Chapter II
February 6, 1999
Since they skipped school in January, William and Casey had been inseparable. His
friends weren’t thrilled about how little they saw him, but even they admitted he
seemed happier. He wasn’t skipping school as often. Casey said she’d skip one more
time to avoid an unexcused absence call. His grades improved too. Not because
school suddenly interested him, but because she did.
Today was his eighteenth birthday. His family had planned a small gathering. He
hadn’t invited Casey, but his father had. She hadn’t met his grandmother or really
spoken to his sister, aside from the occasional nod in the hallway at school.
He hoped nothing embarrassing would come up and give Casey something to tease him
about. She did it in a lighthearted way, never cruel. Even when it embarrassed him,
it made him feel special, though he couldn’t explain why.
He told her not to get him anything. They’d only been dating a few weeks, and he
didn’t want her to feel pressured.
Tonight’s gathering would be simple. Just pizza and maybe a game or two. William
insisted on keeping it low-key. He hadn't wanted a big deal. No decorations. No
cake. He’d even said he would refuse to blow out the candles.
To kill time, he stopped by The Video Coop to visit his friends Dave and Ed.
Saturday afternoons were usually quiet, so they had time to chat while rewinding