So I decided to upload a story that I'm kind of co-authoring with my younger sister. So she basically owns the OCs and I get 90% of creative control, with her reading the chapters and telling me what to include or not. So I hope you'll enjoy this story. Quick note: Quick apology if this isn't how funerals are. I was maybe 7-9 when I last went to one but that was just to see my grandmother for the last time and then I was sent home before anything started. So, this is basically all from memory and from what TV shows show it to be.
This was the second or third time in his life that he ever went to a funeral. The first being his grandmother's and the second being someone he couldn't remember. It didn't really look funerals changed much. Still the same weeping people, wreaths with the names of the people who bought them lined up side by side to a wall, and the same laminated card of the dead person with a bible verse on the bottom.
The atmosphere of the room had a heavy fog of sadness mixed with the hot air that the only fan in the room failed to cool. Some people waved the laminated cards in their faces or used the fans they brought in to relieve them of the stuffy room. He sat down in one of the many empty chairs, waiting to be occupied. He looked at the casket as he listened to the noises behind him.
A child running around while the parents try to get him to sit down, fans being used, small talk, quiet sobs and so forth. It went like that for twenty minutes until two men managed to find an air conditioner and it finally took off the stuffy atmosphere of the room and removed the sound of fans with its noisy fan.
Melvin stood up from his chair and walked towards the closed casket. No one was really around the casket so it felt like it was just him and Alan, AKA Labtech 2. Who is also known as the dead guy in the closed casket.
"So I guess this is where your journey ends...it was fun being along that journey." He was never good with words and there were no words to say towards the first friend he ever had. He was a freshman, and Alan was a senior but they still kept contact after he graduated. He was such a good friend to him while he was struggling himself with the mistakes he made in life. It seemed like he was really going on track...until the tables turned on him.
He looked at his watch. The services wouldn't start until ten minutes from now. He has time to go outside. He left the cool room to be welcomed by the hot air once he went outside. It still felt much better than the tears and sadness inside had. He sat down in one of the steps and brushed his hand over head. He just needed time to think.
He looked at the view in front of him. There was a parking lot with a few trees swaying gently with the soft hot breeze, the cars speeding past, and a girl just a few more steps in front of him. Her black hair was a little past her shoulders and it looked like she was listening to music. She must be a cousin or something of Ethan's.
Someone opened the door. Reggie, one of his employees, walked towards him, "hey Fl-Melvin, the services are starting." He remembered to use his real name outside of work.
The girl must've heard Reggie because she stood up and walked towards the entrance. She looked ahead with her expressionless brown eyes as she walked inside, paying no attention to the two men. Melvin could've sworn that the girl looked at him for a brief second before focusing her eyes on the entrance or on her phone as she was taking off her earphones.
"Do you know who she is, by any chance?" Melvin asked as soon as the girl left to the room. She looked familiar.
"Afraid not." Reggie answered as he walked inside and Melvin followed behind.
He saw her again when they buried the casket. Her eyes weren't filled with tears at all and still had that same expression as before: no emotion. The dress was still the same as before. She was like the rest of the people and threw flowers at the casket. The only difference was that it was dandelions mixed with roses and threw an envelope. She was like the rest of the people, standing in a circle as dirt covered the casket. She still didn't cry when everyone said their small prayers and one by one left. She took out her earphones and began to listen to music but she still didn't cry or move.
When it was just the two of them, Melvin decided to talk to the girl before he went home, "Hey."
The girl looked at her, "Hi."
He didn't ask if Alan was related to her in some way, "Is anyone picking you up?"
A moment's silence filled the atmosphere, "…Yeah."
The silence was interrupted by a bird's calling.
"I can wait for somebody to pick you up…if you want."
"No, it's fine." She replied, looking at the fresh soil.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine. Please go home." Well she certainly went straight to the point.
He knew there was nothing else to say to convince her, "Well I guess I'll see you around." The words were just words you'd say so the conversation would end at least okay. The words never a promise that he'll actually see her again but it was better then, "Bye and I'll never see you again so have a good life!"
His car was close to the gravestones so when he turned around, the girl left.
He saw the girl with the earphones a few days later when he and other family members of Alan's came to his lawyer for the reading of the will. He didn't feel like going but realized it was the last chance to hear something of him. He was never going to see him again so just listening to his style of writing will be of some help.
He sat next to the girl who didn't have any earphones on this time. Her clothing was just jeans and a T-shirt instead of the black dress he saw her wear earlier. He knew just talking with her would be awkward so he kept silent. He knew that the people in the room must be his parents and 3 other people who must be his relatives. The girl must've been dragged here.
The lawyer began the reading. Daniela and Sarah, Alan's younger sisters, would receive 1/3 of the money along with their parents. A girl named Rachel would receive 2/3 of it. Melvin would receive anything he wants from his house. The rest could either be given to family members or thrift shops.
"...And I want Melvin to take care of my only daughter, Rachel. I know this must be so sudden but I hope you can do this."
"This is ju-why didn't he leave Rachel to me?!" Alan's mother couldn't help but shout.
He found himself being wrapped in an argument he didn't want. All he thought was that he was going to walk home empty handed, not with a child.
"I'm sorry but there's nothing for you to do! If it's written, it's written!" The lawyer quickly apologized after saying those words and said nothing more.
Everyone in the room was quiet. One by one, the parents and sisters and that stranger not mentioned, stood up and left. Melvin looked at the girl who was sitting next to him. Rachel. She looked at him as well. So this was it.
"I was supposed to give this to you, Melvin." The lawyer gave Melvin a thin envelope. He folded it in his pocket and told him goodbye. Rachel followed him out.
"So I guess it's just the two of us now." Melvin tried to find a way to talk to Rachel. This just felt too awkward.
She only nodded and followed him without looking at him.
This was going to be one tough week and he knew it.