Chapter 7: In Remembrance

Taylor's P.O.V.

Today is January 9th and it is a very sad day for me and my family. Today would've been my cousin Adam's 29th birthday. That day means so much to me now ever since he passed away almost a year and a half ago. He was more than just my cousin; he was my best friend and an older brother to me. I woke up this morning at around 6, took a shower, and changed into a black t-shirt and gray jeans. I looked and saw Adam's high school hat and jacket, and his green bandana and I put them on as well. I put the bandana around my neck and put long front of it tucked it into the back of my shirt as he used to do it. I looked at myself in the mirror and began to cry a little bit. "Happy birthday Adam. I miss you so much." I said to myself. I packed up my bag and then walked downstairs.

I walked into the kitchen and saw my parents eating breakfast quietly, so I sat down and began to eat quietly too. My Dad looked at me seeing me wearing Adam's hat, jacket, and bandana for the first time since his death. My Mom looked at me seeing that I was a little sad as she and Dad knew what today was. "Taylor?" said my Mom. I looked up at them seeing that they were sad too. "We know how much today means to you. It means alot to us as well. We miss him as much as you do. I know that he's up in heaven watching over you right now wanting to see a smile on your face, his little rockstar." said my Dad as he patted my back.

We heard a knock on the front door. "Come on in." said my Dad. We looked and saw Cloud walk inside and I walked upto him. "Come here honey." said Cloud as he opened his arms for a hug. I hugged him wanting a long embrace before we leave. "I miss him so much." I muffled on his chest. "I know baby, I know." he said as I cried on his shoulder. I felt him kiss my head and his hands rubbing my back as he calmed me down. We put our foreheads together, looked into each other's eyes as my arms were around his neck and his arms were around my waist, and he kissed my tears away. "You really don't wanna go to school today huh babe?" Cloud asked me. "I really don't want to go." I said. We put our bags down and sat down on the couch. "Want me to stay here with you?" he asked. "Please?" I asked him. Cloud smiled a little and then he kissed my nose. "Ok I'll stay." he said.

An hour later, my parents left for work and it was just Cloud and I all alone in my house. We promised that we would go to the cemetery around 2 p.m. to see Adam's grave for about an hour or two. We walked upto my room and sat down on one of my beanbag chairs together. I layed my head onto his chest and his right arm was wrapped around me. I looked up at him as he looked down at me and he gave me little butterfly kisses wanting to make me smile. After the first few kisses I finally smiled at him. "There's the smile!" he said happily and then he started tickling me and got me to laugh. "Cloud! Stop it!" I laughed happily. "I won't stop until you smile for more than an hour!" Cloud laughed happily. We kept on laughing and then we fell onto the floor.

We stopped laughing for a few minutes trying to catch our breath and we started kissing a little harder than we usually do. Cloud bit my lower lip a little and made me gasp for a second and we started making out. I could hear him moan slightly and I did the same. We stopped and looked into each other's eyes and he made a little dirty smile. "Are you ok?" I asked him. He didn't say a word. We started making out again and he lifted me up, putting me on my bed on my back, and he layed down on top of me. His lips let go of mine and he started kissing my neck, slightly nibbling it at the same time. Once he bit down on my neck pretty hard, I knew exactly what he was trying to do. "You're so beautiful." said Cloud as he kept kissing my neck. I felt his hand go to my lower back and I instantly felt uncomfortable, so I shoved him off of me and he came back into his senses.

"What's the matter Tay?" Cloud asked me in concern. "Do you realize what we almost did?" I asked him sternly. He looked at my neck seeing the mark he just made. He covered his mouth all shocked about it. "Babe I'm so sorry! I didn't know what I was doing. I lost myself. I'm really sorry babe." said Cloud with a pout on his face. I crawled upto him seeing him all scared and upset for what he had done and I felt really bad. I pulled him into my arms and I started kissing his face. "Honey its ok. I don't want you all upset about this. We knew this feeling would come one day, but we didn't think it would happen now. To be honest, I lost myself during it too." I said. "You did?" he asked me. I nodded my head yes. "I guess that we aren't really ready to do "it" yet huh?" said Cloud. "One day we'll be ready." I said. We both laughed happily and hugged each other. "I love you baby." I said. "I love you too." said Cloud. After all that, we both took a nap.

Four and a half hours later, we woke up from our nap and saw it was 1 in the afternoon. We got up and I made us a little lunch and we sat down at the kitchen table eating the little BLT I made for us. "I swear you cook better than my Mom!" said Cloud. "No I don't! You're bluffing!" I said. "I'm not bluffing; I'm telling you the truth Taylor. You have a magic touch when you cook." said Cloud. "I do?" I asked him. He nodded his head yes. I smiled a little bit at him and he smiled back.

Cloud's P.O.V.

After eating lunch, we started putting on our shoes and jackets ready to leave the house. I looked at Taylor seeing her look outside her backyard at the treehouse and I knew that her heart was breaking apart as she looked at it. I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her, swaying slowly as we looked outside. "That treehouse means alot to you right?" I asked her. "Adam and my Dad built it together when I was five years old and it was our little hiding spot when our families were here from time to time. He wouldn't go up there with his siblings; he would only go up there with me. We would tell each other secrets and stories all day long." she said. "I think that's what he would want you to remember him. Remember all the good times you shared with him, the times he made you happy, not the one bad thing that took him away." I said. Taylor looked up at me staring into my eyes and showed a smile. "There's my smile." I said. I gave her a soft, gentle kiss and stroked her hair a little bit. "Ready to go?" I asked her. "Yeah. I'm ready." she said.

Before we left, she ran upstairs like she forgot something up there. I ran up after her wondering what she was doing. "Tay? What are you doing?" I asked her. She opened up one of the draws in her room and saw a little box inside and she took the box out. "What is that?" I asked. "It's an engraved stone. I wanted to do this in honor of him for awhile now. It proves how much I still think of him everyday. His Mom did this for her parents years ago and he did the same, so I thought I would do this for him." said Taylor. We looked at the stone seeing Adam's name on it and with a personal message she put on it. "It's beautiful." I said. "Thanks sweetie." she said. She put the stone back into the box. I took her hand and we walked outside, got on my bike, and drove off to the cemetery.

As we parked the bike on the pathway, we looked to our right and saw Adam's gravestone in front of us. I looked at Taylor seeing her really nervous. I took her hand and held it tight showing her that I'm right here with her. We got off the bike and walked upto the gravestone. "Looks like some of your family has been here." I said. "Yeah." said Taylor sadly. We looked and saw little candles on the gravestone all lit up. We knelt down on one knee and closed our eyes doing a silent prayer for a few seconds. I opened my eyes and looked at Taylor seeing tears falling on her face and I knew that this was really hard for her. She put her head up and opened her eyes staring at the gravestone. I patted her back helping her stay calm for now. Taylor took out the engraved stone from the box and put it on the gravestone. "Come on, let's head home." I said. I took her hand and we walked upto my bike ready to go.

Taylor's P.O.V.

"There's my little rockstar!" said a voice. My eyes grew wide instantly recognizing the voice. "Taylor? What's the matter?" Cloud asked me. I looked at the gravestone and then saw a gold light on the ground. Appearing from the light showed a young adult male with a halo above his head and he was physically real. "Hey cuz. I missed you." said the voice again. I looked at him seeing the green eyes, brown hair, white t-shirt, blue jeans, and black and white sneakers. I got off the bike and saw that the figure staring at me was really Adam! I felt tears escape my eyes again but this time they were happy tears. Cloud looked at him too and he was shocked and surprised as well. "Adam!" I cried as I ran upto him. I jumped into his arms and he began to laugh happily as held me tight in his arms and spun me around. "Hi cuz." said Adam happily. "I missed you so much." I cried. "I missed you too Tay. I love you." said Adam. "I love you too." I cried. We both looked and saw Cloud all speechless of what he's seeing right in front of him.

"Come here Spike." said Adam happily. After he put me down, Adam and Cloud shared a little long embrace. "I missed you so much." Cloud cried. "I missed you too Spike." said Adam. After they let go, I saw tears falling on Cloud's face. "H-how is this possible?" said Cloud. "I asked the goddess in heaven if I could visit her for only today just to make her really happy and she said yes! So here I am." said Adam. Adam looked and saw his hat, jacket, and bandana on me just like how he used to wear them. "Now who taught you how to dress like that?" said Adam jokingly. I laughed happily and showed a true smile. "There's the smile!" said Adam happily. The three of us laughed happily. I walked upto Cloud and held his hand and we looked at Adam. "Aww look at you two, you guys are so cute together!" said Adam. "Thanks." said Cloud. "I've always known that you guys were meant to be." said Adam. "For how long?" I asked him. "Since you both were little." he said. Cloud and I looked at each other surprised wondering if he has seen our memories for sometime or not.

We walked upto the gravestone and Adam got a good look of what the family and his friends had left him here. "Happy birthday Adam." I said happily. "Thank you Tay." said Adam happily. Adam looked and saw my engraved stone and he picked it up. "To my cousin/best friend, this stone I give to you symbolizes how much I think of you everyday. I know that you're always watching over me in heaven, but sometimes I wish that you were still here watching me grow up right in front of you and I hope to be the same kind and generous person as you one day." Adam read out loud. After he read it, I looked at him and showed a little smile. He showed a little smile too. "Come here cuz." said Adam.

I walked upto him and we hugged each other for a minute. "Thank you Taylor. You are the best cousin I could have ever asked for." said Adam. "You're welcome." I said. Adam put my engraved stone in his pocket. I walked back to Cloud and stayed right beside him. The three of us looked and saw the golden sunlight appear on the ground again. "I guess that it's my time to head back now." said Adam. I put my head a little low knowing it's time to really say goodbye to him. "Taylor?" said Cloud. I looked up at him and Adam as they knew I don't want to say goodbye. "I got a little surprise for you before I go." said Adam as he put his hand on my shoulder. "W-what is it?" I asked him. He turned to the golden light and whistled.

We looked at the light and saw a dog walk out of the light. As it walked out, we saw the type of dog it was. It was a Golden Retriever and it was wearing a blue collar with a gold tag. My jaw dropped a little in shock and happiness as I recognized the dog. "No way." said Cloud surprised. I fell to my knees seeing the dog looking at me happily. "Come here Shadow!" I said happily. Shadow ran to me and jumped into my arms making me fall on my back as Shadow licked my face. I could hear Shadow bark happily while I was laughing happily. "I missed you boy." I said as I petted him. Shadow was adopted by me and my parents by a breeder when I was 4 years old and he had brought us alot of happy memories for 9 years. He passed away from cancer when I was 13 years old.

After Shadow got off me, we looked at Cloud as he knelt down to him. "Hey boy, remember me?" said Cloud. Shadow barked happily and jumped on Cloud making him fall on his back and Shadow licked him happily making Cloud laugh. "Aww he remembers you Cloud!" I said happily. "He sure does." said Cloud. After petting and hugging Shadow for a couple more minutes, he ran upto Adam and we knew that it was time to say goodbye. "Bye Spike." said Adam. "Bye Adam." said Cloud. I looked at Adam as he walked upto me seeing my eyes begin to form tears. "Hey, one last hug before I go?" Adam asked. I walked upto him and hugged him tight. "Bye my little rockstar. I'll always be with you no matter what." said Adam. "Bye Adam. I love you." I said. "I love you too." said Adam. I whispered something in his ear before we stopped hugging. After letting him go, Cloud and I watched Adam and Shadow walk into the golden light and then they disappeared. The golden light faded away after they disappeared. "You alright Tay?" Cloud asked me. I held his hand and looked at him. "Yeah, I'm alright now. After what we just saw, the burden I felt inside my heart just lifted and faded away for good." I said. Cloud smiled at me and pulled me into his arms holding and swaying me.

"Well, now you know that he is safe and happy up there. He understood what he did was wrong and that he's always with you." said Cloud. I looked into his eyes and gave him a little peck on his lips and smiled happily. "By the way, what did you whisper to him?" Cloud asked. "I told him to see his parents and siblings just to make them happy too." I said. We looked at the gravestone for about a minute and then got on Cloud's bike. "So… you wanna grab something to eat?" said Cloud. "Sure!" I said. We drove off and went somewhere to eat and then stayed at his house for the rest of the day.

The next morning came and we both got to the parking lot at school. I looked to my right and saw Zack's truck. "He got here before us? That's a rare sight to see." said Cloud. We looked and saw Zack kissing someone. "Who is that with him?" Cloud asked. As I looked closer, I saw that it was Aerith kissing Zack! My jaw dropped all surprised. "I know who it is!" I said. "Who?" said Cloud. "It's Aerith." I said. Cloud's jaw dropped seeing them together and he was surprised too. "And look, he left his window open. Idiot." said Cloud. I looked at the ground and made a snowball. Cloud and I made little smirks. "Do it." said Cloud. I threw the snowball and it hit Zack at the back of his head. "Hey!" Zack yelled. Aerith and Zack got out of his truck looking around to see who was there. They walked upto his side of the truck and were shocked to see us.

"H-hey guys." said Zack nervously. They looked at us and recognized the smirks on our faces. "We saw you two smooching in there." I said. Zack and Aerith blushed all embarrassed. "So when did you two get together?" Cloud asked. "On Saturday." said Aerith. "I gotta say, you two look really cute together." I said. "Aww thank you Taylor!" said Aerith happily. "We wanted to tell you two yesterday, but obviously you two didn't come at all." said Zack. "You know why we didn't go to school yesterday." said Cloud. "Yeah we know." said Zack. After our little chat, the four of us walked inside ready to get the school day over with.

Thank you for reading Chapter 7 of the series! Alright, so two major things have happened. Taylor got to see Adam for one last time and Zack and Aerith are now a couple!

When Taylor got to see Adam again, her heart became happy again to see her best friend being with her just like in her childhood and it made her forget the pain and burden of him being gone knowing now she heard him say that he'll always be with her in her heart.

Now, how Zack and Aerith became a couple. On that Saturday Aerith went to visit Zack at his house, stayed over for dinner, and she and Zack walked into his room finally confessing their feelings for each other. They shared their first kiss and officially started dating.

Next time, Chapter 8: Battle of the Classes. It is the winter pep rally at NHS! At every winter pep rally, there's always the Battle of the Classes to prove which grade has the best dancers of the year. Which class will win this year? Freshman? Sophomore? Junior? Senior? Find out in Chapter 8!