Chapter Text
Ding Dong.
Kel woke up in a cold sweat. He could barely hear the doorbell over the sound of the rain. He turned in his bed, looked at his alarm clock. Blank, black. Power must’ve been out or something.
Then he noticed no one was in the house. Right. Hero and his parents went out to choose his college. The doorbell rang again. Kel couldn’t keep them waiting…
Walking down the stairs, a draft of cold wind passing through Kel. He rubbed his hands to stay warm. Must've been raining pretty heavily. Maybe hail? Whatever. If he’s feeling cold, then whoever’s ringing his doorbell is colder. He picked up a towel. Considering the power's out, he'd probably pass it to the poor dude outside, then light the fireplace so they'd stay warm.
He walked closer to the door, peeped through the hole and saw…
No. No no no. What the fuck?! That shouldn’t be- It can't-
“Hello? Is anyone there? It’s me… Aubrey.” A girl, looking barely 12 standing outside in a white burial gown.
With her signature pink bow laying limp on her head, soaked in the rain.
Kel fell back from shock.
She’s dead. She’s been dead for four years, who the hell is outside his door?! It just... couldn't be...
“Kel? Hero?”
She sounded afraid. Genuine. She sounded just like her. Like a terrified little girl.
If it wasn't her, whatever it was was doing a pretty fucking good job. And if it was her... he couldn't just leave her there without saying anything
“Y-yeah, I’m here.” he stammered out a response.
“Kel… Thank god… I- I don’t know what happened! I woke up at the church, I tried to go home but- My parents won’t open the door!” her voice became panicky, “I tried Mari’s too but she- I- I don’t know what to do!”
“Look, just- just stay outside. I’ll call someone and-”
“No.” she said it oddly- almost as if it was a command- then looked shocked at how she spoke, “I- I'm sorry, I didn’t- I’m just… I’m soaked and in some kind of- weird dress?! I- I just don’t want to spend the whole night out here. I’m scared. I don’t wanna be kidnapped or murdered or- or-”
Kel banged his head against the door, trying to shock himself out of whatever hallucination this was. Then he looked back through the peephole, and she was still there.
He really didn’t have a choice, did he?
“You okay, Kel? I heard a knock.”
“I’m… fine.” he caved in, unlatching his door and turning the knob to the lock, “You can come in.”
A rotting, blue hand reached inwards as he pulled the door open.
“Thank you so much. It was so c-c-c-”
Everything went dark.
Whispers rushed past Kel’s head. Loud, blaring, waves of pain in his temple.
“You.”
“Killed.”
“Me.”
“I’M SORRY!” Kel screamed into the darkness.
But nobody came.
Kel opened his eyes, sun shining through the blinds, his alarm clock ringing. 6:01, Time for school.
He slammed his hand down onto it.
Chapter 1: 1 Week Left
School was… normal. Therapist wanted to catch up after lessons, then he hung out with his basketball team, had some killer dunks. Speaking of “Dunks”, some people in his team did get those, along with Jordan 1s, which Kel said were shit to play with anyways.
“Hey, MJ played with those from ‘84 to ‘86, that’s gotta count for something!”
“You weren’t BORN from ‘84 to ‘86. Those were different times. Plus his foot was also bleeding thanks to 'em in ‘98. You want good Jordans for playing? Get the 11s.”
“Man, those cost like a hunned. I got these from the thrift store for like twenny!”
“Hope they don’t fall apart on you then.” Kel snickered.
“Man shut yo bitchass up n-”
Ah, good times as always. Then it was just the bus home.
Slipping off his shoes, hopping on one foot as he did, he placed them on the shoe rack and called out to tell his parents he was home. He could smell his mom's cooking already, which meant she was in the kitchen. His dad was either in his office or working on the car since he couldn't see him from outside.
That gave him... 1, 2 hours to get on GTA. Nice.
Walking into the living room, Kel noticed someone talking to Hero.
Mari.
Well, he’s not staying in the living room now.
Keeping his head down, he tried to walk past her.
“Kel.” she called out to him.
He stopped, still not making eye contact, but he probably couldn’t ignore her, “... Yeah?”
“Haven’t seen you in a while, bud.”
…
“Yeah.”
“How’s school?”
Ah. Small talk.
“Fine, I guess.”
“Good good. Well-”
Kel stopped her there, “I’ll catch up with you later Mari.”
Hero sighed, “There might not be a later, Kel.”
“... What?”
“Her family’s moving to the city in like a week, it’s closer to our college. And with your school and basketball, there’s probably no time better than now. Winter break’s next week after all.”
“Oh. Alright,” Kel shrugged, “I can always make time la-”
“Be honest, Kel.” Mari suddenly butted in, “Have you been avoiding us because of Aubrey ?”
Kel clenched his fist.
“Look, no one blames you for it. It was an accident, that much is clear. Only Sunny’s really mad at you. The rest of us are all willing to-”
“Can you just shut up and stop trying to force me to talk to you?”
“Kel, she’s just trying to-”
“I tried, okay? I tried once. But as I was watching all of you I saw how empty it felt. You and Hero were just trying to keep a conversation going when there was nothing to talk about. When Sunny didn’t want to talk. When Basil was just trying to keep himself together. And you’re gonna say “Well you can change that!” . Well maybe you’re right!” Getting punched in the face by Sunny is certainly a conversation starter isn’t it?!” he waved his hands in the air sarcastically.
…
According to his therapist, talking about his problems was supposed to make him feel better.
But as he looked at Mari, her eyes disappointed while still faking a smile, trying to find something to say, as he looked at Hero glaring at him for screaming at Mari. He just… just felt regret.
“I... I’m sorry I shouted at you.” Kel sighed, “I’m sorry things can never be the same again. But… Sunny… Sunny and I… We’ll probably never see eye to eye. And Basil… I don’t know if I can forgive myself for just leaving him like that. I just can’t.”
“Yeah. Okay.” Mari’s voice had become significantly softer, while her smile was still plastered on her face awkwardly, “Guess I’ll go then.”
She gave Hero a peck on the cheek, “See you later.”
Kel had never felt like this much of a fuckup before.
Later, lying in bed, he thought about everything again. How he reacted. He hasn’t seen anyone since then , maybe saw Sunny a little at the park but…
He missed them. He missed his old friends. Missed how Basil would let him mess with his camera. Missed how Mari would care for everyone like a mom. Missed looking at action figures with Sunny at Hobeez.
Roy and everyone were nice, of course. But they weren’t his first friends.
Even if he and Sunny hated each other, it’d be nice to just… Try.
Try and make amends for what happened.
Chances were slim but…
“Hero?”
“Yeah?”
“I think… I think I’m ready to meet up with everyone. Tomorrow.”