Chapter 71: Chapter 71:

Aaron(the puppy) climbs my bed and comes to lie on my lap. I think it knows what I'm feeling right now. The pain in my chest doesn't fade away and I'm gonna keep on blaming myself for Aaron's death. I should have just told him my real feelings on the day we went for the date but no! I was such a big coward.

Aaron barks and  nudges my hand. I smile weakly. I know it was trying to cheer me up but I cannot be cheered up right now. My heart is bleeding. I glance at the time on the wall clock and its half past two in the morning. I haven't slept and I've got school in the morning. I was just thinking about the memories we had together. Another one comes in mind.

"Aaron! Let's go out" I stated feeling bored

"No! Your parents gave strict instructions! We are not going out"

"But its boring in here! Watching spiderman everyday is making me bored "

"Okay let's play a game!"

"We have played lots of games already"

"Okay, wanna see a magic trick?" Aaron asked and I'm interested now.

"Yes!"

"But first do you believe in magic?"

"Hell yeah"

"So I'm gonna make Boomer vanish from here"

"Okay" I said smiling toothily.

Aaron moves his hands in circles and patterns making me giggle.

"Voilà!!" He said but the teddy bear just sits there looking at him and I laugh.

"It didn't disappear" I said with a chuckle.

"That's because I didn't perform the magic trick well" Aaron said disappointed

"You are not a magician Aaron"

"I am"

"You aren't! Now just come over here and----"

"Look! Boomer is gone"

I looked and he was gone alright.

"It worked?"

Aaron smiled proudly.

"See? I told you I am a magician"

"Did you hide the bear?"

"What? No!"

"Aaron" I said giving him a glare

"I didn't hide it! It disappeared"

I shrugged and lay down.

"Make it appear again"

"What?" Aaron blurted.

"Make it appear"

"Okay but it wouldn't be easy" Aaron said with a sigh. Then he began moving his hands around again and stopped but the bear didn't appear.

"Look spider!" Aaron spat

"Where?"I said turning to look at where he was pointing. There was no spider and when I looked back, the bear was there

" Ta da"Aaron sung.

I snorted in response.

"You hid the bear somewhere and then you tricked me and placed it back"

"No I didn't! There was a real spider on the wall"

"Liar!!"

I laugh at the memory. Aaron has always been a terrible liar. My puppy Aaron barks and it pulls me out of my thoughts. It was barking at something in the window. I check and its Jake knocking my window. I get out of bed and walk to the window swinging it open flabbergasted. He climbs in rubbing his arms vigorously to generate heat in his body .I remember I  told him I named my golden retriever Aaron and he was okay with it.

Cold air rushes into my room and Jake is frosting obviously.

"What are you doing? Look! You are freezing" I scold whiles shutting the window.

"I came to check on you! I knew you wouldn't feel fine since you've lost Aaron"

"That's right! So many days have passed after his demise and I feel so lonely"

I bounce on my bed and put Aaron(my puppy) on my lap brushing his fur. It closes its eyes enjoying the comfort I was generously giving it.

"I really wish you could caress me like that! I'm so jealous" Jake says and I chuckle.

"I...uh....I brought my guitar! I came here to play a little song for Aaron"

I smile."that's so sweet! I would love to hear it "

"Actually is for you and him"

I nod eagerly as I shift in bed and relax in a comfortable position whiles patting Aaron's back.

Jake sits on the edge of my bed and positions his red and black guitar. He looks a bit nervous because he studies the guitar for a long time. I have never heard him play and I want to know how it will sound.

"Did you write the song yourself?" I ask him before he starts.

"Yes. Its a short one"

"Okay then proceed"

Jake clears his throat nervously.

"So here goes nothing"

I giggle and he begins to play it. It sounded good and I watch him.

🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼

I know I hurt you sometimes

But I cannot get you out of my mind,

I would love to cook you some stakes and fries,

But then I couldn't cos you left me and I couldn't say goodbye...

🎵🎵🎵🎵

It hurts to see you go ....

It hurts to see you go....

You were my everything ....

I can't leave you alone..

You were the best thing that ever happened to me

And you'll always stay in my heart

🎼🎶

I wish you could come back,

I wish you could play with me,

But then, its all too late....

I lost you ....I lost you....

I cherish the moments we spent together,

I just wish I could have made things right.....

You were my everything....

I love you and I would never forget you...

I clap when he is done.

"That was splendid! I loved it"

"You did?"

"Yes why?"

"Well I thought the song wasn't good enough but if you liked it(shrugs his shoulders) no prob"

"It was great! The guitar sounded awesome and it really matched the song. I'm sure Aaron will really appreciate it"

"I hope so. So what have you been doing?" Jake asks me as he places his guitar away.

"I've been crying and thinking about Aaron"

"I know how you feel. Its the exact same thing I went through when I lost Helen"

I hear a knock on my door.

"Oops, I think we woke my parents up" I whisper to Jake. He smiles

"Hide" I whisper and push him into my closet. Then I made my way to the door. I opened it and Mom, Trina and Dad were behind

"Is everything alright? We heard music" Mom says first.

"I thought the house was on fire" Dad adds up.

"Well I thought I heard a guitar" Trina follows.

"I'm alright! I was just playing music to relax my nerves"

"Are you sure you were playing music? Because the voice of the singer sounded familiar to me" Trina chirps with her eyes narrowed at me.

"I was!" I lie again.

"Does it mean, you haven't slept? Its almost four in the morning" mom says worriedly and I stay quiet.

"Sweetheart, I know Aaron's death has affected you a lot but please take some rest okay?"

"Okay mom!"

She plants a kiss on my forehead.

"Go and sleep! I'll see you in the morning" mom tells me and she leaves with dad.

Trina is standing there smirking.

"Won't you go to bed?" I ask her.

"I heard Jake's voice! Is he in there?" Trina whispers

"No. He isn't! Now go and sleep!"

"I have a feeling he is in there"

"Trina! Why would Jake come here late at this hour?"

"Oh come on! I've seen it happen in the movies! Give me a break"

"Okay! He is here"

Trina shrieks.

"Shhh! You better keep it to yourself! You hear me?"

Trina nods giddily.

"Oh my Gosh! Was he the one playing the guitar?" Trina asks and I nod.

"Awwwm so romantic"

"Shhh! Now go to bed! Go" I shoo her away and lock the door.

I walk to my closet and open it. Jake was holding my black and white bikini in one hand and Boomer in another. I feel my cheeks heating up.

"Who is this guy? And you wear these?" Jake asks me and I quickly snatch the toy and bikini from him making him laugh.

"Its not cool! Do not go through my stuff"

"So you swim?" Jake asks ignoring my statement.

"Yes I do! We have a pool in the backyard"

"No need to tell me! I saw it when I was passing by"

"Nice bikini by the way. Jessica has one too" Jake says with a chuckle.

"Thank you" I reply flashing him a fake smile.

"So who is this guy?"

"He is my teddy bear! His name is Boomer"

"Oh how cute"Jake coos.

" can I hold him?"

"Sure"

I hand the fluffy toy to Jake and he takes it.

"Let's go back to my room"

"You really have lots of things in your closet!" Jake says as I push him out and close the door.

"So who gave you this toy? Aaron?"

"No. My mom"

"You've kept it well" he says.

I sit on the bed. Aaron (my puppy) is asleep in the little bed I created for him when I glance over.

"So what's your favourite instrument in the world?" Jake asks out of the blue and I think. I've never really thought about it. Since I was little, I really liked playing pianos. I would go to my grandma's place and play it there because she was the only one who had it and I'm sure she loved playing it. But since she died, it was sold out and I never got to play it again.  I miss her too. She used to tell me stories of the past. She was such a chatter box.

"Earth Nikki!"

"I like pianos"

"Really? So do you have one?"

"Well I did but it was my grandma's and since she died, it got sold out. But its nothing. Besides, I don't know how to play it really well"

"I'm guessing you love guitars right?"

"Absolutely"

I laugh.

"Hey! Why don't you go home? We need to go to school in the morning"

"So soon? This is the first time I've been to your room"

"How did you even figure out this is my room if you haven't been here before?"

"I checked all the windows"

I cracked up.

"Like seriously? What if my parents saw you ? They would have thought you were a burglar and would have had you arrested"

"Don't worry, your parents were in dreamland when I checked. Plus your sister had her head buried under her pillow so she didn't see me"

I chuckle.

"She knows you are here"

"She does? How did she know?"

"She figured it out"

"You have one smart sister"

"Yeah"

"But I really appreciate you coming here and for playing that beautiful song"

"Its my pleasure. I've gotta run! See you at school" Jake says and pecks my cheek before climbing out of the window again.

"Next time, I'll be bringing a serenade" Jake tells me and I laugh

He walks away and I shut my window. I watch him get into his car and he pulls out of the driveway.

🌹🌹🌹

"So when did Jake leave?" Trina asks me as I drive her to school.

"Around five in the morning"

"Mm. And when did he arrive?"

I chuckle knowing what she is trying to do.

"Around two"

"So he literally spent three hours with you?"

"Yes"

"So apart from the song, what else happened?"

"We talked"

"Awwwm" Trina coos.

"So did you do anything on Halloween with Mason?"

"Well erh, we were told to paint some balls"

"And?"

"It was great. We talked a bit but he was a bit shy"

"I told you. He likes you! No doubt"

"Stop flattering me Nicole"

I park and Trina gets down blowing me a kiss and then she walks away.

I move into the road. Today, me and my group decided to wear black and white in memory of Aaron. Today is 25th November and Aaron died on the first. I sigh as I continue to drive. School has never been the same since he died. We all feel there is something missing. And that is Aaron Smith.

I entered the parking lot and switched off the engine climbing out of my car miserably with my satchel slung around my shoulder. I strode into the  building. Some of the students offered their condolences and some had Aaron's pictures pasted on their lockers.

I felt tears sting my eyes as I spot his locker with RIP written on it. I am to blame for all this. I quickly walk away and go straight for my locker. I pinned my combination and pulled it open. I quickly took my books out and dumped the ones I didn't need in it. Then I closed it again and wiped a tear that managed to escape from the strong prison gates in my eyes which fell on my cheeks.

I sniffed as I thought about Aaron and the way he died on the hospital bed. I have thought about it for a thousand times since he died and sorrow fills my heart.

I snapped out of it and walked to my first class. Today is Thursday. More pictures of Aaron lined the hallway and I was surprised. It wasn't like this on Monday. I guess the news spread so fast.

I trudge into the half filled classroom and spot Claire and Jenna sitting there. I joined them sitting behind them.

"Nikki! Are you okay?" Claire said

"No! I'm not okay" I replied as the tears break the walls I have built around them and stream down my cheeks.

Jenna and Claire share sympathetic looks.

Class begins and we all shut up.

°~•~•°

"Aloha" a voice says and I hold my chest in shock. I catch a glimpse of the person and it is Alec.

"Errr Aloha?" I reply unsure of what I was saying. What did it even mean? I've heard people say it a lot but have never bothered to find out what it means.

"Aloha means Hi in Hawaii" Alec clarifies seeing the puzzled look on my face.

"Oh!"

"kaumaha ʻoe" Alec says again and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. He chuckles.

"It means are you sad in Hawaiian"he elaborates and I snort.

" Yeah a bit"I reply placing my books in my satchel.

"I know how you feel! I cannot believe it too. You know Aaron was my friend and we did lots of things together"

I flash him a small smile and he returns it.

"Let's just go to the lunchroom" He says and we head in that direction.

I didn't want to eat much so I just got an apple. I wasn't even hungry.

"God I miss Aaron" Danny yells as I sit in my usual seat. Aaron was supposed to be beside me by now. There are white flowers on his seat. I place my own on it and wipe a tear.

"I still can't believe he is gone" Kimberly states sniffing.

"I can't believe it either! He was like a brother to me" Troy adds up with his voice breaking.

"He was my source of motivation! He was always there for me" Alec admits staring at the French fries in front of him and I see tears in his eyes.

"Its so painful to see him go" Jenna says wiping her tears stained cheeks.

"Where is Melissa?"I ask and as if on cue, she arrives. Her cheeks are stained with tears and her eyes are redder than her hair.  She was the only witness to the accident! And she can tell us what really happened.