White Space Season 1

eyes, let alone speak. Milo finally stuttered, then said, “I just want to say, I’m sorry for being such a dick.”
    Alex was surprised, and dropped his guard immediately. He wasn’t sure what to say, but ended up with, “I’m sorry, too… for everything.”
    “I know,” Milo said. “I heard your speech. And you’re right. I’ve been thinking about what happened, a lot. What your dad did, and what Beatrice did aren’t really all that different. Something happened to her. I don’t know how much you know or what’s been on the news, since I didn’t see anyone saying what really happened”
    “What are you talking about?” Alex asked.
    Milo said, “Beatrice didn’t lose control of the car. She was aiming for the front of Jordy’s.”
    Alex stared at his best friend, who was finally meeting his eyes for the first time since the unimaginable. In those eyes, Alex saw the unmistakable shadow of fear. “Are you sure?”
    “Well, I don’t know that Beatrice was trying to hurt us, but she was all weird looking, sort of all pod people and not really there.” Milo shook his head. “And it wasn’t the first time she was like that. The day before, I came home and she was just standing in front of the TV, watching nothing but snow, just staring, like she was in a trance or something. When she finally started blinking like a minute later, she went straight to the fridge and started shoving meat into a handbag that cost twice as much as my bike. She left the house like a minute later. Weirdest thing ever.”
    Alex stared at Milo, feeling slightly dazed. “What the hell? That is weird.”
    Milo nodded, “I know, and I swear man, something weird is going on. I think whatever happened with Beatrice might have been similar to whatever happened to your dad. He had that weird not himself look when he …”
    Alex wasn’t sure where Milo was going on about, or if this was a natural reaction of trying to make sense of tragedy. Under normal circumstances, Alex would have been happy to debate Milo on the merits of his suggestion. For the moment, though, Alex was just glad Milo was speaking to him.
    While Alex hadn’t seen weird signs from his father, like cold cuts in a purse or standing in a trance, the two of them had spent practically zero meaningful minutes together in recent weeks, if not months. His dad could have been zoning in front of a snowy TV screen every night for months, while slipping deli cut slices of salami into his wallet. Alex would have been clueless.
    Alex wondered if Milo was onto something, or if his friend was thinking Hitchcock like he sometimes did.
    Alex said, “What do you think might be happening?”
    “I dunno, but some guy named ‘Cody’ contacted me swearing I was in danger. Right before Other Mom drove us through the front of Jordy’s, actually. He also said Manny was in danger, right before he died.”
    “Who the hell is Cody?”
    “I dunno, and I haven’t heard from him since the accident. He was on LiveLyfe, claiming to be in the classroom when your dad started shooting. I called bullshit. A minute later, he private messaged me, telling me weird shit was going on. But every time I ask for more, ‘Cody’ pulls a vanishing act.”
    “Sounds like he’s trolling you, don’t you think?”
    “I dunno,” Milo said. “I’ve thought that a few times. But to be honest, I’m not sure what to think. I do know I’ll think better when you and I put the worst of this behind us.”
    Milo’s hand was in Alex’s in a second. He pulled his best friend into a hug, then said, “There’s nowhere I want it more.” Alex managed to hold his tears inside. Barely.
    It was one thing to cry while holding your girlfriend, another while hugging your best dude.
    As they hugged, Alex noticed Katie peeking inside the chapel.
    He gave her a thumbs up then pulled away from Milo.
    “Thank you for coming.”
    “Well, I couldn’t let you finish that script on your own. Man, it was shit.”
    Alex laughed, not taking the feeling’s beauty for granted. Maybe for the first time ever.

    * * * *

CHAPTER 7 — Milo Anderson

    Milo headed home from the funeral, finally free from the fat emotional splinter that had been stuck in his psyche. While he’d been resistant to forgiving Alex, he felt infinitely better after having gone to the funeral.
    He went straight upstairs, collapsed into bed, and closed his eyes; snoring in seconds. When he woke up, it took Milo a good 10 minutes to pull himself