The Next Day…

Adam's PoV

Quickly, I rose from the hospital bed and dressed myself in what Drew had brought. We rode off to school swiftly. I met Clare on the front stairs while Drew went to talk with Riley and Zane.

"You ready to tell the school?" I asked.

"I still keep hoping I'll wake up and find that this is all a dream…" she replied sadly and honestly.

"I do too, honey," I sighed as I pulled her in and hugged her. "I never wanted him to leave…"

"Neither did I," she said shakily.

I let her go and took her hand, leading her inside. As we had thought, we were confronted by Principle Simpson.

"Were you guys at the hospital last night?" he asked us.

We both nodded and then he motioned for us to follow. As the warning bell rang, Sav came in and started off and then it moved to me and Clare. He explained to us what to say, and we followed that.

"As many of you know if you watched the local news last night…" Clare began sadly.

"You know that Elijah Goldsworthy, a junior, was killed in a car crash due to a drunk driver," I finished.

"We would like to start a donation to build a monument here on school grounds," Clare stated, trying not to cry.

"If you would please, if you can and are willing to, please talk to me, Clare, or Sav about the donations, we would be most pleased," I sniffled.

"And just remember," Clare began, a tear running down her cheek, "that Eli was a friend to all that treated him well. Thank you."

Clare and I walked out and started crying as we sat on one of the benches. I buried my face in my hands and sobbed. It was hard talking about him. Hell, it was hard just thinking about him. All the times he stood up for me and Clare were just too good of memories that could never be replaced.

Eli's PoV

I awoke to a homeless man checking me. As soon as I opened my eyes and glared at him, he ran off, dropping everything he had taken off of me. I needed something to eat desperately. I stood, realizing the pain was a little bit more dim than last night. Though, pain was pain, so I still hurt all over. So, anyway, I made my way to the nearest hotdog stand.

"Hey…wait…" the guy at the stand started as I pulled my wallet out. "Weren't you the kid that was in the car crash?"

"Yeah," I replied hesitantly.

"You're supposed to be dead…" the guy stated slowly.

"Damn…" I breathed. "News sure spreads fast…"

"So…" the guy said slowly. "Did you, like, die and then come back or what?"

"That's exactly what happened…" I sighed. "And now Adam and Clare think I'm dead and they're probably planning a…monument or something…"

"Are you going to pay for this or not?" the guy snapped.

I rolled my eyes and slapped down the two dollars and then walked off with my food. I sat down on the bench and leaned back with a groan. This was beginning to become impossible….Then, I took a bite of the hotdog and threw it away because it was absolutely, horrifically, and disturbingly disgusting. I stood and walked, with a limp I might add, to the nearest café. Of course everyone in there just looked at me like I was a ghost. Quickly, they seated me and took my order. After I ate, I got back to thinking of what to do about the whole, "I thought you were dead…" thing. This was going to be a major pain in the ass…

Adam's PoV

Clare and I cried most of the day and the only thing that we got out of the entire thing that was good was the fact that we got out of class. I know it sounds wrong, but in health they were doing sex ed, so…yeah….I wasn't exactly sure how that would go for me, but luckily I got to miss it. I sound so horrible right now, saying my best friend's death was a good thing….I feel horrible knowing it could have been my fault…

"Adam?" someone said from behind me.

I turned to see Riley and Zane standing there.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"We'd like to help set up the monument," Zane said simply.

I nodded and Clare smiled.

"Thanks," Clare sniffled.

Riley walked over and hugged Clare sweetly.

"It's going to be okay, Clare," he whispered.

"Come on, Riley," Zane said.

Riley nodded and looked at Clare saying, "It's okay." with his eyes. She nodded and then Zane and Riley walked away. Everyone loved Riley after he came out. Anyway, everyone had come to the realization that they missed Eli. He was kind of…just a part of this school. He held a lot of people together, like glue. He was almost vital. He kept the bullies in line and everyone else just trusted that he would do so…

Eli's PoV

I left that café and headed toward the school. I couldn't handle it. It was going to be too awful to have so many people pay for a memorial service and me come back. I managed a way up the stairs. Slowly, I opened the front doors and was immediately spotted by…Fitz? Ah shit…

"Goldsworthy?" he squeaked, eyes widening. "You…you're supposed to be dead…"

"Well, I'm not," I snapped and limped past him.

Everyone who saw me stopped and stared. I shook my head and kept going as far as my body would go and then I fell. It hurt so much. Why the hell couldn't Death make it less agonizing? So, I just lay there, on the ground, and the tears fell from my eyes. I didn't realize that I was crying until I noticed that people were stopping to try to help me. I just waved them away and managed to lift myself up. It was harsh, and I was still crying and my jaw was clenched and all this shit that made me look like I was in massive agony….Oh, wait. I balled my fists and kept walking. Finally, I spotted Adam and Clare, in one another's arms, just sobbing away. I took a deep breath (OW!) and limped over to them.

"I'm back from the dead and you two are busy crying?" I grinned (again, OW!).

They looked at me simultaneously and gasped. Both of them. At the same goddamn time. Hugged me! I slumped to the floor, the tears heavier than before. I could feel my pained sides heaving and then they both picked me up, carrying me (most likely to the nurse's office). Ah shit, I was I gonna explain this one?