The Accident: Based On A True Story

Chapter Fourteen

I walked into the house as quietly as possible until I realized Sarah's car was still gone. I don't know what I was worried for. Even if she was here, would she have even noticed? Probably not and that's fine.

I went upstairs, kind of buzzed, and headed straight to my room. Not noticing that my words are ahead of my brain, I enter my room and say, "Dude, tonight was so -"

I was talking to Ryan but she wasn't there. Her empty bed still untouched as it has been for weeks now. Taking a second, I'm starting to feel again. I searched through my bag for those pills.  "Just one" I thought to myself again. Taking it without water, I've become pretty good at this and no one knows which means I must not have a problem. I've always had decent self control with things in life. Not drugs because, like I said, that was never my thing. But with other things. I don't get how people get addicted to stuff and end up doing mass amounts of it. Obviously at that point you need help.

.....

My alarm sounded like a siren when it went off at 6:30 this morning. My head is pounding. Why did I drink? I said I wouldn't ever again. So much for that I guess. No, but really, I'm never doing that again. This is worse than the last time.

I hear my phone go off twice.

"Ugh. What?", I say to myself as I grab my phone on the night stand next to my bed.

(Text message from Keegan) "Hey. Want a ride to school?"

(Text message from Liam) "I have a hangover."

(Text message to Liam from Casey) "Same."

(Text message from Liam) "You know the cure for a hangover is more alcohol."

(Text message to Liam from Casey) "No its not lol"

(Text message from Liam) "No really. Look it up."

(Text message to Liam from Casey) "My head hurts too much to google anything."

(Text message from Liam) "Lol I get you. You going to school?"

(Text message to Liam from Casey) "Ugh yeah. I've already missed so much. You?"

(Text message from Liam) "Haha! I can't wait for you to get to know me more. You'll eventually stop asking me that question."

So I guess that's a no. I really don't want to go either but I need to catch up. Last thing I need is to be held back.

With everything I have inside me, I get up and throw on the first things I see - a jacket, tank top and shorts. I'm not sure even sure if they're clean. On my way out, I stopped in the kitchen and grabbed one of the few things we have, a granola bar. Our fridge used to always be stocked but no one has went shopping. If I had cash or a card, I'd go myself.

Of course, as I walked out of my house, Keegan was waiting for me in his car. It was nice but not what I wanted right now.

"Hey.", I said as I got into the passenger seat.

"Hey! I texted you." He wanted to make sure I knew.

"Yeah I know. I meant to text you back but I got sidetracked.", I replied and it was the truth. I mean, I didn't want the ride but I forgot he had even asked. "Sorry."

"So, umm, how was your date?", I asked him.

"Good. We went to see the new Marvel movie."

I'm not surprised. He's always loved superhero movies. Well, most of them. For the longest time he refused to watch any superhero movie or show that didn't have a cape. Not sure why but he's over that phase in life.

"Did she like it?"

"She actually picked it", he said.

"Wow. Sounds like you two are perfect for each other. ", I added before sighing and grabbing my head.

"You okay?", he asked.

"Headache?", I replied.

"Here.", he said while handing me a water bottle. " I have advil in glove box. Take two. It'll help, trust me."

I did and by the time first period started, it had helped enough for me to function like a normal human being.

While sitting in first period, my history class, another student walks in with a note that he hands Mr. Garner.

"Casey Carpenter. You're wanted in the office.", Mr, Garner said as we all were supposed to be reading about Asia in our books. As I got up to leave the classroom, everyone's eyes were on me.

"Wonder if she killed somebody else.", I hear whispered in the class.

"Back to work everyone. Now." I'm sure Mr. Garner heard that too.

The last time I walked to the office was June first of last year. Mine and Ryan's birthday. Sarah and David had come to get us out early and take us to lunch. Sarah worked the night shift that night and knew she wouldn't have been home and she didn't want to miss it. David, who did billing at the hospital, got the day off just for us... Sum was there too. And like the big kids we all are, we went to Dave & Busters. But that was last year.

Waiting in my counselors office, I wonder what this could be about. I have an idea though. I mean, the entire town knows what happened.

"Casey.", Mrs. Bowen says as she walks in and takes her seat across from me.

"Mrs. Bowen.", I reply not knowing what to say exactly. " Am I in trouble?"

"Oh no. Not at all. I wanted to bring you in here to talk to you. How's it been since you've been back?"

"Same.", I reply.

"The same?", she asks.

"As much as it can be, yeah." At this moment I'm wishing I was a superhero with a cape. An invisible one.

"And how have things been at home?", she asked.

I knew this was coming.

"It's okay."

Looking at my school file she asks, "You're sister, Sarah, she's your guardian correct? She's the one who's looks after you?"

Not anymore.

"Yeah.", I say as I nod my head.

"And how is she?"

What is this? 21 questions.

"I don't know... Coping.", I say trying my best to keep it short but I'm not sure if believes what I'm saying or not.

After nodding her head, " I know this a hard time for your entire family but I want you to know we're here for you. I'm here if you need anything. Anything at all."

"I know. Thanks... Can I go now?"

"Sure.", she replied knowing that regardless of the situation, losing people is never easy. I don't care what her opinions are of me. I just want her to forget about it. Forget about me.