Ch. 9
(Marceline's point of view)
School started off ok. Heather came with a smile on her face so that was a good sign. I had a test and surprisingly finished it quickly. Finn has made it his mission to make me work hard for school. Ugh. He can be so annoying, especially when he'd have Jake help me like I don't know he asked him to. I know Finn to well to think Jake would help me out of sheer randomness. My second period made me fall asleep because it was history. Lunch was ok but everyone was so quiet that it was awkward. Heather tried to start a conversation and we quickly got into it though. Everyone started to feel better as we started talking. I smiled when I noticed that my friends were happy. Clara may be popular but she still hangs out only with us. I guess its because we treat her like a normal person instead of a superstar. Period 3 went by and soon we were all in the drama club room. I could sense Heather was nervous but I pat her back.
"Don't worry, we're here for you." Finn told her.
"Yeah. What's the worst that could happen?" I asked.
The door opened and Simon came in followed by the man. He wore the same outfit but had a briefcase. It had a lock on it that seemed to be messed with. Some people must've tried to open it.
He took off his hat, "Hello Heather." he greeted.
She shuffled uneasily, "H-hi." she greeted back.
He put the briefcase on a desk, "You know what this is right?" he asked.
"Its... Father's briefcase." she said almost a whisper.
"Yes. We got this in a week ago. This briefcase went through a massive journey just get here. I opened it and when I saw what was inside I knew I had to bring it to you." he told her.
Heather was hesitant. Her hand glided on the lock. Soon a click was heard and it opened slightly. Heather went to open but stopped. Clara rubbed her back and gave her a warm smile. Heather smiled back and opened the case. In it were papers and a tiny teddy bear. Heather picked up the teddy bear and I could hear her sniffling.
"Your father told me what you wanted for your birthday. I still remember the warm smile he had. They cared about you so much that they put your present in the briefcase to protect it from the crash. There's even a message." he told her.
She was in full blown tears as she picked up a ripped piece of paper, "Please, if you find this briefcase, get this to our child." she said still crying.
She turned it over and it read, 'Happy birthday Heather, we love you,'.
"Your parents may not be here but maybe their spirits guided the briefcase home. They wanted their final words to reach you and it finally did." he told her.
Heather picked up a pile of papers, "What's this?" she asked.
"Their research papers. I wanted you to have them. If anyone can continue their work its you Heather. Your parents' employer is willing to pay off your entire college if your willing to continue their work. I know this is asking a lot but..." he said.
"I'll do it. I want to make my parents proud. I'll follow in their footsteps. I know that's what they'd want." Heather told him as she hugged the teddy bear.
"What do the papers say?" Bonnibel asked.
She read the first line, "Life is all about balance, its an equilibrium." she read.
"An equilibrium?" Finn asked.
"This... it means that in order to be happy someone else will have be sad." Heather translated.
"Oh..." Finn said.
"I've read the papers. Its pretty bleak but there could still be hope. I believe in you to find an answer that benefits all. You can keep that briefcase along with whatever is in it," The man said with a smile.
"I... thank you!" she had stopped crying and put everything back in the briefcase.
She hugged the man and he returned the hug, "You made good friends Heather. Your parents would be proud." he told her.
"Yeah. They would." she answered.
A week passed and went. I celebrated Thanksgiving with Finn and his family. I felt so full I thought I'd become fat but I kept my slim figure. Heather was much happier nowadays and that man visited her often. She said she was going to an exceptional college when she graduates... I guess that means we won't see her for a long time after she leaves. I still didn't know what I wanted to do after I graduated. Second semester will start soon and that when we seniors plan for our future. What will I do after I graduate? Will I be successful? Will I find love? Who knows. Clara and Bonnibel started hanging out more. I hung out with Finn more often then not. The others joked saying we were dating and I couldn't help but laugh. But even though I laughed, deep down I did sort of like Finn. However, I was interested in Finn's play. I started asking Jake and Lady if they ever read a story like that to Finn. It can't be possible that me and him had the same dream is it? It could just be a story we both heard right?
"A story about a post apocalyptic world where the main character is a heroic adventurer? And you say he meets a vampire queen and a candy princess? That sounds way too stupid to even be a story. Then again it could be... no." he stopped suddenly.
"What? Could it be in the attic?" I asked.
"We don't have an attic but we do have a shed. However, its not that I'm worried you'd find this story. I'm worried you'd find something else. We all have stuff that's better forgotten." he told me.
"Please. I need to find this story. I need to know how it ends." I told him.
"Ugh. Fine." he told me.
We looked through the shed for hours. I saw old pictures and their school yearbook. I eventually saw a picture of Jake's parents, Jake as a teenager and a baby Finn. I smiled but Jake snatched it out of my hand.
"Like I said. Some things are better left forgotten." he repeated and went back to looking.
We looked for hours but couldn't find anything. I kinda felt bad for Jake because he did a lot of the heavy lifting. I was curious now that Jake snatched that picture from me. I saw different pictures from his high school. He was starring in many plays which means he was part of the drama club when he was in school. Jake closed the shed and I mustered up the nerve to ask.
"What happened that was so bad you want to forget?" I asked.
Jake turned to me, "You want to know what happened?" he asked.
I nodded, "Yeah. I'm curious about it now." I told him.
He sighed looking at the sky, "Finn... was adopted at a very young age. I was sixteen when he was dropped at our doorstep when I still lived with my parents. He wasn't even three weeks old. All we were told was on this paper saying his name and date of birth. We told the police but my parents decided to take him in. Eventually I graduated and moved out to live with Lady. We were pursuing our dreams when I got a call. My parents were murdered when some people broke into their house. Finn wasn't harmed but with my parents dead we had to take him in. We took care of him until... we found out he has a weak immune system. We were still pursuing our dreams and had to focus on that. When Finn turned five he got sick. We had to leave for work because our careers wouldn't let us out early to check on him. I got out first so I went straight home. When I got there he was laying in the snow passed out. He went outside to wait for us to get home. I called a doctor and Lady got home as soon as she could. We were crying as we saw poor Finn saying there sick. How could we be so selfish as to put our careers ahead of his well being. Luckily, Finn was able to get better. Me and Lady decided to quit our jobs and opened this bakery. He's not like a brother to me, he's a son to me. He's irreplaceable. Don't tell him about any of this or else he'll blame himself." he told me.
"Of course. Especially with the school festival around the corner, we don't need him depressed." I told him.
he put a hand on my shoulder, "Please help him with the play. It's his dream and we want him to fulfill his dream." he asked.
"I will try my hardest." I answered.
He pat my back, "Thanks. Now lets go back inside." he told me.
We went back inside to find Finn helping Lady cook. He was a good kid. A really good kid.
"So, how will the play go?" Bonnibel asked.
Another week had gone by and mid terms were next week. I was studying as much as I could but drama club was a priority. Finn was getting the details done. I was impressed because he was writing the entire play himself. Or he could be writing it with Heather... yep, must be. He doesn't write this well.
"The play will start off with me doing a monologue about our world." Finn told us.
I looked at my lines, "Finn. Come on man. Really? I don't want to sing." I told him.
"But you sing really well." he told me.
"Finn, I've never sung once in my life. How the heck would you know how well I sing?" I asked.
"You sing in the shower." he told me.
I ripped the paper in half, "What!?" I screamed.
"I-I mean While waiting for you to be done I hear you sing!" he tried to defend himself.
"You trying to peek little boy!" I fumed.
Bonnie had to hold me back, "Marceline, calm down! Finn wouldn't do that." she told me.
I calmed down slightly, "Yeah. Your right. But I am not singing." I told him.
"Please! This is my dream Marceline. This play means the world to me." He told me.
I remembered me and Jake's conversation, "Sigh. Fine. I'll do it." I told him.
"Great! Ok, here's everyone's lines. We just need the costumes and other equipment." Finn told everyone.
"Don't worry. I can get them for us. This is so cool. I get to be the Ice King," Simon said happily.
"With your luck they'll come in the day AFTER the school festival." Clara joked.
We all laughed. The school festival was so close I could feel it. I was walking home with Finn but as we passed a graveyard we saw a student near a grave. He was crying it seemed. We approached him to and I read the name on the gravestone. It belonged to a Susan Strong.
"Hello?" Finn greeted.
he didn't turn to face us, "Hello," he said quietly.
"Did you know her? Who was she?" Finn asked.
"She was my sister. She was the one that committed suicide," he told us.
"B... by jumping off the roof?" I asked.
He nodded, "I'm her brother Billy Strong." he introduced himself.
"Its... nice to meet you Billy." I told him.
"Billy, can I ask you something?" Finn asked.
"Sure. Fire away," he answered.
"Would you like to join the drama club and be one of our friends?" Finn asked.
"... Maybe..." he answered.
"If you do here," Finn said and gave him the room number, "We meet everyday after school. I hope to see you there. Bye." Finn said.
"Me too." I said my goodbyes.
He waved us off but then went back to looking at the grave. I felt bad for him. It must be awful to lose a sister like that.