Kelly Green: After Death

Nice Stories (Kelly)

I stirred, feeling more exhausted than I was before I went to sleep. A lamp was still on beside Tia, and Ray had curled up on the sofa again, at least now he didn't take up the whole thing. I wondered if the owner of this random house in the middle of nowhere had bought furniture for four people to sleep. I saw no sign of Matthew or Liz, and suspicion stirred me enough to sit up. However, my legs were stiff and no matter how many times I phased to water, the purple bruise on my left shin wouldn't fade. It was like the bruise knew I used to be normal, and was treating me appropriately. That laziness in my legs bargained: just sleep a little longer, everyone else is. I frowned at myself for listening.

Before going back to sleep, I went over and turned off the lamp, seen as Tia wasn't using it. My stubby fingers found the switch and I did flick it, except for a second it stayed on. Then it went off abruptly, and a tall, muscled and yet impish man stood beside me. That was Matthew. He was similar to Liz in the sense he knew he looked good, and similar to Ray in the sense that he knew he could use his looks to get his way. Whenever he was in group discussions, he would single out someone that disagreed and stare, still for a second to long. They often changed their mind. The rest of the time he was bouncing off the ceiling, mahogany fingers drumming anything solid.

I was still quite sleepy and so hadn't noticed the jerk staring at me.

"What?"

"What you, what're you doing?"

I wondered if I told him I was narrating this scene he'd storm off. No, I'd need to come up with something more rude or crazy. "Nothing. Going to sleep."

I slumped back onto my claimed bed, and he sat next to Ray. In a few minutes he was snoring, and I almost laughed at how stupid he looked. Thoughts and memories drowned the fun out though; what would Annabelle say to that, what prank would Celyn pull, how Marcus slept in similarly stupid positions. A while with thoughts like mine makes you tired, and I was already tired so I finally began to drift off...

Until Tia put the lamp on again. My eyes shot open and I almost jumped out the seat.

"Kelly?"

I stared accusingly, but she apparently ignored that and reopened the book. Only a page was turned before she shut it dramatically. Ray snorted and lopped to the other side. A few awkward moments of silence passed while a soft, sadder Kelly beat an angrier, stronger one. It shouldn't of been possible, but that marshmallow me had a secret weapon. I sighed as she took hold. My nose got slightly runny, my eyes perhaps more shiny. (Ok they might have gotten redder and wetter, but if I hear you repeat that I will find you!)

"Tia..?" I started, a little too croaky and needing to clear my throat, "How did you die?"

I heard her rearrange herself and imagined black coals above her glasses scowling me down. I snuck a glance and was correct but it meant she had seen my face and I cursed myself, curling inward as much as my padded uniform allowed, knees under the fireproof coat.

"Well... I'll tell you if you tell me how you died."

"K. Me first?"

"Please. You lie more than anyone I know."

Anger allowed me to release myself and soon anger made me sit up and look her in the eye. She had sat up, book on her lap, glasses sliding down her nose, and her eyes glistening too. I preferred Tia when she was being bitchy, she was good at arguments and made them fun. Until, of course, she slammed you with some backwards logic.

Now I begin the tale of how I died. It's stupid in the way that makes me furious and I am not going to repeat it so listen close, yeah?

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