Be Still – The Fray
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I walk into the funeral home with Jeremy right beside me and with Bonnie close behind. We take our seats with Tyler at the end and then Damon, Elena, Caroline, Bonnie, me, Jeremy, Stefan and Matt. I turn around and immediately see someone I hoped I wouldn't have to see ever again – my aunt. She gives me a warm smile but looking into her eyes, I see the hatred she is trying to mask. My aunt is a gold-digger. My uncle was very successful so my aunt married him. She acted like she was in love, but faked it until the day he died. She even convinced him to put his entire multimillion-dollar will in her name. When I was famous, she treated me like royalty, but as soon as I came to Mystic Falls, and she didn't remember my fame, she called me to ask me who my mother's will was going to. When I told her it was going to me she swore and hung up. She was always rude. When Tyler came to visit, she, once finding out that he wasn't filthy rich, became uninterested and treated his family like rubbish.
The service drags on until it is time for speeches. Surprisingly, Carol goes up and after her sweet speech, it is my turn. I haven't cried yet, but I probably will now. I rise from my seat, take one look at Jeremy, who nods me on, and shakily walk up. I pull out the piece of paper. I take a deep breath and start.
"Jayden Steven Ash was a fifteen year old boy who had gone through hell. He never fit in. He never had friends. He had his twin sister, Arden, but when she died- It was unbearable for him. He and I grew closer, but I knew that he was still depressed. He had the world at his fingertips but was still miserable because he didn't have the one person that made him happy – Arden. She was the only one who made him laugh, and made him cry." I take a deep breath, trying not to break down." Nobody understood my brother like she did. I knew that Jayden was depressed, but I never knew how much he struggled. Looking back on our time together, I see that I probably-" I look down, "I probably could have done better as a sister. I could have noticed all of the signs he gave me that he was struggling. I was too caught up with my own life to see my brother regretting every second of his. Even though he struggled, he always seemed happy. In fact, he was always one to lighten the mood. I think he acted fine so much that he made himself believe he was. I remember-" my voice cracks, "all those nights that he would cry himself to sleep, just wanting his sister back, wanting to hear her contagious laugh and see her beautiful eyes. I know this because I wanted the same thing. I- I just wish I could have given it to him. Jayden deserved so much more than the life he got. I know that everybody that knew him feels the same way. Jayden was a good kid. I am able to sleep at night knowing that he has found his own version of peace and has been reunited with our family. Jayden will be missed, but I know that he will be happier now."
I walk back to my seat, holding in the tears. I sit down and Jeremy immediately grabs my hand. He squeezes it lovingly and tears start to silently drip down my face. Once the service is over, Jeremy goes off with Elena and Bonnie is talking with me. I see the she-devil approaching and nudge Bonnie to avoid her. Bonnie doesn't get the message so when my aunt approaches us Bonnie becomes all chatty and sweet. My aunt says, "Hello love, you must be one of Carmen's friends. I'm her aunt. Call me Lisa. What's your name?" "I'm Bonnie. Carmen never mentioned she had an aunt!" "Well she's not one to brag," She says with a chuckle. Bonnie awkwardly laughs along. "What are you doing here?" I ask Lisa. "I came for your brother's funeral, obviously," She says rudely. "Ok, well you saw it. Now you can leave," I spit back. Before she has the chance to say something back Tyler comes up to me and lightly pulls my arm, signaling for me to come. I walk away from the conversation and to the lobby with Tyler. "One of Klaus's hybrids was here earlier." "What?" "I know I shouldn't be bothering you with this, but I just thought you should know." "No, no, it's fine, thank you for telling me. I need to find out why…" "No, not right now. You need rest, Carmen. "Ugh, that reminds me. I have to pack up all of Jayden's stuff. I also should probably get the rest of my family's stuff and sell it or something instead of letting it rot in a storage locker-" "No, Carmen." Before Tyler continues, my aunt comes over and says, "I don't seem to have a place to stay and I am tight on money, I can stay at your place, right?" "Sure, I'll be sleeping elsewhere," I say with a smile. Tyler glares at me but I just walk off to my car. I slide in and just stay there, listening to Over My Head by The Fray. I see somebody coming towards my car and sticking his head through the passenger window. "Luke?" "I think you should've sung at the service, it would have been much more Jayden's style." I let out a laugh. "Style; as in funeral style? My brother had a funeral style?" He laughs. "It was a beautiful service, Carmen." "That's what everybody said last time. There's nothing creative these days…" He laughs again. "How long are you staying for?" "A few days. I hope you don't mind that my stuff is already at your house." I smirk. "I have to go, but I will see you later, ok? Make yourself at home, I guess. My aunt is staying there too, and she certainly will. Feel free to kick her out of any room you please," I suggest with a smirk. He laughs and goes to his car. He has to be careful that nobody recognizes him but I don't think Mystic Falls is a town that has a large population of fan girls…
I let out a deep sigh and then see something sticking out of the sunshield above the passenger seat. I pull it down and find a picture of Ryland holding Jayden and I holding Arden when they are about 4 months old. Jayden must have put it there. I gaze at each of my siblings' faces. I then get an idea. I put the picture back where it was and pull out of the large parking lot.
I go home, get changed into untitled/set?id=166350678, and soon after, pull into the Mikaelson driveway. I grab the picture, put it in my purse, and head inside. I see Niklaus talking to a hybrid. "You missed the funeral. It was brilliant." Niklaus turns around and says, "I'm sorry about your brother, Mariana. I didn't think that what happened to Percy could happen to Jayden." "I thought I was protecting him, Nik. I- I thought I was doing the right thing. I should have listened to him, he was right about what to do. If I had listened to him than he wouldn't be dead." My eyes start to water again. "Hey, it's alright, love." He speeds me to his bed and lets me snuggle up close to him. "Your speech was beautiful." I bury my head into his chest more and let the tears fall. He brushes my hair with his fingers and I start to sob. He pulls my body closer to his chest. We lie like this for about an hour until he takes his finger, softly pulls my chin up, and gently and soflty kisses my lips and I fall asleep.
