Lamb of God
Chapter Two: So Young
After dinner, Lizzie went back to he room to find Miranda sound asleep with a bottle of sleeping pills clutched tightly in her hand. Lizzie's heart dropped. Her best friend had resorted to taking sleeping pills, but it was only 6:00. Lizzie grabbed the bottle out of Miranda's hand, and realized that it was still mostly full. At least she wasn't trying to commit sui- Lizzie was shocked at what had just crossed through her mind. Miranda of all people would never even consider something so irrational. She was probably just having a hard time with something. Lizzie tossed the bottle on Miranda's desk and grabbed her bathroom tote to go take a shower.
After Lizzie took her shower, she studied for a couple hours with Kate next door and then they went to the Wednesday Night Movie on The Lawn that the student activities committee put on every Wednesday in front of their dorm. After watching The Village, the girls went back to their dorm and parted ways. Lizzie felt exhausted. Studying for finals was taking a toll on her. She didn't even change before falling fast asleep.
At about one a.m., Lizzie was suddenly jarred out of her deep sleep, that she fell into the second she hit the pillow, by a frantic pounding on her door and someone screaming, "Lizzie, oh my God! LIZZIE!"
Lizzie's heart jumped out of her chest as she bolted for the door to let the person on the other side in, but before she had taken a step, the door burst open and Lizzie saw Kate.
Lizzie felt like she was going to panic. "What the hell's goin on?" she frantically asked Kate.
"Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God," Kate said, shaking.
"What the hell is it?" Lizzie screamed, shaking her, but Lizzie had a feeling that she didn't want to know.
"Parker," Kate sobbed, before losing control and collapsing on the floor, sobbing even more.
Lizzie didn't know what to do. She was in a state of complete panic. "What the hell happened to Parker?" she screeched.
Kate looked up at her from the floor. "She's dead," she whispered.
Chills ran throughout Lizzie's entire body. She wanted to pass out, but at the same time she just wanted to run. Lizzie decided to run. She ran around Kate, and sprinted for the exit.
"Where are you going?" Kate half sobbed and half screamed after her.
"I don't know," Lizzie screamed as she found the exit. She really didn't know. She just had to run away.
Far away, but before she even made it across the lawn, she ran smack into Gordo, who looked in complete shock.
"What happened?" Lizzie screamed. "Where's Parker?"
"She- they- I mean Jason and Parker. They were in the car and then suddenly..." Gordo trailed off.
"Tell me, please," Lizzie said desperately.
"She didn't stand a chance. One second they were going and the next BAM!" Lizzie jumped at Gordo's sudden outburst. "He lost control and..."
"And what?" Lizzie whispered. She could feel tears swelling up in her eyes.
"They hit a tree at 50 miles per hour. Jason's in the hospital, in serious condition, but he'll make it."
"And Parker?"
"She- she didn't even make it out of the car."
"You mean..."
"She's dead." Lizzie couldn't hold on any longer.
Gordo grabbed her before she collapsed to the ground in tears. "I wish I could make it all better," Gordo whispered into her ear, but..." She felt hot tears hit her neck as he trailed off. Gordo was crying too.
After a few minutes, Lizzie and Gordo both managed to recollect themselves. Lizzie was still shaking and scared, but she had her mind back, and Gordo snapped out of his trance.
"We should go find the others. We need each other more right now than ever before," Lizzie whispered.
"Yeah," Gordo agreed. The two trudged into Gant Hall and up to the second floor where they found Ethan and Ronny in their room staring at the floor in a complete state of shock.
"Hey guys, come on. We need to talk," Lizzie said. Ronny and Ethan silently followed them downstairs to Kate's floor. Kate was silently sitting in the doorframe of Lizzie's room. There were groups of girls that were woken up by Kate's outburst who were standing around crying and staring solemnly at the floor.
"Come on, Kate. We need to get outta here," Gordo told her, touching her on the shoulder.
She looked up. Her eyes were red and her face was blotchy from crying. "Okay."
"Where's Miranda?" Lizzie asked.
"She's still sleeping. Something's wrong with her. She should have gotten up with all of the screaming going on," Kate quietly said.
"Sleeping pills," Lizzie mumbled.
"Where's Claire?" Gordo added.
"Stripping," Kate replied.
"Oh," Gordo said, flatly. "Well, let's go."
"Hey, what about Tudge?" Ethan asked.
"Drunk. He's passed out in the dorm."
"Oh."
Kate, Lizzie, Ethan, and Ronny then followed Gordo out to the oak tree they had been sitting under earlier that day. Nobody talked. They just sat for an hour, maybe two.
Finally, Ronny broke the silence. "It's funny," his voice cracked. "We were just sitting under this tree with Parker not 12 hours ago."
"Yeah," Kate agreed. "It's funny. Now that she's... you know... gone, I wish that I had gotten to know her better."
"Yeah. After that dance in eighth grade, I didn't really talk to her," Ethan said.
"She was probably trying to avoid you after the way you dance," Kate said, chuckling.
"That's the dance that she turned Gordo down for because he was too short," Lizzie added, smiling a little at the memory.
"Yeah. It's kinda ironic your six foot now," Ronny said, looking at Gordo.
"I don't know what the hell you jerks think is so funny. Parked is dead. D-E-A-D dead, and all you can do is laugh at a mistake she made seven freaking years ago. What the hell is your problem?" Gordo suddenly exploded. "Look, I'm history. I don't hang out with jerks that make fun of dead people." Gordo stood up.
"Wait. We weren't making fun of her. We were remembering the memories she made with us," Kate said.
"I don't care how the hell you put it. I hope I never see any of you jerks ever again," Gordo yelled as he turned around and ran."
Kate, Lizzie, Ronny, and Ethan looked at each other.
"He knew her better than the rest of us. I mean he dated her after all," Lizzie said quietly.
"But he's not the type to freak like that," Ronny said.
"I don't think anybody is the same when somebody... You know... goes," Lizzie replied.
"You mean dies?" Ethan asked.
Kate's lip started to quiver and she started sobbing again.
"Now look what you did," Lizzie said. "Why do you always have to be so dense? There a reason I didn't say d- I mean that."
"You think I'm dense? Well just for the record, I can lift 400 pounds," Ethan said, in defense. "I'm gonna go work off this crap it you don't mind."
"Fine, go," Lizzie spat. "You obviously don't give a shit that one of our friends died."
Ethan looked at her with a blank stare for a few seconds before jogging off towards the gym. "The gym's closed, stupid," Lizzie yelled.
"Go to hell!" Ethan called over his shoulder.
"I'm suddenly tired. If you don't mind, I think I'm gonna try to sleep a little," Kate said, wiping more tears away from her eyes.
"Okay. I think I'm gonna walk," Lizzie replied.
"I'll see ya later."
"Yeah, later," Kate said, heading towards Gant Hall.
Lizzie stood up and started walking the opposite way.
She didn't know where she was going, but she just had to go. After walking for a half hour, Lizzie found herself sitting at a quiet coffee house just off of campus. She ordered a shot of expresso and sat down and stared at the ceiling.
"You okay?" A man asked, sitting at Lizzie's table.
"Huh?"
"I said are you okay? You look really out of it."
Lizzie looked up into the face of a really attractive brunette. His hair was loosely gelled, and his bright blue eyes stood out against his light olive skin. His five o'clock shadow gave him a sexy outdoorsy look.
Lizzie blinked. Who was she kidding? He was drop dead gorgeous. His loose jeans clung to his hips by a brown leather belt. He was wearing flip flops, and a not tight, but not loose t-shirt that's sleeves clung to his muscular arms and hinted at the thought of tight abs underneath. "Oh, I'll live... I guess. My name's Lizzie, by the way," she added.
"Derek." He stuck his hand out and shook her hand.
"You don't mind if I sit here, do you?"
"No. I could use some company right now. Do you go the WCU?"
"Yeah, but I'm graduating in just a few days."
"Cool. What do you plan on doing afterwards?"
"I met this really cool guy here, and we're starting an organization after graduation."
"Cool. What kind of organization?"
"It's religious."
"You mean like Christian?"
"Sorta, but enough about me. You go to WCU too?"
"Yeah. I'm gonna be a junior next year."
"Cool"
"Yeah."
"Um, I don't mean to be nosey or anything, but you seem really upset. Are you really okay?"
"Well, I don't know." Lizzie wasn't sure that she wanted to share what just happened with a complete stranger, but he was being so nice, and he was so hot...
"One of my friends just died in a car wreck." Lizzie still couldn't believe what she was hearing. Parker dead? Fresh tears trickled down Lizzie's face. She took a shaky breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that." She wiped the tears away from her face with the back of her hand. "You're a complete stranger and I'm blubbering to you about some person that you probably don't even know. I mean you don't even know me. Now, it would be different if..."
"It's okay. I had no idea. If you just want me to go I can," he said, standing up.
"No, please stay. I mean if you want to. I just don't want to be alone. Sorry. I'll just shut up now."
"No, I understand why you're upset. "My sister got in wreck when I was a senior in high school and didn't make it. Maybe I'll understand."
Lizzie looked at him. "Oh my God. Here I am freaking out about a girl that I used to hang out with some, and you lost your flesh and blood."
"It's cool. I've had four years to heal. I'll never forget her, but I've just sorta come to accept what happened."
"How?"
"Time. It takes time to heal. I wish there was a faster remedy, but there doesn't seem to be."
"I had a feeling that was true. Does remembering the good times you had with her help?"
"Yeah. In fact, I hardly remember having a bad time with her."
"You had to fight with her at least sometimes."
"Yeah, but that's not what mattered. I forgot about that, but I still remember the forts we used to build out of sheets in the living room and the time we got to go to the carnival together. We both ate a ton of cotton candy and then went on the spinning teacup ride until both of us threw up and my mom forced us to go home." Lizzie smiled at his story. "See, you're already smiling."
"I feel like it's a crime to smile, though. I don't want Parker to think I'm happy she's gone. I'm such a jerk."
"No you're not. I doubt Parker would want you to never smile again. I mean think about it. You hate it when your friends are sad, right?"
"Yeah," Lizzie said slowly.
"Well, I bet Parker's the same way."
"Wow, suddenly something makes sense. Even in the midst of this whole episode, there's hope. Thank you so much."
"It's nothing. I hate to see people sad."
"You are so sweet. Most guys just run the second they see a girl cry."
"Is that what your boyfriend did tonight?"
"No. I don't have a boyfriend."
"Oh, sorry."
"No, it's cool. My friends all lost it, though. Gordo got upset when we smiled and then I yelled at Ethan for saying dead and making Kate cry. And my other friend never even woke up because of the sleeping pills she shouldn't be taking." Lizzie paused. "I'm sorry. That's probably more than you want to know about my sad life."
"No, it's okay. It's good to talk. Talking always made me feel better after my sister died."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You know, if you ever can't find anyone willing to listen, I can give you my cell phone number. You can call me anytime."
"You would do that? For me? I mean I'm a complete stranger."
"Yeah. I like you. You're kinda cool."
"But you don't even know me."
"I know enough." He grabbed a pen out of his pocket and scribbled his number on a napkin sitting on the table. "Even if you just wanna chat about anything, you've got my number," he said, handing the napkin to Lizzie.
"Wow. Thanks. I wish there were more people as sweet as you."
"Thanks." He smiled.
Lizzie glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost five a.m. "I should go see if Kate got to sleep and break the news to Miranda."
"Well, let me know how it goes," Derek said, putting his hand on top of Lizzie's resting on the table.
"Thanks." Lizzie smiled at Derek before sliding out of her chair and exiting the restaurant and walking towards Gant Hall about a mile away.
A/N: Well? What can I do to make it better? How do you see this story unfolding? I would love to hear from everybody. Even if you send me a blank review, I would love it because I know you're reading my story. Reviews really mean a lot to me. Oh, and if I'm making some dumb grammar errors, please let me know. I hate bad grammar, but I'm not very good at it.
Thank you,
-EKJ
