Alone

C H A P T E R 24

R Y D E R.

"Hey. I'm Mellisa, what's your name" the small girl with a bun waves at me and smile showing her missing front tooth.

Her smile is bright and welcome, causing me to smile also. "I'm Ryder" I wave back at her. She looks at me and I narrow my eyes at her.

She let's out a cute laugh, causing me to widen my smile. "Do you want to be my friend" she asks.

"Girls are weird." I say scrunching my nose and she furrow he brows.

"Am I weird?" she says with a slightly pained voice and I couldn't help but also feel sad.

"N.. no.. I don't think so" I say confused.

She slightly laughs and I smile.

"You're laugh is cute" I say and she looks at me with wide eyes and I feel heat coming up my cheeks, causing me to shyly look around.

"Thank you. My mom says my laugh makes her day a-mazing" she says throwing her arms in the air and I smile.

"Do you want a cookie?" she says opening her lunchbox.

"Yes please" I say looking at the little cute girl besides me.

"Wait.. Before I give you, do you agree to be my friend forever?" she says looking at me and I nod.

"Pinky promise?" she says putting her pinky out and I also put mine out and do the promise.

"You are now my best friend" she says beaming and I also beam, munching down the cookie she gave.

I remember that day perfectly. That day I came home running to mom, telling her I found my first best friend at school. It was one of the best days in my life.

We became friends over a cookies.

She used to tell me that she'll never leave me everytime a girl breaks up with me.

"She isn't worth it anyways. You got me and I got you! I mean look at me! None of those people you call " girlfriends " are a hot as I am.

Look I even made you smile without trying. I won't ever leave you"

She once said when I told her my back-then girlfriend dumbed me all because I'd sometimes ditch her to hand out with Jess and Mel.

Her death isn't one I'll forget, not even when I try to. She fucken left me after all the promises she made about not ever leaving me.

"We are gathered here to celebrate, remember and honour the life of our loving fellow friend, a daughter, a sister..." the priest says and I zone out.

I never thought at this age, I'd be present at my bestfriens funeral. Funny how life is actually. I look around to see everyone from school here, even Stacey, all looking sad and glommy.

I hear hush cries and I look at my right to see Jess barely holding up. During the preparation of her funeral, she's been locked herself in her room, allowing only me whenever I came to check up on her.

I've been strong for everyone during that time, never allowed myself to fully mourn for her death. The service goes on while I'm zoned out, looking at her bright smiling face picture next to her casket.

I get called up to the front to give a talk as her friend since Jess looks like she could pass out anytime. I fix my black tie as I stand up and make my way to the front.

I pause infront of the picture and let everything sinks. She's really dead. I take a deep breath and stand up to the stage. I look at everyone wearing black clothes, symbolising respect.