CHAPTER 23:

*ISABELLA’S POV*
It was Sunday November 30th 2009. It’s been three days since Lucas’ accident which caused him his life. Today was the day of his funeral. The third time I have to watch a loved one be lowered into the ground. It was yet another hard day of my life a moment I will never forget. It will be a day I will always remember and carry on with me until it is my time. As I got dressed I looked at a picture of Lucas and me that was sitting on my dresser beside the one of my parents and me. The picture was taken the same day we had our first kiss. We were in the water and we were laughing at something.

*FLASHBACK*
“Let me get a hand here” Lucas said to me as he attempted to push the Jet Ski up on the ramp behind his truck. We had just come in from my Jet Ski lesson in where Lucas and I kind of, sort of kissed.
“Peyton hold this while I help your brother” I said as I handed her the camera she had just handed to me seconds earlier. “Okay what do I do?” I asked as I stepped into the water a bit.
“Get onto the ramp and pull while I push” he explained as he stood in the water that reached his waist.
“Okay I’m ready you can push now” I yelled. After a couple pushes and pulls we got the Jet Ski onto the ramp.
“Alright now let me just strap it tight and we can get my truck out of the water” he said as he climbed up next to me onto the very small space left next to the Jet Ski.
“Luke wait I’m going to fall” I said as my arms flew around as I tried to regain my balance.
“Move over” he complained as he pushed me playfully.
“Luke!” I yelled as I fell back into the water and pulled onto his arm causing him to fall down with me.
“Is!” he yelled as he threw water in my face.
“Stupid I told I was going to fall why did you push me?” I complained. “I was almost dry” I added.
“Sorry” he apologized.

I stared at him for a couple seconds and then out of nowhere we broke into a fit of laughter.

“Hey guys!” Peyton called to us and we turned to face her. Flash.

*PRESENT*
That’s how that picture was taken. Lucas and I were always having fun whenever I wasn’t working. We were always acting so clumsy and fooling around. Peyton was always around to catch those moments either on tape or as a picture to remember. She was always so close to her brother he was like her best friend. They told each other everything and now he’s gone. I guess I’m not the only one who lost a best friend. I finished getting dressed and then I tried best to fix my hair. I combed through the tangles and then ended up putting it into a French braid. I tried best to disguise the blood shot red eyes by applying a bit of eyeliner and dark eye shadow. Once I thought I looked presentable I slipped on my black heels looked at myself once more adjusted the black dress and walked towards the stairs.

“Where are you going dressed like that? I know it’s not work” Virginia said to me as I walked past the kitchen.
“I’m not going to work” I answered strongly as I tried to hold back all the anger I felt towards this family.
“Who do you think you are? You’re going to work or I’m telling my mom” she yelled back fiercely.
“I’m not going to work and you can tell your mom for me I don’t care do whatever the hell you want” I replied.
“Excuse you” she said to me as she stood in front of me to stop me from going anywhere.
“Move Virginia I’m not up for your crap today” I said through gritted teeth.
“What if I don’t?” she asked with a smirk.
“Virginia move I’m not playing with you”
“Make me” she said as she placed her hands on her hips.
“My pleasure” I grabbed her arm and pulled her aside causing her to fall against the wall. “Now I’m leaving princess whether you like it or not” I said to her as she grabbed her arm in pain.
“What’s going on out here?” Nicole said as she stepped out of her room and stood in the hallway.
“Oh mom you should’ve seen what she did to me” Virginia said as she ran towards her mom and played the victim. “I was just trying to let her know that she had to work today but she wouldn’t listen and then when I tried to stop her from leaving so that I could tell her again she grabbed me by the arm and pushed me into the wall” she sobbed.
“Is that true?” Nicole asked me.
“No that’s not what happened” I said to her.
“Yes mom it’s true” I heard Juliet say as she appeared behind her.
“That’s not what happened and you know it so stop lying Virginia” I said to her.
“Well what’s this that you’re not going to work” Nicole said to me.
“I’m not going I can’t go I have somewhere else to be” I simply said to her.
“What’s more important than your obligation to show up at work?” she asked sternly.
“Family emergency there was a death in my family” I answered.
“Well your family is right here and as far as I know none of my children are dead and I’m standing right here” she explained as she placed her hands on her hips. “So I believe I’ll being seeing you at work in fifteen minutes” she added.
“I mean my real family alright my best friend died and I need to be there so before I waste anymore time here I’m going to leave” I answered as I turned around and grabbed my keys off the holder.
“Isabella!” she said sternly. “I’m not playing with you” she added.
“Goodbye Nicole” I answered as I waved.
“Is wait” I heard Edward say and I turned around to see him walking towards me. “I’m going with you we can take my car” he said as he grabbed my keys out of my hand and placed them back on the holder only to grab his instead.
“Edward!” Nicole yelled to him.
“I’m not going to work either mom goodbye” he said as he opened the door and held it open for me to walk out. “See you guys later” he smiled, grabbed my black leather coat along with an umbrella and closed the door.
“Thanks Eddie” I said as he opened the passenger’s door for me.
“Hey someone needs to stand up for you and from now on that’s going to be me” he smiled before he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.

As he walked around I noticed how nice he looked. He was wearing a black suit with a white buttoned down shirt that was nicely tucked into his dress pants. He was also wearing a black tie and his light brown hair was out of its ponytail and nicely brushed back very appropriate. My cousin looked really cute. He got into the car behind the wheel of his black 1973 Camaro (the same exact one from transformers only in black instead of the old yellow one and the pin stripes were white instead of black). He looked at me and smiled.

“You look really nice” he complimented me.
“Thanks so do you” I replied.
“Like I said earlier I got your back Is so don’t worry you’re not alone in this” he motioned to the house in front of us. “I’m going to take care of you since Lucas is no longer here to do it” he grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “I’ll watch over you like I promised him I would” he said and then her turned on the car and pulled out of the driveway.

*KEVIN’S POV*
I stepped out of the bathroom to see Joe jotting something down on a piece of paper as he spoke on the phone.

“Uhuh okay” he said into the phone. “It’s at ten thirty” he looked at his watch. “It’s nine but alright we’ll be there thanks” he hung up. “Quick get dressed” he said to me.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Here” he said as he handed me the sheet of paper before running into the bathroom to change. “But first we have to stop at the airport” he yelled.
“For what?” I asked.
“You’ll see”