ladies and gentleman, welcome to wally clark memorial stadium and split river high's 67th annual homecoming game!

the crowd erupted in cheers, the cheerleaders hit their marks with perfect precision, and the football players awaited their introductions, tense with anticipation. this was supposed to be jenna's night—senior year homecoming—and she was furious that her death threatened to ruin it.

determined not to let her ghostly state get in the way, jenna donned her cheerleading uniform and stepped onto the field, ready to seize the night.

as the football players burst through their own banner, two ghosts held up the one jenna and wally had painstakingly painted for tonight. wally charged through it as if he were still alive, fully suited up and raring to go.

"ahh! it's game day, baby!" wally shouted, yanking off his helmet. but for the first time in almost forty years, his first impulse wasn't to dash onto the field—it was to find jenna.

spotting her on the grass, he gave her a salute and blew her a kiss. jenna's cheeks flushed a soft pink as she laughed and waved back.

watching wally run past her and onto the field, she couldn't help but notice claire arriving onto the grass late and scrambling to get ready.

she sat on the bench, hurriedly shedding her black hoodie and sweats when amanda, another cheerleader, plopped down next to her. "claire, thank god you're here. the jv girls are totally ruining pre-game. i was super worried you wouldn't get here in time to—"

"well, i'm here," claire cut her off curtly. "so just don't worry about it."

amanda scoffed. "jenna would've gotten here on time," she snapped, standing up and striding back to her spot, leaving claire fuming on the bench.

👻

as the game continued, jenna watched her old teammates who were performing their cheerleading routine with intense focus. the energy of the crowd ebbed and flowed around her, but all jenna was feeling was a pang of nostalgia and longing.

"let's go, split river!" wally cheered, his voice booming as he marched up the stands. he made his way to rhonda and charley, enveloping them in a bear hug. rhonda pushed him off with a playful scowl. "don't touch me."

mr. martin shook wally's hand warmly, and wally leaned down to kiss charley on the cheek. "it is game time, baby!" wally screamed, his enthusiasm infectious as he descended the steps, weaving through the crowd until he reached the field and came face to face with jenna.

"hey," wally tapped her shoulder, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he pointed to an overly enthusiastic elderly woman decked out in split river gear. "you see her?"

the woman was shouting at the top of her lungs, "i can run faster than that!"

"that's my mama," wally told jenna, pride evident in his voice. "she has never missed a game, and she always leaves that empty seat next to her every time."

"is it for your dad?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"no, he stopped coming, like, fifteen years ago. i think it's for me," wally responded, his voice softening. he looked at jenna, their eyes locking for a moment that felt suspended in time.

"that's really sweet," jenna smiled, her voice barely above a whisper, touched by the gesture.

👻

as the game went on, jenna's gaze lingered on claire, something about her behavior was nagging at her.

she watched closely as the zolinski girl stumbled toward a nearby garbage can, her face pale, and vomited just as a police car drove past. the sight sent a shiver down jenna's spine. it was suspicious, no doubt about it. she would have to tell maddie later.

but for now, she was off to hang out with wally for a bit. the two continued their walk toward the outdoor tables, the bustling crowd around them a blur of movement. wally broke the silence, his voice low. "i swear, when she's screaming her head off like that, it feels like she can still see me out there."

"maybe she does," jenna replied with a light shrug, her tone casual despite the unsettling thought.

wally grimaced, wearing a grin. "ugh, even hearing you say that freaks me out."

👻

at the table, jenna sat with her arms crossed, her eyes flicking nervously toward the food trays as wally walked over, balancing two plates on his tray. he set them down with a flourish, grinning at her as he took a seat across from her.

"please tell me both of those are for you," jenna warned, her voice tinged with a weariness that went deeper than just the sight of the food in front of her.

wally smirked, unphased by her tone. "i dare you not to like it," he teased, sliding one of the plates toward her.

jenna eyed the food warily, her stomach twisting in a familiar knot. "okay, you wanna talk about things that stress you out? hot dogs stress me out," she responded, her voice light but the truth behind it heavy.

she watched as wally calmly moved everything from the tray, placing it neatly in front of her, his movements deliberate and kind, like he was trying to coax a stray cat to trust him.

"is it the shape?" he asked, a playful lilt in his voice as he tried to lighten the mood.

jenna couldn't help but chuckle, covering her face with her hands as she looked away. she wasn't used to this—feeling embarrassed, feeling vulnerable. wally had a way of getting under her skin, of making her feel things she hadn't felt in a long time, maybe ever. it was strange and disconcerting, but it was also kind of nice.

she let out a small sigh, dropping her hands to her lap, and looked at him. "it's not really about the hot dogs," she admitted, her tone softening. "i used to... i used to have this thing about food when i was alive. it wasn't like i didn't want to eat, but i was so obsessed with being perfect, that i started controlling everything. what i ate, how much, when... it just became this... this way to deal with everything that was wrong."

she paused, her gaze drifting away as she remembered those days. they felt like a lifetime ago now, and yet the feelings were still so raw, so close to the surface. "i guess i never really thought about it as a problem. i didn't even realize what i was doing to myself. it was just something i did, something i had to do, you know? but it made food stressful. it made everything stressful."

wally didn't say anything for a moment, just watched her with an expression that was softer than she expected. he knew. he'd known for a long time, but he wasn't about to tell her that. he wasn't about to break the illusion that she was the one in control, that she was the one revealing these pieces of herself on her own terms.

"yeah, i get that," he finally said, his voice gentle, understanding. "but you know, you don't have to worry about that anymore. not here, not with me."

jenna met his gaze, and for a moment, the usual bravado she carried around like armor slipped. she saw the sincerity in his eyes, and it warmed something inside her that she hadn't realized was still cold.

but as she took in the moment, she stopped herself, suddenly aware of how much she had said. the vulnerability in her voice echoed in her ears, and she felt a wave of embarrassment rush over her.

jenna shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her eyes dropping to the table. "sorry," she mumbled, her cheeks flushing. "i didn't mean to dump all that on you. i just... i don't know. i guess i brought down the mood."

his gaze was steady, full of understanding and something deeper that made her heart skip a beat. "everyone's haunted by something." he muttered.

jenna looked up at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "you know what i like about you, wally?"

he raised an eyebrow, a playful grin forming. "what do you like about me?"

"i never feel like you're judging me," she said softly.

wally smirked. "well, then you're missing it, because i'm judging you all the time."

jenna chuckled, her smile widening as she picked up a fry and clinked it against his in a mock toast.

"you know," she began, her tone lightening, "it's really impressive that your mom still celebrates something you love so much."

wally's expression shifted slightly, more serious now. "actually, it was my mom's idea for me to play football," he admitted.

jenna tilted her head, surprised. "but you love it, right?"

there was a long pause, and then wally sighed, the weight of his words heavy in the air. "no, i don't," he confessed quietly.

jenna furrowed her brow, clearly puzzled.

"i mean, i don't mind it. i'm really good at it," wally explained. "but... i played it for her. it was never really about what i wanted."

jenna's expression softened as she asked, "and you never told her that?"

wally shook his head emphatically. "oh my god, no. that would— i— that would break her heart."

"wally," jenna said gently, "you know you don't have to do what she wants anymore. you can do whatever the hell you want."

he nodded slowly, though there was uncertainty in his eyes. "yeah... but i'm not sure i know how to do that."

jenna didn't respond immediately, instead turning her head to stare ahead. just then, the announcers' voices echoed through the stadium, declaring that lucas bishop, number sixty-seven, had scored yet another touchdown.

jenna rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink, the name alone stirring something bitter in her.

wally noticed, his voice softening as he gently asked, "is it hard... seeing him?"

jenna hesitated, her voice dropping to a whisper. "it's getting easier, i think. especially now that i can just break things whenever i get mad... but it's still weird seeing him play the victim."

the words hung in the air between them, heavy with the shared understanding of past wounds and the lingering ghosts they both carried.

"what does it say about me, if i'd rather everyone never know what happened to me if it means my friends will be okay?" jenna asked, staring intently at her old teammates on the field.

wally scoffed, "i mean, what does it say about me that i keep coming back to the field i died on to watch the game that killed me because i think it'll make my mom proud?"

she looked down at the plate of food in front of her, hesitating for a moment before picking up the hot dog. "if i don't like it, you're finishing it," she warned, trying to lighten the mood again.

wally chuckled, leaning forward in the seat. "deal."

as jenna took a bite, she felt wally's eyes on her, watching with a mixture of affection and concern. it wasn't just about the food—it was about letting go of the past, about being around someone who accepted her as she was, flaws and all.

she swallowed the bite, a small smile tugging at her lips. "not bad," she admitted, and wally grinned triumphantly.

"see? told you," he said, his playful tone back.

jenna shook her head, still smiling as she looked at him. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she could breathe, like she could be herself without fear of judgment. and it was all because of wally—this boy who saw her, really saw her, and still wanted to be around her.

👻

back at the stadium, wally sat beside his mother, his face shadowed with unhappiness as the cheers and excitement of the game buzzed around him, a distant hum he barely registered.

jenna stood on the field with the cheerleaders, her eyes locked on wally, knowing what this moment meant to him. she had seen the weight he carried, the expectations that had suffocated him for so long, and she knew how much he needed to break free from it all.

with a heavy sigh, wally reached up and slowly removed his jersey. the act was simple, but it was loaded with meaning. it wasn't just about shedding a piece of clothing; it was about letting go of the pressure, the persona he'd worn for so long.

jenna felt a swell of pride and a deep, bittersweet satisfaction knowing she had played a part in helping him find that freedom.

as she turned to leave, jenna was suddenly aware of someone standing beside her. her heart stilled as she looked up and saw bethany, her once-best friend, standing just inches away.

bethany's eyes seemed to gaze right through jenna, but there was a depth in them that made her pause. it was almost as if, on some unconscious level, bethany could feel jenna's presence, could sense that the girl who had once been her closest confidante was still there, watching, aching.

bethany was the only one living who had ever truly known what jenna was going through, the only one who had seen behind the facade. and even though jenna had pushed her away, that connection, that deep understanding, still existed.

jenna felt a lump in her throat as she turned back to wally. he looked up from his seat, their eyes meeting across the distance.

in that moment, wally gave her a small, proud nod—a silent acknowledgment of the impact she had made on his life. it was a gesture that spoke volumes, a thank you for helping him find the strength to be himself.

the moment was fleeting, but its significance resonated deeply within jenna. as she looked back at bethany one last time before turning to leave, she felt a strange sense of peace.

even in death, there were connections that could not be severed, bonds that continued to exist in the spaces between. despite everything, she was still a part of their lives, still loved, still remembered. and in that, she found a small measure of solace.

👻

as jenna was clearing out to leave the game, she sensed a familiar presence approaching her under the stairway.

"jenna, hey," wally called out, rushing towards her.

she didn't say a word, just looked up at him, her eyes catching the flickering stadium lights.

"um, hi. i just wanted to thank you," wally began, his voice full of sincerity. "i don't know, i just—i feel..."

"free?" jenna finished his sentence, her gaze softening.

"free. yeah." he smiled, the warmth in his eyes unmistakable. "you know, i don't think i've ever met anybody like you before."

"me neither," jenna nodded. "definitely never rode the pony before." she chuckled.

wally nervously laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "yeah, well, i mean... i don't feel like i've ever been able to talk to someone like i can talk to you."

"yeah. tonight was nice," jenna agreed, a small smile playing on her lips.

they both nodded in quiet understanding, but as Jenna turned to leave, wally reached out and gently grabbed her arm. the touch, though soft and meant to be reassuring, caused jenna to freeze. her breath hitched, and for a brief moment, memories from her past flashed through her mind—sharp, painful, and unbidden. the fear, the powerlessness—it all came rushing back.

wally immediately sensed her reaction. he quickly let go, his eyes widening with concern. "i'm so sorry," he stammered, his voice tinged with nervousness and regret. "i didn't mean to—do you want to go to the dance with me? as friends," he added hastily, trying to ease the tension. "you can totally say no, jenna. i just thought maybe... i mean, you're gonna be there anyway."

jenna stood still for a moment, her heart racing as she tried to push the panic back down. she reminded herself that this was wally, who had only ever been kind to her.

slowly, she regained her composure, forcing herself to breathe deeply. she looked up at him, and her expression softened into a reassuring smile, though it took effort. "sure, wally," she finally said, her voice steadier than she felt.

wally's relief was palpable, though he was still visibly flustered, trying to act nonchalant. "all right, that's—cool. that's really cool. i'll see you at the dance."

he gave her a playful wink and did a little shimmy with his shoulders as he walked away, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

jenna watched him go, a chuckle slipping past her lips despite the lingering tension in her chest. the way he clicked his heels as he exited was endearing, and it managed to bring a genuine smile to her face.