My eyes widen as I look down at the text message. What in the world? I run back to my dorm. I open the door and throw my bag and books on the bed though my aim isn’t very good since the books land on the floor with a loud thud causing a very hung-over Amy and Harry to wake up.
“Cecilia, you fucking little shit.” Amy says her voice muffled from her pillow.
“Sorry guys, I’ll be back soon.” I notify them hurrying out of the room.
“Bring aspirin and water when you come back please.” Harry says.
“Already one step ahead of you.” I tell them before closing the door.
I hurry down to Dani’s dorm. Running as fast as my legs can take me. I reach her dorm sooner than I thought I would but of course she isn’t there. I can only think the library is the only place where she can be.
I walk through the doors of the library my breathing is heavy. I haven’t run that much or that fast is forever. I scan the library, looking for her familiar face, I spot her at the usual table. I march over there, my mind running wild.
“You killed him?” I say not even bother greeting her in a pleasant manner. She looks up at me, guilt written all over her face.
“I didn’t mean to, we were drunk.” She tells me.
“So it’s okay for you to blame Bryce?” I ask, my hand hitting the table hard.
“I couldn’t tell you the truth, Cc.”
“Don’t call me that.” I point at her, “You saw how I reacted to you telling me the first time but the fact that you lied to me and blamed it on someone innocent who suffered just as much as you did sickens me.”
“Cecilia, I know it was low of me-“ she begins.
“Oh it was more than low of you.” I cut her off and she shuts her eyes to take a deep breath.
“I lied because when I woke up in hospital the day after, one of the first things they told me was that ‘your brother didn’t make it’. Do you know how that made me feel? Hearing those words and remembering the light of the vehicle hitting his side of the car? Knowing that you were the one in control but you were too drunk to give a shit?” By this time, she’s crying and I feel nothing but sadness fill me.
“But you blamed it on someone else who suffered the loss as well.” I say quietly.
“Bryce agreed to it, he told me to blame him.” What? Why would he do that?
“But Amy-“
“She doesn’t know, she barely remembers the night, she just remembers waking up in the hospital not knowing why or how she got there.”
“Harry?”
“Only Bryce and I know the truth.” I say nothing. My mind is too busy trying to process all this.
“But if Amy doesn’t know about this then what was she talking about yesterday?” I ask after a few minutes of silence.
“She knew I couldn’t admit that I was part of their group.”
“I wouldn’t have judged you, Dani. “ I say, taking her hand in mine as a way to reassure her.
“Not when I would have to tell you the whole Josh thing. I left the group after it all, I just couldn’t handle being there when Josh was dead."
“Understandable I guess, but like I said the first time, you were all drunk so please don’t punish yourself over it all. I know it must be hard to live with but…. you know what I can’t even sugar coat this at all.” I admit.
“You don’t need to sugar coat it, I was an idiot that night and I’ll have to live with the guilt for the rest of my life.” She says letting a few tears slip down her cheeks. I pull her in for a hug.
“Is that why you and Florence don’t talk anymore?” I ask as we both pull back from the hug.
“Yeah she tried stopping us from getting in the car, I don’t blame her for it though, I wouldn’t want to talk to me either.”
“Maybe one day she’ll come round.” I smile.
“Hopefully.”
“Dani, I’m sorry for judging you before giving you a chance to explain, I just didn’t see it coming at all.” I apologize.
“Don’t, its okay.” She smiles half-heartedly and I return it. I so badly want to ask about Emily but the whole Josh situation is enough for me today. I begin to stand up remembering the hung-over couple in my dorm.
“I’ve got to go but I’ll see you around.” I smile and dismiss myself. Dani nods and waves me off.
+
“Ah hello little one.” Bryce greets me as I walk back to my dorm with a 2 bottles of water and aspirin.
“Is that my nickname now?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at him.
“I guess so.” He smiles.
“That was a short hour shift.” I say to him remembering it was only an hour ago that he mentioned he needed to go to work.
“Yeah turned out I wasn’t working today.” He says and I burst out into laughter.
“Wow Bryce.” I pat him on the back with a free hand.
“Yeah pretty awkward.” He says looking down at the ground, his smile fading. I decide not to question it and continue walking beside him.
We walk in silence a little longer until we reach my dorm. He runs in and jumps of Amy and Harry causing them to groan and whine.
“Really man?” Harry asks as Bryce jumps on the bed annoying them. I giggle and sit on the edge of my bed waiting for Bryce to stop.
“Bryce.” Amy warns but Bryce doesn’t stop, “Bryce, I’m warning you.” She speaks again but Bryce pretends he doesn’t hear her and continues to jump on the bed. Out of nowhere Amy stands up and swats him across the head causing both Harry and I to laugh.
“I warned you.” She points at him as he lays on the edge of her bed, rubbing the back of his head.
“Yeah, I need to start taking you more seriously when you say shit like that.” He laughs. Amy lays back down next to Harry, massaging the temples of her head.
“Oh, almost forgot, I brought you two aspirin and water.” I smile and hand the items to the both of them.
“Thanks Cc.” Harry says for the two of them and I nod my head before lying down and thinking about what Dani told me.
+
The next day, I don’t have any classes so I find myself walking through a park just a few blocks down from the college. The air is a little cold today but I don’t seem to mind the cold breeze hitting me.
I walk further down the park’s pathways and suddenly find myself at a cemetery. How in the world did I get this far down?
I continue walking, being in the presence of a cemetery gives me shivers and causes a wave of sadness to come over me. I see a few people visiting and it breaks my heart. I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a love one. But my heart goes out to those that have lost someone. As I walk further and further, someone catches my eye: Bryce.
He stands before a gravestone. He lifts his hand up to his face and wipes a fallen tear away. His slender fingers touch his lips then the gravestone. My heart breaks a little. I wonder whom he’s visiting right now. Josh maybe?
He begins to walk away and I quickly hide myself behind a tree. I don’t want him to know I saw him. Once he has disappeared I walk up to which I assume is Josh’s grave.
But I was wrong, the name read, Emily Rose Headrick.
YOU ARE READING
ONE CHANCE
Teen Fiction"What happens in the dark should not be brought into the light."
