It was Aaron. Not surprising, I guess, but I was surprised anyway. He stood confidently, his feet spread apart, hands behind his back, looking for all the world like this was another student council meeting.

I looked away from him, staring at the dark pebbles beneath me instead. I didn’t want to feel the dislike that welled up inside me. He couldn’t help it if he just naturally came across as a prick.

“Hi, everyone. Most of you know that I was the last person to see Delia alive. And that her death was…a lot of the blame can be put on my shoulders. I know that. I’m not going to try to talk my way out of it. There’re just a few things I want everyone to know.”

The sound of the waves breaking on the beach seemed to be hushed, waiting.

“Delia…wasn’t drinking. On purpose. We were at a party and…well… The thing is, I’ve been in love with Delia since middle school. And I thought, maybe if I could get a few drinks in her and tell her how I felt… then…then… Well I don’t know what I thought would happen. So I gave her alcohol. And then I tried to tell her, but she wouldn’t listen.

“She kept asking me where Devon was, would I take her to Devon because she didn’t feel well, and… I got mad. I left her at the party. No one else knew she was drinking so they didn’t have a problem letting her drive herself home and…well…”

Silence. Dead silence.

“Because of what I did, Delia died…and then there’s Seamus Arbury.”

There was a chorus of grumbles then, deep and angry, from across the circle. I glanced over and saw, surprise surprise, the soccer team glaring darkly towards the center of the half-circle.

Seamus Arbury had been in the collision with Delia. Seamus Arbury took our soccer team to championships every year since 9th grade. Seamus Arbury had a full ride scholarship to any college he wanted.

Nobody had an assembly just for Seamus Arbury. Not like they had for Delia, or Amanda, or Justin, and Lucas, and Tyshawn. But he was just as far gone as the rest of them.

“I know everyone blamed me for Delia’s death, even if none of you knew exactly how involved I was. But Seamus was my fault to.”

Aaron’s shoulders slumped and I got the feeling he’d said all he could say. Without any sort of finishing statement, he dragged himself from the center of the circle. I felt strangely heavy watching him leave the spotlight of the fire. He’d told us everything, and I felt no forgiveness radiating from the student body. There was no absolution here.

Oh, Aaron. You should’ve kept your mouth shut.

I noticed the feeling of someone looming over me, and I turned quickly, expecting Devon. It wasn’t Devon, though I saw him standing a few feet away, staring.

Everyone has that person they were best friends with in elementary school or middle school that dropped them. Dropped them cold, like they’d never talked to you before in their life. My life is full of those people. That’s the only kind of friend I’ve ever had.

So I was surprised to see Zoey standing behind me. Looking apologetic. Looking at all.

A/N: Anybody know if I named the narrator yet?? I can’t find if I have or not.