Trade Offs

Ethan Nakamura wasn't the best of human beings. He had made mistakes, many of them, more mistakes than most humans- but still less than his ex-best friend Luke (he had had always taken pride in that).

So Ethan had assumed his after life might not be the best, but he had never assumed that he'd be stuck as a ghost watching the consequences of his mistakes. And he certainly expected more people to be at his funeral.

"This turnout is pitiful," Ethan mumbled to himself.

The church- this had been the only time Ethan remembered stepping into a church- only had a about ten people in it, four of his neighbors, his landlady- who he was sure just came to demand rent from his corpse- his boss- who appeared to be enjoying himself- Nico- who probably came in Bianca's place as she was still in the hospital- and then most surprising of all was Luke, Thalia, and Zoë.

Ethan walked over to Luke who's blue eyes stared straight ahead at the picture of Ethan as if trying to glare holes into it. Ethan frowned as stared at his one time friend trying to understand why the hell Luke would be there. Luke wanted him dead more than anyone except probably Nico, but Nico was too loyal to his sister to act on it. Luke on the other hand had held a gun to Ethan's head and would've pulled the trigger had he not been so terrified about the possibility of going back to prison.

His eye shifted to Zoë who watched the ceremony continue respectfully, but it was clear she was bored and wishing she was elsewhere, Ethan didn't blame her. This pastor what's-his-face guy was boring it was putting Ethan to sleep- and he was dead.

Dead.

The word rattled Ethan. It didn't rattle him because he was, he had known he was gonna die, but he hadn't expected to suddenly wake up lying on the floor of a church at his own funeral unable to be seen by others. That's what rattled him. He was dead, so what the hell was he doing here?

"Would anyone like to say anything?" Pastor what's-his-face asked suddenly drawing Ethan's attention.

The living looked at one another and then Luke was suddenly shoved on off the pew by Thalia who gave him a glare. Luke glared back and said something Ethan didn't catch, but the pastor started to fan himself and mumbling, "Oh my" over and over.

After a moment of glaring Luke rolled his eyes and stepped up to the front. He stood for a moment and swallowed once, "Ethan Nakamura... he uh... He used to be my best friend. He was always- well he usually was there for me. But recently we haven't exactly seen eye to eye." Luke paused and and then quickly added, "Uh no pun intended. But even though I currently hate the guy, I'm actually upset he's dead."

"What?" Ethan asked his eye wide.

"I wanted to be the one to kill him. I'd make it slow too."

"Oh that makes more sense."

The pastor gasped and Luke glanced at him
Then rolled his eyes continuing. "Ethan didn't deserve this. He deserved worse, and when I find out who did this too him... well I'm in a church... I'm just gonna sit." Luke hurriedly sat down and Thalia patted his shoulder appreciatively.

The pastor swallowed and glanced around the room at the others, "Anyone else?" When no one moved he nodded and went into more stuff and his voice once again began putting Ethan to sleep.

When the service was over and his body had been lowered at the cemetery, not a single person wept. Flowers were thrown down into the hole with his body and people began to talk about what they would do next.

His neighbors would enjoy the rest of their days at home instead of going to work, his landlady had already called a truck to take his stuff away, his boss was on the phone already in a meeting, Nico would head back to the hospital, and Luke and others would go with him.

Ethan followed the four to the cars, deciding which to get in. He had hitched a ride in the hearse on the way over and now currently was unsure if he wanted to overhear Luke's conversation or if he wanted to listen to Nico's silence. Curiosity pulled him into a seat in the back of Zoë's car.

"Glad that's over with," Zoë commented starting the car.

Beside her Thalia nodded, "Yeah that was long, now come on and let's go see Bianca. And get lunch."

Zoë rolled her eyes and Ethan could see her eyes looking to Luke in the rear view. Luke stared out the window back at the cemetery frowning.

"You're really gonna go after the guy aren't you?" She asked him as she pulled on the road driving behind Nico.

"Yeah, why?" Luke responded.

"Just don't get yourself killed too. I'm the one who is supposed to kill you. If Thalia doesn't do it first."

Luke chuckled and sat up straight, "She won't kill me."

"I've considered it," Thalia shrugged.

Luke gave a fake gasp, "But Thals!"

"Don't worry," Thalia laughed. "I need to marry you before I kill you. I want your money."

"Nice to know I'm loved," Luke responded rolling his eyes.

"Hey on a completely unrelated note," Thalia said turning in her seat to look at him. "Will you marry me?"

Luke couldn't stop himself from laughing, "I don't see a ring."

"See I had a Ringpop, but... I ate it."

"Then no dice."

"Shit," Thalia said turning around and looking to Zoë. "Let's go to a candy store."

"Maybe later, for now let's go see Bianca."

Ethan watched the interaction with mixed emotions. Part of him was happy and confused that Luke wanted to avenge him, but at the same time part of him was bothered by the fact they were so happy the day of his funeral. Besides the fact Luke had wished he had been the cause of Ethan's death it didn't seem like any of them cared at all. He sighed and looked out the window, at least Bianca would care.

~~~~

"That bastard!" Bianca shouted throwing away the flower she was given. "Why'd he have to go and get himself killed?"

Ethan watched her sadly wishing he could do something, but at the same time he was happy someone cared.

"And I hate that I'm stuck in this stupid hospital so I couldn't even go to his funeral." She wiped away her tears and wrung her hands in the bed sheet. "Was it at least a nice service?"

"No it was really bad," Ethan told her knowing he wouldn't be heard.

"Yeah," Thalia said slowly. "And Luke even spoke."

"You did?" Bianca asked him.

Luke gave Thalia a short glare then nodded, "Yeah I used to be his friend after all. I also said I'm gonna find whoever hit him and kill them myself."

"Luke," Bianca sighed. "Leave it to the cop- oh who am I kidding they hate him down at the station. Go ahead and track them down then call me and I'll bring my gun."

Luke laughed, "Will do."

"Bianca you shouldn't be-" Nico started before she cut him off.

"I'm aware. But I'm still gonna do what I can."

"Her leg will be fine in a couple weeks," Thalia told him.

Nico shook his head, but didn't respond.

"There's something else isn't there?" Zoë asked sitting on the edge of Bianca's bed.

"It's not important," Bianca told her with a small smile.

Nico snorted, but otherwise remained silent.

"You know you can tell us- well at least me- anything right?" Zoë asked her.

Bianca stared deep in Zoës eyes for a moment before she hugged herself and tears began to fall from her eyes once more, "I-I'm pregnant."

If Ethan hadn't already been dead, his heart probably would've stopped right there.

"Did Ethan know?" Luke asked quietly.

"No," Ethan responded. "I didn't. I-" His brain wasn't properly functioning. He couldn't form thoughts, or perhaps he didn't want to. He didn't want to think about what those two words meant. Bianca's words brought him back to the scene playing out.

"I found out the day after he died."

Silence fell across the room, and Zoë pulled Bianca into a hug, and Thalia moved to rub her back.

Minutes passed then Luke stormed to the door and wrenched it open.

"Where are you going?" Thalia asked him.

"Going to find the bastard you who killed Ethan and robbed that kid of a dad," Luke replied and walked out. Ethan stared at Bianca for a moment tears burning in his eyes, before he ran after Luke.

~~~~

"Hey you got a light?"

The blonde guy cracked opened a blue eye and looked Ethan up and down. Then after a moment he closed his eyes again, and pulled out a lighter out of his pocket and held it out for Ethan to take.

"Thanks."

"Those things are gonna kill you."

Ethan lit his cigarette and put the lighter in his hand outstretched hand, "You're smoking one aren't you?"

He shrugged and dropped his cigarette to the ground and ground it out, "Maybe I have death wish."

Ethan only nodded once in thanks and continued on his way, when he noticed the blonde guy was following him. Ethan stopped and looked up to him, and frowned, "What?"

The guys raised an eyebrow, "You got a problem?"

"Yeah. You're following me."

He rolled his eyes and patted Ethan's head and pushed him away as he kept walking, "Don't flatter yourself Patchy, I'm just walking the same way."

Ethan glared at him and walked faster to catch up, "My name's Ethan, not Patchy."

He had the nerve to smile, "You've heard many of those I'm guessing. Hey if it makes you feel better my name is Luke."

Ethan took a drag and made a point to blow smoke in Luke's face, not that the taller guy seemed to mind. "How is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"Because I," he said putting a hand to his chest. "am a wonderful person."

"You seem more like an ass."

"It's all apart of my charm," he smiled.

"And how many girls has it driven away?" Ethan with a smirk.

Luke frowned and watch him for a moment, "I actually don't know how to respond to that. This has never happened before."

Ethan couldn't help but laugh.

"Luke!"

Both looked forward to see as a girl with spiky black hair coming towards them waving. She ran up, but paused at the sight of Ethan.

"Ethan? What the hell are you doing here?"

"You know him?" Luke asked confused.

"Hey Thalia," Ethan told her with a small wave.

"Yeah, I transferred to the same high school he goes to and we have a lot of the same classes together," Thalia explained.

"You didn't transfer, you were expelled," Luke corrected.

"You don't go to class either," Ethan pointed out.

"Shut up Patchy no one asked you," Thalia told him.

Luke gave a laugh, "I understand now why you hate being called that."

Ethan rolled his eye, "Whatever, I've got a meaningless part time job to get to, but Thalia Brunner made us partners for a project due Wednesday. And I will straight out tell him if you nothing."

She groaned and reached into Luke's jacket pocket and pulled out a phone. She unlocked it and handed it to him, "I use his phone usually, text me what we have to do. But do know I'm not going for an A."

"Me neither," Ethan nodded putting in his number and texting himself and making a mental note to put them in his phone as "Luke and Thalia". "Alright I'll see ya," he told both before turning the corner and walking to the bakery.