Author's Note:
I know it's been literally forever since I updated, but life has its moments when it's a bitch, so what can I say. But I promise to all you readers who have been reading my story that I am going to finish this story. I don't like it when other people abandon their stories, so you won't be seeing me doing it. Well without further ado here's the long awaited Chapter 4.
Disclaimer: Two Words. Not mine.
Beautiful Stranger
Chapter 4: Capturing Hearts with Rose Petals
Eating TV dinners while watching the Thanksgiving Parade isn't exactly what someone would call the perfect Thanksgiving, but for me and Andrea it was something. In a weird pathetic sort of way.
"Andrea this sucks."
"What'cha mean?" said Andrea while fighting with a piece of undercooked meat.
"What do you mean "what'cha mean?" Look at us!"
I turn to her and notice she's finally gotten the message. Letting go of her fork she says with solemn eyes "I guess your right. We do look pathetic," she slumps down in the couch. "But what else are we going to do?"
"I don't know about you but I think I'm heading off."
"Where?"
"I don't know anywhere."
"You mean anywhere the mob calls you."
Standing up and throwing my tray in the trash I yell from the kitchen, "I don't work for the mob, Andrea. And you can let the subject of me being an assassin go already. I'm tired of this fucking bullshit you constantly throw in my fucking face!"
As soon as the words escape my mouth I know I've gone too far. But before I leave I take a look at her, she's slumped in her seat playing with her food. I realize that in the past few days I've been acting like a real jerk. Especially today when it is Thanksgiving after all. I just need time to think. "Andrea, I'm sorry. I've been acting like a jerk. I guess since Evelyn's gone I don't have any one to talk to."
I figure my poor pep talk didn't work due to the fact that she hadn't moved a muscle. So instead I added, "Andrea how about before I come back I'll bring you something to eat, and this time real food." I added nudging her in the ribs with my elbow.
It worked since a small smile crept up her face.
"Okay."
We exchanged hugs and I started my way to the door when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Oh and April..."
"Yeah?"
"I'm not a child, you don't need to talk to me like one." said Andrea crossly with both arms on her hips.
I give her a shrug accompanied with a smile before I left.
But as the sacred moment between both girls reeled through Andrea's mind she finally made the realization, "Wait...you can talk to me." said Andrea ever so quietly as she stared at the place where not two seconds ago her best friend in the whole world stood.
Mercer Household
"Bring out that bird!"
All three Mercers sat around the table as Jack emerged out from the kitchen holding a giant bird the size of a water melon.
"Here let me hold that fairy, before you drop it just like you did with your masculinity." said Bobby as he snatched away the bird from Jack's hands.
"I could've done it myself, Bobby." muttered Jack under his breath.
"Sure think, Jackie." replied Bobby.
All four brothers stood up and held hands forming a circle of unity. Bobby said 'Grace' though no one was really paying attention. Everyone's eyes, even Bobby's, were all staring at the empty seat that should've been filled with Evelyn's warmth and grace; but unfortunately wasn't.
Sitting down an awkward silence erupted in each of them but just kept it to themselves, making the matter worse. The usual clattering of plates passed around the table and the occasional "would you pass the salt please," was deafening to Bobby. But rather than make a fuss he decided to let things sift out for a while.
Ten minutes soon turned to thirty...increasing to sixty and so on, Bobby had had enough.
"To hell with this man," said Bobby standing up with beer in hand, "let's go get a pick up game. Some quick sticks and tight-"
"It's too cold man, I didn't come all the way out here to play no damn hockey!" exclaimed Angel shivering at just the thought of being out in the cold.
"Come on ladies, let's show these guys some fucking skills!" replied Bobby ignoring all excuses and running up the stairs to gather up his gear.
Twenty minutes later neighbors nearby were peeking out there windows wondering who on earth would be so idiotic, moronic, and stupid to be playing hockey with the extreme low temperatures outside.
Well Bobby Mercer, that's who.
"Yeah! Come on, pass it!"
Those were the only sounds that anyone would hear if passing by the ice rink. Passerby's stared and watched mortified how competition can turn the game from friendly to brutal. Children sat in the cold egging on one team until one member consequently suffered a bloody nose and quickly turned their heads to the opposite team.
"Jackie, you fairy! Pass the fucking puck!" yelled Bobby across the rink, waiting for the pass to score in the goal.
Jackie made the pass and failed. Calling a timeout Bobby along with Angel and Jerry (who was talking on the phone to Camille and Daniela while he played).
"Jack, what the fuck! I was right there! You're fucking telling me that you don't even know how to use your fucking stick!" said Bobby who was red and shaking his head uncontrollably. "And you Jerry, what the hell..." continued Bobby still on the rampage, "...talking on the phone to Camille. Look you better turn it off...now Jerry!"
Jack was tired, he didn't want to play hockey. He was freezing in just his grey sweatshirt and jeans, not bothering to bundle up. "Fuck this." Jack muttered under his breath not realizing that Bobby was standing near earshot.
"Fuck what?!" said Bobby, whilst cupping one hand to his left ear.
"THIS!" said Jack throwing his hockey stick on the ice. "It's fucking freezing here and I don't need your bullshit to make things worse than they already are! I'm leaving." said Jack as he left, leaving both Bobby still with his hand cupped to his ear frowning, and a jaw dropped Angel and Jerry in his wake.
Monroe Cemetery
Seeing her wasn't something that I intended to do when I left the house, but it seemed as if all signs lead to here. Clutching a bouquet of white roses, her favorite, I marched towards the old rusty gates that led to Monroe Cemetery. Passing by what seemed like thousands of graves I quickened my pace. I didn't know any of these people or why their lives had ended but I felt a certain connection between them.
Susie Carmichaels
1999-2005
"Beloved Daughter and Angel",
Mitch Sanders
1972-1989
"World's Greatest Son",
Lloyd Andrew McFarley
1963-2002
"We'll miss you Tubbs!"
The list of names went on and on. Who knows how many people here could've been our cure for cancer, world hunger, AIDS.
Snapping myself back into reality I realized I finally reached my destination.
Dana Pearson
1959-1992
'Beloved Mother'
Memories came flooding back to me as I remember when me and Andrea would always sneak in at night to come her. But now almost more than fourteen years later it all changed. I set the white roses on the ground not knowing what to do with them. What do you say to someone after you haven't seen them for this long?
"I hate you." I whispered. I can't lie to myself anymore.
"Why did you leave? Why did you lie to me?" Once I started I just couldn't stop.
"You told me that God was always taking care of us. That nothing bad would ever happen to those who prayed and went to Mass. Well, didn't we go to Mass every fucking Sunday and pray every god damn day! Why did you marry him? Dad. Is he there with you? Well of course not, he's burning in hell right now where he fucking belongs. Did you know what the fuck he did to me? Guess because he didn't have you he opted for the next best thing. Lucky me." I grew so frustrated not knowing what to do with myself that I took each flower and ripped its head off. Its petals loose in my hands until the roses were nothing but stems. Clasping the white petals tightly in my hands I let them go. Let them go just as I had with my buried feelings that ached to be free.
Wind picking up I drew my hands tightly around my jacket, hands turning numb from the cold. I watched as the remaining petals wandered freely, passing other graves and beyond. Looking around what did I gain from this? Nothing. I never did gain anything.
It was freezing and Jack silently cursed himself yet again for not bundling up. His mind wandering to nowhere, letting his feet guide him he found himself at Monroe Cemetery. He needed to see her. He remembered when she once told him that no matter what happened she would be there for him. He hoped with every inch of his body that she was right.
He wasn't surprised when he felt tears stinging his eyes as soon as he walked up to her grave.
"Hey Ma." The words drowning slightly by the wind nearby.
"I miss you...we all do." He felt like an idiot. Why didn't it feel right? Because you're talking to a tombstone jackass.
"Jackie. Jackie."
It couldn't be. Yet it was. There she was sitting right across from him next to her tombstone. He knew it was just his imagination, but in the back of his mind he hoped it wasn't.
"Jackie, look at me."
He did.
"Honey I know this is hard for you. But you know deep inside your strong."
He shook his head. "No, I'm not Ma."
"Don't you dare say that Jack Mercer! I'm not asking you to forget about me, but just know that I am here, always." she said pointing with her index finger to her heart.
"How do I know it's going to be okay Ma? I need a sign. Just give me a sign, something...anything Ma." Wiping the tears from his eyes Jack looked up and found out that she was gone. Again. And it hurt just the same.
Taking in his surroundings Jack noticed that with every gust of wind blowing towards him a blanket of rose petals danced in the wind flowing towards him. Picking one up off the ground Jack looked around to find where it had come from. Scanning around he found that he wasn't alone. It's her. He thought to himself.
Finding himself in a trance he decided to just go up and talk to her. What's the worse that could happen right?
Nothing else? No that was it. So many years since I've seen her and basically all I could come up with was an 'I hate you and everybody should go to hell rant.'
"Forgive me." I said shocking myself and probably my mother as well.
Picking up the head-less rose stems I turned around and found him staring at me.
The guy from that nightmare last night. Where on earth did that dream come from?
"Hey?" Well this isn't awkward at all.
"Hey." Her eyes are gorgeous.
"So, trying to exorcise some demons too."
"Yeah. I uh...guess so. "Said Jack extending his arm towards mine."Jack Mercer."
"April...Pearson." I said shaking his hand.
"Ummm...was that you with the rose petals?" He said pointing towards my head-less rose stems.
"Oh yeah. Why be selfish. More to everyone!" I said smiling.
A weird silence erupted. I didn't know if it was because I was the one who found his mother's dead body or because we were having polite conversation in a cemetery.
"Well. It ummm...was nice meeting you Jack. I umm should be going now." I walked passed him towards the car quickening my pace.
"Will I see you again?"
Where the hell did that come from? Was the thought that reverberated in each other's mind?
"Well Jack that depends." I said walking two feet towards him with a smile plastered on my face.
"Depends on what?" He said confused by where I was going with this.
"Depends on how much faith you have." Giving him a last smile I left jogging towards the car not bothering to find out his response.
Depends on how much faith you have.
"That's it." he said in particular to no one. "The sign." She's the sign Ma sent me.
And with that Jack Mercer knew that he was in fact going to be seeing April Pearson very soon. But just not as soon as he thought.
Driving in the car and the only thing I could think about was the previous moments in my head reeling.
Maybe there's more to Jack Mercer than we thought April. Did Evelyn ever mention him? No. That's weird. Looks like a Mamma's Boy.
Pulling in the drive way I still couldn't get Jack Mercer out of my head. Fumbling with the keys I noticed my hands were shaking. What the fuck is so great about Jack Mercer.
Well he is kind of cute. Has a weird punk thing going on. Oh my god what am I thinking?
"ANDREA!" I said screaming as soon as I opened the door.
"WHAT!?" she said running down the stairs.
I reached inside the closet and grabbed the old baseball bat Andrea kept incase someone ever tried to "rob" us.
"Here hit me in the head. A good whack. I think I've gone insane."
"What are you talk-?"
"No time woman! This is a life or death situation we're talking about here!"
"Okay." she said easing the bat on her shoulder ready to take a swing.
But as soon as I closed my eyes waiting for her to take a hit, the phone rang. We both looked at each other not knowing what to do. Skull bashing, then phone. Or phone, then skull bashing.
I decided to go with the latter and started walking towards the phone.
"But what happened to the skull-bashing?!" she said obviously disappointed that she'd have to wait two more minutes to bash my brains out.
"In a minute." I said holding my hand up.
"Hello?"
"Yeah. Hey April!"
Jerry? "Hey Jerry, uh what can I do for you?"
"Well uh, I was wondering if you could baby-sit for me and Camille tomorrow. I know its short notice but you know with what Ma and things going around the-"
"Jerry calm down. I'll do it." Friday night babysitting? I really need a social life.
"Really? Oh well thanks April. Tomorrow night 7:30?"
"7:30. Bye Jerry." I said signing the verbal contract, gaining an east fifty in my pocket.
"So ready for that bashing now?" said Andrea coming into the room bat in hand.
Eager much?
A/N: There's chapter 4. I know it was short and the meeting between Jack and April didn't go that well. But's it's suppose to be like that, for now. Well next chapter: Fowler pays April a visit, and April babysitting, with the help of a certain rocker. Please review. I'd like to know your thoughts on this chapter. I'll be posting Chapter 5 in no more than 2 to 3 weeks! Maybe by the end of spring break. Consequence of too much time on my hands. Ah...now I'm rambling.
