Homecoming - Chapter 39
Saturday
Matt
The ref blew the whistle for halftime. Normally we went back to the locker room to make adjustments, but we were winning by a landslide. So I let the players stay out to watch the parade.
I was still staring down at Kennedy when the music started blaring through the speakers. No, not just any music. My Dirty Little Secret by You’re An American Reject.
My hands were still on Kennedy’s arms as I turned to look at the float. But instead I caught a glimpse of a ghost.
But it wasn’t like the other ghosts I saw.
I didn’t just imagine Brooklyn’s face for a second.
It wasn’t just a flash of blonde hair that disappeared as quickly as it had come.
She was there.
Racing down the steps of the bleachers.
“Matt,” Kennedy said.
But I didn’t hear her. My eyes were glued on Brooklyn. But it couldn’t be her. My heart started racing.
“I’m so sorry,” Kennedy said. “I wanted to tell you she was back. I swear I wanted to.”
I let go of her arms. A part of me didn’t believe my eyes. But that confirmed it. The blonde in the crowd wasn’t a ghost. It was her. It was Brooklyn.
“You knew.” I took a step away from Kennedy. “You knew she was alive this whole time and you let me…” What the fuck?
“No, not this whole time. She showed up last week…”
But I wasn’t listening.
“Matt.” She put her hand on my arm but I shook it off. “I’m sorry, she asked me not to say anything. I…”
I still wasn’t listening. The song was blaring through the speakers. And it was like I’d been transported back in time.
Staring at the girl I loved. But she wasn’t staring at me.
I started pushing through the crowd.
“Matt!” Kennedy yelled.
I could see Brooklyn up ahead. She was heading to the school. The crowd was all around me. I couldn’t get through. “Brooklyn!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Brooklyn!”
But she didn’t hear me.
I saw her run into the doors of Empire High.