Nick didn't remember anything. Nothing about us or the accident. I was going to be sick.

Trey showed up to visit. Nick was happy to see him, so different from the Nick I knew. Amelia even came. She threw herself into his arms and kissed him as if she wasn't with Trey this whole time. I really was going to be sick. Nick's teammates showed up too, as well as a few other students. Before I knew it, the whole room was filled with balloons, flowers and gifts. My father came to visit too, Nick was pleased to see him— much different then how he reacted to me. I left with my dad, no longer able to stomach being there.

I kept silent on the ride back with my dad.

"Kid... I know what you did. Trying to track down the suspect behind this was foolish. You could have easily been hurt. You should have told me or the cops. God Eva, did you not stop and think how this would hurt you? Hurt me and your mother?" My father raved.

"I'm sorry dad," I whispered.

"Are you? Do you realize the danger you put yourself in?" He asked. Yes, Nick already gave me this lecture.

"I don't know what to do with you. Car privileges have been revoked. I'm going to pick you up and drop you off to school and work and that's all," he stated his new rules.

Not like much was gonna change. With Nick back, I had no reason to leave the house. Things we're going to back to how they were. Nick was going to torment and hate me until graduation and I would want to hate him back, but the memory of what we were, what we had would never leave.

I sulked in my room for days. I felt like a zombie. School, work, home, school, work, home....

Nick wasn't discharged until after a few days. I didn't see him at school either. I didn't know what I would do when I saw him again.

"Eva!" My dad called me from downstairs. "Come down here immediately."

He was still sensitive about the whole chasing an attempted murderer.

I went down the stairs only to pause halfway. Nick was standing in the middle of our living room. His eyes met mine telling me I couldn't escape. Every moment we had came rushing back to me and it hurt. It hurt like crazy.

I went down the remainder of the steps hoping my knees don't give out on me.

"Hi..."

He looked at me uncertain. "My parents say you found my body."

I nodded.

"You really chase the man who might have done this?" He asked.

I bit my lip and nodded again.

"Why?"

How would I even explain this? We did it together, me and your ghost that was not actually dead just separated from your body?

"Everyone blamed me for your death, I wanted to clear my name and help your parents find peace," I told him half the truth.

Nick nodded his head, shifting from foot to foot.

"Thank you for that. I—" Nick choked on his words. He shook his head as if dismissing his next words. "I'll see you around, I guess."

Nick said bye to my father before stepping out. I sucked in a deep breath of air.

My father walked in, his angry expression now softened. "I know I've been hard on you kid, but you were really brave and smart and brilliant. You are an amazing person for how you helped that family. I am very proud to call you my daughter."

I didn't feel amazing. I felt horrible.

"Can I get a hug dad?"

My father quickly engulfed me, squeezing me tightly. I held to him with everything, because I was falling apart. My insides were ripping apart and I couldn't tell anyone. He spoke calmly, stroking my hair as I cried.

"It's over now," he kept repeating. It was far from over. It was just the beginning.

***

Nick's POV

Being assumed dead was odd. Well ex-dead. Everyone walked on eggshells around me. My parents were treating me like a toddler. My friends were too friendly, before they were only friends with me because of social hierarchy— now they seemed to genuinely care and miss me. Strangers treated me like a celebrity— not the usual football fame, but more pity. Every day I got questioned on what happened to me and the answer never changed.

I remember nothing.

It felt like there's a big chunk of my memories missing and it's driving me crazy.

"How about you stay home today?" My mother stroked my hand, begging me with her eyes to stay.

"Please mom, I just want things to go back to normal. That includes going to school," I told her.

I felt bad for everything I put them through, but it was suffocating being under constant surveillance.

"It's okay Hon, I spoke to the school. Nick, if you feel dizzy or tired or just want to come home you call us. I'll leave work right away," my father said.

I opened my mouth to reply, but my mother beat me to it. "Take it easy. Don't play football yet, don't focus too hard, no horseplay with your friends, and don't get your hormones pumping with Amelia!"

"Mom!" I groaned, the tips of my ears turning red in embarrassment.

My phone rang saving me from further trouble. "It's Trey, he's outside."

"You sure you don't want me to drive you kiddo?" My dad tried again for the nth time.

"Yeah, remember- normal," I emphasized before hugging them both goodbye.

I could tell it was killing them to let me go, but I needed to take this step. I went outside, my eyes automatically searching for Eva. Normally, I couldn't wait to torment her, but I was not feeling that today.

Trey greeted me with a wide grin. "It's crazy man, I never thought I'd miss these rides this much."

"You turning soft on me Trey?" I teased.

Trey shook his head and laughed. "You're such an ass."

Trey drove to school, my eyes automatically searched the sidewalk for Eva. Old habits die hard, huh.

"Looking for Montgomery?" Trey asked, breaking my focus.

"Mmm," I confessed. My stomach churned at the thought of her. I didn't want to go back to how I was. I had a second chance at life. I didn't want to keep hurting people. Especially Eva. I've hurt her the most.

I turned to tell Trey that we should stop tormenting her, but he beat me to it.

"I stopped bullying her while you were gone," he said. He looked kind of weary, as if afraid of my answer. "It just wouldn't have been the same."

"I don't want to hurt her anymore, I don't want to hurt anyone. I want a fresh start," I confessed.

This time Trey smirked. "Going soft on me Leighton?"

I rolled my eyes, but smiled nonetheless. "Asshole."

A swarm of people surrounded me as I got to school. Friends, classmates, students I've never spoken to, teachers. It was exhausting, but I had just 'come back from the dead'.

It was odd too. People were fake to me before for popularity. It was similar now too, but I felt like it was for all the wrong reasons. I didn't want pity. I wanted to be admired for doing something great. For being myself. Not this godlike character they've made me out to be.

Only one person didn't swarm me. Eva Montgomery. I would sometimes catch her looking at me from across the room or hall. There was a heartbroken expression on her face. My chest ached just looking at her. It was odd.

Amelia has been extra clingy. She always went on and on about the trauma she went through to anyone that would listen, how she thought she lost the love her life. Of course it was a lie. I never loved her and she never loved me. We both knew this.

Her presence was irksome. It was all a show. The more she talked, the more she touched me, the more I couldn't stand her.

She threw herself at me after school, making a show while kissing me. I felt revolted. I had to physically peel her off of me. She tried reattaching herself to me, but I kept her off. "Stop it. You're embarrassing yourself."

"What. Are. You. Doing?" She grit through her teeth, all while maintaining a wide smile so no one suspected anything. This only angered me more.

"I can't do this anymore."

"Do what?"

"Us. I can't do us anymore. There was no us to start with, we were both using each other, just how you're using me right now," I told her.

Rage consumed Amelia's expression. "Don't be an idiot Nick. We still need to win Prom king and queen, we got it in the bag."

My blood boiled. "You don't get it Amelia. I want nothing to do with you. I'm done putting on a show afraid of people's opinions."

"You're making a big mistake Nick," she glared at me. "You don't know what I gave up to keep up this image we have."

Something weird stirred inside me. "I don't care anymore Amelia. Life's a lot more than fake images. I want to live a real life. Nothing about you or being with you is real."

I turned around and walked away from her.

"Screw you Nick!" She yelled after me. "I'll ruin you! You don't get to do this to me!"

I winced at her tone. I couldn't believe I was with a person like that for so long.

I knew there was no point in going to football practice, my parents made sure I would be put on lockdown. So I decided to go home.

Someone beeped their horn as I walked down the sidewalk. I turned to my left to see Mr. Montgomery in his car. Eva sat in the passenger seat, avoiding looking at me.

"Hop in, I'll give you a ride," he offered.

I looked at Eva then back at him. She looked like she wanted to melt into her seat. I didn't want my presence to bother her. "It's alright, I don't want to be a bother."

"Nick," he frowned. "Get in the car. I won't say it twice. What will your parents say if they found out?"

The horror of that made me enter right away. "Thanks Mr. M."

Eva's scent filled the car. It was a flowery scent, much different than her tough demeanour. The scent made my insides turn. It just felt so... familiar.

"It's absolutely my pleasure. You're like family to us, isn't that right Eva?"

I caught Eva's expression from the side mirrors. She looked mortified. "Yeah...."

Almost dying must have done something to me. My chest always ached when I caught a glimpse of her. It had to be the guilt. It had caught up to me.

"I never got to express how much your kindness means to me. You've always been like a father to me Mr. M. I'm very grateful to have you in my life."

I caught a warm smile from the rear view mirror. "I'm happy you think so highly of me son."

I could see Eva bitting her lip from the corner of my eye. I leaned to look at her expression. Her eyes were closed and she looked like she was in a lot of pain. Was my presence that horrible? Have I really hurt her that bad?

I heard the rumours that had spread about her from my friends. Apparently she was being haunted by my ghost because they thought she killed me. Obviously I'm alive, therefore had no ghost. I couldn't imagine Eva hurting me, despite her previous threats.

Mr. Montgomery parked the car in their driveway. Eva immediately jumped out. I couldn't help but match her speed. "Eva wait!"

Eva froze in front of their front door. Mr. Montgomery looked back and forth between us. "I'm going to head in first then."

Eva kept her back turned even after her father disappeared from sight.

"Eva," I tried again. I stood at the front of their porch, keeping a little distance between us.
"I need to get this off my chest."

She didn't turn, but her hands turned to fists.

"I'm sorry. I've put you through a lot of pain throughout the years. I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I want you to know that I know I've hurt you and I regret it. I'm trying to change. I'm getting rid of my toxic traits and toxic people. I even broke up with Amelia-"

Eva whipped around, her eyes wide with shock. "What?"

"I, uh, broke up with Amelia..."

"But why?"

Because I never loved her. It was all fake. We were putting on a show. I can't stand her.

"I'm starting fresh. I want to be a new Nick. A good Nick," I confessed.

Eva did something that shocked me. She smiled. She never smiled at me. My chest beat oddly.

"That's amazing. I'm proud of you Nick," she said fondly. My chest continued to hurt. Did I need to go to the hospital again? "You could do it, I believe in you."

This was odd. Eva was being nice to me. She was saying things I dreamed people would say and actually mean. And it all felt like deja vu even though I knew it had never happened before. Plus, my chest kept malfunctioning.

Eva seemed to realize my confusion because her smile dropped. I almost begged her to keep smiling, but held myself back. This was so odd.

She turned to leave. I grabbed her hand to keep her here. Eva quickly pulled her hand away, looking as if I had burned her. She looked so scared and hurt. Did she think I could physically hurt her?

"Eva... I'm not going to hurt you...." I said softly. I hated the way she was looking at me.

She wrapped her hands around herself, as if shielding herself from me. "I need to go Nick."

"Eva, wait!"

It was too late. She had already stepped inside. I groaned, digging my fingers into my scalp and pulling at my roots.

The tables had turned.

Eva Montgomery was officially the one driving me crazy now.

---------------------

A little change POV for you!

Don't be silent readers!

Vote and comment!

I always love hearing what you have to say!

Love ya!

XO