Beyond the Reasons || JUSTIN FOLEY

Fifteen

PRESENT TIME
OUTHOUSE
IMOGEN'S POV

Justin and I were both in the outhouse when Clay came in. Justin was sitting on his bed, underneath his blankets and I was sitting on Clay's bed. I didn't care if Clay would've caught me snuggled up to Justin in Justin's bed since he knows we've been hooking up, but Justin and I were just talking before Clay walked in.

"How's Alex?" I asked my brother. Justin had told me that Alex didn't seem like himself, but he didn't tell me why. I wondered what was going on. Clay mentioned that he was going to talk to him.

"Messed up." Clay said as he walked more towards his bed and put his bookbag down on the ground. "But aren't we all?" He said. I was sitting towards the top of his bed by his pillow and he plopped down at the end of his bed.

"You know, I really didn't think he had anything to do with Bryce, but. . drugs of any kind, man, they fuck you up." Justin said, which made me frown, but I am really proud of how far he's come in his own recovery. But Alex was doing drugs?

"Yeah." Clay said, letting out a deep breath.

"Are you okay, Clay?" I asked him, but he didn't answer, instead he put his hands over his face, and I looked over at Justin.

"I'll have you know, the gun is gone for good." Justin said, which made Clay look up.

"Awesome. Thanks." Clay said, nodding his head as he looked over at Justin.

"You seem awfully dark tonight. Like Imogen said, are you okay?" Justin asked, removing his blankets from himself and sitting up while facing me and Clay. I looked at my brother who was still hanging his head.

"How are either of you not?" Clay asked.

"I guess I am. . But I'm alive, so I figure I'm ahead of the game." Justin said.

"Me too." I quietly added in.

"Right. I don't wanna believe someone we know killed Bryce. But it seems like everyone we know had a reason." Clay said, and I sighed.

"Everyone's got their shit." I said. Clay looked at me ad nodded his head.

"Yes, they do."

―

BRYCE'S FUNERAL
IMOGEN'S POV

It was Sunday.

The day of Bryce's funeral. I walked inside of the church with Justin, Clay and my parents, and I was worried about what the rest of the HO girls were going to do. I know Zach was giving a speech, and I know he's nervous. The rest of the football boys came in their jersey's, and my mom was walking between Justin and I.

"Justin, Imogen. . how are you guys holding up?" Mom asked us.

"Yeah, I'm good. Good." Justin said, nodding his head, and my mom looked at me.

"Honestly. . I don't know." I said.

"Thank you guys for coming with me." Justin said.

"Of course." My mom said.

"I'm gonna go say hey to the guys." Justin said, walking off to join the football guys and thn Clay also walked away, but I stayed with my parents and my dad wrapped his arm around me.

"You doing okay, kiddo?" He asked, and I nodded my head.

"I'm okay, Dad. Thanks." I said. I was sitting between my parents and Clay was now seated behind us, because we ran out of room, when he walked off to do, whatever it is he went to do, but Clay leaned forward.