LIVING DEAD GIRL

♯ ❝ YOU CAN'T DIE TWICE.❞
CHAPTER THREE ✧･ﾟ: * 👻🔦

†🪦†

BOTH GIRLS SEEMED TO FREEZE IN SHOCK AT THEIR NAMES SUDDENLY BEING SPOKEN BY SIMON, THE AIR IN THE ROOM BECOMING THICKER AND MORE TENSED. Bryce's hand on Maddie's arm briefly dropped, her taking a few steps forward to the male, who blinked rapidly like he was seeing things. He wasn't sure what he just saw.

Her stomach twisted with both unease, and confusion. Never has this happened before, no matter how much times she's tried to contact Thomas, or gain his attention from the in between. Nothing worked, not till now.

"What the fuck?" Charley commented from the doorway, his jaw dropped just as surprised as the two girls, who shared wide eyed looks, "Bry, can he see you too?"

The said girl chewed on her bottom lip nervously, stepping back away from the stunned Simon, who looked lost for a few seconds. That was until Bryce's hand brushed Maddie's, and it seemed that his eyes found their figures again.

"I-- I think so," She stuttered out her answer, and shared another glance with Maddie who remind in her quiet, shocked state, "Si, can you see me? Or well, us?" She motioned with her finger between them.

Simon nodded his head slowly once, his teary gaze locked onto Bryce's softer ones, and his answer made her gasp in a strangled way, "Oh, my god-- You can hear me, yes?"

Another weak nod from him, but this time his bottom lip trembled which broke her heart seeing how upset he was getting upon seeing them both, seeing her again. Bryce understood why he was reacting like that. It's not everyday you see your best friend who meant missing and claimed to be dead to suddenly appear.

"What's going on? What's he doing?" Maddie now spoke up in a frantic question, her hand grasping Bryce's bare arm to gently pull her back, and turned to Charley for answers.

The other ghost moved inside the room now, and it made Simon furrow his brows, wondering who Maddie was directing the question to since she wasn't asking Bryce, "Who are you talking to?"

"This has never happened before," Charley pipes in, still lingering from the side in case he broke whatever was happening, "Not even with Bryce's witchy abilities, at least not yet."

She shot him a small glare for the last comment, him knowing very well not to talk about it around anyone else since she didn't trust Mr. Martin. And even if she wanted to use her so called 'abilities', Wally shut the idea down fast in fear of her seeing something she shouldn't and getting hurt because of it.

"Someone you can't see." Maddie replied for the both of them, her voice sounding tenser then Bryce has ever heard it before. Understandable though.

Simon swallows the lump in his throat, watery eyes flickering between his two closet friends, "I'm not sure what I'm seeing right now." He breathed out, hand twitching by his side like he wanted to reach out to them.

Bryce's heart clenches again, her brother's teary face appearing in her vision for a few seconds before it disappeared, "You're seeing us, Simon. And I-I know this is strange, and a lot for you, but we are... here." She trailed off, trying to find the right words through her desperate tone, "Not exactly here, here, but you can see us, and that's good, really good."

A few tears dripped down his cheeks, as he chuckles softly but it was more aching than anything, "Thomas, he... he should be here. He needs to see you, Bry. He's not doing well without you." He paused, and her face dropped, "I have a million questions."

Maddie squeezed her friend's arm spotting the tremble in her shoulders, and took over the conversation on her behalf, "I don't think either of us have answers." She admits, glancing down at the floor and back up again, "Not yet. Bryce has tried, from what I've heard, but she's found nothing."

Simon glances between them, pondering what to say next but he knew exactly what he wanted to know, "What happened?" He questioned softly, hesitantly, not wanting to trigger either of them if they knew.

They share a look of silent understanding, and Bryce shakes her head gently, tugging at the W charm around her neck, "I thought I would remember by now, but I've got nothing. I have no idea, nor does Maddie."

He clenches his fists, a bitter feeling building up in his chest remembering the look on Lucy's face when he saw her hanging around Thomas before. He exhales shakily, and spoke in a whisper, "Were you two... hurt? Are you in pain?"

Maddie struggles to find the words to answer, while Bryce reminds silent, a strange feeling bottling up inside her the more they spoke. The curly haired girl shakes her head once, "Maybe, I'm not sure. I can't remember."

"Your so called best friend, Bry, has been acting strange with Thomas recently." Simon's voice was filled with venom now, not aimed at her, but she still flinched a bit hearing it, "And he had your phone. Xavier had your phone, I saw it."

"I know," Maddie interrupted when he told her, and pursed her lips together uncomfortable, "He told me his dad was intercepting a text he sent to Claire Zahler."

His brows furrowed confused, wondering where the contention was, "Why was he texting Claire?"

"'Cause they were secretly hooking up." Maddie snapped briefly, not really worried about that issue as she had more important things to fix before that.

Bryce stayed quiet about the comments on her best friend, well maybe ex-best friend now it seemed. If Simon was realising how weird it was, than she wasn't going crazy and overthinking everything she's seen so far. The validation made her stress ease the slightest.

"Simon?" A sudden female's voice called from the door, and all four heads turned to the sound, the conversation coming to a stop before anything more could be said.

Nicole walked into the room, but she wasn't alone. And the person who leaned against the door, arms crossed over their chest made tears threatened to break from Bryce's eyes.

Her older brother, Thomas, so close yet so far, had joined the girl to find Simon. He leant there silently, studying the situation with tired eyes from not getting enough sleep. He looked straight through Bryce, not matter how hard she wished he could see her, he didn't.

Charley came up beside the trembling girl to offer comfort, who wrapped her arms around herself to keep her emotions in check, glossy eyes lingering on the bracelet around Thomas' wrist, the one she made him. He never took it off, even now that she was... gone.

"Hey. The vigil's over." Nicole started to talk to Simon, her completely obvious to the spirits that were around them, and who Simon just saw, "People are like, splitting up to search the woods. I traded in our candles for flashlights because my phone is on two percent. And I hate nature. And I found Thomas, he's coming with us too."

From behind her, the said male let's out a little amused grunt, as Nicole goes on a rant about nature, word vomiting like she usually does. Hearing the sound caused a small smile from Bryce, a moment of peace where she felt like her brother was back to his vibrant self. Even if she wasn't the cause of it.

Simon instantly agreed to join the two, since Maddie was urging him to join for their sake to hopefully find some answers. He awkwardly shuffled out of the room, trying to not act suspicious which made him more so and it gained an eyebrow raise from Thomas still standing in the doorway.

"You good?" Thomas' mellow voice asked Simon, brows furrowed at the male who was shining his flashlight in the room where the two girls stood, but now he couldn't see them, "Why are you doing that?"

The shorter male flinched, remembering he wasn't alone and shut off the light quickly, "O-oh, no reason. Just testing to see if it works." He lied through his teeth terribly, and Thomas caught on, but didn't question it in the moment.

"C'mon." Nicole called out from down the hall, hand waving in the air and the two male's followed the way she went, disappearing through the door.

When they were all gone, Maddie stomped forward a few steps, her eyes wide and alarmed, "Why did he stop seeing us?" She asked, well more like yelled out loud, glancing at the two other ghosts in the room.

"Why do you think I have all the answers, huh?" Charley spluttered out in a blabber, throwing his arms up in the air equally lost and confused, "I'm still tryna figure out why 'Dances with Wolves' won seven Oscars."

Both Bryce and Maddie snapped at the same time, "Charley!"

"Ok! This unofficial tour guide gig doesn't come with, like, a-a handbook!"

The Walker girl sighed heavily, and ran her fingers through her long locks to calm her nerves, "He could see not only Maddie, but me also, and hear us both." She stated, voice steady but her expression was panicked, "I haven't been here long, and that has never happened before. Not even when I tried to talk to my brother."

"I know, I know, but--" Charley stammers over his words, both trying to comfort his closest friend but also come up with some conclusion for them, "It could have been like, a one-time thing, a hiccup, or-- Where are you going?"

He asked the last part when Maddie suddenly began to walk towards the door, and she didn't spin around to answer, "To join Bry and mines search party!" She exclaimed, storming off through the exist.

The two remaining in the room share a look, Charley sending Bryce a crooked smile that still made her feel more relaxed despite what just happened. He lopped their arms together, and walked through the door also, knowing Maddie would find her way back to them eventually.

When the two arrived at the gym, which to Bryce's displeasure about going to another session with Mr. Martin, all the spirits were sat in the regular circle in the middle of the room. It did help that Wally was there also, and it brightened her mood up seeing him.

The smile she wore for him faded a bit at the smirk that lined Timothee's mouth, his dark eyes trained on her figure as she walked on over to them. A free chair was between the males, where she normally sits as her green jumper was hanging over it.

"Hi, Bry." Wally greeted in a whisper, keeping it low as Mr. Martin was talking. A dorky smile was sent to her as he grabbed her hand and helped her around the chair to sit, something he always did.

She squeezed his hand in greeting, their finger slipping from each other and sat down comfortable in the yellow chair. Crossing her legs, she slipped on her jumped that covered her bare arms, feeling more protected with it on.

As the teacher was talking about his Nirvana, which was doughnuts apparently, Timothee bumped his shoulder in Bryce's gently, "Late again, huh?" His whisper was a tease, the slit in his brow moving as he raised them up, "What happened this time, Bry Bry?"

No comment was made from her first, and she just side eyed the male, before giving him a shoulder nudge back, "Nothing for you to worry about, Timmy." She used the nickname she knew he'd hate, as he did the same to her.

A low chuckle escaped his mouth, her feeling the warmth from it as he was close to her ear. She shivered against her will, and upon seeing the close contact between them, Wally scowled at Timothee, the box of doughnuts in his hand creasing as he clenched it tight.

Breaking up the glaring contest, Rhonda glanced down at the box Wally was offering her, before scowling right back up at the male, "What's that about?"

Wally heard her comment, and gave her a confused expression. Mr. Martin noticed the fuss, "Is there a problem?" He asked, folding his hands against his knee.

"He always leaves me with the worst one." Rhonda accused, arms crossed over her chest which made Wally frown, his hand offering the doughnut freezing in the air.

He raised his brows, and gestured to the box with his spare hand holding a doughnut he planned to share with Bryce, "What do you mean?" He asked confused, glancing to the blonde beside him who cringed softly, "It's lemon-glazed."

"Nobody wants a lemon donut, Mr. football." Timothee's amused voice filled the silence, his arm resting casually around the back of Bryce's chair, "I doubt Bry Bry would even want that one either."

The said girl groaned quietly to herself, placing her face in her palms as she sunk into her chair more. The two males around her glared at each other over her head, more so Wally who was annoyed at two more things than him.

"Guys, the subject is Nirvana." Mr. Martin tries to bring the subject back onto what he was talking about, and adjusted his glasses over his eyes, gazing at the group. Bryce instantly could tell he was getting annoyed, not by his actions, but from the vibe she was feeling from him.

"No, the subject is entitlement." Rhonda corrected sharply, her tone holding no room for arguments, and scowled at the footballer across from her seat.

Wally rolled his eyes, and placed down the box onto his lap as he spoke, "Yeah, ok, I'm entitled because I like anything filled with jelly." He defends himself, brows furrowing together in annoyance again. The two always acted like that, Bryce even thought they might of been siblings in a different life.

Rhonda clicked her tongue, and lowered her voice, "You take the last jelly again, I will rip your off your arm and beat you with the wet end." She threatened, eyes narrowing down on the male.

Wally adjusted his position, placing the box under his arm holding his donut while his free one was sat comfortably on Bryce's thigh, "Rhonda, I'm the one who boosted these from the faculty lounge in the first place. Just be grateful."

"Guys-- Guys," Mr. Marin tries to speak over their banter again, only gaining nothing in return like the first time he reminded them, "we're talking about Nirvana."

Charley leaned forward with an awkward smile, "Technically, there is no wet end. We don't bleed out." He corrected sheepishly, gaining a bark of laughter from Timothee who found the entire situation amusing.

With a sharp look from Bryce, he instantly stopped however. She then glanced over to Maddie, who was awfully quiet and she could see her thinking about something hard. Bryce just hoped she wouldn't ask anything stupid and make the others, especially Mr. Martin suspicious.

"You know what? Can I be excused, please?" Wally spoke up afterwards, his shoulders slumped down which made Rhonda scoff, and him to squeeze Bryce's thigh for comfort.

She placed her small hand over his gently, and squeezed back as she laced their fingers together on her thigh. He turned slightly feeling that, and gave her an affectionate smile, one that had her cheeks heating up embarrassed.

The moment was ruined, from both Timothee quietly snickering beside them, and Maddie's booming voice asking the one thing she and Charley warned her not to, "Has anybody ever been seen by a living person?"

Charley and her straight away snapped their heads to Maddie with widen eyes, before the pair share a knowing look of horror between each other. The male clears his throat, hoping to signal Maddie to stop where she was at.

"That doesn't happen, hon." Rhonda speaks with a head shake, breaking the silence over the group that formed when the blonde asked her heavy question.

And of course Maddie doesn't back down, nor takes the hint from the two people who told her to be quiet, "Has anyone her ever talked to a living person?"

Bryce's still widen eyes shot to Charley for help, her grip on Wally's hand becoming tighter which alerted the male, and he glanced down at the shorter girl worriedly. He was going to ask seeing how pale she looked, but Charley's voice saved the day.

"Oh, you know what?" He suddenly exclaims over the conversation, holding up his doughnut, and inspected it closely, "Is--uh-- is this a blueberry or a raisin?" He asked, glancing at Wally.

"Dude, how many things could you possibly be allergic to?" The ex football player stated, mouthful of the food he had but his hand was free since Bryce was taking a bite of it, "You know you can't die twice, right?" He finished, missing the tension in the room.

Charley deadpanned at him with a blank expression, and shakes his head, "Too soon."

"Ok, I think-- I think perhaps you're asking the wrong question, Maddie. Let's rephrase it." Mr. Marin brings everyone's attention back on him, as he swipes his hand through the air and collects his train of thought, "How do we say goodbye to the living?"

Bryce couldn't help but say something hearing his answer, "That wasn't Maddie's question, Mr. Martin." She spat his name out like it was poison, a scowl on her face that normally no one sees, but the teacher tested her emotions everyday, and the group knew that.

Maddie sent her a grateful look from a few seats across, while Wally frowned worriedly for his best friend and removed the hand on her thigh to knock of Timothee's around her chair, taking over that spot instead. The back of his fingers grazed her bare shoulder, hoping to relax her.

Mr. Martin simple smiled like he always did at her, and continued on despite the jab thrown at him, "How do we close the proverbial book? Well, I'll tell you how. Uh, before we wrap up today, I'm giving you an assignment."

"You mean like homework?" Maddie asked in disbelief, snapping her head up from looking at the group to stare beady eyed at the teacher in front.

He only nodded his head, and folded his hands over his knees, "It sounds like you're struggling," His dark eyes flickered to Bryce, and added, "It seems like you're in the same state, Bry." He used her nickname, but it just made the girl cringe to herself, "Write your obituary. Everybody's here has written one, but you two. It helps us focus on the highlights of our lives, the sweet victories."

"My answer is still no, Mr. Martin." The Walker girl snapped on behalf of herself and Maddie, as she folded her arms over her chest and glared some more at the strange teacher, "Nothing you say will change that. The internet has said more than enough about me, I really don't need to write anymore onto that."

"This isn't busywork, Bryce, you know that." Mr. Martin softens his voice when he spoke to her now, eyes flickering to the males on either side of her and smiled lopsided, "And if you need, why don't you get Wally and Timothee to help you? That way Maddie can get help from you when you're done."

She just blinked rapidly, and stared at him like he had grown two heads, "Getting those two to work together would be a miracle." She snorted softly, and felt their piercing eyes on the sides of her head, "And I doubt Maddie wants to write her's either."

The teacher was going to say something else, but a loud slurping noise suddenly echoes through the large hall, gaining everyone's attention. Wally was sat there, food up to his mouth as he tried to suck the jam out from the doughnut from the inside, "Oh, my god."

  Everyone just stared either amused or disgusted at the male, before Timothee opened his mouth to comment something snakry as usual, "Dude, you're not gonna get any girls when you act like that. Gross."

Wally just rolled his eyes, stopping the slurping as he licks around his mouth and met the male's glare with his own, doing this over Bryce's head once more. She sighed knowingly at them, and glanced back over to Maddie.

"So, no one here has ever talked with someone who's not dead?" Maddie asked her question once more, and it made them all turn to her. Charley and Bryce freaked out, sharing a panicked look, both praying no one picks up on what they learnt.

───────────

❪ ✏️ ❫ 𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙳𝚂 : 3528
─►☆ AUTHOR'S NOTE :
damnnn.... i hope people are still reading this since i haven't updated for so long... my bad guys my motivation is all over the place right now but i really love this couple of mine and i won't give up on them since bryce's character is so interesting to me plus the scenes i have planned oooohh gonna be fun 😋😋😋

don't know when the next update shall be but hopefully it won't take as long as this update did, it just depends on how much time i have/my motivation 😔

anywaysss you all know the drill, vote,
comment, ect (if you want) mwah <33