KNEW YOU WERE WAITING FOR ME - PART 8
One week later.
Today was the day of Ruby's funeral. Tilly lay in bed not wanting to get up. She knew she needed to. Not only to show her respect for Ruby but to be there for her friends. They'd all suffered massively after the crash and they needed to support each other. Today Tilly needed to put her own troubles to one side and focus on her friends. Even though she couldn't get Jen out of her mind she did feel a lot better about the whole situation. They'd made a promise to each other. As soon as Tilly left college they'd move away. Jen would get a job somewhere else. They'd be together properly. For now they were strictly student and teacher. Although not perfect, Tilly was just happy she could see Jen everyday & steal a few glances every now and again. She really hoped Jen would be at the funeral today. Tilly couldn't explain how but whenever she was feeling low just one simple look from Jen could get her through the day. She needed that look today more than ever.
Sinead was running around the house like a headless chicken. Jen was sitting having a cup of tea and Diane was ironing.
Jen typed out a text on her phone to Tilly. "Thinking of you today. x" she hovered her finger over the send button.
"Right then. What about this one?" Sinead shouted at her Mum and gestured to the outfit she was wearing.
"You messin?! That one is worse than the first! You're not wearing a mini skirt to a funeral. No way! Go head look in my wardrobe I'll have something you can borrow" Diane tutted over to Jen.
"Mum! Ruby was my mate. She knew how I dressed... I'm sure she wouldn't give one!" Sinead stomped off.
"Well I do!" Diane shouted after her then turned to Jen for support. " the gob on her eh Jen?"
"I don't mean to interfere but maybe you should cut her some slack? Today's gonna be hard enough as it is" Jen smiled warily.
Diane nodded. "Suppose so. I'll let her cool off then go see her. They shouldn't have to be going through this today any of them."
Jen shook her head "no they really shouldn't." She deleted the text she'd written to Tilly and pressed her phone to her lips as she thought for a moment.
"So. What are your plans today then?" Diane asked Jen as she folded the ironing board away.
"Erm actually I'm going to come with you. If that's cool?" Jen shrugged.
"What? To the funeral? Thought you said you didn't know Ruby all that well?"
"Well no. I didn't but a lot of my students are going and I should probably go and show my support right?" Jen smiled.
Jen stood next to Diane at the back of the church. Sinead had thrown a massive brat strop and so they'd been late arriving. Didn't bother Sinead who marched her way down the aisle to sit next to her friends but Diane and Jen stood quietly at the back. Tilly hadn't seen Jen enter but Jen couldn't keep her eyes off her. She watched in awe as Tilly remained so strong. Comforting her friends and making sure they were all ok. Jen wanted so much to go and pull her away from them. Cuddle her and look after her like she was doing for everyone else. It's not that Tilly cared less than her other friends she just didn't show it. Didn't want to breakdown. She'd do that in private. Right now she wanted to stay strong and to anyone else looking she was doing a brilliant job. But Jen wasn't just anyone. She could tell by Tilly's eyes she was hurting and it killed Jen to see.
Jen had tried to make eye contact with Tilly as they left the church but it was too busy and she was occupied with both Maddie and George. Now they were all stood in the cemetery as Ruby's coffin got lowered. Because there were so many there everyone was huddled together in a crowd. Jen was still watching Tilly from afar. Still remaining strong until one single tear snook it's way out of her eye and down her cheek. No one else would have noticed this tiny teardrop but Jen noticed it as much as she would have if it was rolling down her own face. Tilly shook her head and quickly wiped it away. Jen couldn't bear it any longer and politely made her way through the crowd so that she was standing next to Tilly. Once they were side by side Tilly breathed in deeply as she smelled that all familiar perfume. Then she felt all the hairs in her arms stand up as goosebumps invaded her skin. A hand touched hers gently. Tilly didn't even need to look to her side she knew it was Jen. They were standing so close to each other that no one would be able to see their hands entwined. Tilly stroked her thumb appreciatively across the hand she had so needed to hold. "Sometimes the person who is there for everyone else needs someone to be there for them" Jen whispered softly and squeezed her hand.
Tilly was laying on her bed. It had been a long hard day only made easier by Jen turning up out of the blue to see her. To show her that she cared. Every time she thought about that her heart smiled. Tilly was just about to sleep when her phone beeped. She was so exhausted but thought she better had check it as when she'd left the wake early she'd told her friends not to hesitate to contact her if they needed her. She opened up the message. "Hey. Hope you're ok? Tried to find you at The Dog but guess you left. Can you meet me in our usual place? Just need five mins. J x"
Tilly didn't hesitate to reply. "On my way"
Tilly practically ran to the shed. She couldn't wait to see Jen. She hasn't got to thank her for earlier. She was out of breathe when she arrived. Jen was sat on the abandoned chair smiling up at her.
"Hey. You ok?" Jen frowned as Tilly panted.
"Yeah just a bit unfit I guess" Tilly tried to smile.
Jen looked nervous as she patted next to her for Tilly to sit down.
"I'm glad you text" Tilly tried to get her breath back.
"Yeah?" Jen was so nervous. This didn't go unnoticed by Tilly.
"I wanted to thank you for today. But listen you don't have to worry. I know it doesn't mean we're gonna forget what we promised. Two years." Tilly reassured Jen.
"You don't have to thank me." Jen looked deep into Tilly's eyes. Then to the floor like she was embarrassed. "Erm anyway it's the whole promise thing I wanted to talk to you about..."
Tilly's heart sank. Jen didn't want to wait for her. Maybe the tragic circumstances of the day had made her realise that life's too short to be waiting around. Tilly swallowed hard.
"Today Tilly I couldn't bear seeing you like that. I wanted to hold you so much. Make you feel better. But I couldn't."
"You made me feel better by just being there Jen." Tilly reassured her.
"It's not the same though is it. Which is why I got us these... Jen pulled out two ring boxes out of her bag. "Don't worry I'm not proposing or anything!" She quickly added with a nervous laugh. "Look I know we're not 11 or American but I got us these promise rings..." Jen blushed and handed one to Tilly.
Tilly opened up the box "wow Jen!"
"If you think they're lame I won't be offended." Jen laughed. " it's just I thought when we're not together or together but not able to touch, kiss just hold each other. We can look at these and remember our promise. Look at the inside"
Tilly looked at the inner part of the band and noticed it was engraved. "Until then" she read out loud. So touched by the romantic gesture she sat speechless.
"Oh you think they're really lame." Jen laughed.
Tilly shook her head. "I love them. I love you" Tilly put the ring on her middle finger prompting Jen to do the same. They both looked into each others eyes. Both feeling so lucky to have found their soulmate. Both feeling so in love. Both wanting to close the small gap between them but aware of the rules they'd made.
"I suppose one last kiss won't hurt eh?" Jen broke the silence.
"Oh thank God!" Tilly grabbed Jens face in her hands and kissed her passionately. They giggled in between kisses then both fell back onto the sofa. Jen wrapped her arm around Tilly's shoulder and Tilly lay her head on Jens chest. They just sat twiddling the promise rings around on each others fingers. To anyone else these were the most plain rings ever but to those two they were their future.
TBC.