Chapter 11 – Consequences
Rachel's POV
I felt so bad for coming late to the funeral, most of the epilogues were over, but I caught the last one, from Sheriff Swan, Harry's closest friend.
"Harry will be remembered, like all the Elder's, he, among many, were strong, he was strong, he was brave and until the moment his heart stopped beating, I know, that he was fighting not to give in, I know he wouldn't have gone down without a fight, he was a fighter, but he was also a great father and a best friend," the Sheriff paused to wipe a glistering tear that had fallen down his white cheeks. "Harry, as all of you know, was loved beyond comparison. And he will never be forgotten by those who truly loved him. He will always hold a special place in our hearts by the way he changed our lives. Harry was a good friend, always kind, listened and always ready to lend a hand. He was also an amazing father to two beautiful, lovely children." I got the feeling he was talking more about Seth then Leah. Everyone always does.
The Sheriff took a breath to wipe the continual tears down his aging face. "Harry, I'll miss you, buddy. We all will. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I ask You, Lord to accept our friend, father, uncle, husband, Harry, into Your Kingdom, accept him and his sins, take him into Your arms, Lord. We ask you in Your name, Jesus Christ. Amen," Charlie finished his prayer with the sign of the cross and bowed his head.
Everyone in the tiny church echoed in response. And I bowed my head. Oh, Uncle Harry…I can't believe this happened…I was gone for like a day. I can't help but feel like I'm responsible for this.
Harry was like a second Father to me. Looking around me now, as the Sheriff slowly and mournfully walks back to his seat, with Sue and Seth crying desperately and although Leah isn't crying on the outside, I know she's crying deep on the inside. And I know I won't be the only one who will miss him.
-0o0-
The burial was simple, but a traditional one. Beforehand they had made a bonfire on the beach. They lay Uncle Harry down on the wood and set it aflame. In the silence we all watched him burn to ash through the multicolour flames. Through the small crowd I could see Leah, her eyes filled to the brim with unshed tears. I knew she'd be acting strong today, because I found that if Leah cries, not only would everyone fall over with shock, but everyone else would cry too. But I know she wants to, but she doesn't want to, all the same.
Slowly but surely people started to go home.
I had long abandon my shoes so that my toes were filled with grains of crushed shells and the deafening sound of the tide closing in as the sun sunk further down the sky. Sue, across from me, had her long greying black hair down over her shoulders, her cheeks streaked with silver rivers that reflected on the firelights of greens and reds and oranges from the salt on the wood. The fire was dying and eventually all that was left were coals and ashes.
Goodbye, Harry. I thought to the pile of hot ash in front of me, wiped a stray tear and looked away, walking, shoes in hand, over to my family.
Sue was clutching Seth, the poor boy looked as though he had as many tears as his mother, but Leah had none. She looked away from the coals to me, smiled gently and walked away, just to the edge of the tide so the rushing water went over her feet.
I sat on the log with Aunty Sue and Seth, determined not to look back into the ashes, in fear I'll cry.
"Hello, Aunty Sue," I said softly and gently, a faint smile to reassure. Sue's dark brown eyes were filled with grieve and sadness and pain.
She sniffed, wiped her eyes hastily and replied just as softly. "Hello, Rachel." I smiled a bit wider and so did she. "Do you mind…" another sniff. "Looking after Leah? Please?" Aunty Sue's look in her eyes screamed with desperation, hope, pain, love and grieve.
"Of course, Aunty Sue," I put my hand on her shoulder. Smiled slightly and then walked off, towards Leah. Her black hair is longer than it was last time I saw her, last week? Or maybe the week before? It's straight all the way down her back reaching her butt.
"You don't have to look after me," I don't know how, but I'm pretty sure she knew that it was me. But it could've been anyone, really.
"Yes, I do. You did the same for me when Mum died seven years ago. It's my turn, pretty girl, to look after you," I could've said it in that authority-filled voice, but I couldn't, I tried, but I couldn't. All my voice could handle was gentle words to her.
She sighed but didn't look around, keep her eyes to the horizon where the sun was slowly but surely disappearing over the edge.
I came around and sat down in the damp sand beside her, waiting for her to sit down, too. But she didn't. She continued to stand there watching the sun deep into the horizon glare.
After about five minutes I couldn't handle the silence, it let my mind wander and all I could think about was Harry. I couldn't continue this without end up crying. "We don't have to talk about it, how about you just sit with me and small talk, huh?" I looked up, expectantly. Leah's caramel skin glowed with the orange haze from the sun's light.
Leah sighed again, looking down at her feet, which were increasingly sinking further into the sand, filling with water. Eventually she sat next to me, continuing to look at her feet, purposefully not looking at me. "Life loves to screw me over doesn't it?"
I look back at her, her expression blank but her eyes had filled with fury and tears. "Then screw it back."
She laughed, with little humor. "Can I though?"
"Sure," I said, looking back at the sun, which had continued its journey further over the water, off the edge of the world. "How, I'm not too sure, but yes, I think you can." I look back to Leah and saw a look in her eyes, one I know pretty damn well. "Hey! Grumpy pants, lighten up, 'kay? Life is so much bigger than just you and me, it's the universe plus the galaxy plus the solar system plus Earth and everything on Earth as well as us, everyone who has died, lived and born into this world since the beginning of time and, if you want to, you could even include aliens and mosquitoes, too. Now, today, now, right now, is a single moment in the eyes of life, not even a blink compared to all that is life. So, it doesn't have the time to make you feel happy after it just gives a look in your direction. That is what friends and family are for."
Okay, so I gave her the lecture, it's not like she didn't deserve it. She needed it. Whether she realises that or not is not my problem.
"Did you just lecture me?" Homour had set into her eyes and finally looked at me.
"Yes, I did. So no one else could give it to you. I could go on?" I smiled mischievously. She finally laughed. It was one of those, throw-your-head-back-and-laugh-out-loud laughs. Triumph filled me and I smiled.
Mission complete. Now, just to keep it going, but it turned out not to be that hard. Just bring up funny memories and it got us both laughing until we couldn't breathe and our stomachs hurt.
"Reme—" Laughing interrupted. "Remember when that time when—" More laughing. "Jake ran up and—BANG!" more laughing erupted. "And he—and he broke—broke his nose and—and" more giggle fits. "BANG—and dad—dad—"WHAT HAPPENED?"" I do remember that day, but at the time, it wasn't funny, but now, in our current mood we cracked ourselves until we couldn't breathe anymore, leaning on each other for support. We were playing tag, but with the whole 'Marco Polo' from the pool game? Leah was leaning against the side of the house and Jake was 'it' and he called "Marco" and all of us had replied with "Polo" and Jake ran up to Leah, hearing her as the closest person, she moved out of the way but he kept running up and went straight into the wall of the house and broke his nose. We haven't played it since.
-0o0-
I felt the sun on my face and the sand beneath me and the salt water lapping at my feet. I stretched out and felt cramps loosening in my legs and arms, even the muscles in my back, I rubbed at my eyes and look around, the sky that was somewhat clear yesterday afternoon had turned a threating black and the roars of thunder echoed as I ordinated myself to remember where I was and what happened last night.
Leah and I slept on the beach under the millions of stars, talking and laughing until early in the morning when we passed out from exhaustion.
But Leah's gone…
I pushed myself up on my forearms and onto my tummy, looking back up to shore, people on First Beach is nothing out of the ordinary, but sleeping? Ha. Yeah. Oops. Oh well. But, where's Leah gone? Well, maybe she went home to have a shower? Or maybe went to get some breakfast? But she would've taken me too.
Tired and slowly, I got up and dusted off some of the sand and picked up my shoes, luckily they hadn't been taken out to sea overnight by the tide.
Wary with drowsiness I slumped my way slowly through the sand towards home.
With me coming back so often, you'd think I lived here. I didn't want to live here. I didn't. There are too many harsh memories for me to stay.
The beach that Mum and Dad took us to walk along every Saturday afternoon when we were around ten and afterwards we'd get ice-cream with rich chocolate topping.
I tried to think on happier topics, but really all else I could think of was Leah, I was really worried about her. I don't know where she is. I don't know what she's doing. I don't know if she was okay or anything really. On the way to my childhood home was the Clearwater's place, a simple two-story house with a faded yellow outside, I decided that I'd go the extra mile and half to her place to see if she was there and if she was okay on the way home.
The little house came into view, a little dirt road led up to the driveway a wooden mailbox stood wobbly and stubbornly at the front, on the side of the house I could see the sliding door and a little wooden deck, I know that Leah like to sit about three metres in front of the door to the house, there's a little mound, Leah always said that she could glimpse at the horizon from there, see where there was freedom.
The little red car of theirs sat under a hasty shed for a garage. At least I knew Sue was home.
I opened the glass door and slipped inside. It was a miracle I didn't hear the shouting from outside.
"Get the fuck out, Sam. I'll do the fucking watch, just get out! Get out!"
"Leah, calm down, you're unstable. Please refrain from phasing inside." I closed the door quietly, hoping not to disturb their argument, mainly because I wanted to find out what they meant – most of it just didn't make sense. And why the hell is Sam here?
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, Mr Alpha. Now get the fuck out."
"Thank you, Sam, for coming over, but I think you've outlived your welcomed stay. Now leave my house before I call the cops," I cringed automatically, Sue always used her motherly voice just before snapping. And when she snaps, it's almost scarier than Leah snapping at you. Wait… Sam's gang.
Are you kidding? Leah? In Sam's gang?! What the fuck?! I didn't think there were any girls allowed, or something like that. But looking over at Leah, even though it had barely been a week, she did look so different, more like the guys now, like the guys in Sam's gang, the steroid gang they're called. I can't believe this. Leah, when Sam gets out of here, you and I are going to have a little talk…
A/N: PLEASE DNT KILL ME! I know it has quiet literally been forever! I'm SO SO SORRY! But, please, thank Riana, a friend from school that gave me the inspiration to finish the chapter for you all. Again, I am so so soooo sorry! I hope you can forgive me!
Any ideas, comments, please leave your thoughts xxx I hoped you enjoyed xxxx