LIZZY RIVERA WAS crazy. At least that's what she liked to tell herself to explain why she could see the ghosts that wandered down her school hallway between eighth and ninth period.

She blew a stray hair out of her face as she walked through a ghost, ignoring the shiver that ran down her spine as pushed her way through the crowd of students rushing to get to their next class. The warning bell rang, signaling they had less than a minute to get to class before incurring a tardy. The halls slowly began to clear out as Lizzy ignored the final bell, pushing the doors open as the autumn air hit her face.

The chatter from the hallways cut off as the doors shut firmly behind her, leaving her in peace as she wandered down the path. She had learned a long time ago that the only places she could see ghosts were in the places where someone died. Unfortunately for Lizzy, there seemed to be endless deaths that occurred at the small school. It was oddly concerning, and yet no one seemed to bat an eye at it.

Lizzy tried not to think about it much, having to worry enough about ghosts as she made her way to the one spot on school grounds where she knew no one had died yet: the football field.

More specifically the bleachers, where she swung the bag off her shoulders and began digging through its contents. Lizzy pulled out a box of cigarettes and a lighter, plopping down on the bench as she placed the stick in her mouth and flicked the lighter to light. She watched the small flame dance for a moment before bringing it to the tip of her cigarette, inhaling deeply as the ember glowed red. Exhaling slowly, she watched the smoke curl into the crisp autumn air before disappearing altogether.

Lizzy knew she shouldn't be doing this-not the skipping class part, that was routine-but the smoking. Her mom would kill her if she found out. Then again, her mom wasn't exactly around enough to notice.

She leaned back against the bleachers, tapping her fingers against the metal absentmindedly as she thought back to all the college applications cluttering her locker. Deadlines were creeping up and she had meant to finish them weeks ago, no really, but she could never sit herself down long enough to start. Questions about her future and where she saw herself left her drawing a blank of what to write. With an absent father and druggie mother, there wasn't much of a future she saw for herself.

Lizzy released a sigh as she pulled the cigarette from her mouth, tapping it as the ash fell next to her feet. The only interesting thing about her was her ability to see ghosts, and that wasn't exactly something she could put on a college application.

Not that it mattered. Even if she got into college, she didn't have any way to pay for it. A scholarship was far fetched and loans would only bury her deeper than she already was. Getting out of the town she lived in, out of the life she had, felt about as realistic as the ghosts that flickered through the hallways.

"Somehow, I knew I'd find you out here," Ali's voice pulled her out of her thoughts as she watched her best friend make her way up the bleachers to where she sat.

"You must be a fucking genius," Lizzy deadpanned, although the ghost of a smile on her lips betrayed her tone.

"Tell that to Mrs. Wilson," Ali moaned as she plopped down next to her. "I swear that old hag has it out for me."

Lizzy didn't reply, only handing over the box of cigarettes to her friend. Ali sighed as she snagged one, muttering a quiet thanks as she pulled her own lighter out of her pocket. The pair sat in silence, the smoke from their cigarettes hanging in the air as the minutes passed like hours. When the bell finally rang to signal the end of the school day, neither moved.

It was no secret the pair had a rough homelife, and neither were rushing to go home to it.

"What are you losers doing up there?" A voice called up to the pair.

Lizzy glanced down to the football field, where Rosie stood in her bright blue cheerleading uniform and slicked back hair as she rested her pom poms on her hips.

"Think she knows she's not supposed to be talking to the unpopular kids anymore?" Ali teased as she stood up, tossing her cigarette down and crushing it with her foot.

"I guess she missed the memo," Lizzy played along, standing up and following Ali down the stands.

Rosie grinned as they reached the bottom of the bleachers, leaning forward against the railing as Lizzy raised an eyebrow at her. When her friend had first told them she was trying out for the cheerleading squad, she had laughed in her face at what she thought was an obvious joke. Looking at her now, Lizzy would never be able to tell the difference between Rosie and the other cheerleaders. She really did look like she fit in.

"Don't give me that look," Rosie rolled her eyes as she caught Lizzy staring.

"What look?" Lizzy became defensive pulling the cigarette from her mouth as she exhaled the smoke from her mouth.

"That 'I still can't believe you're a fucking cheerleader' look," Rosie mocked the words Lizzy had repeated over the summer. "Also, those are bad for you. You shouldn't be smoking them."

"Sorry, mom," Lizzy replied sarcastically as she dropped the cigarette and crushed it under her heel. "I'll try to be more responsible."

"You're impossible, you know that?" Rosie questioned with a dramatic sigh and shake of her head.

"Don't act like you've never smoked a cig in your life," Ali shot back with a raised eyebrow, watching as Rosie turned bright red.

"It was one time," Rosie defended herself. "And you know-"

"Hey, babe," Rosie was cut off as her boyfriend tackled her from behind with a hug, face buried into her neck as he kissed it rather aggressively.

Lizzy rolled her eyes s she turned to Ali, making a gagging motion with her finger in her mouth. Her friend tried to hide her giggles as she mouthed at her to stop, swatting her hand away from her mouth.

"Kenny, not in public!" Rosie exclaimed as she pushed her boyfriend back, although the smile on her face as she blushed told her she didn't mind it.

"The only people here are Liz and Ali," Kenny told his girlfriend as he kept his arms wrapped around her. "I'm sure they don't care."

"I care," Lizzy raised her hand as Ali nodded aggressively beside her. "I care very much."

"You're supposed to be on my side, Liz," Kenny said with mock hurt as he stared at her in disbelief.

"Not when that includes seeing my two friends make out with each other," Lizzy replied, shivering in disgust at the thought.

"It's kind of gross," Ali agreed with a shrug as Rosie laughed at her friends.

"Don't worry, there will be no more making out in public," Rosie promised as she gave her boyfriend a look.

"Okay, okay," Kenny threw his hands up as he stepped back from his girlfriend. "No more - right after this!"

He leaned in, giving her a long kiss before pulling away and running back to the football team, his uniform flapping behind him.

"Ugh, Kenny!" Rosie called out after her boyfriend as she turned a beat red, watching him run away before turning back to her friends. "Sorry about him, you know how he can be."

"Annoying, immature, and utterly oblivious," Lizzy listed off on her fingers with a shake of her head. "Honestly I don't know what you see in him."

"If anyone's to blame it's you," Rose pointed out teasingly. "You're the one who introduced us."

"The biggest mistake of my life," Lizzy sighed dramatically as she leaned over the railing. "Now I have to share you with him."

"Don't worry, you still get me on Saturday nights," Rosie told her as she reached up to pinch her cheeks, receiving a smack to her hand as Lizzy pulled back. "Nothing can come between us and movie nights."

"Yeah, yeah, and once Kenny decides that-"

"Watch out!"

The warning came a second too late as Lizzy suddenly found herself lying flat against the cool metal of the bleachers, blinking heavily. A football had collided with the side of her head, knocking her off balance and she felt the sting against the left side of her face. She groaned, rubbing her temple as the world swam back into focus.

Before she could even process what happened, she heard a rustle of movement before a figure dropped over the railing as they landed with a soft thud beside her.

She blinked again, trying to clear her vision as a boy knelt beside her. His face was full of concern, but his features were blurry and she couldn't quite place him. Her eyes squinted at the familiar brightness of their school colors, his football uniform displaying his number proudly.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked as he leaned over her.

"Does it look like I'm look okay?" Lizzy groaned as she pushed herself up onto her elbows. "Learn how to throw a damn football before you knock someone out."

"Oh, that wasn't me," the boy breathed out a small laugh as he glanced over his shoulder, pointing at something on the field. Lizzy followed his gaze to another player, who was awkwardly avoiding their gaze as he stood on the field waiting for the football. "It's Benji's first week as quarterback."

"Of course it is," Lizzy muttered as she moved to get up.

"Let me help you," the boy said quickly, reaching out to grab her arm.

"I think you've helped enough," Lizzy shrugged him up as she pushed herself back onto her feet, brushing off her clothes as she released a huff.

"Are you sure you're okay?" the boy asked with concern. "Do you need to see the nurse? I can take you there if you need."

"The only thing I need is a vacation from this endless questioning," she shot back, rolling her eyes. "But thanks for the offer."

"Huh," the boy muttered, tilting his head in confusion. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm sure she's just fine," Ali interjected as she watched the irritation cross her friend's face.

"Yep, just peachy," Lizzy muttered as she bent down to grab her bag that had fallen on the ground.

"Well, if you're sure," the boy said, hesitating for a moment as he caught sight of the cigarette still smoldering at her feet. "You know those are bad for you, right?"

"Don't worry, pretty boy," Lizzy sighed as she threw the bag over her shoulder. "I've got bigger problems to worry about than a cigarette."

"Okay, well... if you need anything, I'm Wally," the boy introduced as he held his hand out to shake. Lizzy glanced at his hand for a brief moment before ignoring it altogether.

"Right, I'll remember that," Lizzy replied, a hint of sarcasm creeping into her voice as she turned to head toward the gate without another word. Ali hurried to follow after her, snickering under her breath as they heard Rosie apologizing profusely to the football player.

That was the first, and last, time that Lizzy Rivera ever spoke to Wally Clark while he was still alive.