The Funeral
--A note from Jaz--Right, so. The Tuesday before the "Time Stands Still" Part Two was aired, a close friend of mine died by his own hand. So I know how Toby is feeling right now. Sorry if this is a bit sentimental, at least the first chapter will be. I mean, it's to be expected. Sorry that I'm a bit sentimental. Goddess (or God) -Speed, my readers. --Jaz
Chapter 1
She had always thought--no she had always known that she would return to Toronto to be with her friends again, but she never thought it would be under the circumstances. Leah McNichol was standing at the back of a funeral parlor, in her school uniform--a short, pleated skirt and an inroned white shirt, her socks pulled up to her thighs--Rick would think it appropriate.
Slowly, she walked to the open casket, shuddering at the sight of her pale friend. She stifled a sob, scared to look at him and placed a white rose in his hand. "God speed, Rick, you sexy beast, you." She smirked, sniffing.
At the crisp accent, Toby Isaacs, who had been sitting in the front row, next to Rick's parents, staring at his hands, looked up. "Leah..." he whispered.
Leah turned, looking at her boyfriend, whom she had not seen in about six months. They stared at each other for a few seconds before she hugged him tightly, sitting next to him on the church-like pew. He stroked her hair, sobbing lightly on her shoulder, her sobbing on his. When they finally pulled apart and looked at each other, both faces were red.
"He would have liked to see you come home earlier," Toby whispered.
"I would have liked to, Toby, but I couldn't. I've been so busy lately."
"I understand," He nodded. "How long will you be here?"
"My flight back to Liverpool leaves about five in the morning on Tuesday."
"Not much time, then." He sighed. "Alright, then."
The minister walked out of a back room in his flowing robes. "I guess we don't have much of a turn out." He sighed. "Well, shall we get started?"
"Wait," a female voice came from behind them. Toby and Leah turned to see who was there. Emma stood at the back of the isle. "Let me say a few words to him, first," she said. She walked up, her blonde hair swishing behind her. She stopped, looking in at Rick's cold body. "I'm really sorry," she whispered. "I wish I could have loved you." She lightly touched Rick's hand, then sat down in a pew across from Toby and Leah.
The minister smiled. "Is it okay to start now?" After getting no objections, he nodded and began the service.
--A note from Jaz: Well, I walked into this not really knowing what Im doing. And I'm still worried about where this is going. It's really hard to write about the death of a friend. I don't know where I'm going to go with this when I start the next chapter, but If, as the week progresses, it gets too hard to write about Rick and Toby and the gang, then I might just skip ahead. I don't know when to, but I think it might be the best thing for me emotionally. Please bear with me in this hard time.--Jaz