A Shallow Grave

Living in a place like Bentley would be ideal for a budding romance, a newly married couple, or an elderly couple looking to spend the rest of there days rocking away watching the years pass by.But for me, it was more like a the most beautiful prison ever erected.Don't get me wrong I love this town, but for me it's time to move on.1

James Clancy Senior High, yep that's my High school.and Guess what? I will be walking away from it forever in a matter of minutes.The Pinnacle of my Childhood and my crossing into the real world would take place just out of Mrs. Larsenby's Calculus Class.She had already given up for the year, and spent the last week of class reading Love novels and twisting her honey blond hair into untanglable knots.I loved her as a teacher but boy was I ready to sprint out of the door and never return.Sitting in that desk I realized it would be my last time I ever sat in that seat which i had occupied for these past couple month's and had grown quite fond of.I tapped my Silver Spike on my wristband on my desk patiently watching the clock ticking down.2

I looked to my left and their sat Katie my best girl friend in the world.She was one of those genuinely kind people that had no fear of standing up against the grain and helping someone in need She was forced to wear the Fighting Irish Cheer-leading uniform today because of the farewell pep rally we had third period.Anyway, she looked really good in it.Katie was quite the looker but so smart that it intimidated most of the guys in our grade.Bentley isn't known for harvesting scholars.Anyway she noticed I had been looking at her and she gave me a polite smile but I could read her like a book.The polite smile was saying "GET ME OUTTA THIS SCHOOL!"3

I merely nodded with agreement and went back at my tapping.Most of the rest of the class had skipped today and were probably out partying, but not Katie and I.Oh Did I forget to Mention Dennis.Sheesh how could I forget Dennis.He Didn't have Mrs. Larsenby this period he had Mr. Tomlin the English honors teacher.I am sure we was lost in something written by T.S.Eliot.Dennis had grown up your typical nerd, and since I had always been more heavy set he had clung to me for protection.But honestly Dennis was the Most loyal friend I had ever had next to Katie.He had your typical thick glasses and and High-water dress pants.Dennis was a trip to say the least.So intelligent and yet he couldn't get a single hum out of him around a pretty or sometimes not so pretty girl.But he managed.4

So as the time widdiled down to the final Five minutes and  I had noticed Mrs. Larsenby staring at the Cover of her Book entitled "The Sands of Lust and Love."That's the kinda name you'd expect from a book with Fabio on the cover.Back to my story.I leaned back and with a sigh of relief popped my back on the creaky wooden chair I had been inhabiting.I leaned over and tapped Katie and she raised from half sleep to see what I wanted.Before I spoke I notified something I had never noticed before.Her brown eyes were so very stunning it took my breath and she had to hit me to snap me out of it.5

"Sorry" I said to her.6

"Are we all Still going to go to Millers Beach tonight and Watch the Final sunset of our Senior year?"7

"Does Dennis still want to go or will his Mom not permit it?" she asked inquisitively.8

"Yeah he said he's going whether she likes it or not.I think her keeping him home all the time has finally cracked him ya know?" 9

"yeah I know..." she softly exclaimed with a regretful look on her face.10

Dennis's father had died when Dennis was only 5. So ever since his fathers passing his mother hasn't been able to let him alive a full life.She was always to wrapped up in her fear of losing to him to see she had been killing his social skills.Not that he wasn't already at the bottom of the Social food chain anyway.At James Clancy Senior High appearance was everything and he had never quite made the football team.I think that's another good reason we got along so well.Us rejects had to stick to gether or be singled out and eaten by the Preps.11

Our conversation ended there as I looked up just in time to see the finally tick of the clock.BOONG BOOONG BOOOOOONG the Bell rang as we excitedly jumped from our seats rushing the door, while Mrs. Larsenby never even took her eyes off the book.While walking down these pale green tiles in the Senior Hall we caught up with Dennis clutching a armful of books that were now useless to him.We all walked down the hall together in what seemed to be a slow motion scene, and as we exited the school you could hear the screams of other seniors brave enough to attend the last day of school.The thousands of papers covering the ground seemed slightly poetic as we all had stopped outside the exit doors to the Senior Parking lot.I breathed a deep breath laughed out loud along with Dennis and Katie and we all made an instant sprint for her car dropping everything we were holding.12

We were free!No one can hold us back.Katie started the Engine as Dennis climbed into the backseat of her new red Convertible, which had been a Graduation gift from her parents.Unfortunately neither Dennis nor myself were Blessed with that kinda money so we relied on her for transportation which she was happy to provide.The day couldn't have been More perfect!The sun was shining with a only few clouds in the sky.The temperature sat at a nice 76 degrees and the Top was down.She pulled out of the Parking lot and turned onto Anderson Road.We had previously planned to go out to eat and then head to Millers Beach to see the Final sunset of our Senior year.We all as friends had often went there as a getaway from family trouble and other things or when we just needed a breath of fresh air.13

We stopped at Larry's Bar and Grill and had us some classic burgers as the sun began to set.We rushed to the Beach a mere mile away heading down Spargur Lane.I was staring at Katie admiring her as she spoke so of the Long day we had just experienced.Dennis was preoccupied with Charles again.Looking at her beautiful Brown hair flapping in the wind I sat in awe of her.I had never thought about her like this before.i mean before it was like she was my sister.Now things were different and i didn't know why.But as i stared she Shrieked in Horror and Jerked the Wheel to her left and before I could turn my head to see what had happened I felt the Impact and the feeling of the Car going air born.14

I awoke laying within the wreckage of the mangled Convertible. It was night now.I looked off in the distance at a bright light.It seemed to be a pickup burning brightly into the night.I pulled myself to a stand and walked over to the moaning I was hearing.There layed Dennis Crushed by the entire back half of the convertible.He was hurt really bad but he was alive.I instantly panicked now regaining my rationality and began frantically searching for Katie.I finally found her after several minutes of frantic screams.Her Disemboweled body lie in the ditch of this dark road.The only Light source was the remains of the two vehicles set ablaze.She lie there so peaceful.Blood covering every inch of her uniform but her hair and eyes are what stood out.I know it doesn't sound like they would but I could swear I saw the Sparkle in her eye slowly fade away as she lied there.15

All I felt at this moment while the ragged clothes on my body still soaked with my blood was the Anger and Confusion of what just happened.When the Police arrived I was still standing there staring at her.They put me in an ambulance and informed me that there had been two survivors.Myself and The Driver of the Pickup which had wiped us off the road.The Driver...His name was Sam Purdin.A senior at Larkville Senior High School.He had been elected to go on the beer run for the party happening on the beach.He had already had a few to many beers but thought he could make it.He killed both his best friend Zach and Allen riding with him.He couldn't even speak.16

I stood up and walked over to the Ditch were Katie lay ed.Although the cops tryed to remove me I fought them off in a rage and just stared at her lifeless corpse laying in this shallow grave.I thought to myself why her.Why us.Why him.I now came to realize because of tonight's Accident he will be locked up for a very long time.Sam and I were alot alike.Both had just graduated, both just wanted to have a nice night, both lost someone they love, and both of us never got to experience that final sunset of our Senior year.17