Rock Star Life
By: Karilicious123
Chapter 7: The Funeral
The early sunlight through the windows in her bedroom awakened Mia. It seemed like a great day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and everything seemed perfect. But it wasn't, because today was the day.
When Mia came out of her bedroom, breakfast was ready for her on the table. Peyton was putting dishes away and Lucas was on the couch reading the newspaper, but when Peyton and Lucas realized Mia was in the room, they both froze dead in their tracks.
"Mia," Peyton awkwardly said, "Uh, how are you?"
"Peyton," Mia looked at her in the eye, "I'm fine. I promise."
"Well, there's breakfast herre. If you want it. Today will be a, uh, long day with....you know..."
"My mother's funeral?" Mia sharply interrupted.
Appalled, Peyton said, "I don't know if you wanted to talk about it or not."
"I don't want to talk about it, but I can mention it. I mean, why not? Today is my mother's funeral, plain and simple. No avoiding it. It is what it is."
"Well okay, then." Peyton said, "I say that we eat and get ready and then head down there. Does that sound okay?"
"Yeah. That's good. I want to get there early so that I can go over my speech." Mia said blankly.
"Okay." Peyton smiled s she rubbed Mia's shoulder as she walked past her to have a seat at the table. Lucas followed and assumed the next available seat.
They ate for 20 minutes in silence until Peyton said she had to go get ready and excused herself from the table, leaving Lucas and Mia there.
"Mia, can I give you some advice about the funeral?" Lucas asked, his nose still in the paper.
"Sure. Please." Mia responded.
"Make today a party." Lucas flatly said.
"Excuse me?" Mia said in disgust. How could a funeral be a party?
Lucas looked her in the eye, "Make this a celebration of her life. Make it a happy remembrance of her spirit; her real spirit."
Mia smiled, 'I think I just might, thanks." and with that she got up to go get ready for the funeral.
***
Meanwhile at Brooke's house, Brooke and Sam were getting ready, in silence. Brooke was in her room, and Sam was in her room, until Brooke, sensing something was up, broke the barrier and crossed into Sam's room.
"Hey kiddo," She said in a somewhat cheerful tone.
"Hi," Sam mumbled.
"Look, I know death can be a scary thing, but you'll be-"
"I know. I've seen it. I've dealt with it. I know. You don't need to talk to me like I'm 5, Brooke. You don't need to protect me."
"Sam, what is this about? All I did was ask you if you were okay, I am not trying to demean you."
"Yes you are ! You always do this ! I am FINE, Brooke. Just because I don't talk and walk around all chipper and fake like you do, doesn't mean I'm not okay !"
"Well, then cheer up a bit ! You always act so sad around here, excuse me for being concerned !" Brooke snapped back. Then she sensed that yelling at Sam in anger would not help anything, and she came to Sam with a much more approachable tone, "I'm sorry. Today is sad enough, and we don't need to fight through it. If you say you're fine, then I will take your word for it and leave you alone." Brooke said softly as she left Sam's room to continue to get ready in her own.
Sam continued to get ready as well. She found a black dress. She found black shoes. And She found some pearls. All laid out by Brooke for her. Brooke. Brooke. Brooke. How could she have been so ugly to Brooke. Brooke did nothing wrong; well on purpose anyways.
Sam's Point of View*
I felt bad for being so rude to Brooke, but every time I was around her, I felt sad. I wanted to talk to her and to ask her why I wasn't good enough to be her daughter (Yes, I'm still bothered by that). But today was about Mia, not about Sam. I couldn't be selfish and make it all about me. I just wanted to be by myself because I can tell when I am about to lose it, and I feel like any minute, I could lose it. I am just so confused inside, and hurt, and upset. I don't even know why! All I know is that I just don't feel right being here. Being in this house. Being in this town. Being in this body. Being on this planet. What was I ? What am I? I am nobody, that's what I am. I don't care what Haley says, I AM nobody. I can't change the world. I can't do anything. So why do I waste my time, and everybody else's time, by being here. I am beginning to ask myself if it's worth it; if my life is worth it. I am beginning to want to give up. I have never felt this empty inside. I start to think of the world without me, and the sad this is, that it goes on. The earth keeps spinning, the people keep living; EVERYTHING stays the same. I don't want to be here. I don't want to be here. I don't want to be here, and that scares me that I think that.. That scares me a lot.
***
"Jamie, come downstairs and get your suit on." Haley yelled upstairs to her 5 year old son.
"Mama, I don't want to go. I didn't even know Mrs. Catalano." Jamie whined.
"Yes, but you know and love Mia, don't you?" Haley asked while she dressed her little man.
"Yeah, so?" Jamie pouted.
"Well, Mia needs her friends by her side today, and that means you too. She would be heartbroken if you decided not to show up and to sit here and play video games instead."
"Okay, when ya put it like that, I guess I have to go. For Mia." Jamie grumbled as he hopped up to get his shoes from the hall closet.
"Have you talked to Mia today?" Nathan asked Haley as he walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.
"No. I figured Peyton would be with her until we were all together at the cemetery. I don't want to overwhelm her." Haley softly answered.
"Good point. Well, we better get going then." Nathan said as he grabbed Haley's hand and Jamie's hand and headed out of the door first to the car, and then. to Center Hill Cemetery.
***
Knock Knock.
"Mia, it's time to go."
No answer.
So Peyton walks in, of course, to find Mia numbly sitting in front of a mirror brushing her hair, tears escaping more and more with every single stroke.
"Hey, we have to go now." Peyton said calmly.
"I don't want to go. If I go, that means that she really isn't coming back." Mia cried.
Peyton came up behind her and held Mis in towards her.
"Come on, let's go." She said as she held Mia's hand and helped her stand up. Then walked her to the car, with Lucas, and drove off to the cemetery.
Peyton's Point of View*
I felt bad, seeing her cry like that, but I didn't want to try and stop her. She needed to cry. She needed to get every emotion; every tear, out today. Today was closure for Mia. Today was the last day of this chapter of her life. It is only supposed to go up from here, so she needs to cry. She needs to feel. And I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I became that one person that wouldn't let her just feel. Just grieve.
As much as I wanted to help her, today, she needed to figure some things out by herself. She needed to figure out why. I could help her all I wanted to tomorrow, but today, she needed to do this. I have been to my fair share of funerals, and I know that the key victim to the loss of someone, grieves best in private, learns best in private, and moves on in private. But just during the funeral. After that, she will need all the help she can get. And I know that, because I've been there too. When I look at Mia, I see myself when I was 19. There shouldn't be a need for further explanation as to why I am like this today, other than that one sentence.
***
When Broke and Sam pulled up to the cemetery, they found Julian, Haley, Jamie, and Nathan there waiting for them.
"Hey," Brooke sighed, "They aren't here yet?"
"Nope, but Peyton just called me and said that they are at the funeral home and are about to leave with the priest...and the casket..." Haley sighed back.
"There they are!" Jamie shouted, pointing at Peyton. Lucas, Mia, the priest, and a man pushing a cart with the casket on it.
The 2 groups merged with only non-verbal acknowledgments. The casket was placed in the center in front of the priest, and in front of the arc of people facing the other direction. Soon after that, he began.
"Friends; Families. We are gathered here today to reminisce on the life of Emily Jane Catalano. She was born on July 27th, 1976 right here in Tree Hill. She lived here her whole life, where she died on August 2th, 2009. She lived her life but I am going to let her daughter and your friend, Mia Catalano, tell you about her beautiful life.." He finished, holding Mia's hand out, helping her to the mobile podium present at the grave site.
"Thank you." Mia began as she took a deep breath in." I want to thank all of you for being here today. None of you knew my mother, but the fact that you are all here to support me means the world to me. I could not ask for more.
Emily Catalano, my mother, lived an interesting life, as you all know; a bad life at times, but we are not going to talk about that today. We are going to focus on the good in her life today because, believe it or not, there was a lot of it. Emily- my mother- was such a free spirit. She did what she wanted to do, no matter who was watching. If she wanted to dye her hair pink, then what the hell, she would dye her hair pink. She was so strong. She raised me all by herself, and despite her problems, she obviously did something right with me, because I think I turned out pretty okay."
Then Mia took in another deep breath.
"The weirdest things make me miss her. For example, I had a piece of peppermint gum yesterday, and it reminded me of how she always smelled like peppermint, green tea, and cigarettes; a smell combination that one rarely stumbles across. That smell was so rancid; completely and utterly disgusting. I miss that smell.
I feel that when significant people leave your life, ,significant people enter it. I feel that this happened a while ago, but losing my mother is what made me realize the truly amazing people in my life and the part of me that could not function without a single one of them; a single one of you." She smiled through tears as she held her arms out to everybody.
Here she goes to babble on about her loving mother Brooke. Sam thought. Wait, stop. Stop being ugly. Just sit pretty and look fully engaged. Don't be a bitch, Samantha Walker, this is her mother's funeral. Don't be yourself, for once.
"All of you here play a significant part in my life, and I honestly just realized that. I know, stupid of me, but it's true."
Then Mia turned to Nathan, "Nathan- you and your passion and perseverance for the things you love in life and the things you want in life, never fail to inspire me to keep going when I feel like my world has fallen apart. I need that right now, and thank you for constantly giving it to me." She smiled as Nathan nodded and smiled back.
"Jamie-" She smiled turning to Jamie, "You keep me young and joyous about life. You are so young, but you know so much. So much more than I can say for myself at times." Jamie smiled and held onto his mother's hand.
"Lucas-" She turned to Lucas, "Your advice, especially today, helps me appreciate life and never to take it for granted. Thank you." Lucas smiled back.
"Sam-" She turned to Sam, "You and I have so much in common. You are such a good friend and I want to thank you for always being here." Sam gave a weak, forced smile; a distracted smile. She was still battling with herself in her head. What a shame.
Stop Samantha. Stop being selfish. Stop thinking about your own problems and focus on your friend. Pay attention.
"Haley-" Mia turned to Haley, "You are such a positive spirit, like my mother was, and an amazing role model. You are everything I want to be; a successful artist, a great wife and mother, and a beautiful human being. Words cannot describe how grateful I am to have you in my life." She smiled as tears formed in her eyes, as did Haley.
"Peyton-" She turned to Peyton, crying harder, "When I broke down, you were there to pick up the pieces. You are the person I trust the most and the person I run to at the end of the day. You are an amazing friend, sister, and shining light. I don't know what I would do without you, I love you." She cried. Peyton cried back.
"Julian-" She turned to Julian. "You are the closest thing to a father that I have ever had. Thank you for being that father figure to me." Julian smiled back, in shock. He did not know how highly Mia thought of him.
Julian's Point of View*
Wow. I honestly don't know what to say about that speech. I love Mia, like a daughter you could say, but I didn't know she viewed me as a father. I feel bad because I should have been there. I should have been more active in her life. I should have acted more like a father, but I didn't know she wanted me to. I didn't know. It's not too late though, right ?
Right ?
"And Brooke-" Mia turned finally to Brooke.
Here Goes. Thought Sam.
Mia started balling, immediately. "I relate my situation to you more than anybody right now because you've been there; you get it. Talking to you the other day about all of this, made the pain just ease up a little bit. I learned that I can trust you too, Brooke.
Sam started tearing up. Stop. Stop Now. You are about to completely lose it ! Sam scolded to herself.
"You are the closest thing to a mother that I have right now, and you can't leave me. I need you. I need a mother. I love you." She cried and ran to hug Brooke.
Then Brooke mouthed the words, I love you, back, which immediately caught Sam's eye. Then, Sam lost it.
Stop Samantha. Stop ! She yelled at herself inside her head, but she couldn't control herself anymore. Right then, Sam stood up and ran out of the cemetery.
Haley and Peyton, and everybody not involved in the hug shared immediate glances in horror; they did not know what to do. So, seeing that Brooke was busy, Haley took the initiative to go after her.
Once Mia got herself back together, she resumed her spot at the podium to continue her speech, when she realized that Haley and Sam were gone. Sharing confused glances with Brooke, who had also just realized that, Mia tried to continue the speech.
"All of you are the best parts of my life. Thank you for everything. I have so much love for each and every one of you.
My mother may be gone physically, but her true spirit inside of her; the real spirit behind all the layers that she portrayed to the world the last decade of her life, will live on forever; reborn again."
She smiled as the tears cleared up on her face.
"In the wise words of a very good friend, let us celebrate her life !"
She exclaimed, winking at Lucas, as she stepped down from the podium to allow the priest to come up again and continue the spiritual ceremony.
Shortly after, a few more words, and a few more tears, the priest was finished and the group migrated back to the parking lot to get ready to go back to Peyton and Lucas' house, where the reception was going to be held.
When the group broke up into more informal settings, everyone turned to each other, asking where Sam and Haley were.
"Haley went after Sam. She ran away during Mia's speech. I don't know why, but I'm sure Haley has it under control." Peyton answered for everybody, "I hope."
***
Haley had been looking for Sam for about 30 minutes, when she found her sitting on a nearby park bench, crying. As Haley became closer to Sam, Sam looked up, stood up, and started running.
"Sam, STOP!" Haley shouted chasing after her.
But Samantha kept running.
"You can't run forever!" Haley panted.
"Neither can you !" Sam screamed back.
"Stop running from whatever you are afraid of ! It will just keep chasing after you!" Haley yelled as she stopped; completely out of breath.
Sam then stopped dead in her tracks, about 100 meters from Haley, and fell down to her knees.
Haley crept up on her and swept her up and comforted her.
"I know you're sad about the funeral, but it's oka-"
"NO! THAT'S NOT IT! WILL EVERYONE STOP ASSUMING THAT THAT'S THE ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING !" Sam cried back, breaking out of Haley's arms.
"But you were crying during the speech, I figured it was because you were uneasy about deat-"
"YES I WAS CRYING, BUT NOT FOR MIA. FOR ME! FOR SELFISH, SELFISH ME!" Sam yelled back.
"You're not selfish; you are hurt, and that's okay, but you can't run away every time you are upset. You disrupted the funeral. I know you didn't mean to do it on purpose, but y-"
"You know what! Just forget this ! I won't disrupt people anymore! This is just too much right now! Tell Brooke I'll meet her at home." Sam said as she took off before Haley could say another word.
Great. Haley thought. This can't be good.
Haley's Point of View*
I knew something was wrong with Sam. I knew from the minute I saw her today. Actually, I knew from a couple of days ago when this all started, that something was wrong with Sam. I knew even before that, and I didn't do anything. I tried maybe once or twice to talk to her, but she insisted that she was fine, and my foolish self believed her. I should have been a good 'aunt' and pried information out of her until she spilled. I am so completely stupid.
I feel bad for missing the last part of Mia's speech. Sam was right, about being here for Mia, and I left. But with good reason. If I didn't leave when I did, I would not have caught up with Samantha. Maybe that would have been for the better though.
I hope Sam doesn't keep running. If she doesn't come home tonight, it's all my fault. She better come home.
She better.
***
An uneasy Haley re-approached the group, still in the parking lot waiting for her and Sam, where they all immediately cam up to her to frantically inquire about Sam.
"Where is she?!" Brooke cried.
"She went home. I caught up with her and she told me she was going home. I don't know what was going on, but she looked very overwhelmed, so I let her go." Haley said, partially telling the truth.
"I hope she actually goes home." Said Brooke, remembering the countless amount of times Sam had run away.
The big group then dispersed into their commuting groups and headed the reception. There, they would meet another crowd of friends and acquaintances that Mia had invited to celebrate her mother.
***
When they arrived, Haley pulled Mia aside,
"Your speech was beautiful, and I am very sorry that I had to miss the end. But I am also very touched by the kind words you said about me, and everybody, and the way you turned this into a positive goodbye. You are a strong girl, and I am so very proud of you." She smiled through a few tears as she hugged Mia.
"Thank you, coming from you that means so much." Mia smiled back as she left to go 'mingle'.
Then Haley turned to Brooke, who had an obvious look of worry and discomfort on her face.
"I'm sure she's fine." Haley ensured her, trying to ease her friend's worry, as well as her own.
"I don't know, Haley. I just get this awful feeling that something is not right." Then Brooke grabbed herb ag from the counter, "You know, I'm just going to go check on her." Brooke said as she walked right out of the house before Haley could say a word, but before she could think another thought, Mia surprised her from behind.
"Where is Brooke going?" Mis asked Haley.
"Uh, she just has to get something from her house." Haley said as a cover, as to not worry or distract Mia from today.
"Okay...? Hey, is Sam okay? I haven't seen her since she left the ceremony."
"Yeah, she's just tired so she's staying in tonight."
Mia frowned.
"What?" Haley asked, catching the frown.
"I just thought my best friend would be here for me today."
"Oh, Mia, she wanted to," Uh what do I say now? Thought Haley. "She is just a little overwhelmed with a lot right now, and she didn't want to distract anyone from you to her, if that makes any sense."
Great, Haley. Simply brilliant. Though Haley, sarcastically.
"Yeah, I guess that does." Mia said as she walked off to go talk to her old friends from high school, who were present. Then, a boy came up behind her and captured her in a hug from behind.
"CHASE!" Mia cried as she flung her arms around him!
"Hey Doll!" Chase smiled at her, "Hey, I'm sorry to hear about your mother."
"Thank you." Mia said with a small smile. "How are you? I haven't seen you since last year, before I left !"
"I'm good, you know, average," He said with a smirk, "But tell me about you ! I want to hear all about your tour!"
"I wish I could tell you everything right now, but I have to 'mingle' or whatever." She frowned.
"Well, we could do it over dinner tomorrow night?" He nervously smiled.
"So you haven't given up on me?" Mia said, jokingly.
"Nope." Chase replied, honestly.
"Then give me a call." Mia said with a playful wink as she walked away to Peyton. After all, he was gorgeous.
"Mia, what was that over there?" Peyton asked with a small smile. "Hooking up at your mother's reception?"
"Just an old friend from high school." Mia smiled with a wink.
"Hey, thanks for what you said about me today," Peyton said in a more serious tone, "I appreciate that very much. You know I'm here for you forever. We all are." She smiled. "Speaking of that, how are you?"
"I'm okay. I think today is just what I needed. It is done. I am still confused and upset, but I'll be okay. I just have to heal a little bit each day, you know?" She sighed.
"And I'll be here every step of the way." Peyton smiled as she squeezed her hand tight.
"Thanks. See ya later." Mia said as she went off again to talk to more people.
Just then, a very distraught, teary eyed, completely freaked out Brooke, practically ripped Peyton and Lucas' front door off its hinges, and ran to Peyton and Haley, panting, and crying, and hyperventilating.
"Brooke, what's wrong? What happened?!" Peyton sternly said.
Brooke couldn't speak.
"Brooke, speak. We can't help you if we don't know what is going on!" Peyton sternly yelled.
"Sam. It's Sam. She left a note. She's gone."