CHAPTER 24: THE FUNERAL

*LISTEN TO FOREVER AND ALMOST ALWAYS & LIFT ME UP BOTH BY KATE VOEGELE WHILE YOU READ THIS I PROMISE IT WILL MAKE THE CHAPTER BETTER YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE LYRICS AND THE CHAPTER A LOT BETTER*

In an ordinary fairy tale land
There's a promise of a perfect happy end
And I imagine having just short of that
Is better than nothing

So you'll be mine
Forever and almost always
And I'll be fine
Just love me when you can
And I'll wait patiently
I'll wake up every day
Just hoping that you still care

*ISABELLA’S POV*
We arrived at the cemetery minutes later. The Davis family was just arriving and so were other people. Today was a very sad and emotional day. As I stared at the casket as they unloaded it from the car I remembered the old times. We gathered around it as the priest began to speak. Peyton and Ariel were standing beside each other holding hands as they mourned the death of their beloved brother. Beside them Mr. Davis held Mrs. Davis as she cried over the loss of their son. I stood beside Edward on the opposite side of Ariel and Peyton. I fought to hold back the tears but I just couldn’t. This cemetery brought back to many memories.

*FLASHBACK*
It was the day of my mom and dad’s funeral. Lucas promised to go with me because I didn’t want to be there alone I wasn’t brave enough. The car stopped and they unloaded the caskets from the other car as Lucas and I climbed out of this one. Nicole was standing with her three children while I stood with Lucas on the opposite side. I tried to be brave and not cry but I was seven what did you expect. I began to cry silently as the priest began to speak. Lucas slipped his hand into mine and whispered into my ear. “Don’t worry I'm here for you. I always will be I promise” and then he kissed my head and pulled me into a hug. I cried on his shoulder as he squeezed me tight. He held my hand until the end. He walked up to the caskets with me as I threw a single white rose on each and he held my hand as we walked back to our places. He held my hand as we got into the car and drove away from the cemetery.

Memories they're following me like a shadow now
And I'm dreamin'
Cause I've already suffered the fever of disbelief

I've seen your act
And I know all the facts
I'm still in love with who I wish you were

It ain't hard to see
Who you are underneath
I'm still in love with who I wish you were
And I wish you were here

*PRESENT*
And every time I visited my parents he was there to hold my hand except for today when we were burying him. I looked up to see Edward looking at me. He put an arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him as I let the tears flow. I looked up to see Ariel and Peyton walk up to the casket. They each placed a flower on top and then Ariel slowly stepped away. Peyton stood over the casket and cried. Ariel watched her little sister cry and she couldn’t help but cry herself. I looked up to see Edward watching Ariel. He was hurt because he couldn’t help her. He couldn’t make the pain go away. It was the same way Lucas felt when I cried over my parents. I moved away from Edward and motioned for him to go comfort her.

“You sure?” he asked and I nodded. He kissed my head and walked over to Ariel.
She looked up at him and then threw herself into his arms and cried like I’ve never seen her cry before. I was about to take a step toward Peyton to comfort her when I saw him. He was dressed in a black suit similar to Edward’s and every other male around. He lifted her hand into his and then placed his other hand under her chin and slowly lifted it. She looked up at him in confusion. “I'm sorry” he mouthed and you could see the tears in his eyes. Tears began to flow again and she covered her mouth. He let go of her and pulled her into a hug as he placed one hand on her back and the other on her face as he gently pulled her hair back. I looked around. Edward was with Ariel and Peyton was with Nick. I was alone. I looked down and wrapped my arms around my chest as I silently cried to myself.

A hand was placed on my left shoulder. “You’re not alone” I heard a voice. Another hand was placed on my right shoulder. “We’re here for you” the other voice said. I looked up to the first voice on my left. “Kevin” I whispered through tears. I looked to my right. “Joe” I placed my hands on theirs.

“What are you guys doing here?” I asked as I cried more.
“Sorry we’re late we had to pick up Nick from the airport” Joe apologized.
“But we’re here now and we’re not leaving until you ask us too” Kevin replied.
“Guys” I cried.
“It’s okay” Joe said as he hugged me.
“Thank you so much” I pulled away and hugged Kevin.

They both stood by my side and each held one of my hands. They both walked up to the casket with me and they each placed a rose on it.

“We didn’t know you but we did know that you were a great person and you were very special to Isabella and we thank you for that” Joe said.
“We promise to watch over her because we know the next couple months will be very tough for her. So don’t worry she’s in good hands” Kevin said.
“I'm sorry Lucas. I promise I will always remember you in here” I let go of Joe’s hand and placed mine on my chest. “You will always be a part of me always and forever like you used to say. I'm not mad at you for leaving cause I know you didn’t mean to. Just promise you’ll never forget me up their. Say ‘hi’ to my parents and my grandparents for me. Tell them that I love them” I fought the tears that slowly poured. “I‘ll be with you guys again someday but until then remember that I love you. See you later Luke” I broke down and both Kevin and Joe hugged me as I cried in their arms. “Goodbye” I whispered.

We walked back to our places and I watched as they lowered the casket into the ground. Peyton and Ariel we’re standing beside each other holding hands. Edward was holding Ariel’s other hand and Nick was holding Peyton’s other hand. “My baby!” Mrs. Davis cried out as the top of the casket disappeared into the ground. That’s it. It was over Lucas was gone and there was no going back. I slowly walked away and then stopped.

“Do you need for us to take you home?” Kevin asked me.
“What is a home? Huh? Your safe haven. The place you’re supposed to feel welcomed, loved, secure and where a family lives together happily. If so then I don’t live in a home. It’s just a place a house and no I don’t want to go back there not yet. There’s something I have to do first” I walked away. I crossed the small road onto the other side of the cemetery. I walked up to their graves and fell onto my knees.
“Hey mom, hey dad” I looked at both of their graves. “I'm sorry I haven’t come around lately it’s just that a lot has happened” tears welded in my eyes. “Remember my best friend Lucas?” I asked. “Well he died on thanksgiving. How awful is that?” tears fell. “Today was his funeral” I looked back to see Joe and Kevin standing near but at the same time giving me some space. “You see over there that’s where they buried him” I pointed towards them. “The whole family is over there pouring their hearts out and crying. It kind of reminds me of how I was when I had to watch them bury you. The only difference is that I had Lucas to help me get through the pain now I have” I paused.
“She has us Joe and Kevin” Joe stepped up beside me.
“And she has me” Edward knelt down beside me and placed a bouquet of flowers on each grave. “These are for you Aunt Anastasia they’re you’re favorite. Daisies I remembered. And these are for you Uncle Dominique I didn’t know if you had a favorite so I got roses” he smiled. “Don’t worry we’ll take good care of Isabella we promise” he kissed my cheek.
“You see I’ll be okay so you don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be alright and I promise to visit more often okay” I looked up at the sky and dark clouds began to form above. “I love you” I said and then Edward helped to get back on my feet.

It began to rain softly. I turned around and saw Ariel staring at me a couple feet away. I started walking towards her as she walked towards me. Then the walk turned into a run and then she flew into my arms and squeezed me tight.

“He’s gone” she cried into my hair.
“I know he left us alone just like my parents” I cried into her hair.
“I'm so sorry about all this”
“Me too but we have to be strong about it” I cried. “It’s what they would want for us. Lucas wouldn’t want to see us cry for him everyday” I said. “We have to be strong for each other” I pulled back. “But most of all we have to be strong for her” I looked behind her and she turned to see Peyton crying hysterically in Nick’s arms.
“Peyton” she replied to me as we both wiped our tears. “We got to be strong for her” she said.
“I'm here for you if need anyone okay sweetie” I said to her as I pulled the hair out of her face.
“Yeah same here” she tried her best to form a smile.
“I’ll see you around kiddo” I said as I stepped back.
“See you”
It began to pour harder.

This road is anything but simple
Twisted like a riddle
I've seen high and I've seen low
So loud, the voices of all my doubts
Telling me to give up
To pack up and leave town

Somewhere, everybody starts there
Counting on a small prayer
Lost in a nightmare
But I'm here and suddenly it's so clear
The struggle through the long years
It taught me to outrun my fears