.

Killed.

As in, dead. 

I quickly pulled away from Dad, not believing him, forcing my hand out of his. I scowled at him, wondering if he was trying to play some sick joke on me. 

"Why would you say something like that? That's not even remotely funny." I scolded him.

"Abbie, I would never joke about something like that. Danika's parents called just before you got here." He said seriously.

"No! You're lying! I was just with her, she's alive! Alive!" I yelled, standing up, feeling anger boil inside of me. How could he say such a thing, after everything I recently went through?

"I'm not lying, I would never lie to you! It's all over the news, they just haven't released their names yet." 

"No!" I yelled again before running off upstairs, hearing Dad call my name behind me. Tears were already streaming down my face as I slammed my bedroom door behind me. Danika can't be dead, she can't be! She still has so much left of her life to live! She can't die now!

I ran over to my bed and grabbed the TV remote. I turned on the TV and changed the channel to the news channel. I was horrified by what I saw. There, all beaten into a nearly recognizable hunk of blue paint and twisted metal, was the convertible I watched Danika speed off in earlier this afternoon with Travis.

"No! No, no, no...!" I cried out, sobbing now from my the ache in my heart and the way my stomach sank. But I still continued to deny that my best friend was dead. It just couldn't be true. 

Jimmy's POV

"Abbie!" I called after Abbie as she ran upstairs, but she didn't stop, and I soon heard her bedroom door slam. I just sat there, feeling so upset and numb at the same time. Abbie's sudden denial was expected, after all, her best friend was killed not long after they said goodbye to each other for the day, not knowing that it would be forever. I knew Abbie was in a lot of pain, and that pained me.

I couldn't imagine the pain Danika's parents must be enduring right now. I do know what it's like to lose a child, but not with such tragic circumstances. I was in disbelief myself. After I'd listened to Danika's father's mangled voice tell me she was dead, I felt a sudden emptiness in my stomach along with my own denial. She'd just graduated a little over a week ago, I saw her accept her diploma as we were waiting for Abbie's turn. It didn't seem possible that she was dead. I really didn't know how to feel.

I noticed Elise wiping tears from her eyes, and I got up and hugged her. "Are you ok?" 

"Yeah, I just... I don't know... how could this be possible?"