Without You There Is No Me

I looked across the hall where class was finishing up. I didn't go. I couldn't. My head had a constant buzzing inside it. I felt dizzy and weak. It was like before when the bad people were trying to hurt me. I couldn't explain why it was happening though. I rested my head back against the wall and felt wind brush past my face. I smiled gently but didn't turn.
"I haven't seen you for a while." I said casually.
"They don't like me seeing you." Lauren replied.
"I thought things would be easier now."
"No." she shrugged.
"Do you know why I feel like I do?"
"You shouldn't be here. You wasn't supposed to survive."
"But I did." I rushed.
"You did." she agreed.
"Is this the rest of my life? Feeling like this, desperate to know about myself but not able to find out?"
"No, you need to help." Lauren frowned.
"How?"
"Hannah helped. But after he left she couldn't."
"Do you mean help the people that are like us?"
"Like you," Lauren smiled. "I'm dead."
"You visited her family? Or my family?"
"Yes," she nodded. "They're very nice."
"Did you get anything from my past?" I asked carefully.
"I had some visions. That's when I started to try and help people too. Hannah did so I could too." Lauren explained.
"Do I need to find out and see things to help?"
"Yes." she sighed.
"I need to go to England to do that . . . Don't I?"
"You do." she nodded.
"Will it hurt me?"
"Yes. But it'll be worth it."
"I will let you go over."
"I'm not ready yet," she said gently. "And neither are you." she went to touch my face but disappeared. I sighed and looked down.
"Han'!" Vic called. I looked up and smiled. I stood up and he came over to me. "Why didn't you come to class?" he asked.
"I didn't feel very well."
"Again." he frowned.
"Yeah. I got some advice about what to do."
"Off who?"
"Lauren." I told him.
"Oh, what did she say?"
"That I should go to England. She thinks I can't help The Haunted until I know about my past."
"Do you want to help them?" Vic asked.
"I have to."
"I don't want to lose you." Vic muttered.
"You won't. I promise." I told him warmly. Vic wrapped his arms around me and I rested my head on his chest.
"We better go to Jess's." Vic said easily.
"Why?" I frowned.
"We need to call England. We'll have to arrange for you to stay with the Charlotte family. They're bound to have some room. Then we need everyone to transfer some money into my account so we can get plane tickets. There's only a few days so we might be able to get them cheap. Then we'll have to think of a cover story for Tony's parents and mine. I mean, I told them. They understand. But they wouldn't like me to fly to the other side of the world for it. I'm sure your parents and Jess's would be fine though." he explained quickly.
"Wait," I stopped him. "We're doing this? You believe me?"
"I believe in you. That's enough." Vic shrugged. I reached up and kissed his lips.
"Thank you." I told him.
"Come on, let's go meet the others." he urged. Vic took my hand and he headed outside together.

Everything is ready. Jaime and I spoke to my parents and they're letting us leave. They've come to terms with everything now. I may have exaggerated the urgency to going to England. But they're letting us. Jess's parents said yes almost immediately. Tony went along with the last vacation before we graduate story, as did Mike and Vic.
We were gathered in Aidan's room. Everyone had packed and had their things ready. It suddenly occurred to me what a unit we were. They weren't here because they had to be. They wanted to be. We weren't just running into churches or looking for messages anymore. They were coming with me to England. They wanted to be involved.
"Got everything?" Jaime asked.
"Us? You're the worlds worst organiser." Jess laughed.
"I know." he grinned. Then Jaime sat down next to her and leant in to kiss her.
"I feel left out, Tone," Mike sighed. "I think we should make out. I mean there's Jaime and Jess. And Vic and Han'. We should become a thing."
"Kiss me and I'm ditching you in England." Tony replied easily.
"Love hurts." Mike mocked.
"Guys," I suddenly said. Everyone looked over to me and waited. "Thank you for coming."
"Stop being silly." Jess rolled her eyes.
"Yeah we get to stay at a fancy house and eat rich people food." Mike added.
"We're there to support her." Jaime snapped.
"And meet cute British chicks." Mike grinned.
"There's so use. He's a lost cause." Tony shook his head.
"Are you ready?" Karen asked from upstairs.
"Are you?" Vic asked me and I nodded.
We all stood up and carried our things upstairs. We went outside and packed up the people carrier. Karen got in the front seat and drove. We were talking on the way there. It seemed surreal that we were actually doing this.
When we arrived we all got out and Karen stood in front of me. "You be careful?" she told me.
"I will." I nodded.
"I don't want anything to happen to you. I care about you, Hannah," she said. "Now if you need anything of Aidan's just call. We can send you things."
"I'm only going for two weeks." I reminded her.
"I know, I know." she nodded and kissed my cheek.
I moved to Vic and took his hand. Karen went around everyone until she finally said goodbye. I took a deep breath and we walked inside. We went up to the desk and checked in. Then we were directed to a waiting area before we could board.
I think everyone was a little tense, or Mike's case excited. We weren't talking anymore. When we were called to board we walked through to a corridor and down it. Vic didn't let go of my hand. Then when we were seated the only thing I could think was - this is it.

Notes

Hey! What did you think? Will Lauren make an appearance in England? What will they discover? Will Hannah get any flashbacks? Do you think it'll all be good? Will she find her old self? And will doing so help or hinder her? :)