Chapter 2

There was only two events left of the year. The two events that both Vicki waslooking forward to least. She was dreading Ronan and Finn's party. She was dreading this as she hated seeing Finn so upset. Finn had said it would be like nothing had ever happened. Like Sam had never existed he said. But Vicki wasn't stupid; she knew that this was just so he could try and relive every memory they'd ever had. Vicki knew that he'd drown his sorrows in drink and spend the whole night on his own crying or even imagining she was there. No she didn't want him to be there. As much as she knew that Finn would want to spend the whole night wallowing wouldn't help. Yet Vicki also knew that Finn loved Sam more than anything, and that he would never let her go.

As the party started everyone seemed to be having a good time and dancing but as the night went on Finn seemed to become more distant and not want to be within a 10 meter radius of anyone least of all Josh, Amy or Lauren as they too seemed to be having a personal reminder. This seemed to be how the rest of the night went on. Amy, Lauren and Josh partying and trying to forget while Finn sat drinking on the sofa that Ronan had acquired last time.

The next morning was a killer at school for all. As ninety nine percent of the students were severally hung over and the thought double assembly didn't seem much the antidote. As they sat and listened to Miss Fisher drone on about internet safety most of them were too pre-occupied in the best way to nurture the killer hangover. All but nine of them. Vicki, Ronan, Denzil, Harry, Kyle, Amy, Lauren, Josh and Finn all had other things on their mind. For all six of them knew that tomorrow they would go through hell.

Hell - a funny word. Hell what does it actually mean? Hell meaning having nothing to live for? Hell meaning that everything has reached as bad as it will ever get? Or hell a place of torment and misery? Whichever definition was the right one Finn was sure he was living in every definition of hell possible. He'd lost everything. Family, girlfriend and was on the verge of losing his friends. His parents had left for America 3 years and all he ever really got was a postcard, money and a 'surprise' visit on his birthday and at Christmas. He still lived in the big house he had when his parents still lived with him. This to Finn was good and bad. Good because it showed that they still cared but bad because the reminders of his past life were everywhere. He had three real past lives. The pre-year 10 life when he'd still lived with his family. The year 10-11 where his friends were always round and it was known as the party house. And the late year 11 until mid-year 12 life where Sam had lived with him and been his surrogate mother as well as girlfriend. But now it was horrible. It was a huge empty house full of memories that no longer existed. A house that felt more like a prison camp.

The rest of the day past slowly for the nine of them which they were all secretly glad about for they all knew what tomorrow would hold and none wanted it to happen. They had been putting off thinking about it ever since she had actually died but now there was no avoiding it. Denzil, Lauren and Finn were especially dreading it, for they were speakers in the assembly. They had all been chosen by Rose and Tom but while they had all been glad at the time they were now dreading it. However they weren't looking at it that way. They had meant too much to Sam. She had written it in her will that she wanted them to speak meaning she clearly cared. Which in a way was nice. Still this didn't stop them from dreading it.

Last period on a Thursday was traditionally a free period for all year 12 and 13 pupils and this week was no different. Lauren sat on the sofa on her own re-reading her speech for the hundredth time. Kyle, Amy and Josh were on the next sofa either having a quick nap or revising for Monday's physics quiz. Finn sat on the computer listening to the mix tape Sam had made him in the few days before she'd died and looking back through all of their memories that had been stored as pictures before she passed away on that cruel Tuesday night. Ronan and Vicki sat holding hands on the few chairs behind the computer where Finn was sat. They sat and watched him wallow and wished they could go and help but they knew whatever they say wouldn't. And then there was Harry and Denzil. Being in year 10 they had maths with Mr Chalk last. They sat next to each other and watched as Chalky drain on about Pythagoras' theorem. But neither of them were in the mood. Denzil was thinking about his sister and Harry about anything but maths.

As the end of the day bell rang, the nine of them trudged off site knowing that the next time they would all meet it would be to commemorate the death of Sam.

As they all arrived home they all laid out what they were to wear the next day, had tea and went to bed. Something that easier said than done when your mind is a million miles away. However they all eventually got to sleep knowing that the day ahead would possibly be the saddest day they would ever have encountered and would for some time. A celebration. A commemoration. A funeral. A death. Another life lost. Another battle lost to cancer. Another fading memory that wouldn't last forever.