It was the next day at school. Charlie got out of the car and headed into the high school, Riverdale high.
She saw Will and avoided his gaze. He was so much like Dom. Dom. She missed him dearly. His black hair, his sparkling teal eyes and slouchy ways of dressing. But it was just that the new kid, Will or whatever his name was, reminded her so much of Dom. But Dom was dead. Blast that William Parkins. Had he any idea of what wounds he was reopening?
"Hey Charlie!" Will called, and she glared at him until he looked at her in confusion and walked away.
Charlie gritted her teeth. Damn. He seemed to want to be her friend.
"Hey Charlie!" A friendly male voice called from the chemistry lab, and she hurried towards it. "Hello Jeff. Have a good weekend?"
"You bet!"
Jeff was a tall teenager, with short brown hair and brown eyes that made him look plain compared to Will. Jeff was Charlie's lab partner, and they were working on a project together.
Charlie stared at Jeff awhile longer. He was nicer then Will, and seemed to understand how Charlie was feeling after Dominic died.
Dom. The name gripped her heart like ice. A series of images flashed through her mind. The screeching of brakes, then of smoke and glass flying everywhere. Then there was…
"Charlie!" Jeff called to her, snapping her out of her thoughts, "Charlie, are you okay?"
Charlie managed a nod, her throat dry "Water…"
Water. It had played a part in Dom's death as well. Flowing up, overflowing. Over the bridge. Putting out the fire. Fire. Another dangerous element. One she detested the most. Dom had hated it as well. Dom.
"Charlie," Jeff's voice was soft "I know how you feel. I know what you're thinking about. Forget it,"
Charlie turned on him "How could you know? You were barely his friend? I can't even call you my friend, Jeff!"
Jeff took a step back, and behind him, Charlie could see Will. He looked so like Dominic.
Will turned to look at Charlie, and he waved. Charlie groaned and turned back to Jeff, not saying a word as they worked on their project.
After school, Charlie was out in the park, sitting on a bench. Will slid down beside her.
"Hey Charlie!" He smiled.
Smoke. Burning over a heap of red. Screaming. Ringing in her ears. Her eyes. Burning up with her face. A body coming out of the crowd. Half the face melted. Another scream. People carrying the body looked up. The person, still alive, fell back in the flames. Then the water came. But then it was too late.
"Charlie!" Charlie was lying on the ground, Dominic peering over her.
"Dom…" She smiled "I thought you had died,"
"Dom?" Dominic appeared puzzled, "Who's Dom?"
The vision faded, and Charlie was left staring at Will. "None of your damn business, Will!"
Will took a step backwards "Charlie?"
"Just get out of my damn life, Will!" Charlie screamed, "Go the hell away!"
And she ran out of the park, leaving a stunned Will behind.
