Story of Bella Bachelor ~ Chapter 38: Slipped Away

Oh gosh, where do I start? It's been a hell of a week since I last wrote a chapter. First off, I had an amazing time with my family and can't wait to see them again. Secondly, turns out I'm allergic to cats. Thirdly, a guy I know actually admitted that he likes me and wants to go out with me! SQUEE! Lastly, R.I.P. Mr Cable. He was a teacher at my school who died in a car crash Saturday morning. I won't go into detail, but on Twitter and Instagram you can search the hashtags #RIPMrCable and #RIPCable for what people from my school (including me) put. And you can google 'Paul Cable crash'. I haven't visited the school gates yet.

Three months later

'Bella?'

'Yeah?'

'What did Darlene name the kid again?'

I rolled my eyes. Kaylynn was insisting that we all wrote a congratulations card to Darlene and Dylan. The kid was finally born yesterday.

'I think it was Cameron.'

'But what if it wasn't Cameron?'

'I'm pretty sure it wasn't any other name, Kaylynn. Relax.'

'Oh, fine. Here, sign your name. What's Ethan's address?'

'Kaylynn, you really need to start writing stuff down.'

Once everything was sorted and the card was sent, we headed across campus to Mortimer and Malcolm's dorm. It had snowed pretty bad overnight and now it had already iced up. I can't walk three feet without slipping over. But I don't care, I haven't seen my Morty in two days!

Just before I could open the door to Boggs Hall, it flew open and a guy ran out. He's... streaking?!

'WOO! SNOW DAY! YOLO!' he screamed, arms in the air. I burst out laughing whilst Kaylynn stared on in horror. But it wasn't over just yet.

Right behind the streaker ran a guy wearing a cow costume. I stared on in silence, grinning. Oh, how I love university. After the strange duo came out of view, Kaylynn and I continued into the dorm. Mortimer and Malcolm were in the study hall. Morty was the first one to spot us and gestured for me to come over. I sat on his lap and he held me close.

'I missed you. Even if it was for a day or two.'

'I couldn't agree more. Anyway, hey there aunt Bella.'

'Shut up.' I teased. 'So, who told you?'

'Dylan. So, it's a boy, huh?'

'Yeah. They called him Cameron.'

'Who's last name did he take?'

'Don't know. Probably Dylan's. Well, mine.'

'Thought so.'

After a long chat, we were interrupted by Mary-Sue. She was basically given the role of being the Junior Lam Plaza rep. Something must have popped up, she looks serious.

'Bella! Kaylynn! There you are. Can I take you two out of the room for a few moments? It's important.'

Kaylynn and I looked at each other before standing up and following Mary-Sue out of the room. Once we were in a quiet room, she turned to face us.

'So, of course you two know Zelda Mae.' she began.

'Yeah... she's my aunt and Bella's sister's best friend. What's she done now?' replied Kaylynn sarcastically. She took an instant disliking to Mary-Sue.

'Well, that's the thing. She's been in a serious accident.'

'What? How serious?'

'Very serious. Some people decided that it would be a good idea to place some rocks in the middle of the road next to a cliff. She was driving along that road and didn't see the rocks until it was too late. She swerved and drove straight off the cliff. I'm afraid that she didn't survive.'

I stood rooted to my place, taking in what I just heard. Zelda, dead? She can't be! She's always been a big sister figure to me. It all feels like a slight déjà vu, mirroring the way that my dad died. Swerving off a road and not making it. Before I could fully come to terms with everything, Kaylynn started crying. Oh no. When she cries, she can't stop.

'W-well, thanks for telling us, Mary-Sue. I'd better go and calm her down. See you around.' I said goodbye before putting an arm round Kaylynn, tears sliding down my own face.

When we re-entered the study hall, Mortimer and Malcolm came running when they saw our emotional faces. Morty took me in his arms and led me away to his room for privacy.

'What's wrong, Bells? Seeing you cry is the worst thing ever.' he asked, wiping the tears from my eyes.

'Zelda. She... died.' I whispered, before I really started crying.

'Oh gosh. Hey, don't cry. Please.'

'Sorry. It's just that-'

'Hey, there's no need to apologize. If you want to cry, I'm not moving an inch.'

I sobbed into Mortimer's shoulder whilst he held me tight and rubbed my back to calm me down. It's difficult coming to terms with the fact that someone who you've been close to since birth won't be around anymore.

Two weeks later

Today is Zelda's funeral, and it's the holidays anyway. I met Cameron the other day, he's cute. Looks so much like Dylan.

Mortimer's been so supportive of me and hasn't complained about my crying at all.

Jessica's heartbroken. She's known Zelda since they were babies and they're both nearly thirty now. They'd always been inseparable. Now she's lost both of her best friends. Lolita and Zelda. Zelda and Lolita.

Kaylynn and her family are mourning in silence. We're all respecting that.

I was talking to Lolita's ghost the other night, and she said that she was gonna hide at the back of the funeral so that nobody could see her. I think she means Michael and Holly. Everyone knew how much my brother loved Lolita, except he never told her. She knew anyway. Holly was best friends with Lolita but had a huge crush on Michael. She didn't know that he liked Lolita until her funeral.

At the funeral

The Langeraks were the last to arrive. Gosh, Kaylynn looks so different. Gone is her carefree smile. It's been replaced with a frown that won't seem to budge. Iliana looks terrible. Sorry, but she does.

After Zelda was buried, everyone left for Town Hall, where a funeral party was being held. I stopped behind for a few minutes so I could have some time to myself. I stared at the gravestone.

'Hey Zelda. I know you probably can't hear me right now, but-'

'I can.'

I gasped and turned around to see Zelda and Lolita standing there, both in their ghostly forms.

'Zelda? I have so many questions I need to ask!'

Hi, Bella. I don't have enough energy for that. Another time, I promise. Just wanted to let you know that I'm fine. You caught me at the right time. Anyway, gotta go. Talk to you soon!'

Then Zelda was gone. But Lolita still stood there, wearing a cheesy grin.

'Eh, I should probably go too.' she said.

'No, Lolita! Don't go yet! I don't wanna go to the funeral party.'

'Bella? Who are you talking to?' called a voice.

'Oh damn. It's Michael. Yeah, I really need to be on my way...'

Too late.

'Lolita?' whispered Michael, lost for words.

'Hey Michael. How's it going?'

'Y-you're... here.'

'Yeah, of course I am. Not a figment of your imagination, Bella can see me very clearly too.'

'You're... just as beautiful as you were when you were alive.'

'Of course I am, I haven't aged at all. But hey, aren't you married? Holly wouldn't like what you just said.'

'Who cares? I always liked you better. Listen Lolita, there's a thing called ambrosia. Heard of it?'

'Nope, kinda been dead for like eleven years now.'

'Ah. Well, basically if a ghost like you eats it, they're brought back to life.'

'Sweet! How much is it?'

'That's the problem. It involves a deathfish and a life fruit, and those are hard to find. After, if you were to consume ambrosia, you'd still be fourteen. So then you'd have to take something called the Elixir of Life and hope for the best.'

'Woah Michael, let me interrupt. Where did you find out all this stuff?'

'Secret.' he winked at me. 'So Lolita, what do you say?' she shrugged.

'Okay. But if this goes wrong, then you're dead.'

Aw, Zelda! I have my regrets. But hey, in the last few days I was thinking about how I missed writing with Lolita. So, she's probably gonna appear more in this story. Maybe even as a live human being...