Teenage Dirtbag

Ch 38: Encour

Fallon pov:

It's been an upsetting month, I was kicked out of my house, the person I loved died, and now I'm left nearly alone with it all. Kenji was nice enough to let me stay with him a couple days so I could figure out what to do next.

What happened next made me feel worse and sorta happy. Be it the sadness or pity, Peyton's mom offered to let me stay with them. She and I talked and confided in one another about our sadness and about Peyton. She told me stories of her and told me how she talked about me all the time to her. I told her about how sweet and caring she was.

She became a mother that I never had. Not to mention Demi was rather sweet, she clung to me like I was a sister. I really do think it's because they're suffering that I'm there. I'm just a memory of the love Peyton had. Sad part is that I'm selfish and wanted to be here as much as they wanted me here.

So I stayed. I helped where I could and supported them when I could. A bright side to this is that Peyton's mom is pressing charges on her dad now. Peyton was doing it but because of her death… her mother carried it on. She's also divorcing him.

I think she blames herself for her daughter's death. I would too if I was a mother, losing your child is something no parent should go through. Demi seemed to be more depressed and less full of light because of her sister's death. This house was hollow.

Her friends were just as bad. I continued to go to school even if it pained me to do so. People caught wind and had different reactions. A lot were upset because she was talented with music. Some didn't care and others were distraught over it.

Ella and I talked a little over it. I did my best to console the girl. Serena was upset but jetted off on vacation to forget it all. As for her closer friends it was a mess, they were all spiraling hard from her death.

Matt smiled less, he was a shell of a man. Cam was the same but seemed more empty if possible, the only emotion she could show was anger. Kenji stopped speaking again. He hadn't said a word to anyone, he didn't even react anymore. His eyes are dull and full of despair.

They all decided to break up the band because of her death. They said it wasn't the same without Peyton. They loved her and cared for her so I can understand them wanting to break away from the pain she left behind. All we can do is ready ourselves for the worst heartache.

Currently I was putting on the last finishing touches to look decent for her funeral. Demi grabbed me when it was time to go. Her mom drove us to the church that we would hold the ceremony at. I held Demi's hand and squeezed it to let her know I was here for her while we sat in the back waiting.

When we got there it was sad and dark, people dressed in black clothing with sour faces. It broke me to see so many people mourning her death. I saw her friends and greeted them, giving them weak hugs as we went inside.

It was all a blur, I sat in sadness and didn't acknowledge much or anyone. The others sat with me and her family, trying their best to be strong for them. My attention came back when Kenji took the podium to speak.

"It's sad we're all here to see her like this but that comes with death of someone you love dearly. Peyton was like the wind, she went where she wanted and carried so much with her. She loved her mother and sister dearly, she loved her friends, and she loved to love. Sadly she was hurt and broken over and over again through tough challenges life kept giving.

She had a pretty hard life and had harder things thrown at her. She was different and people didn't like that about her but… that's what I loved about her. I loved Peyton, I loved her since I was a little boy and I knew she couldn't love me back but I didn't care. To be near her, to love her, to be loved by her in any way kept me near her.