Free Happenstance by Jamie McGuire

head on the pillow to look straight at me. “How?”
    “She came by the DQ today. She was pretty upset.”
    “Was she mean to you?” he said. His jaws worked under the skin as
he waited for me to answer.
    “She’s always mean to me. But she said when she gets back that
it’s going to get significantly worse.”
    Weston looked away, and then back at me. “I won’t let them hurt
you anymore, Erin. Don’t be afraid of them.”
    “I’m not.”
    He frowned. “It’s just six weeks. We can get through it.”
    I kissed him, this time it was brief and sweet. Just a peck, then
I nodded. “You’re the one I’m worried about. You’re not used to it.”
    “I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time. They might give us
shit during school, but they can’t touch what we’ve got.”
    I rested my head on his chest and listened to his heart beating.
It slowed more with each passing minute, and then his breathing became deep and
even. I glanced up, seeing that his eyes were closed. His hand was resting
comfortably on my back. I laid my head back down, nestling against his side and
snuggling into his neck. He pulled me closer to him, and that is when I fell
asleep.
    ~*~
    At first, the chirping didn’t register, but when Weston
tried to carefully maneuver out from under me, I woke up.
    “Sorry,” he whispered. “It’s four in the morning. Go back to
sleep.”
    “What’s going on?” I asked, wiping my eyes.
    “I don’t know. Someone is blowing up my phone.” Right when he
reached for his cell and unplugged it from the charger, it rang. “Shit, it’s my
Mom. Hello?”
    I could hear Veronica on the other end, her voice high-pitched
and desperate.
    “No. Calm down, Mom. No, I told you. I’m in Blackwell. I stayed
here, remember? Mom. Stop crying. What’s going on?”
    The voice switched to a deep tone, and I could tell it was Peter,
Weston’s father. Weston wiped his face, his eyes were wide.
    “Holy shit. Are you sure? Who told you?” He paused, listening to
Peter. “Oh, man. Both of them? I don’t . . . Jesus. No, don’t come back. I’m
fine. No, I’m sure. You guys try to have a good time. I’m at home, safe in my
bed. Okay. Love you, too.” He hung up the phone and looked down at me.
    “What is it? Are they okay?”
    “Yeah, they’re fine. It’s the Erins. They were on their way to
South Padre, and Alder was driving. She fell asleep or something and crossed
the median. They hit a semi head on. They’re dead.”
    “They’re . . . dead ?” I said in disbelief.
    Weston wiped his face again and held his hand over his mouth. “They’re
dead. Sonny and Alder are dead.” His eyes were wide, and my mouth hung open. We
sat in silence for the longest time.
    Weston grabbed his phone and checked his messages. He sighed and
shook his head. “The rumors are already starting.” He put down the phone. “Should
I take you home?”
    “Whatever you want to do. If you want to be alone, I can walk
home. If you don’t, I’ll stay here.”
    He pulled me against him and leaned back against the pillows, but
we didn’t sleep.
     

 
     
    Chapter Nine
    The funerals were held together the following Saturday.
I didn’t go, because it didn’t feel right, but Weston stopped by the Dairy
Queen afterward to fill me in. He told me Sonny’s parents and Sam and Julianne
seemed to be holding up well and leaned on each other for support. He talked
about what the funeral looked like, who ran the service, what songs they played
and who was there. But he seemed lost.
    “Why don’t you go?” Frankie said. “He needs you today.”
    “I . . .” I looked to Weston. “Do you want me to take off?”
    He looked pitiful. “Please?”
    I pulled off my apron and tossed it on the counter. “Thanks,
Frankie.”
    She winked at me, but her expression was sad.
    I pushed through the back door, and went immediately into
Weston’s arms. He held me tight, burying his head in my neck. I held him for a
long time, but when I