Existence 02 - Predestined

agreeing with her when I knew better.
    “Remember that time we brought Wyatt’s four-wheeler down here from that path in the woods behind his house?” Miranda’s voice had taken on an amused sound.
    “Yes.” We’d been chased by the cops for jumping graves on his four-wheeler. Both Wyatt and I had taken the blame and left Miranda out of it. Wyatt had always been protective of her even back then and, in all honesty, she’d begged us not to do it. We’d listened to her the whole way over here about how wrong this was and how the ghost of the people’s graves we jumped would haunt us. I’d, of course, known she was wrong and it didn’t bother me at all.
    “My mom still has no idea that happened. I didn’t even tell her about you two getting in trouble because I was afraid she’d refuse to let me hang out with delinquents.”
    I laughed and a small smile touched Miranda’s mouth. It was so good to see those. They were very few and far between.
    Miranda took another swig of the wine. Her sips had progressed to swigs. The glassy look in her eye told me it was having the desired effect. I felt a little guilty for getting the wine for her but she needed to be relaxed to face this. She was reminiscing. That was good. It was worth a bottle of wine and underage drinking.
    “Whoa, not who I expected to see here,” Leif said as he walked up beside us. Miranda let out a small, then a giggle followed after she realized it was Leif and not a zombie who’d joined us.
    “And drinking?” Leif’s eyes lifted from Miranda’s bottle of wine to meet my glare.
    “She wanted to come here. I figured she needed some courage to face it.”
    Leif nodded and a small frown puckered his forehead. I wondered if he felt sorry for her loss or if he even missed Wyatt at all.
    “I can understand that,” he replied.
    Miranda scooted closer to me and patted the spot beside her. “Come sit,” she ordered Leif.
    I wanted to tell her he was the most dangerous thing out here but I kept my mouth shut. At least on the other side of Miranda I didn’t have to see his face.
    “Here, it’s good,” Miranda replied shoving the bottle toward Leif clumsily. Okay, so maybe she’d had enough to drink.
    “Don’t mind if I do,” he replied and I could see him tilt the bottle up from the corner of my eye.
    “Sorry I ran off today and we juslefyouthere.” Miranda was starting to slur. Yep she’d had enough. I reached across her and took the bottle from Leif.
    “You’ve reached your limit Miranda. Any more and you’ll hate me tomorrow,” I explained pulling the cork out of my pocket and stopping it up before setting it down by my feet.
    “I was worried about you but I saw Pagan caught up with you,” Leif replied patting her knee.
    “Yesss. Don know whatid do withouther,” Miranda slurred.
    Leif leaned forward and I could feel his eyes on me. “She’s pretty special,” he agreed.
    Miranda nodded then started to lay her head on my shoulder but missed and fell forward. Both Leif and I grabbed her before she could topple face first into the fresh dirt and flowers.
    Giggling, Miranda swayed back and forth as we sat her back up. She’d had way more than enough. I doubted she’d remember much in the morning. Hopefully, she wouldn’t wake up hugging the toilet.
    “Okay, I believe it’s time for us to go home,” I said reaching down to grab the bottle of wine and then stand up. “Come on, you. Let’s get you to bed.”
    “I’ll help you get her to the car,” Leif offered and I started to tell him no when Miranda fell forward on her knees and cackled with laughter.
    “Yeah, okay thanks,” I muttered. It would be really helpful if Gee hadn’t disappeared completely on me today. But I was on my own and Leif was the only ‘being’ stalking me at the moment. Leif looked entirely too pleased with this turn of events and I had to squelch the urge to tell him I could do this on my own. Because I was more than positive we’d end up sleeping in the graveyard if it was up to me to get her to the car.
    Leif reached down and picked her up under her arms. She swayed on her feet and Leif wrapped his arm around her waist. “Easy girl,” he coached.
    “Easygirl,” Miranda mimicked laughing like he’d said the funniest thing she’d ever heard. Note to self, Miranda was a lightweight. In the future one glass of wine was her limit.
    “Bye Wyatt loveyousomuch,” Miranda called out as Leif led her down the pathway we’d followed