I invite my mom inside and I tell her I just got home from Boston. We aren't that close so I didn't tell her before I left. Alex walks in and they start talking so I walk upstairs but I can still hear them..
"Mrs. Rae, I am so sorry for your loss"
"Thank you, dear. How has Jasey been?
"She's taking it really hard. I'm trying to stay strong for her. We haven't even told Jack or even Mina. Jasey's just sort of been sitting around since she got home. But I think were all going out to dinner tonight, and I am making her go. I just hope that shell be okay."
"Alex, you're doing a great job helping her but try not to push her to much. She has never lost anyone in her entire life, except your brother, and that was so hard for her."
"What are you talking about, Mrs. Rae? Jasey was stronger then I was…"
"Alex, honey, as soon as you left, Jasey began bawling her eyes out. She was so hurt. But it's getting better. How about, I go talk to her and I will get her to go out with you guys? I think it would be best because I have to get home to be with my husband." Then, I hear my mother's footsteps and she tells me that she needs to get home but that I need to get out. I promise that I will go out to dinner with the band and Mina tonight. We say our goodbyes and she leaves.
Once my mom is gone, I hop in the shower and then I get dressed. Jack said to dress casual so I'm wearing my black converses, dark denim skinny jeans and my new yellow v-neck. I go over to my suitcase and I find my hot pink converses and Alex's Yellow Nikes that I bought. I run to the basement and grab a present bag and I stick the shoe box in there. Once Alex gets out of the shower, I walk over to him and I tell him I bought these for him. He thanks me and puts them on. He's wearing black skinny jeans, a white t-shirt, his white hoodie with blue horizontal stripes, his beanie which I love and his new Nikes. I start to straighten my hair and once I have finished, Alex straightens his hair. It's funny that we share our Chi straightener. Once were ready its 4:50 so we head over to Jacks house. None of them know about Andrew yet and it's going to suck to tell they because they were all really close with him, but, I push that to the back of my head and grab Alex's hand. I am slowly learning to trust him because I really do need him in my life.
We arrive at Jacks and I can tell that Jack is about three drinks away from being wasted, silly Jack. We head over to Outback Steak house and once were sitting down; I really am having a good time. I'm don't have to be fake where I pretend that I'm having fun because I am having fun. Anyways, Alex and I are still holding hands and I think I'm afraid to let go. We order dinner and we have to let go in order to eat, but that's okay because I know his hand will hold mine when were done. I'm almost finished when I get a call from my mom. I excuse myself from the table and walk outside to the parking lot. My mom sounds fine but at first I was really worried that something had happened. She said she just wanted to call so I knew she was home. I thank her for coming to visit and then I quickly head back inside. That's when I see someone who looks just like Andrew but then it comes back to me that he's gone. Alex's looks up and sees me so when I run back to the parking lot and sit on the bench, it's no surprise he follows me there.
"Jasey, baby, what's wrong, I saw you come outside after you saw that guy. Is something wrong?"
"Alex, I'm fine. He looked like Andrew and it was just hard. I just needed some fresh air. I'll be okay. Go back inside, sweetie."
"Not until you go with me. Were going to walk in there holding hands and I am going to be there for you. Okay?"
I slightly nod and then I look up at the sunset. It's the prettiest thing right now; fading from blue to purple to pink to orange to yellow. I tell Alex that I'm ready to go back in and we hold hands. I whisper to him that I love him and he tells me he loves me too. I have no idea what Jack and Mina and Zack and Rian are going to think when I come back inside after I almost ran over to that guy.
Once we sit down at the table Mina is the first to ask me what happened and why I ran out so fast. I tell them that I have bad news. Zack and Rian look at me with worry in there eyes and Jack, luckily, hasn't had anything else to drink so he's all ears. I ask them if they all knew that Andrew had been over in Iraq. The four of them tell me they knew and I look at Alex who is holding my hand and then, when I look forward again, I fight back tears as I tell them that he was shot and died.
