Chapter 1: Last Week

Prologue - Homecoming Week

Alex

Tuesday, Lisa wasn't in class. I really wasn't paying that much attention because we only had one class together that quarter and she was on so many committees and clubs, there were at least a dozen reasons why she might miss class. She wasn't at the rally either - and that was odd. She had been cheering squad leader since seventh grade and she'd never missed an event before.

I remember getting home. Everything was normal. Just normal. As I passed the living room, Dad was flipping past the news and I heard and saw a flash of the story before The Wall Street report started.

"A community mourns a tragedy tonight..." the announcer said as Lisa's face winked on then suddenly off the screen.

The whole world switched to slow motion. I picked up the remote and flipped back. Dad yelled but it sounded far away and hollow. Lisa's face filled one half the screen again and the mangled wreck of a car filled the other. The announcer was talking about how great a student Lisa 'was' and all the extra curricular activities she 'used to' do. Lisa's mother was shown in their living room weeping.

"Oh my God." My mother said from somewhere very far away.

Dad stood up, "I'll drive." He said.

Lisa Danielle Hunter was gone. I remember sitting down next to Lisa's mom and her crying and holding me like she was going to drown if I let go. I remember Doug Alsop - Lisa's current boyfriend - saying something to me but I couldn't tell you what. I know I went to school at least one day, because I remember being sent to the school councilor's office. Ms. Chakrabarti - Ms. Pat to most of the student body - asked me how I felt about Lisa dying.

"Very sad." I remember saying. I wasn't trying to be a smart-ass; I just couldn't begin to tell her how profoundly Lisa's death affected me. She didn't ask me any more stupid questions and I think I went back to class.

The world began to take some shape again at football practice on Thursday. We had a team meeting in the locker room - players, cheerleaders, everyone. The coach went over some pointless administrative things - the season schedule, the new coaching staff, the team captains. I'd been the defensive team captain last year. I did not expect to win Team Captain this year.

"It was unanimous, McElroy." The coach said, without even an attempt to be cheerful. "Congratulations."

"Thank you, Sir." I didn't feel thankful.

"We got one more thing to decide today. We can cancel tomorrow's game, in light of the circumstances." The Homecoming Game against Essex was only six hours after Lisa's funeral. "You all tell me what you wanna do."

Half the girls began to weep. Someone said cancel and quietly, most of the group agreed.

"No." I said.

"McElroy..." someone started but I stood up.

"No. If Lisa could stand up, she put on that uniform and cheered. Her Dad beat the shit outta her but you never saw her sit in the locker room and cry 'cause she upset. We attend the funeral - in colors - an' we hand Essex their asses when we get back here." I swallowed hard because I couldn't believe I was about to say what I was thinking, "Our lives didn't end just 'cause our friend's did."

The room fell silent after that and I sat down again. Finally, the coach said, "Hands up who wanna cancel." I didn't look up. I didn't want to know how many people thought I'm an asshole. Lisa would have said play the game. "Ok, then. Suit up. We got a lotta work tonight." People started moving, lockers started opening and about a dozen people slapped me on the back. It was a couple of minutes before I could stand up and find my locker.

Once I was in uniform and on the field, it seemed better for everyone - it's easier to get your mind off even a death when a two-hundred-pound guy is running at you like a freight train. At the end of the night, we all staggered back to the locker room bone raw.

The next day, she was on the morning news. Our school gave a half-day to any student who wanted to attend the funeral.

My whole family went - all 21 of us. I think most of the school was there as well, judging by the number of people wearing green and gold uniforms. I hugged and kissed Lisa's Mom again at the back of the church then I made my way toward the front. At the first pew, I was met by Peter, Beth, Brandon, and Trina - Lisa and my closest friends. Together, the five of us viewed the body. That was honestly the last thing I remembered clearly until much later.