𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨

┊ 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟔, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐇 ┊

𝙄𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 since the party at Stu
Macher's home.

(ᴛᴀᴛᴜᴍ'ꜱ ᴘᴏᴠ)

———

Even five days later, I didn't spend a minute not reliving the hell i endured. And my room didn't help that, everywhere I looked, it reminded me of Stu. From my jewelry stand showcasing gifts he had gotten me, to the pictures of us around the room, each one held a once happy memory.

He had tried to kill me and Sidney, but I couldn't bring myself to hate him.  I loved him, and that made it harder.

I would have never though in a million years, he could have been the murder of Maureen, Sidney's mother, but he was, I guess it's true; you never know who someone really is until they show their true colors.

But today I hoped I could bury him for once and for all, after all it was his funeral.

I got up out of bed, rubbed my eyes that were still swollen from the past few days and got dressed in all black.

I went over to my jewelry stand and hesitated for a few seconds on if I should wear the necklace he gifted me, but I figured I should.

I headed downstairs when I was ready, to have breakfast.

"Hey hunny you doing ok?" My mother asked me.

"Yeah." I nodded, offering her a small smile.

My big brother Dewey then came in, wearing his black suit. He would be escorting me today.

"Hey. You look really nice." He whispered to me.

"Thanks, you too." I looked up and smiled.

"Have you talked to Sidney?" My mother asked.

"No.. I've been giving her some space, with the whole Billy thing." I responded.

"I think you should give her a call, you both are in the same boat, and you need to stick together." She advised.

"I'm with mom, Sid's a good kid." Dewey agreed.

"Sidney's my best friend, we'll always stick together, we're like Cher and Dionne." Tatum shot back.

"I know, sweetie." My mother said while rubbing my hand for a split second.

Dewey looked at me, with his wide caring eyes, "You sure you want to go to this? After all he-"

I interrupted him, while nodding my head, "I'm sure."

"Well, we better get going, or we'll be late." Dewey said.

"Ok." I agreed, and together we headed to Stu's funeral.

———

Once we arrived to the service, I saw his sister Leslie, I always liked her, she was a few years older than Stu, but was always nice to me.

I went over to her, hoping to not upset her.

I lightly tapped on her shoulder. "Leslie.." I whispered.