She's Gone
"Where is she?" Tyler demanded stalking into the Bennett home like he owned the place.
"In her room, but I don't think now is a good time Tyler-"
"I don't give a fuck what you think Forbes," Tyler said ignoring the girls protest as he made his way towards the person he once knew better than anyone in the world.
She might think it'd be easier to not attend Grams funeral now, but she would hate herself for it later. Knocking gently he wasn't surprised when he was greeted by silence. Knocking more insistently his heart broke when he heard her hoarse voice cry out brokenly.
"Leave me alone please." She rasped as he jiggled the knob.
"I can't do that Nie, now you can let me in or I'll kick the door down and we both now I'm not bluffing," he said waiting impatiently as he heard her move from the bed slowly and heard the lock click.
Opening the door he found her seated on the edge of her bed her bed. She looked completely broken with her sallow skin, unkempt hair and crumpled night shirt. Grams had been gone for almost four days and he was willing to bet she hadn't left this room since then.
"Grams is dead Ty," she whispered so quiet he almost missed what she said.
"I know Nie," he whispered approaching her slowly. "I'm sorry," he said kneeling in front of her remaining still until he caught her eyes with is own.
"They're going to close the casket and bury her in the ground, and I- I can't watch that."
"Grams isn't in that body any longer Nie, we both know that," he whispered tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear as his brown eyes bored into her hazel.
"I know you don't think you can do this, but you're strong, and you have to."
"How could you ask me to do something like that!" She screeched suddenly livid as she stood from the bed almost knocking him over.
Standing he remained unmoving as she continued to vent her frustration.
"I couldn't save her! I didn't know what to do, and now she's gone! she's gone and she's never coming back Ty!" She yelled suddenly throwing herself into his arms win as she sobbed.
"No, No she's not baby," he whispered closing his eyes as he rested his head on top of her own.
He tried to limit his time around her because that beast that had risen long ago still wanted her. Still thought it had some claim on the girl he knew was too good for him. But he could never let her go through this alone.
"Nie I promise I will be by your side every step of the way, but you have to do this, you'd never forgive yourself later if you didn't," he whispered stroking her matted locks.
"You'll stay?"
"Why else would I be wearing this suit," he teased lightly making her give a watery smile for the first time since she'd found Grams. They both knew how much he hated any sort of monkey suit, it made him feel trapped.
"I'm sorry I got you're suit all wet," She whispered pulling away as she took in the charcoal gray that hugged his muscular body.
"I don't care about that," He said shaking his head as the words; I care about you remained unsaid. He'd always been better at showing than telling.
"What time is it?" she asked clearing her throat.
"Ten, Grams's services are at Noon." He said as she nodded scrubbing her face with her hand before slowly moving towards her bathroom.
"You'll be here when I'm done?" She asked terrified he'd disappear from her life once more.
"I promise," he said making her breathe a sigh of relief. He would never break a promise. He'd flat our refuse to give you one first.
That afternoon they'd laid Sheila Bennett's body to rest in the pouring rain and dark haired boy had supported the petite body of her granddaughter shielding her from the rain with a black umbrella and his body as she stayed longer than the rest saying her final goodbyes.