Hi guys! I'm sorry for being away for a little while! School ended on June 25 for me :( and then I went on vacation with NO internet. I almost died.
JUST KIDDING. But I did get REALLY tan from sitting by the pool all day... writing. I was literally on a mission to get this chapter done for you all. Oh, and I started writing for my Hunger Games story and If Only I Was Normal again. I'll post IOIWN soon, because one more chapter after this, maybe an epilogue, and then Songs From The Trees is over! I'm sad.
I like the beginning/middle of this chapter, but not the ending so... yea...
Anyways, I GOT 400 REVIEWS! THAT'S AMAZING! I never expected more than 100, but you guys surprised me. I love you all.
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW. MAYBE WE CAN GET TO 420?
Black is an ugly color. Especially at funerals. Especially when it's your little sister's funeral. Especially then.
I was completely blanketed in the color, as was everyone else attending the event. It was as if a coat of darkness fell from the sky and covered our gathering.
A knee length, long sleeved dress, along with my black Converse that Vanessa had bought me, and a lace, black veil made up my outfit. It was utterly dismal.
Fang looked almost normal in his clothes. Almost. Except Fang usually wears black t-shirts and jeans, not a black button-up shirt and slacks.
The other guests were dressed appropriately, even Brigid wore a decent dress, showing off a small amount of her body.
Well, this is a funeral.
We were burying Angel in the garden, next to where Fang's family had buried Dawn. Two angels side by side.
I leaned heavily on Fang before the event happened. People were filing in, and I couldn't help but be surprised by the number of people. Almost my entire grade was there.
All of the populars had come. Most likely so they'd get the points for mourning at a little girl's funeral. They didn't even know the 'little girl.'
I remember Lissa coming up to me. "Hi Max," she had said, "I'm really sorry about Angel. She seemed unbelievably sweet. She had an inner light that shown from within. Just like the one you have." She embraced me before walking off. It was one of the most real, kind things I've ever heard her say.
Brigid, on the other hand, walked up with fake tears already brimming in her eyes. "Max!" she cried as if we were old friends. "Oh! It's just so horrible! She died so young!"
I had shook my head and laid a hand on her shoulder. "She would've said thank you," I said as kindly as possible. Which was not very kind, if you were going to ask.
Many people came over, some sincere, others I could've done without. But they all had something nice to say about Angel.
Then, Vanessa called us over in a hushed voice.
A large hole was dug up in he ground, and you could see the tombstone clearly marked 'Dawn' a few feet away. The scene was perfected by a few willow trees drapes around the graves, protecting the children that are six feet under.
"Max, the sister of Angel, is going to say a few words now."
That's my cue. I stepped out of Fang's warm protection and slowly glided my way to the front of the crowd. Feeling weightless, I managed a broken smile as the crowd's attention was transferred to me.
"Angel Ride was my one and only sister," I began, "and now I have no more family." I felt my mask begin to fall into place, but I pushed it away. People can see my emotions now. I'm not in any more danger. "Sure, my father is alive, but I will never ever be his daughter. I hate him, and I'm sure he hates me back. He's shown it by abusing me, and then killing Angel. So, no, he is not my father."
"But we aren't talking about Jeb. We're talking about the sweetest girl to ever live. She cared about almost everything, except for my parents and broccoli." My joke received a few chuckles, but as I had suspected, the misery draped over the crowd would stay put. "Angel loved me so much, and I loved her back. She's been my lifeline. If it weren't for her, I'd probably be dead right now. I'm not sure who would've killed me, but I wouldn't rule out myself."
Gasps were heard. "Yes, Angel kept me sane, but she was so much more than a lifeline." I bit my lip. "She's the one who's been my best friend. We knew everything about each other, from favorite colors to our darkest fears. Now I'm left alone with all of these thoughts that aren't mine, because I can't give them back to Angel in one of our late night talks."
"Angel is the one who lead me to Fang and Vanessa. The two people that have cared for me as if I were a part of their family. She has shared some of the best friends in the world with me," I gestured to Nudge, Iggy, and Gazzy, "and they saved my life." A tear leaked. "We were just a little late with Angel."
"I think Angel would want us to remember her as a strong person. Somebody who will stand up when needed. Someone who isn't careless, risky, and stupid, but a girl who was unbelievably brave. And that's how I'll remember her. It's up to you to carry on her legacy with me."
I managed a broken smile. "We love you, Angel Ride."
MAXIMUM RIDE
I made people cry with that speech. Almost everybody at the funeral shed a tear.
Gazzy decided he would also like to make a speech. I think Angel would have liked that a lot.
"Angel was my very first friend. I was abused, too, by my stepfather, and Angel and I immediately clicked because of this similarity." I was amazed by this ten year old's way with words. Sure, he's been through a lot, but he's talking as if he's forty years old.
He began to say another composed sentence before he fell apart.
"I-I just miss her so much!" Gazzy cried before flinging himself off stage and into my arms, sobbing.
"Oh, I miss her, too, buddy," I murmured into his hair, tracing circles in his back. It's funny, actually. I always used to do this for Angel.
After a few minutes of everybody blubbering, Vanessa announced it was time to lower the casket into the ground.
We all stood around the six foot deep hole. It seemed much too deep. Angel would be under all that ground, and it just looked so far away from me. Couldn't they bury her an inch under the surface of Earth? So I could paw my way to her if I needed to?
But I watched silently as the wooden cage lowered into the ground, along with my baby.
I managed to throw my handful of dirt in, along with a small card she had made me back when we were all happy. Josie was in the coffin with her. We all agreed that she should be buried with something to remind her of happiness.
Then the dirt was thrown back over the wood until it was no longer visible, and my baby was gone.
MAXIMUM RIDE
Countless people approached me after she was buried. Saying how sorry they were, how beautiful Angel was, how they'll be there for me. Every time I wanted to shake them by the shoulders and ask why they weren't there when the abuse was happening, why they didn't tell Angel she was beautiful while they still could; why are people only sorry once we're gone?
I stayed by Fang the entire night, letting him whisper comforting words in my ear. His rope, tethering me to the ground, was much stronger now. It had to be, to make up for a knot that had been securing me for a long, long time.
But I had a few more tethers, no matter how weak they were. Nudge, Iggy, Gazzy, even Lissa, even though she was barely a string.
"Max," Fang murmured, "let's go inside."
Nodding, I let him pull me away from the people and towards his house and silence. Beautiful silence.
We sat on the couch in his room, simply enjoying each other's company. He played with my hair while I smiled a broken smile into the crook of his neck.
We stayed like this for the longest time, until there was a knock on the door.
"Guys," Iggy's voice could be heard through the wood. "the guests are leaving."
We both stood and walked out of the comforts of being alone.
In the garden, guests were still crying as they left, thanking Vanessa for the food and again apologizing for our loss.
"I am so sorry, Max," Brigid gushed, as if we were friends. "Angel was so," she paused for emphasis, "amazing."
I gave her a confused look. "You didn't even know Angel." The confusion turned to anger. "And you were mean to me every chance you got!"
Brigid nodded. "And I'm sorry. But you need to get over that."
You would not believe how fast I turned her to the exit and shoved her towards it. "Leave. Angel would of hated you, get out."
She left with a huff, but without a backwards glance. Oh yes, she's so sorry.
A few more guests passed by, muttering thanks and apologies, but I didn't acknowledge anymore of them.
Until one particular person pulled me aside. Anne, the head doctor of the hospital Angel had been in. "Max! Why didn't you just keep Angel in our hospital?" She looked at me as if she had just solved our unsolvable problem. "Angel would still be alive!"
My pent up anger managed to push its way out now. "Are you kidding me?" I shrieked, "Angel and I were abused by our parents every day, we would have had to go back sometime! Your hospital could not have saved her for long! Don't you dare try to sound like a savior when you have no idea what's actually happening in the world! Don't you dare!"
Anne was taken back. "I've seen cases of child abuse before. Those children told me right away, and I was able to call the police! They're still alive today!"
My death glare was enough to shut her up. "Great for you, Mother Teresa! You didn't do it in this case, so why does that matter? You want to know why we didn't tell sooner?" I didn't give her a chance to answer. "Fear. The absolute terror of knowing that if we tried to tell somebody, they'd kill us without a second thought. That's how heartless they really were. And they really were just awful people, because they weren't drunk, or stoned, or high when they beat us. They were just sick freaks that enjoyed it. They did it because we weren't perfect. So maybe that's why I didn't tell anyone, or keep Angel in the hospital. Because I'm so imperfect. Want to take a swing at me?"
Anne looked horrified. "I didn't know," she whispered. "God, I didn't know people could be like that."
I simply shook my head. "They can be. I never wanted to find out how awful they could be, but I did, and now so do you. Please don't expose anybody else to the true colors of humanity. Let them stay sane. Because I've almost gone crazy with this knowledge."
She patted my shoulder before slipping me a card. "Here's my card, call anytime you want to talk."
After an unbearable moment of the card hanging in her grasp, I took it. She seemed relieved once it was out of sight and in my pocket.
Surprising me, she pulled me into a hug before leaving. "Goodbye, Max."
"Goodbye."
Fang came over as soon as she was gone. "Are you okay?" When I shook my head he immediately wrapped me in a hug. His hugs were a million times better than Anne's. "What happened?"
"People are so naive," I told him, and that's all he needed to know.
He nodded. "Maybe it's better that way. They don't need to be exposed to the true horror of the world. Let them stay innocent."
I shrugged. "Maybe. I just think it makes it worse for the people who have seen the true colors of the world."
No answer. Just a pair of soft lips pressing themselves to my temple, along with a warm hug. He tugged me towards the house; a silent invitation.
We navigated through the last few guests with ease, the destination of Fang's house in sight.
Vanessa and Nudge were talking in the kitchen and I guess her brothers were nearby. We exchanged hellos as Fang and I passed.
Back in Fang's room, things were sad. There was nothing to be said, nothing to do. We couldn't really talk about the present, the future didn't seem too inviting, and the past just seemed too depressing. So I did what seemed right. I kissed him.
His response was immediate, and his arms wrapped around my waist. In return, mine made their way around his neck.
For the longest time, neither of us moved. It just seemed so peaceful standing there as we kissed. But soon enough, we broke apart. Both of us breathing hard, it took all of my will power not to kiss him again.
Eventually, we both regained composure and just laid on the couch. This was our distraction. That is what makes our bond so strong, the fact that we can actually make each other focus on what's happening right now, when we're together. Does that make any sense?
Well, Fang sure seemed to be a little happier when it was just the two of us, and I know I'm happier then. I also know Vanessa loves the fact that Fang found someone to love. I heard her talking to somebody on the phone about it, I believe it was Fang's grandmother.
I was surprised, actually. Vanessa knows Fang has has countless girlfriends, why should she be happy that he found another?
Anyways, the two of us cuddled for what felt like hours, and all I could think was, I want this to last forever.
But of course the silence had to be ruined. Fang kissed my neck before whispering, "What happens now?"
I turned towards him. "What do you mean?"
"We don't really have to worry anymore. What do we do now?"
I studied his face for a moment before replying. "I don't know about you, but a high school diploma sure does sound nice. So does college."
He managed a chuckle. "I mean what happens for us?"
"We move forward." Smiling a damaged but healing smile, I wrapped my fingers into his. "Together."