The Accident: Based On A True Story

Chapter Twenty-One

(POV KEEGAN)

I've been texting Casey everyday with barely any replies back. Recently, we both found out I have a type. Or at least that's what she thinks. But is it considered having a type when there's only one person you want to be with?

Moving into a town where everybody knows everybody isn't easy. I had to try to establish relationships with people who have known everyone here their entire lives. My whole family had to. But I'll never forget my first day of school in Rayden.

Sitting alone at lunch, this girl with pinpoint straight hair, gorgeous blue eyes, and a tiny stature, walked up to me. It was Casey Carpenter.

"Hey. Wanna join us?", she asked me.

"Okay.", I replied as I grabbed my lunch tray and followed her to her table.

"This is Sam, Leah, and Ryan.", she said introducing everyone at the small, round table outside.

"Hey, I'm Keegan.", I said before taking a seat in between Ryan and Casey.

"Ryan's a pretty cool name for a girl.", I told Ryan.

"I like it.", she said before chewing on a bite of her apple.

"Yeah, funny story. Ryan was supposed to be a boy. Our mom already spent weeks choosing our names so she decided to keep it when this beast of a girl popped out.", Casey said.

Ryan quickly replied, "I'm still mad I wasn't. I wouldn't have to share everything with her."

Automatically I could tell how different they were even though they looked exactly alike. Ryan was a tomboy who enjoyed spending her lunch trying to get abs, reading books, or eating healthy because, again, abs. Casey was more of a socializer. She had friends in every high school clique you could think of. Theatre geeks, jocks, honor roll kids, the punks, etc. Her smile was warm and made you feel like you were the only one that mattered. Eventually, I wanted to be the only one who mattered because she kind of became that for me.

Casey and Ryan's family were just as nice. Sarah always made me feel welcome. When my grandma was dying, she, being a nurse, would come by my house to check up on her everyday until she passed away. David, along with Casey and Ryan, would pick me up every morning for school when my parents were working and getting the funeral arrangements together for my grandma.

It's hard seeing Casey suffer like this. I think part of the reason she's avoiding me is because she knows I see it. It's probably why she's avoiding everyone who knows about what happened. But we care. Its difficult to know that she's suffering alone even if she refuses to admit it. But what I can do? I'm trying to be there for her.