Chapter 9

Melissa smiled and then the two headed off to lunch.

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Arriving at lunch things were quiet like they have been all week.

A little bit before the bell rang Jackson whispered to Taylor and asked her if they could talk in private. Taylor nodded and the two walked out of the cafeteria into the hall.

"Look Taylor, we broke up and well-" Jackson began.

"It's ok, I'm fine with it." Said Taylor.

"Good, also I just wanted to ask you if we could still be friends and for this next thing, look I want t go out with Mel. But I wouldn't feel comfortable if you were uncomfortable." Stated Jackson.

Taylor smiled "It's fine, and actually if you are comfortable with it, then well I would love to go out with Eric, but still be your friend." Said Taylor.

Jackson chuckled and gave her a small hug. "We cool?' asked Jackson.

Taylor released herself from his embrace "Yea."

"Good." Said Jackson.

Then the two walked back into lunch. Jackson sat back down next to Melissa and smiled at her and then kissed her. Melissa blushed.

Then Taylor kissed Eric on the lips.

With only 5 minutes left of lunch, a conversation grew. Nathan and Daley were the most surprised, so they were the ones mostly talking.

The bell rings.

Walking out of the cafeteria Jackson and Melissa hold hands. Eric raps his arm around Taylor and they head off.

Soon that time came when the last bell rang and that meant time for cheerleading and basketball. After that everyone went home with smiles on their faces, but then they were all reminded of Saturday. Saturday was the funeral, and that was tomorrow.

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The day finally came; the funeral was at 10 in the morning out in the cemetery.

Eric woke up at 8 and then took a shower. Afterwards he got dressed in one of his black suits. Eric slowly did his tie and sighed as he stared hopelessly at the mirror.

"Eric breakfast!" called Eric mom from the kitchen.

"In a minute." Replied Eric.

"Eric, we need to be there by 10, hurry up." Said his mother.

Eric turned towards the clock. It was 9:30.

Eric sighed and walked out o his bedroom and walked down to the kitchen and had a bowl of cereal. When he finished up he spoke:

"Mom, I'm gonna walk there." Said Eric. The cemetery was only 10 minutes away if you drove, it was 20 if you walked.

With out a response from his mom Eric got up and walked out the door.

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Melissa was picking up Jackson. Her parents were going in another car. Jackson's foster parents weren't going so it was just him.

Jackson sat down stairs on the couch waiting for Melissa. As he waited his mind seemed somewhere else.

"What if we are the only ones there? That would be weird, but I have to go." Thought Jackson.

A horn beeps.

Jackson gets up from the couch and hurries out the door. He sees Mel and get's into the car.

"Hey." Said Jackson.

"Hi." Said Melissa.

They kissed.

"You look beautiful." Said Jackson.

Melissa blushed. "Thank you"

Melissa then started the car and the rode off. Then a minute later Melissa's cell rang.

"Hello?" asked Melissa.

"Hey Mel, It's Daley."

"Hey. What's up?" asked Melissa.

"We'll my parents are using the other car and I have the van. I was thinking if maybe you wanted to ride, we could all carpool. Taylor and Nathan are here so?" asked Daley.

"Yea sure, I'm actually going to pass your house in like a minute or two and Jackson's with me." Said Melissa.

"Ok great. Then all together we will all go get Eric." Said Daley.

"K. see you in a few." Said Melissa. Then she hung up.

"So were all going together?" asked Jackson.

"Yea." Said Melissa.

Jackson nodded and then looked out the window. "Hey isn't that Eric?" asked Jackson.

Melissa looked out the window and pulled closer to the sidewalk.

"Hey Eric." Said Melissa.

Eric looked up from the stone he was kicking.

"Hi.' He said quietly.

"Dude, were all going to go in her van and ride together." Said Jackson. "So you wanna ride with us to her house?" asked Jackson.

"No I want to be alone, but I'm tired and my feet hurt." Thought Eric.

"Yea sure." Said Eric as he opened up the back door and sat into the seat. Melissa then began to drive again.

Everything was silent for a couple of minutes.

"It's my fault Jimmy did what he did." Blurted out Eric.

"How Eric?" asked Melissa as she peered at the mirror so she could see Eric without turning around.

"I didn't stay his friend, if I had then maybe-"

"Don't blame yourself for his mistake." Jackson cut in.

Eric then began to cry.

"But Jackson, it's my fault. If I said hi to him school or-or talked to him once in a while then maybe we wouldn't being going to freakin cemetery today!" yelled Eric.

Melissa got near Daley's house she stopped the car, but before pulling into the driveway she turned around towards Eric.

"Eric that was his choice to bring the gun to school not yours. It was his choice to pull the trigger and kill himself. It wasn't your fault, it was his." Said Melissa.

Eric nodded.

Melissa then parked in Daley's driveway.

Eric wiped his tears away and stepped out of the car. Jackson stepped out of the car and then went over to help Melissa get out. He then gave her the crutches.

"Thanks." Said Melissa.

Jackson kissed her on the cheek. Melissa did look beautiful in her black dress.

"Guy's were all in the car already, come on. We can't be late." Yelled Daley out of the window.

"Coming." Said Melissa as she went to sit in the front next to Daley.

Before going into the car Jackson went over to Eric and put a hand on his shoulder.

"You going to be ok?" asked Jackson.

"Yea, I guess." Sighed Eric.

Eric and Jackson then went into the van with evesyone else and drove away.


A/N: Sorry I had writer block! Hoep you enjoyed, please R&R!!!!!!!!! Thanks.