‘Such an idiot.’ She whispered to herself. Ever since the accident, she had fought with herself about it constantly, wondering why, why she was like that? She groaned then, pulling a strand of limp hair forward. He wouldn’t look twice at her now – no-one would. Nevaeh’s hair was beautiful, and she wished she had told her more often. She caught sight of herself in her mirror and rubbed her forefinger under her pale eyes. Another face she didn’t recognise. She bit her bottom lip, willing some life into it, but the effort was too much. She just didn’t care anymore, the guilt was slowly eating her up bit by bit, and she distanced herself from everyone. Before they broke up for summer holidays, she had started to sit under Nevaeh’s tree. It felt a little creepy at first, and she fought the urge to leave, especially with all the bugs and stuff. Everyone else kept away from her when she sat there. No-one wanted to be reminded of something sad, when they were heading for their holidays, including Jay and Paul.
Jo-Jo sunk back into her pillows then, pulling the duvet over her. She had been to the hospital once and once only and only took Josh because he insisted. It didn’t feel right standing there with the one guy her friend had liked, but she wasn’t in the mood to argue. He had been so comforting then, holding her, almost cradling her in his arms. A small whimper expelled from her, and she closed her eyes. It didn’t matter anyway, he was history – gone. He didn’t turn up the next day at school or the days that followed. She even sent Jay and Paul to be school detectives and check what was going on, but they didn’t find a thing. The teachers said that he had moved for personal reasons – family business. Deep down, being dumped wasn’t a surprise. He still seemed too interested in Nevaeh and was always asking personal questions. She wished now, that she’d never told him about the adoption side.
‘That makes sense,’ he had muttered. Even then, she remembered thinking how weird it was.
‘What do you mean?’ She had asked.
‘Well she doesn’t look like her parents - that’s all,’ he shrugged, before ambling away.
Jo-Jo frowned at that; when had he met her parents? Now, she played the conversation over and over again in her head, damning herself for not asking him to explain himself. She shivered. Now that she thought about it, he was always watching her, even when she was with that weird group of hers.
Jo-Jo buried her face in the pillow screaming silently. She’d heard things through Jay and Paul of that night. Some said they were devil worshippers, and Nevaeh was the sacrifice. That, she’d been running away when she was hit. Ever since then, her dreams were filled with frightening images of her friend screaming. Sometimes she even felt the darkness probing her dreams from the edge questioning her subconscious.
Why did they all have to look like that anyway? They all seemed so knotty and dishevelled when they stood together. She couldn’t understand why Nevaeh hung out with them, they didn’t seem her type. Jo-Jo closed her eyes, imagining them that last night, and wondering what really made her friend run to the house in such a hurry. It didn’t feel right, unless, her mind flashed to the mystery guy. She remembered how he had to be convinced to stand back when they put her in the ambulance. He had looked at her then, his dark eyes piercing right through her and she felt another shiver of guilt. She had really let her friend down.
‘Nevaeh, I’m so sorry.’ She rolled over miserably, wondering why she was talking to her like she was a ghost. But it felt like that. Nevaeh, her friend since they were five years old, lay like a ghost, reminding her of their favourite movie when they were little – Snow White.
‘You always wanted to be Snow White, and if I could find a prince to kiss you and wake you up I would.’
A soft breeze startled her when it moved the curtain. She sat up at the strong smell of perfume.
‘Nevaeh?’
Her heart raced, thinking again of ghosts. It can’t be, she isn’t dead, is she?
She nearly screamed when her mobile buzzed, the light flashing – it was a text. She picked it up, her body shaking with dread and almost fainted at the smiley face that stared back. For most people who read this, it won’t mean anything, but to Jo-Jo it meant everything – it was their way of saying hello; hers and Nevaeh’s. She bounded off the bed, her breath heaving as she texted her back. The word ghost screamed at her over and over again and she felt like her feet were rooted as she waited. When the mobile vibrated, she thought she was going to be sick. Part of her wanted it to be her and the other didn’t.
Please don’t be dead Nevaeh, please.
Another waft of perfume curled towards her again, and she stared wildly round the room, then at her window. It was half open, maybe it came from there, she reasoned to herself. Or, it meant something else; her brain screamed back. Maybe, she’s awake. She gasped then at the obviousness of it and almost laughed out loud. She wasn’t a ghost, she’s awake! Snow White had woken up.
Jo-Jo felt her muscles give way and sat back on her bed, texting frantically. Her heart thumping, threatening to explode, before damning herself.
Don’t be an idiot. If she’s just woken up, she’s not going to be allowed to text you - is she? Jo-Jo thought of all the movies she had seen of coma victims waking up and imagined doctors and nurses rushing around her. The thought galvanised her into action and she jumped up, grabbing her jacket before racing to the door. If Nevaeh was going to wake up – she wanted to be there, before the weirdoes got there.
‘Mum!’ she screamed pounding down the stairs, the image of the smiley face overwhelming her.
‘Mum, its Nevaeh, she’s awake, Mum!’
Tears poured down her face, and she struggled to see properly. Jumping the last two steps, Jo-Jo almost knocked down both her Mum and the person next to her.
She stopped in shock, ignoring the weak smile of the person opposite.
‘What the hell do you want?’ She growled.
‘Jo-Jo!’ Her Mum gasped. Jo-Jo felt all her anxiety explode.
‘Mum, Nevaeh was at her house when she had the accident. She shouldn’t have even been there. I hate her for what she’s done.’ She narrowed her eyes until they were slits in Amber’s direction. Amber stepped back, visibly shaken. The action didn’t go unnoticed.
‘Look at her Mum; she knows it’s the truth.’ Amber flushed red and Jo-Jo looked triumphant. Her Mum looked at Amber with undisguised horror before pursing her lips. Her parents had been more than good friends to her.
‘Amber, I think you had better leave.’ She nodded towards her daughter.
‘I’m sorry, but it’s the right thing. I don’t want my daughter more distressed than she already is.’ she added, holding her arm out towards the door. Amber continued to stare up at Jo-Jo.
‘We have to talk.’ she said stubbornly, and then looked at her Mum. ‘I promise, I won’t be long, but I have to talk to her, please.’ Her voice wavered and it didn’t go unnoticed by either of them.
Jo-Jo frowned.
‘Sorry?’
‘Talk, I have to talk to you – it’s extremely important.’ Amber’s voice barely rose above a whisper.
‘What’s wrong? Is it Nevaeh? Has she woken up?’
‘Can I talk to you,’ she looked at Jo-Jo’s Mum. ‘Alone’.
Jo-Jo was agitated, she wanted to go to the hospital not sit here and talk with the person who had taken her place, even if some of it was her fault. She nodded to her mother and led her into the kitchen.
‘You have five minutes – tops.’ She almost growled.