"Yes, we spoke on the phone. Did Zander skip town?"
"N-no," said Emily trying to keep the tears in. "He was in an accident…he's dead," Said Emily the last part in a whisper.
"Damn, are you his girlfriend, Emily."
Emily nodded.
"He talked about you a lot, he came in here about once a week to make a payment, he was a good kid."
Emily smiled at the woman. "Yeah, he was. How much does he owe you?"
"Five hundred."
Emily dug through her purse wondering why Zander was spending so much money here. She only had twenty dollars left after the night before so she pulled out her emergency credit card. "If you want cash I can bring it tomorrow."
"No that's alright." The woman scanned the credit card and handed Emily a receipt.
Emily looked it over. "Wait, this only says two hundred. I thought it was five."
"Zander already paid about 100 dollars so far and he was a special guy, so I'm giving you my special discount. I'll go get the rings." She said heading to the back.
Emily waited and wondered about the 'rings'. A few minutes later the woman came back with a long ring box. "He told me these were for you. I'm really sorry, about what happened. He really cared a lot about you by the way he talked."
"Thank you." Said Emily holding the box to her chest as she walked back to the car. She got in sat down and opened the box.
Inside were three rings, two golden bands and one ring with a small heart shaped diamond, an engagement ring.
Emily burst into tears as she layed her head against the steering wheel. He had wanted to marry her, he loved her that much. After her sobs quieted she sat up again and looked at the box. She gently took the engagement ring and held it between her fingers. "Oh Zander…I would have married you, I could have been Emily Smith. I promise to you that I will wear these rings to always remind me how much we meant to each other and even though you're gone I'll still love you." She said wiping tears from her face. She slowly put her rings on her left ring finger. The only one left was Zander's wedding band. She unclasped a gold chain she was wearing and held the band in her hand feeling the smoothness of it. She then put it on the chain and clasped it. The ring dangled close to her heart.
She wiped her eyes and then drove back to Kelly's she felt marginally hungry and decided to get something small to eat. She walked in and Liz, Lucky, Nikolas and Gia were all clustered around the counter. Emily snuck up behind Nikolas and listened.
"We have to do something to get her mind off of him, he ruined her life when he was here and now the effect is still lasting, we need to make her forget about him." Said Lucky.
"Why don't we take her on a vacation, maybe Europe, we can catch up with Juan while he's on tour, maybe she'll get over him." Offered Nikolas.
"I-I don't know, I remember how I felt when I thought you had died, Lucky, no one could have made me forget you, she doesn't need us to make her forget, she needs us to help her get through it, to just support her and let her know we're here for her."
"I, for once, agree with Elizabeth, I may not know Emily very well but from the way she stood up for Zander and her words at his funeral service I would say that if she even thought we were trying to get her to forget Zander then she'd blast us and we wouldn't be her friends anymore."
"Wow Gia, thanks for remembering Zander's name. I was beginning to wonder who 'he and him' were. Now, number one Lucky, I don't plan on getting over Zander anytime soon and if I ever hear you say anything negative about him in my hearing range then we are no longer friends. And Nikolas, I refuse to go off and find Juan, just because I don't have Zander anymore does not mean I need Juan as a crutch. I am fine. Elizabeth, Gia, I thank you for sticking up for me. Now, I would like an order of fries and a chocolate milkshake." Said Emily sitting next to Gia and smiling.
"Sure, Em." Said Elizabeth going in the back.
"How are you doing?" asked Gia.
"I'm okay. I miss him, a lot, but right now I'm concentrating on finding his mother."
"Look, Emily. I'm sorry I didn't get to know him better. You had a point about none of us really knowing him and I am sorry."
"Thanks, Gia." Said Emily surprised, the last person she ever expected to be truly sorry, was.
"Anytime, if you need help finding his mother, my brother might be able to help you."
"No that's okay." Said Emily excepting her food. "Thanks Elizabeth." Said Emily as she started to eat with a passion, she hadn't eaten more than two full meals the whole time Zander was gone and now her hunger had caught up with her.
"Em, those are so beautiful." Said Elizabeth noticing her hand.
"That looks like a wedding band, where'd you get it? Some guy we don't know about?" asked Lucky.
"No," said Emily slowly. "They're from Zander, he had wanted to propose to me but he…he never got the chance, I miss him so much."