Always Be Forever

Chapter 25: Jennifer

2087, BCE, October 20

"We're very sorry for your loss,"

Jack had told Andrea, hugging her through the tears. "Tiffany was an amazing daughter. The best one I ever had," Andrea had belted out in tears. "She's in our prayers," I had told her before Julia had walked up. "Mom, they're about to start," Julia had told her before she sat back down in the front pew. "Thank you for telling me about Cashmere," Andrea had added. "I tried to stop her but she wouldn't listen," Jack had told before pretending to break down in tears. It was then that I put my arm around his body and we walked away. "Why would you lie to her about Cashmere?" I had asked him. Jack was the one who killed Tiffany, not Cashmere, and due to this there is a huge flaw in his plan. Instead of giving me an answer, he looked me in the eye and then the floor. "Go sit with your father, I'll be up in a sec," I had told him before he went to the back and to the stairs. We were at Tiffany's funeral at St. Michael's, and I had seen Hannah and Jacquelyn enter as Jack headed up the stairs. Hannah is wearing a black dress that has sleeves, and is long. Jacquelyn is wearing a black dress that is long but has no sleeves. I am wearing a long black dress, but it has no sleeves and ties in the back. "Jennifer," Hannah had let out before she gave me a hug. "I have some news. It's kind of bad," Jacquelyn had started. "What is it?" I had asked. The only thing that could make this day worse is getting bad news. "Apparently Jason and Snow have a kid. He goes by the name of Leandro," she had told me. "How is that bad news?" I had asked, confused as to why that would be perceived as bad. Without answering, she gave me a look that I knew I would recognize anywhere. "Oh," I had told her, pretending to understand her. To be honest, I don't know what she's talking about. "They're about to start," I had told them before they headed up the stairs to sit with Jack and Liam. I followed them up the stairs. Jacquelyn had sat beside Jack who was beside Liam, and Hannah and I were in the pew behind them.

Watching the sea of people walking in, I noticed Ellie, Erin, Luke, Hector, Jasmine, James, Amy, Chris, Jason, Leandro and Snow walk in from the front. I had noticed Michael at the front pew near Andrea and Julia, and before Andrea could get to him he walked back to Jasmine and James and sat with them. That was when I had seen Julia go up to the altar and to the microphone as Andrea had sat back down. "Can everyone please be quiet? We are just about to start," she had told us through the microphone before the entire church fell silent. Jade, a trumpet player in grade 10 stepped up and walked over to the side with her trumpet in hand. Raising her trumpet to her mouth, she started playing Amazing Grace as the processional had started and they were carrying Tiffany's casket down the middle aisle. I noticed Jack grabbing onto the back of his head as if he was in pain. "Are you okay?" Jacquelyn had asked him as she had noticed him reaching for his side, and leaning over in pain. "Owe!" I had heard Jack let out as he had leaned over, holding onto his side. "Make it stop!" Jack had yelled out in pain before he went through the floor and landed on a pew on the main floor. "What's going on?" Jason had asked Snow up ahead, realizing that Leandro was grasping to his side in pain. "Try holding him," Snow had told Jason, and he tried holding him, but nothing was working. He tried his hardest to make sure that the pain went away, rubbing the part where Leandro was holding onto, comforting him by telling him that everything was going to be okay, but nothing was happening. I wasn't too worried about Leandro; I was more worried about Jack and the state he was in. Running down the stairs with Hannah, I rushed to Jack's side, and I realized that he wasn't healing. Something bad was happening and I couldn't stop it, only a doctor can.

"Hannah, call 911," I had told her before she grabbed her phone out and called right away. "Mom," Jack had let out, reaching for me. "I'm here," I had told him before I had seen the sea of people surrounding us. In the front of the church, past Snow and Jason trying to rush Leandro to the hospital, I had seen Julia leaving the church with a bag on her head. Focusing my attention to Jack, I had told him, "stay with me," as the doctor was now there. "My name is Doctor Henshaw, and I'm going to be asking a few questions before we take him," the doctor had told me. "What is his name and age?" He had asked me. "His name is Jack Strapple and he's 17," I answered. "Where's the pain?" He had asked. I didn't know where it was, so I couldn't answer. "It's my side," Jack had let out, holding onto his side. "We'll get you to the hospital," the doctor told him. "Thank you ever so much," I had told him before I started to walk off. "Are you his mother?" The doctor had asked me. "No I'm not," I had told him before walking away. Julia was no longer in the church and I had to see who had taken her. Looking out at the crowd of people, there were four people that I noticed that were also missing: Michael, Steven, Amy, and Chris, and Jason and Snow were at the hospital. I wonder; if something happened to Jack, why would it affect Leandro?