You and me | Pacey Witter

nineteen

LUCAS CHOSE against going to school that day. It wasn't that he was saddened by Abby's death, it's the guilt that he felt for not being able to save her that night. He didn't try hard enough to save her and that's what made him feel the way he felt at the moment. Joshua tried to go upstairs to talk to him, even his dad went up there, but he refused to talk to either one of them about it.

Aurora tried to check in on him before she left for school that day, but he didn't say much, she arrived to school a little later than usual, and caught a ride from her uncle instead. It was around lunchtime.

Aurora walked into the cafeteria and noticed the table in the corner that was giving away yellow armbands in honor of Abby. She didn't understand why everyone was praising Abby now after she passed away. She wasn't a fan of the girl, and she wasn't going to pretend like she was after her death. Yes, it's sad, but she doesn't have any deep mourning to do.

A familiar blonde sitting alone at one of the lunch tables caught her eyes. Aurora groaned mentally when she remembered that she was supposed to meet up with Haley this morning for his first day. 

Aurora walked over to the table, "is this seat taken?" she questioned, and the blonde shook her head, which gave Aurora permission to sit. "Uh, I'm sorry I didn't meet up with you this morning. I didn't ditch you, it's just, my brother, he's just going through a rough time right now, and I tried to talk to him, so I was late to school."

Haley nodded, understandingly, "I understand. I'm sorry he feels that way," she told the girl. "It's just so crazy. I mean talk about a strange first day of school. I'm sorry for your loss, uh, were you two friends?"

Aurora shook her head, "oh, no, me and Abby were nowhere close to being friends, we weren't even acquaintances. I know it's bad to admit, given the circumstances, but Abby wasn't the best person, all she ever wanted to do was make everyone else miserable."

"I get it," Haley stated. "I mean, you can't like everyone, you know. And it's wrong to act like you were best friends with someone after their death," she explained. Aurora nodded along to her words.

It fell silent between the two girls until Haley spoke up. "Hey, uh, do you think you would be up to grabbing a cup of coffee after school?" she asked. "You know, try to lighten the mood a little," she shrugged.

Aurora thought about it until she nodded with a smile, "I'd like that."

- - - - - - - - - -

HALEY AND Aurora sat down at one of the tables in the coffee shop. Aurora took a small sip from the iced coffee and glanced over at the blonde across from her. "Well, hopefully, this is a better first day, then what you had to walk into at school today," Aurora stated. 

Haley shrugged, "well, besides the small grieving groups we got separated into, I would say it wasn't too bad," she informed. "I mean, after all, I still got to hang out with you today, so I think I would say that was pretty successful."

Aurora smiled at the girl and held her cup, "cheers to that."

Haley lifted her cup up and clinked against the brunette's. The bell above the door rang and as Aurora turned to the door, she noticed the Witter boy, and quickly his eyes caught hers. He furrowed his eyebrows, "oh, who is this?"

"I'm Haley," she introduced. 

"I met her at the wedding," Aurora informed. "Today was her first day at school and I invited her to hangout." Aurora toward the blonde and smiled, "Haley, this is Pacey, my boyfriend," she told her.

Haley's mouth made an 'o' shape as she nodded her head, "oh, cool. It's nice to meet you, Pacey. Uh, I told Aurora at the wedding that ya'lls work on the buffet table was amazing," she complimented.

Pacey smiled, "what can I say? I'm a mastermind."

"I wouldn't go that far," Aurora teased, looking up at him with a smile.

- - - - - - - - - - -

IT WAS time for the funeral. Aurora fixed the strap on her black dress as she walked into the chapel. Pacey was on her side, he held her hand as he led the two of them to their seats, which had been beside Lucas, he had gotten there earlier than them. He was already sat beside Andie, who had an anxious expression on her face.

The pastor made his way to the podium as he looked out to the people who attended the funeral. "We are here today to remember the life of Abigail Morgan, but before we began, I would like to invite those of you who wish to share your memories of Abby to come forward at this time."

The room was silent and all that was exchanged was awkward glances. No one decided to speak up on the girl, and no one could really blame them. Jen stood up and began to make her way up to the podium. "My names Jen Lindley, and I was friends with Abby, as much as anybody could be, because Abby had a toxic personality that bordered radioactive."

"Abby could be cruel, and Abby could be spiteful, and Abby could certainly be petty," Jen continued. "She spent her days mischievously stirring up trouble and creating calamity and generally taking pleasure in other people's pain. You know, in Sunday school, they teach us that God made man in his image. Well, if God made Abby in his own image, then what does that say about God?"

Soft murmurs were heard around the room. Aurora and Pacey glanced at one another before looking back up at the front. "God has always been such a mystery to me. I mean, what sort of deity creates a world that is so full of suffering and is so full of tragedy? Tell you what, Abby taught me a lot. That girl taught me how to do a tequila shooter with one hand behind my back, and she taught me how to live my life according to my own set of values, and not to just follow the crowd in hopes of winning some phantom popularity contest, but most of all, what's more important is that Abby taught me the sadistic nature of our God, and while that knowledge is disturbing, it's true, and it's real, and in a world that is so saturated with phoniness and with lies, for that small amount, for that little bit of honesty, I will always be grateful to her."

Jen walked down the small staircase; all you could hear was her high heels clomp on the ground. As she made her way back to her seat, her grandmother stood up with disappointment and hurt filled in her eyes, before she turned around and walked out of the chapel.

Andie was the next to make her way up to the podium. "Um, there are people who give me comfort in my life. Um, when the going gets rough, as it invariably does, I can count on them as a shoulder to cry on, and they will pick me up when I fall, and hold me in their arms as I cry and tell me that everything is going to be all right. I am so thankful for these people. They are priceless, but there's another group of people just as important, and just as priceless. They are the people who challenge me, who push me to my breaking points, and who force me to muster courage I never thought I had."

"Abby Morgan was one of those people. In her own truth-telling way, she gave me strength. I'm a stronger woman because of her, stronger than I ever thought that I could be. She gave me that gift. She was one-of-a-kind. There's no one like her, and she will always hold a special spot in my heart," Andie continued. "And before I step off the podium today, I would like to show appreciation to the boy who though didn't have the best relationship with Abby, he still risked his life to go save her. Lucas Benson is a hero."