Disclaimer: the extract is from the Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides.
Chapter twenty -nine, after my love left me
And it was then Cecilia gave orally what was to be her only form of suicide note, and a useless one at that, because she was going to live: 'Obviously, Doctor,' she said, you've never been a thirteen-year-old girl.'
Dead, dead. The word reverberated around the bedroom as if it had been shouted a million times. It felt dirty and sour on their tongues, but they still repeated the untouchable word, dead.
Dawn looked down at her strapy sandals and repeated the question solemnly. "All of them were dead? On the bus?"
Willow nodded sadly having just found out about the police report of a whole 41 bus being found dead. The report that had been kept silent from the media.
"Bloody hell! What sodding wanker would do that?" Spike yelled.
"Spike it's probably mystical, I mean stuff like this isn't exactly all regular is it?" Buffy said.
"But that's the thing luv, it happens in London all the fucking time. Just this time they left no marks, this time it was ten people other than one and this time there were no holes in their bodies for the blood to come out of," Lola said chewing her lip.
'We should get TWC on it right away, and also ask if they've found out what was all over Eleanor's clothes," Xander said to the assembled group.
"I can't believe this is happening it was over two months ago and we've only just found out!" Dawn said bitterly.
oooo
The chilly days of February were turning into the dusty nights of late March. The great halls ceiling was a deep spotless blue, that contradicted entirely with Harrys mood.
The boy stirred his porridge half heartily. Easter was approaching and after Easter came the end of the year, and something bad always happened at the end of the year.
He could feel something approaching on the springs breeze. Like a dead bug in the summers heat, things were starting to reach their climax. Every thing was connected. Kaiya and her disappearances, the object stolen from Grimmauld Place, the sudden obsession with slayers, Fayes sister, Eleanor's slowly decaying frame and Voldemorts assignment to Draco.
Harry new that if only he could see all the missing pieces to the puzzle he could stop it, he could save them all but he didn't.
The only person who was in more of a bad mood than Harry was Tyler. He was starting to drown, he knew what he had to do to let himself float but couldn't bring himself to. Tyler had figured it out, he knew that the only reason why he couldn't find himself was because of Hogwarts. He had been using the school as a support for too long. He needed to get away to try and find out who he really was, and the only way he could do that was to put magic behind him.
"Hay Tyler!" Vanessa said, happily waltzing over to him. Tyler just grunted in response. Vanessa seemed un perturbed by this and proceeded to rant about the sunny skies, beautiful lake and how The Easter holidays were starting in two days.
"You're bloody cheerful today, what happened you fall in love or sumthin?" Tyler asked begrudgingly.
Vanessa immediately halted at the words 'in love'. "In love! W..w..why would I be in love who do I have to fall in love with!" She said her voice resembling that of a field mouses.
"All right, no need to get your knickers in a twist," Tyler said raising an eyebrow, he looked at her as if she had gone mad. "You feeling all right?" He asked.
"Fine yes yes fine! I..I uh i hmmm gotta g..m uh hm," Vanessa stammered and with that she left feeling stupider than Gregory Goyle.
000000000
The Easter Holidays had swamped Hogwarts in a tidal wave of chocolate and homework. It was the second week into the holidays, with Easter Sunday rapidly approaching the students had little time for revision.
"I say party," Conroy said firmly to his group of friends.
"Conroy we can't have a party on Easter sunday it's school the next day," Ginny intervened rolling her eyes.
"And your point is?" Faye said her tongue ring glinting in the warm spring light. Ginny glared at her friend and settled firmly against the idea. Aiden,Conroy, Ginny, Faye, Kaiya and Vanessa were sitting on the bank above the lake trying to soak up as much sun as they could before their exams overthrew them.
Just as Aiden rolled up a joint and Conroy took a swig of Cauldrons bubbling beer, Deon and Tyler walked over to them looking sombre.
"Hay guys, come, join our debate, it's enthralling," Faye said sarcastically, earning a giggle from Vanessa who was secretly giving Aiden a few flirtatious glances.
"Guys Tyler and I need to tell you something," Deon said with a grimace.
"What your not poofs are you?" Ginny asked brashly.
"Uh no, hello bit of a reputation here!" Tyler said.
"Well anyway. I'm leaving Hogwarts on Easter Sunday, permanently and so's Tyler," Deon said. The assembled group stared at the two boys in shock, until Conroy spoke.
"Why man?" He whispered.
"Well my mum's pulling me out cuz of the war. She don't..." Deon answered before he was cut across by Ginny.
"Your mums pulling you out is she? What's she pulling you out so you can go to fucking therapy cuz your a fucking self harmmer!" She shouted.
"Ginny that's out of or..." Tyler began.
"And what's your excuse Tyler?" Vanessa asked calmly.
"I'm going to Barcelona. I need to find out who I really am, I've been using magic to define myself to set myself but I have no idea what kind of person I am. I have no ambition nothing. When we had to choose our future job I was so stuck I let McGonogall choose it for me," he replied truthfully.
"Good luck man," Aiden said bravely.
Ginnys eyes glazed over, the translucent tears threatening to fall, she shook her head unable to bear the thoughts running through her mind. "Oh god, everything's so fucked up!" She shrieked and with that the red headed witch ran of into the castle.
Kaiya who had managed to stay silent through out the whole conversation ran after her friend leaving six startled teenagers in her wake.
Kaiya reached the entrance all, but instead of going to the seventh floor bridge where she knew Ginny would be, she ran into the great hall were Draco was. Kaiya composed her self and shimmied over to the sixth year Slytherin.
"Hello Kaiya, what can I do for you?" Draco said who appeared to be in a good mood. Kaiya motioned for him to follow her into the entrance hall and he obliged.
"If you run you'll be able to catch Ginny, she's upset, vulnerable, needs advice and is on the seventh floor bridge," Kaiya whispered, she gave him a conspicuous look and strutted of.
00000
A dark hush resounded around the Scoobies kitchen. The digital clock on the oven was the only source of movement and the only source of light was from the street lamps out side. Suddenly a thud resounded around the room and a disco diva wearing vampire was hurled into the room.
The beast jumped up and flung itself at its opponent. The opponent stepped into the light punching the monster.
Faith kicked the vampire in her gut and grabbed a wooden spatular of the wall.
"I never did know what these were for," she said before plunging it into the vampires heart, "but they're sure good for staking!"
Just then there was another load bang and six more vampires hurtled into the room, closely followed by Angel.
"Hay when I said have a drink I really didn't mean out of that pretty girls neck!" Angel shouted.
Over all the chaos nobody heard the phone ringing.
"I'm sorry but the person you are calling is not available at the moment please leave your message after the tone. If you wish to re-record your message, press one at any time...beep."
"Hi Buffy it's Charlie I'm just calling to ask if you wanna meet up on Easter Sunday. I know this great place that does even better cakes than the last place we went to, ok call me back on this number bye."
Angel immediately looked up just as he was about to stake his opponent. "Buffy has a date?" He said subsequently receiving a punch in the jaw.
00000
"Hi Ginny darlin are you all right?" Draco said carefully. The girl in front of him turned around showing him her tear streaked face.
"Why do you care?" She asked bitterly.
"I dunno, you just looked upset so I thought you ye-know might wanna talk?" Draco said shrugging.
Ginny hesitated before launching into a profound rendition of her woes.
"Its' just every things falling apart. Deons leaving and so's Tyler, Faye and Conroy have completely lost it their like bloody goths gone wrong and Kaiya has completely withdrawn herself, sometimes I think she might be suicidal, and she's so fucking thin she just never eats, she's too depressed."
"Well it sounds like a soap opera and a half to me luv," Draco said, taking a hesitant step towards Ginnys resting point on the bridges rail.
Ginny laughed in-spite of herself. She relaxed slightly allowing herself to reply with another witty comment and so the two laughed and quipped backwards and forwards on a marble bridge with engravings of Angels and a deep sloping staircase that led to the seventh floor foot path.
Below them Harry watched the laughing couple with jealous eyes, he wanted to rip Malfoys head of but instead he stalked of into the shadows.
0000
The night enveloped Hogwarts like a large black cloak. The cloudless starry sky reflected in the great halls ceiling. Every corridor seemed to echo even though they were stark empty.
Aiden closed the doors to the Hufflepuffs girls dormitory carefully, he had just left an Angel behind him a naked Angel who went by the name of Vanessa. Aiden left the room thinking how utterly blissful his relationship with her was, she was the perfect woman.
Just as the dark haired teenager was about to leave the common rooms he decided to visit Conroy. The young wizard spun around humming he entered Conroys room.
At a first glance it appeared the moon lit square room was empty, but as Aiden peered into the eery light he could see Conroys silhouette on the bed. Aiden almost stepped forwards until he saw Conroy stick a long syringe in his arm.
"FUCK MAN!" Aiden shouted, "what are you fucking doing!"
Conroy jumped letting the deadly looking syringe free, "Jesus you scared me half to death!"
Aiden stepped forwards switching the light on as he did so. When Conroy was in full view he could see the blond boy wasn't the only person on the bed. Faye was lying asleep on the silk sheets in a pair of knickers and a black tee-shirt. The black haired girl had track marks snaking their way up her arms and legs.
"Jesus Christ man," Aiden breathed. "I mean it's one thing to do it your self but to drag Faye into your shit...fuck you wanker!"
"Well I'm not the one shagging my sister am I," Conroy retorted angrily.
"What. the. fuck. are you on?" Aiden hissed.
"That's right mate everyone knows your dirty secret," Conroy stood up to his full height which wasn't that impressive. "Everyone knows your a sick incest perv, who fuck his slut of a..." Conroys tirade was cut of mid flow by Aidens fist blindly connecting with his nose.
Aiden was left standing over the short boy, breathing heavily. "Fuck you, you sodding junkie!" Aiden said in whispered malice.
00000000000
Easter Sunday arrived and with it came the knowledge of Buffys date. Buffy had received a full on lights blazing, guns at the ready inquisition when each member of her surrogate family heard the voice message.
Buffy was now standing outside the Covent Garden tube station, furiously trying to brush of the last of some Wedding confetti Dawn and Lola thought would be funny to sprinkle over her. Because of course two dates really did .mean marriage and five kids.
Just as she brushed of the last piece of pink wedding bells, Charlie arrived looking slightly wind swept but gorgeous.
"Hi sorry I'm late I needed to find a place to appa...park my car," Charlie said hastily.
"Don't worry about it," Buffy said smiling.
Charlie stood back to observe her, "Wow you look amazing!" He said beaming. Buffy looked at him all thought of being mad at her sister and Lola gone. She just wanted to bask in Charlie's loveliness.
000000000
The blue of the sky was at its brightest as eight lowly teenagers stood around a tiny carriage set for HogsMeade station. Deon and Tyler had their luggage in their hands and were both trying to keep up their manly facades by not crying.
Ginny, Vanessa and Kaiya were all shedding bitter tears. They embraced each other comfortingly as Deon and Tyler stepped onto the carriage.
"Take care man,don't be a stranger," Aiden said from Ginnys left, he had been keeping a subtle distance between himself and Vanessa ever since he and Conroy fought.
"Don't worry brov I'll keep in touch," Deon said.
"Yeah I'll send you lots of postcards and who knows maybe I'll be back next year anyways," Tyler said trying to be cheery.
What seemed like a thousand 'good byes' echoed through out the grounds as the wagon pulled out of the drive. The six remaining teenagers watched with sad wide eyes as two of their best friends left them forever. Slowly the assembled group began to disperse up to the Castle, Vanessa was about to leave when Aiden grabbed her arm dragging her behind a tree.
"Hay what's with the stealthy?" She asked.
"Vanessa I need to talk to you," Aiden said seriously.
"Really well there are a few things I need to do to you too," Vanessa put her arms around his neck and moved in to kiss him.
Aiden placed his hands on her arms trying to tug her of as he did he uttered the words he'd been meaning to say since Thursday, "Nessa it's over this is gross."
Vanessa stopped her prying and opened her eyes, she dropped her arms and stared at him in shock. A tear sprung to her eyes when she realised he wasn't joking. "Oh my God!" she whispered a tear tricking down her face and a hand over her mouth.
Vanessa started to back away slowly, still crying she turned.
"Nessa wait!" Aiden called as she started to sprint towards the castle.
"Fuck of you prick!" She shouted in a blaze of white hot fury.