– I'm off to pick up Joan at the airport. – I told the twins as I grabbed my car keys.
– Don't take too long or Tom will miss you. – Bill said, earning a rather mad look from Tom.
– Miss her? I'll be glad she's gone so I can finally rest. – Tom said, walking closer to me.
– Yeah, sure. – I said and giggled before opening the front door and heading towards my car.
***
I arrived at the airport and waited for Joan for around half an hour before I finally saw her and nearly ran towards her, pulling her into a tight hug.
– I missed you. – I said, well aware of how tight I was hugging her.
– You're choking me. – she said coughing slightly. I chuckled before she hugged me back. – I missed you too. But just a tiny bit. – she joked.
– Stupid. – I smiled at her once I let her go.
We both walked to my car and I helped her put her bags in the trunk before going inside and driving towards her house.
– So, how was the trip? – I asked.
– Great! Minus the business part. – she said as she wrinkled her nose.
– Obviously.
– We should go out tomorrow night. – she suggested.
– We really should. – I agreed and smiled.
– Okay, it's a date. And the twins should come as well. I'll give a call to the rest of the group. Have you seen any of them lately?
– Not really. Since what happened with James and stuff I haven't really hung out with them. – I shrugged.
– Oh, right. How's that going by the way?
– He got notified. We're going to trial. – I sighed.
– That's good, right? – I gave her a look. – No? Okay...
– I'm just scared. What if he goes free?
– He won't. Stop being such a pessimist. – I rolled my eyes. – No one will let him hurt you again even if he goes free.
– You and the twins are constantly saying that but you know that's not true. You can't just follow me everywhere and protect me at all times. It's impossible.
– But we'll always do the best we can to prevent anything from happening.
– I know. – I said as I parked my car in front of her place.
– Are you going back to the twins'? – she asked.
– Yup. – I nodded.
– Okay. I'll catch you at their place tomorrow night.
– Sure. – I said as she grabbed her bags.
– See you tomorrow! – she waved and I waved back at her.
***
I got dressed in some jeans and a top along with a pair of sneakers. We were heading to the center of the city to a small party, which didn't require us to dress anything fancy, but rather some comfortable clothes.
– Guys are you ready?! – I yelled at them from the kitchen. I had been waiting for them to get ready for around one hour when I heard a car honking. – Joan's here! Hurry!
I sighed and texted Joan, telling her to wait inside the car for some minutes. Then I heard Bill walk down the stairs.
– I'm ready. – he said.
– Finally. Where's Tom?
– He said he didn't want to come. – Bill shrugged.
– What? Why not? – I frowned.
– He didn't tell me.
I groaned and walked upstairs to Tom's bedroom. I opened the door without knocking and saw him on his laptop.
– Why aren't you coming? – I asked him.
– I don't feel like it. – he shrugged. – I think I'm getting sick. – I rolled my eyes at his excuse.
– Whatever. I'll see you later. – I said and closed his door.
I walked downstairs, grabbed my jacket and dragged Bill along with me to Joan's car.
– Finally. – Joan complained.
– Sorry. You know how long Bill can take to get ready. – I sighed.
– That's why I look better than the both of you. – he said, making me and Joan laugh.
– I wouldn't be so sure. – Joan said as she started driving.
We arrived at the party after a while and stepped out of the car.
– We should wait here for Tiffany and the rest of them. – Joan said. – They'll be here any second. – as she finished her sentence we saw Nathan parking his car next to Joan's.
– Literally any second. – I said and laughed.
We all greeted each other before going inside the party. We immediately started drinking and having fun. I hadn't remembered what it felt like to have fun in more than two weeks.
***
Around four hours of partying later I sat down on a couch feeling completely wasted, watching Bill stumble around and Joan laughing at him. I started laughing when I saw him falling onto the same couch I was sitting on.
– You done for today? – I asked him.
– I don't know. – he sighed, earning another laugh from me. – I have- – he hesitated. – I have something to tell you. – he said, moving closer to me.
– What is it? – I raised an eyebrow at him.
– I think I'm drunk. – he whispered in my ear before I burst out laughing.
– You're definitely the most drunk you've been in a while. – I kept laughing.
– What's so funny? – Joan moved closer to us.
– Oh, nothing. – I told her.
– I'm so tired. – she said.
– Me too. Should we get going? – I asked.
– Already? – Bill complained.
– Yeah, the rest of the guys have already left.
– Okay. – Bill said with a disappointed face.
We both got up from the couch stumbling a little but we managed to get to the car.
– Can you drive? – I asked Joan.
– How much did you have to drink? – Bill asked her.
– Not much, I'm fine. I can drive. – she said.
– You sure? We can call a cab. – I told her.
– I said I'm fine. – she said as she got inside her car and started the engine. I got into the backseat with Bill and we both put our seatbelts on.
Joan started driving and we were going through the highway in no instant. I noticed how Bill had already fallen asleep. I couldn't help but close my eyes and lean my head back against the seat because of how sleepy I was.
I was seconds away from falling asleep when I suddenly heard a truck honk and hit the car with immense force. I heard glass shatter and I hit my head. Then everything went dark.
***
I opened my eyes suddenly and felt a mask on my face. I looked around to try to know what was happening but all I could see were red lights everywhere and people talking to each other.
– She's awake! Take her in the ambulance now! – I heard a man scream.
I was so confused, until I saw people in red pushing me into what looked like an ambulance. Only then it hit me. We crashed. I started breathing faster as I panicked. Then another stretcher came into the same ambulance I was in. I could see Bill's face for a second. He was lying there, but he didn't seem to be awake like me. I tried to reach for his hand which was fallen over the stretcher.
– Ma'am do not move. – I heard a paramedic talk to me.
– Time of death 04:37am. – I heard another voice.
– Bill- – I tried to speak, but nearly no voice came out.