The Accident: Based On A True Story

Chapter Thirty-One

Sarah called me earlier, for the first time in what felt like ever, to tell me she wouldn't be home until the morning. I was going to stay in because I was thinking maybe I needed to chill for a bit from all the partying. But screw it. She won't be here.

Liam and Carmen picked me up around nine at night.

Sitting in the backseat, I asked Liam, "Where's your bike?"

"Shop. They're replacing my light.", he replied as he handed me the pipe filled with weed.

I took a hit and blew it out, handing back to Liam.

Ah. Sudden relief. It is, after all, medicinal. People with cancer and seizure smokes it. Kids and grandma's even.

"So where's the party tonight?", I asked.

"Out here.", Liam replied after blowing out his hit.

"Some dudes house who goes to Elk", Carmen added.

Hearing that he didn't go to Rayden High, like me, put me at ease. I won't have to worry about seeing all kinds of people I know. Elk is the only other school in town and the only private high school we have.

We got there quickly and parked. Before going in, we did some coke in the car to get ready. I soon realized we were at Steven Golding's house. As the captain of his soccer team, he always leads his team to victory. If our school had a soccer team, I'm sure we would lose every time. At least as long as he goes to Elk.

Inside, it's like every other party we've been going to with two small differences... I go to school with some of these people and they have less alcohol and drugs. At least we brought our own.

Before I knew it, I was feeling the effects of the drinks and everything else I had been doing. I felt, moire now than when I got here, eyes on me, judging me.

"Four missed calls?", I said to myself.

*Missed call from Keegan at 12:13 AM*
*Missed call from Keegan at 12:14 AM*
*Missed call from Keegan at 12:16 AM*
*Missed call from Keegan at 12:19 AM*

Annoyed, a text came in.

(Text message from Keegan) "Case, check Instagram."

Check Instagram? What? Why?

I went on my Instagram and noticed I was tagged in two photos.

The first picture was captioned:
"What a way to celebrate killing your family 😷"

The second was captioned:
"Gotta party when you escape prison" 🙅🙅🚗"

It was done on a page specifically created to bash others. The pictures were of me drinking and dancing with Liam.

Suffocating, I don't know what to do. I scanned the room with eyes but can't figure who did it.

With tears filling my eyes, I find Liam who was getting us drinks.

"Liam, I need to go. I can't be here.", I told him.

"What's wrong?", he asked equally, if not more, wasted than I.

"Please. Can we just go? Where's Carmen.", I asked.

"Casey, the party is just getting started. Besides, Carmen is hooking up right now.", he replied.

"I need to get out of here."

"Then go. No one is forcing you to stay.", he said as if he didn't care.

Trying my hardest not to let a tear fall or go ballistic, I walked out of Stephens house promptly getting an Uber. On the drive home, I just kept staring at the captions under the pictures. A new one was added of me.

*She's leaving. Let's hope for all of our lives that she isn't driving*

It said underneath the photo of the back of me walking out the door.

I got home around one in the morning.

Slamming my front door behind me, I wished I had someone to be there for me. Just this once.

"Sarah?.. Sarah?", I said loudly hoping for a response but all I got was silence. Something that, lately, has been louder than a bomb.

"Why are you never here?!", I yelled even louder, falling to the floor completely broken and empty inside.

"I'm sorry, okay! I'm so, so sorry!!"

Trying to catch my breath and get air, it's almost impossible to do.

"I didn't mean it.. I'm sorry.", I said softly as a last ditch effort in the hopes of hearing, "It's okay."

But nothing. I'm alone as I have been. Or nearly alone... I went to my bathroom to visit my one of the things that provides me with sanity - my blade. In moments, the pain exited my body with every drop of blood that trickled out. One, two, three, four, five. The cuts added up quicker than they ever have before.

"You're going to be okay.", I said to myself as I looked at myself in the mirror. "You're worth something. Even if it's not much."