((Here is the funeral chapter. Please, no flames.))
The funeral sucked. I've never liked funerals; they always make me feel teary, and hurt, and helpless. I hate feeling like that. But this one…they couldn't have hurt me more if they'd have shot me. They played some teary, sappy music that would've made me barf under other circumstances. My dad gave the eulogy, and teared up in the midst of it.
It took all my willpower not to cry during it. When they buried her, the sky was gloomy and dark. Everyone started to leave after the funeral, though I stayed behind. I crouched beside the tombstone, and sighed. "I-I'm sorry, Mom. I could've done something that day, but I didn't. And now you're here," I glanced around at the other dreary stones.
"So, I know I have to continue to be Lizzy, even though it might suck. I can't let anyone else die the way you did. Please understand." My dad came up to me about that time, grief flickering in his eyes.
"Let's go," we walked silently back to the car.
~.~.~.~.~.
Dad had to leave the next day, so I started packing my things. The house would probably be rented out, since I couldn't stay in it alone. I sat on the couch for a bit, watching a news report. It was about Spiderman fighting some new supervillian, the Sandman.
Great. Now I've got a new problem as a superhero. My dad came in after a little bit, fully dressed in his uniform.
"I'll drive you over to May's," he told me. I hugged him tightly, and we walked out to the car. Since we lived only a block from Aunt May's, we got there quickly. I got out of the car, and glanced back at the car. Dad gave me a thumbs-up, and a pained smile. I smiled back at him weakly, and he drove off. I took a deep breath, and walked up to the door.
"Maia!" Aunt May opened the door, looking happy. "I'm so glad you're here. I'm so sorry," she hugged me, and I felt a twinge of remorse again.
"Where's Peter?" I asked.
"He should be upstairs dear. I'll show you to your room," She took me up to an empty room. There was at least 2 dressers, and a bed in the corner. "It may not feel like home, but it'll be a pretty good substitute." She smiled at me, and left the room. I unpacked, shoving my clothes in the drawer. At the bottom of my bag was my costume, slightly torn but otherwise intact.
I put it at the bottom of the drawer, far below all the others. Nobody's gonna find out my identity. After I got settled, I went into the hallway, and into Peter's room, across from mine. It was empty, the light off. I turned it on. "Peter?" I called. "You here?" If he was, he didn't reply. I swiped my tongue around my jaws, and caught a fading scent. It was familiar, though I couldn't place my finger on it. I decided that he wouldn't like me invading his privacy, so I went out, back to my room.