Thank you so much Amy (please tell me your username as I didnt recieve it) for this amazing cover I personally love it!
Anyway here is a very long chapter, Enjoy!
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Poke
Poke
Poke
I'm so gonna kill whoever did that. I opened my eyes to see the sun shining in my eyes. The damn sun. Why do you have to be so bright?
I yawned and turned the other way so I wasn't facing the sun.
"Avery" someone spoke poking me again.
"What?" I asked grumpily.
"We're here" they replied.
I opened my eyes and realised that I was still in the car. I slowly walked out of the car to find Xavier waiting.
I stumbled a bit. How long had it been since I walked? Someone held my waist to steady me. I realised that it was Xavier so I quickly pushed him away and walked to the door.
I pulled open the right door but realised that it was locked. Now I remember it was the left door. I pulled it but it still didn't unlock. Weird. They probably locked it.
I knocked on the door but soon got annoyed when nobody answered it. This is why you never wake a woman when they're trying to get their beauty sleep.
Soon someone opened the door and I came face to face with Isabelle. She had bags under her eyes indicating that she didn't get much sleep.
"Can you be any louder? It's push not pull" Isabelle snarled and walked off.
I rolled my eyes and stepped in.
I ignored her rude remark making a mental note to next time push.
"I'm home" I yelled not caring if I woke anyone. Wait is it morning or afternoon?
I waited for about 5 minutes but I got nothing. You know how in tv they all rush to hug them and say that they missed them. Yeah. I was kinda expecting that. But anyway ice-cream sounds good. Ice-cream makes everything feel better.
Right now I needed to numb the pain, I needed to feel numb. I know nothing could fix it but ice-cream always seemed to help create that illusion.
I made my way to the kitchen and opened the freezer.
I noticed a yellow sticky note on one of the ice cream tubs.
If you eat it all, I willpersonally kill you when I come back.
~D
D? As in Damien? No it can't be. He's dead. I saw it with my own eye's. It was probably the guys playing games.
Although it sounded strange, when I come back. Almost as though he knew he wasn't coming back.
I shrugged the thought off knowing it was crazy yet it felt wrong eating ice cream now. Because it reminded me of him and that's when everything comes flooding back. I pushed the thoughts away, stuffing the ice cream tub back in the freezer and throwing the sticky note in the bin.
Xavier walked in looking tired and worn out. I could tell that his death had shaken Xavier up. No one had expected it so it's hard to brace for the impact.
He ran a hand through his hair in a tired manner. "We're doing a funeral, for him"
I knew why he didn't say his name. The same reason I didn't want to think about it.
I nodded. "When is it?"
"Today"
I tried to mask my surprised look. Today?
He looked torn. "It's something we do, we think the sooner we say goodbye, the sooner they can rest in peace"
I nodded understandingly as he told me the details. He wasn't kidding when he said the sooner it happens the better.
I dragged myself upstairs and to my room where I washed away all of the dirt from today, but no matter how much I scrubbed I still felt dirty. As though blood was all over my hands.
I turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around me, deciding to go with a black long sleeve dress. I put my hair into a bun and stared in the mirror. I could see the emotion wanting to burst out but I couldn't. I needed to hide it.
I know the funeral is coming up but I know I'm not ready to say goodbye to him.
I blinked out my thoughts. "One day" I told myself out loud.
"One day and then you'll be better" I reminded myself.
I knew that wasn't true. Tomorrow was going to be worse. The reality will set in. But telling myself this was the only way to keep going.
I slightly opened the curtain and looked outside where there was a set up already. To get a set up like this as fast meant they've had plenty of these before.
Thinking about they amount of funerals they would have to go through gave me a headache. All those deaths..
I shut the curtain and made my way to the funeral. I gave a small polite smile to the people passing me as I left the mansion and walked to the garden out back where plenty of people chatted wearing black suits and the women wearing black dresses.
I stopped at the front where there was a gun lying down on the bench and photos with Damien around it looking happy. In these photos he looked like a normal person, not like a person in a gang. But being in a gang meant he knew there was a possibility of this happening.
"He would've wanted his funeral to be a party, one with loud music and laughter" Richard spoke staring at the pictures.
"With ice cream" I added with a sad smile.
He nodded sadly.
"Are you okay?" I asked knowing how close they were. I knew the answer because no one would be okay with this. But I didn't know what else to say.
He nodded. "I will be" before looking at a figure in the distance behind us. "But I don't know about him, they were like brothers"
I looked to where he was looking. Further away was Xavier on his phone.
I looked at Richard's worried look and I knew it wasn't good.
The talking quietened down as the ceremony started.
"Thank you everyone for coming together on this day. We are here to commemorate Damien, a member of this family-" someone started as I zoned out, my eyes lingering on the pictures, that smile that I won't see again.
I looked around and realised Xavier still stood further away from the bunch, not on his phone but just standing there.
I started walking away, walking towards Xavier.
I tried reading his expression, it was blank but I could see the pain.
I stood next to him. "Why are you over here?" I asked.
"I needed some space" he replied but I could see straight through it. He was lying and I knew what the real reason was.
We both sat in a comfortable silence as we stared ahead.
I slowly grabbed his hand waiting for him to push me away but I got the opposite. Instead he entwined his fingers in mine with a tight grip.
"He wasn't supposed to die" his voice sounded broken.
"I should've been left behind, it's all my-" he started.
I shook my head. "It's not your fault. Nobody would have ever anticipated this to happen. And if he were here right now he'd kill you just for thinking that" I told him in a soothing voice.
I hated being so hopeless. I hated that Damien was dead and I hated that Xavier was blaming himself.
"It will get better" I told him.
"Do you believe that?" he asked lifting his head up and making eye contacting with me. Those blue eyes, that held sorrow and sadness. I had to drag my eyes away from him.
I looked at the ground knowing lying wasn't the answer. "No, but it's the only thing getting me through" I honestly replied.
His eyes searched mine as he felt comfort from my words.
Xavier nodded not letting go of my hand.
For some odd reason I felt safe when I was near him.
And I was hoping he'd never let me go.
**
It has been two weeks since the funeral and everything has settled down. Life has gone on and Xavier seemed to have gotten back in routine. I wish I could say I was great but I haven't been lately. I have definitely gotten better but I needed something to get my mind off it.
I slammed my card on the table in excitement. "Ha! I won!" I yelled out jumping up and down.
Richard rose down in defeat, laying his head on top of the table while Steve rolled his eyes annoyed.
I had successfully won five games in a row. I was unstoppable. Yet this game brought out everyone's true colours. It's clearly shown that Richard and Steve are sore losers. Every single time I win I get the cheater allegation and even Steve showed signs of annoyance.
"You cheated!" Richard accused pointing a finger at me.
I rolled my eyes at his childish manner. "How?"
He tried searching for words. "Because... you saw my cards when I dropped them!"
Such an accusation, yes he accidentally dropped his cards but he fell on top of them soon after to shield his precious cards.
"For the hundredth time, no I didn't. And you shouldn't have dropped your cards in the first place!" I replied back.
He had the same determined face on. "I want a rematch!"
Xavier walked in with his crisp black suit and hair that was perfectly styled, with his ocean blue eyes glistening in the sun. Every time I looked at him he always had the ability to take my breath away.
"You've got some serious sore losers in this house" I told Xavier.
He looked at both of them in amusement. "Did you let a girl beat you?"
Richard glared at Xavier. "I let her win"
I nodded my head in mockery. "Sure you did, five times you let me win"
Richard's head flopped to the table as he groaned.
Suddenly a girl with blond hair strolled in wearing sunglasses and carrying lots of shopping bags. Isabelle number 2?
"I'm back bitches" She said taking her sunglasses off revealing bright blue eyes. Hey, I thought that was my line.
"Nobody gives a shit" Isabelle said walking in with her red high heels.
"Seriously? Why does she still live here?" The girl with the blue eyes asked directly at Xavier.
Finally, someone who lives in reality. Don't judge, she might be my cousin but I still hate her.
"Look, it's just business" Xavier said.
"Oh it's just business, that's what you always say!" She mimicked rather frustrated
"Don't start with me Chantelle" Xavier replied standing up and raising his voice.
"Oh I'm sorry, dad" Chantelle said in a childish voice.
"I'm gonna kill you" Xavier shouted.
"Not before I do" Chantelle replied venomously.
"Can you shut up?" Xavier asked.
"Can you shut up?" Chantelle replied.
"I said it first" Xavier said pointing a finger at her
"So? Does that make you bigger and badder?" Chantelle replied.
"Yeah it does!"
"No it doesn't!"
"Yes it does"
God, why are they acting like such kids? Seriously? I nudged Steve and he raised his eyebrow at me. I nodded my head at Chantelle and Xavier which received a shrug from him.
I stood up and put my hand in my mouth and let out a loud whistle silencing both of them.
"Both of you shut the fuck up" I said scolding them like children.
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So thoughts on this chapter? Especially Damien's funeral made it all real. Please don't kill me, I swear I had to for the plot! ;))
And the new girl chantelle. Will she be as bossy and uptight as Xavier or fun and let loose??
Will be updating in two weeks.
Remember to comment and vote
~ Ashley