The Wake ends at half four.
I make the momentary decision to go to A and BB's place and go over their things, or at least take what I feel is important and close to me. I'd rather do all the painful stuff in one day – why wait? So that's the plan.
But when Rod pulls up outside their place, I can't get out. And I can't move.
"I changed my mind" I breathe. "I can't do this"
"When you're ready Mel, you don't have to do this now" But I do. I don't know why, but I do.
You can do this Melly, go on!
"No...i can. But you have to promise that whatever I don't put in this box..." I shake it for effect. "You will put everything else in another box and keep it. I don't care if it goes in the Safe for the next ten years, you keep them, understand?"
"Yes Mello" Rod mock salutes and gets out, carrying a spare box. I get out also, my box tucked under my arm. It's weighed down with the thought that everything precious thing about A and BB's existence will be limited to a box. Rod takes out the envelope with the permission letter in it, sliding out the key to their place. We head in, slowly and carefully.
Part of me thinks that if I go up there, they'll still be there, laughing and being weird like normal. But they aren't. Rod shifts the door, that's completely separate from the frame (the police had kicked it in) and sighs. I have to turn the lights on to see. The police haven't touched much. It was pretty evident they hadn't stayed long in between finding A and tracking BB. I head to the secret places first; even Rod raises an eyebrow or two and the places where they kept things hidden. Then the bedroom next. Then the living room. Slightly happier, I'd filled all of my box and half of Rods, and was happy that there is nothing else I can think of that is precious to me. For laughs, I take the container out of the cupboard, the one that always had BB's 'Flight's' in them – the marijuana. I check the place twice more before feeling confident. I turn to Rod.
"Ok...so anything that's left, you can package up?"
"Not me personally; Damn, Mel, I'm not a maid"
"No, I know" I laugh and glance over the place. "...What'll happen to it?"
"The council will probably take it over, do it up n' resell it or something" I nod. "Mel...i overheard you talking to Oli"
"Yeah?" He nods guiltily. He turns to leave, aiming to talk as we do, but I can't. I stay put.
"You're not going back to school?" I shrug, looking around the rooms and then in the box in my arms. A's camera is on top. I put the box on the floor and turn on the camera. The last image is of A and BB looking insanely happy. I smile and ready it to take pictures. "Mel?"
"I dunno" I snap shot the entire place, the kitchen, the cupboards, the bedroom, the furniture. Everything. I get a whole shot of each room too. I don't want to forget this place. I lower the camera. I have to leave here at some point, I realise.
"I think I need a change of scenery" I sigh. "I don't want to move to LA though" Rod sighs.
"I was only being semi-serious about that you know" I smile.
"Honestly? I haven't figured things out yet. I just know for sure that it won't feel right going back to school"
"And exams?" I shrug.
"I can catch up easy" He grumbles at my idleness, but I smile. I feel free. "I'm debating England...though" Rod says nothing. "Ok, I'm ready" I turn, teary eyed and ready to cry again, facing away from their Place forever. "Let's go back home, yeah?"
"After you"
Thursday 24th December.
Christmas Eve.
After a late night revisiting everything in the boxes I had taken, I manage to get some sleep to wake up relatively early at half nine. Misa is staying home for Christmas this year, and is feeling very Christmassy in her new red, white and black outfit. I dress up a little too, in a black and grey shirt along with some dark jeans. I keep it casual and forget socks or hair straightners (not that I use them regularly – naturally straight hair is a blessing), as my hair is tied back at the nape of my neck. I find Misa in the living room, flipping through a magazine with an enthusiastic smile. She's on the phone too. I flop next to her and peek at the images she's looking at. Vainly, I realise it's herself.
"...-gasp- I know right!...totally! they were such nice people...i know!..." Rod falls into his leather recliner and sighs.
"She's been on that a whole hour" He grumbles. "She doesn't contribute well to the phone bills y'know" I grin.
"What's the occasion?"
"The Christmas issue; she's got six whole double pages in there" I raise my eye brows.
"How're you, anyway?" I smile a little and shrug.
"Not that bad, It just feels kina' lonely...like I'm missing a chunk or something"
"I get ya'" Rod nudges my knee with his. "I hear Chef has stocked up on marshmallows"
"Ooo" The idea appeals to me. Whether melted, prodded, stuck on cakes or dipped in hot chocolate, mashmallows are something of a Christmas tradition here.
"And I know for a fact there's some Belgium chocolate in the fridge" I lick my lips at the mention of the words Belgium and chocolate. "Along with a ready-made tub of ready-to-pour hot chocolate?"
"I know you're trying to fatten me up" I grumble. "You'll get me to blame it on comfort eating"
"Well...that's an appealing thought" Rod agrees, laughing loudly.
"Hey! Keep it down, m'on the phone here" Misa squeaks, frowning. Rod waves a hand, dismissing her.
"No, in times where you're not as happy, do the things that make you happy" He says, matter-of-factly.
"Who said that?" I laugh. "How cheesy"
"I did!" Rod punches me playfully. "And it fucking works to – you like chocolate, right?"
"Yeah"
"Makes you happy?"
"Most times"
"What else do yer' like?"
"You're supposed to be my dad!" I put on my best hurt-face and bring on the tears. "Unless!" My eyes widen and I gawp at him. "I...am adopted!"
"You already got that sussed Mel, get over it" I laugh at this.
"I like Mafia work. And physical work. I like reading and studying – travelling, when appropriate of course. I like history..."
"Mello you are such a geek" Misa hangs up and puts the phone in its cradle. "You also like your hair"
"Oh dear, sweet, Misa, you have no idea how much I completely dislike you" She gasps dramatically.
"Mello you whore!" She grabs a cushion and launches it at me.
"Bitch" I toss it back and she hesitates. I grin. "Come awhn bee-etch, come awhn at meh"
"Mello, you're so stupid" She launches it back instantly.
"Says the one who's got a lower IQ than her brother" I stick my tongue out childishly.
"Oh!" She grumbles. "Rod!"
"I'm not getting involved" He chuckles and stands up. "Got work to do"
"But it's Christmas eve" I counter. "What work? Work-Work? Or Family-Work-"
"Just don't tear each others throats out; oh, I forgot to remind you – there's a dinner-ball party thing tonight – at the Stands Hotel-"
"Oh my God! Are we staying over? The hotel is amazing! It has a pool and a bar and—wait, tonight?"
"Yeah" Rod shuffles uncomfortably. "I err..there wasn't any time to tell you earlier. Mel – you don't have to come if you-"
"I also like parties" I grin. "But is there a dress code? Cause I have no suits and I'm not wearing the one I wore for the funeral-"
"Just not the leathers or something ridiculous" He rolls his eyes. "You'll find something"
"What about mee!" Misa squeals. "I haven't got anything to wear – Rod you are so mean, do you have any idea what the shopping centres are going to be like at this time! Ugh, you are hopeless" Rod leaves Misa ranting, tending to his 'work'. I also note that Skyar isn't around for the majority of the day, but for the rest of my day, I enjoy lunch with chocolate and marshmallows and is forced to go with Misa to the stores to find a suitable dress. She even makes it so we (should, in theory,) match. She buys this floor-long, fitting gown, that's a deep red with a black lace-effect corset. She also buys a white feather boa for 'drama', insisting on buying both me and Rod the same deep-red tie that matches her outfit. Thus, we 'match'. She buys a black flimsy but lace-like fascinator for her hair and I persuade her for a whole hour that the shoes that she wants to buy, I'm sure she already has in her wardrobe. Because, for Christs' sakes, she does. We head home in time for dinner, but we get caught in the rush hour traffic. We aren't in the limo, so there's no refreshments. We aren't in the navy BMW, so there's not much comfort in this in comparison. We're in Misa's black and yellow Beetle; It's black in majority, with swirls of yellow here and there. We put the radio on, determined to have a good time; it starts to snow again, and Misa begins freaking out because she's not fully confident in driving during snowy weather. She even puts the heating on full-up to make sure her 'car doesn't freeze into an ice cube'. She's such a damn girl.