THREE MONTHS LATER
Nessie and Zephyr walked down the hall hand in hand. She relayed the plan to him through her thoughts as they walked to their biology class.
"After school, we'll get in my car and I'll drop you, Rizzy, and Embyr off at your house. Then I'll pretend to have forgotten something at my house and I'll drive towards there. Once I get far enough away, I'll crash the car. Then my family will come and help fabricate the evidence. I think Alice even got a Jane Doe body from some clinic in South America. She has too much fun with this, I swear."
"Wait, but that wouldn't look like you. Someone would figure it out."
"Z, we're going to make the car explode. It will burn long enough that no one would be able to recognize 'me' but I'll leave something personal in the car that you or Auntie Alice or someone would be able to identify in the morgue later. Auntie Rose even found a locket just like mine to put on the body. You'll see the explosion from your house and freak out. Call my cell a few times and then call the cops. Give us a good half an hour after the initial explosion to make sure the car's torched enough. Be pretty hysterical and punch something. Like a wall. Then, when you actually find out I'm 'dead' go numb. Hide in your room and don't let anyone in. I'll come visit you later tonight to fill you in on what happens after. Sorry we've had to keep this from you, but Uncle Jazz thought it would be safest."
"It's okay. I understand why. I'll probably be able to act better because it's fairly new to me and I won't have practiced."
"Shh, someone will hear you."
"I didn't say anything wrong, just that I can't act." They made their way to their shared lab table, all the while keeping up the charade of being head-over-heels in love. As they sat down, she gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek, lingering just long enough to tell him something.
"Most importantly, don't act like this is your 'last day' with me."
"I love you, baby." Zephyr wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her full on the lips just as the teacher walked in.
"Mr. Quade, I'm going to have to ask you, again, to keep your hands and face to yourself. Let's keep the 'P' out of the 'PDA'. Capisce?"
"Capisce."
"Way to go stud muffin." Nessie brushed her hand against his as she reached for an extra piece of paper. The class dragged on. By the time the bell rang, Nessie had gone through the plan in her head several times, and she was sure Zephyr had done the same. School was out.
"Mr. Quade, before you go, I'd like to have a quick word with you. Alone." Zephyr turned to Nessie and placed a quick kiss to her forehead.
"I'll meet you at your locker. Love you."
"Love you." Nessie quickly walked out of the classroom. She laughed to herself as she heard her biology teacher lecture Zephyr on the glories of first love, but the demerits of public displays of affection. She almost didn't notice Sebastian come up behind her. He had left her alone for the most part, since she had Zephyr had gone "public" but that didn't stop him from being vulgar around her. He pushed her up against the lockers.
"Hey baby, did you know that your hair and my hips are perfectly color coordinated. Wanna see?"
"Fuck you Seb! Get your hands off me you bastard!" She pushed him away and punched him in the face. He doubled over, blood gushing from the break.
"You bitch!"
"Excuse me? What did you just call my girlfriend?"
"The cunt punched me in the nose!" Zephyr, who had suddenly appeared beside Nessie, reached over and grabbed Sebastian's nose. He twisted hard and Sebastian all but screamed in agony. He ran off toward the men's room as Zephyr grabbed Nessie's hand. They walked out to the car together. Rizzy and Embyr were leaning against it having a deep conversation. Zephyr ran over and wedged himself in between them, slinging an arm around each of them.
"God, Z. You can't even let your sister have an intelligent conversation with her girlfriend without butting in." Nessie laughed as she walked up beside them.
"Well Rizz, you know Zephyr likes to pretend he's the most intelligent one of the bunch."
"Emphasis on 'pretend'. Wait, Z, why do you have blood all over your hand?" Embyr grabbed it and looked more closely.
"Oops. Guess I forgot to clean it off." He wiped his hand off on his shirt.
"Want to clue your dear sister in?"
"Zephyr's hand had a run in with Sebastian's nose."
"Damn, Zeph! You must have hit him hard!" Embyr mock punched him on the shoulder.
"Actually, Nessie hit him. I just grabbed his nose and twisted it."
"Aww, always the weakling. Way to go Ness!"
"Hey! Loser." They all laughed and got in the car. As they drove, they made plans for Nessie and Embyr to spend the night. They were going to all rent movies and order Thai food. Nessie pulled into the Quade's driveway. The all got out and went inside.
"Shit. I left my wallet at home, and it's my turn to pick up the tab. I'll run home really quick and get it." Nessie turned and headed towards the door.
"Baby, it's okay. I'll get it this time."
"No, Z, you paid last time. Besides, you probably don't have any money."
"Then I'll go with you."
"Zephyr, you sit down. Someone needs to order the Thai food while Rizzy and Embyr go pick up the movies. I'll be right back. Order me some coconut curry. Oh, and don't forget my dessert!"
"Right. White rice boiled in coconut milk with sliced mangoes on top. Got it. Hurry back to me."
"I always do." She kissed him lightly on the lips.
"Eww! You guys! Mucho PDA! Zephyr, you should know better! Didn't you get in trouble with that in Bio?"
"How'd you find out Embyr? You're not even in that class!"
"I have my sources." Nessie opened the door and began to walk to her car. She took a brief mental picture of her two best girl friends, knowing this was the last time she would ever see them again.
"See you guys in a few! Love you!" There was a chorus of "Love you's" half-heartedly flung back at her. She knew that they were sincere though. She almost hated what she was about to do, but she knew it was the only way. A small tear slipped down her cheek as she pulled out of the driveway. About a mile down the road, she pulled the car over. Her family slipped out from behind the trees and quickly began to work. Bella pulled her daughter away from the car and Nessie began to sob quietly. She hated leaving Rizzy and Embyr. They really were two of her best friends. Nessie watched as Emmet smashed the car into the tree. Rose and Alice put the body in the car and the locket around her neck. They all stepped back as Edward doused the car in gasoline and then threw a lit match. The all ran as the car exploded. Nessie stopped in the middle of the forest. Her father quickly turned around.
"Go, Renesmee. But don't let them see you. Be careful." Without another word, Nessie turned and fled toward Zephyr's house. As she got closer, she could hear Zephyr "panicking" along with Rizzy and Embyr. Nessie scaled the back of the house and hid in Zephyr's room. She listened to him try to call her cell phone, which was now burning inside the car. Finally, Zephyr called 911. She waited, listening to her three friends sob. She could hear the sirens in the distance, and waited. About an hour later, there was a knock on the front door. Nessie listened as Zephyr answered it.
"Zephyr Quade?"
"Yes. Please, tell me, was that my Nessie? Is she okay?"
"Son, I'm sorry."
"I'm not your son! And you're not sorry!"
"Zephyr, wait!" Rizzy and Embyr called after him as he fled up the stairs. Suddenly, his door opened and Zephyr found himself face-to-face with his dead girlfriend. Nessie closed the door quickly and hugged him tightly.
"Z, this hurts me. I'm so sorry."
"Nessie, it hurts me too, but we've got to do it. You know why." She cried as he carried her over to the bed. They sat together while Nessie listened to the sheriff downstairs.
"You are?"
"I'm Rizzy Quade, Zephyr's brother. This is my girlfriend, Embyr. We're friends of Nessie's. Is she—is she dead?"
"I'm sorry, but it appears so. We won't know for sure, until the family ID's the body."
"But can't you do like, DNA testing or something? It might not be Ness."
"Well, in the fire, we lost most of the dental records and any useable DNA. It was almost as if she was cremated. But there was a cell phone in the glove box that matches the description of hers. We also found a locket that got caught on a branch. Do you know if Vanessa had a locket?"
"Her name's Nessie! She hates Vanessa!" Nessie could hear Rizzy sobbing and had to strain to hear Embyr over the cries.
"Nessie had a locket that she always wore. It's her. She was driving to her house to get her money. It was her turn to buy movies and food. We were going to have a sleepover. We do that a lot. Did. We did that a lot. I guess it probably won't happen anymore. Nessie was my best friend."
"I'm so sorry for your loss." The sheriff's scanner went off, and Nessie heard that her parent's had ID'd her possessions. There was no going back now. The sheriff said his goodbyes and drove off. Nessie quickly got up and hid in the closet. Zephyr took the cue and buried himself in his bed, facing the wall.
"Zeph? Can we talk?" Embyr gently opened the door. Rizzy had calmed down slightly so both she and Embyr were crying silently. Zephyr rolled up into a tighter ball.
"Z, it was her. She's gone."
"I don't believe you. Go away. Nessie will be back here soon. She'll come in, and run up here. She'll bounce on my bed and laugh at me for being to lazy to pick up the food. And then she'll drag me down to the car and we'll go and get it together."
"Zephyr. She's gone. As in dead. As in not coming back. Ever."
"Come on Zeph, don't do this. Be strong, for Nessie. She wouldn't want you to do this. She's watching us right now and shaking her head. She wants us to be happy."
"Happy? Happy?! Get out of my fucking room, and go ask yourselves how happy you are!" He threw a pillow at them and they hurried away.