Jay leaned back in his chair. “This means I don’t get another chance, doesn’t it?”
Was he kidding me? I shook my head, “Nope, I’d say you’re all out of chances. That ship has sailed.”
“Can we still be friends?”
I glanced across the street and saw Dank leaning against a tree. His arms were crossed over his chest and he watched us closely. I knew he heard every word. “We can be friends from afar. No hanging out, just waving at each other in passing.”
“I’ll never forgive myself for losing you,” Jay said.
“I’m thinking that you’ll get over it. There is someone out there for you. Someone who won’t bore you and who loves the same things you do.”
He shook his head, “It sure isn’t Victoria.”
I kind of disagreed with him but I didn’t say anything.
“Goodbye, Jay,” I said for the last time, then turned and headed across the street. Dank was waiting for me on the other side. His smile made everything perfect. Knowing he was there and would always be there made everything okay.
I stepped out into the street with my eyes on him. The blaring horn and Dank’s terror-filled eyes were the only warning I had.
“No Pagan. Don’t you dare come out of there. You stay in there. Don’t you leave your body.”
I stared up at Dank, who looked frantic. His eyes were filled with unshed tears.
“Why are you so upset?”
“NO! I said not to leave your body. Pagan get back in there,” Dank begged.
“She left it because she had to Dankmar. Get a grip and think this through. You’re Death, chill the f**k down.” Gee’s voice surprised me. It had an angelic ring to it that I’d never heard before. It was almost funny to hear her curse.
“Would one of you tell me why you’re upset?”
Sirens began to wail and I spun around to see an ambulance headed our way. Police sirens joined in and suddenly we were surrounded by a swarm of people. Two paramedics rushed toward me and bent down at my feet. How odd.
I looked down and saw myself laying there… oh my god.
“Dank?” I asked, panicking as I watched a man pumping my chest and breathing into my mouth.
Two warm arms came around me. “It’s okay Pagan. We will figure this out. I will figure this out. This was not supposed to happen. You were not on the books. I would have known.”
I wasn’t on the books?
“Dank, am I dead?”
He didn’t reply right away. “Gee, distract the paramedics and police. Distract everyone. I’m taking the body.”
“You’re what?” Gee asked incredulously.
“I said to distract them, dammit. I’m taking her body. Something is wrong. This was not supposed to happen.”
Gee nodded and ran out into the crowd screaming, “Help me, please help me.” Police officers started chasing her and both paramedics looked back to see what the commotion was. She was dodging the police and yelling at the paramedics that she needed mouth to mouth. She was having an allergic reaction.
I turned to look over at Dank and he was picking up my lifeless body. He grabbed my hand and we were no longer outside. We were walking through a dark drafty tunnel that was continuously spinning. I was too busy trying to figure out what was happening to think to ask Dank where we were.
Then we were walking out of the tunnel into my dorm room?
Dank laid my body down on the bed gently as if it mattered. I wasn’t in there anymore.
“Okay. You have to get back in there,” he said looking back at me.