Funerals suck no matter how old you are, but it would suck even more if no one showed up. Luckily, Philo had an extensive family and a large community that turned out for his service. Emma sat at the front of a large group of people that included a barbershop owner who owed the building next door to his, and even a few local kids he'd apparently tutored in Italian.
A lot of people showed up for it, along with Blake and his parents, who had also made time to bring Alex. Chris came with Kandy, sitting on the other side of her. The funeral was short, but everyone had only good things to say about Philo and the man they knew him to be. It was held on a beautiful, sunny day outside. Ironically, Philo would have loved a day like this.
The ceremony had just ended moments ago, and people were standing, starting to clear out. Emma watched from afar as Blake stood beside Philo's grave, his shoulders shaking with grief. Chris stood and walked over to him. She wanted to go over to comfort him, but she just stayed put, watching as Chris wrapped an arm around Blake's shoulder, pulling him into a tight hug.
Blake's shoulders shook as he cried into his friend's shoulder "Just give him some time. He'll come around," Kandy whispered, rubbing her arm as she got out of her seat and moved to the one beside Emma. It would get worse before it got better, but Emma wished he didn't have to feel this pain. It was a sad part of life.
Honestly, she had been consumed by a creeping dread since the moment Blake told her of Philo's death. Every death she had been involved with lately felt connected, a web of violence and secrets she was tangled in. When she learned Philo had died from a heart attack, a physical weight seemed to lift from her chest. It meant his death wasn't a murder. It wasn't a warning. It wasn't another consequence of the darkness following her. It was natural causes, a simple, painful truth in a world that had become anything but. It was one less life on her conscience, one less reason to feel like she was the problem.
She pressed her eyes shut for a moment before opening them again. Kandy looked at her closely. "How are you dealing with all this? On top of the break up and school... it must be stressful."
Emma didn't know how she made it day by day. Sometimes she felt like a zombie, just going through the motions of life.
"One day at a time, Kandy... that's all I can do. I miss him... miss us. But I understand his reasons and appreciate them." Kandy nodded, watching as Blake's parents and Alex made their way over to him and Chris as they pulled apart. They talked for a moment before walking away towards their car.
His mother sent Emma a small smile, and Alex waved goodbye. She smiled, waving back at them. She guessed they were heading home "What about prom?" Kandy asked. "Are you at least going together?"
Emma shook her head. She guessed they wouldn't be going together. She had always wanted a prom moment, but it looked like she wouldn't be getting one. "No, I don't think we will be. I don't think I'll go because I don't have a date," she whispered, looking down and fidgeting with the ring on her finger. She wondered why she was still even wearing it; they weren't together anymore.
Kandy pouted. "You can take Chris to prom. He'll be your date for the night. You deserve to go out and have fun at your prom, Emma." Emma's expression shifted, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. "Are you sure? I... I don't want him to feel like he has to. Would he even be comfortable with that?"
Kandy scoffed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Girl, please. Chris would do anything for us. Besides, it's not like he'll be busy. He'll be more than happy to take you. I'll tell him tonight and he'll pick you up at eight."
Emma's face lit up, the uncertainty replaced by a genuine smile. She pulled Kandy into a hug. "You're the best."
Kandy laughed, rubbing her back. "I know." They pulled apart as Chris made his way back towards them. He sat beside Emma, wiping a few tears from his eyes.
"What's goin' on over here?" he asked.
Kandy smiled at him, resting a hand on his knee. "I'll tell ya later, okay?" He nodded, rubbing his red eyes.
Emma's eyes drifted back to Blake. He was talking to an older white man in a suit who held a briefcase. The man opened it, handed a piece of paper to Blake, and said a few words.
Blake looked at the paper, his expression filled with shock. Emma wished she could hear what the conversation was about. The man shook Blake's hand before walking away.
Blake then ran toward them, a whirlwind of emotions on his face: shock, fear, excitement. "You guys won't believe what just happened." He looked down at the paper in his hands, a stunned look on his face. He swallowed hard before turning it toward them. In large, elegant cursive type, it read "Deed."
"He left me the shop in his will, along with ten thousand dollars to help out along the way," Blake said, his voice a mix of disbelief and awe. "It's mine now. I own Philo's. And Chris... you're in the will, too. He said he wanted me to run it with you."
Chris stood, looking as shocked as Blake, taking the deed and a copy of the will from him to have a closer look.
"Oh my God, Blake, that's amazing!" Emma exclaimed, standing to hug him.
Kandy walked over to read the will with Chris.
His hands were shaking as he read it aloud. "It's time for you to grow up, son, and stop racing cars. I hope this will help lead you in the right direction for your future. I want you and Blake to grow together, not apart. Run the business like I would, in your own Chris way. P.S. If you don't marry that girl in the next two years, I'll come back to life and kill ya."
Kandy laughed, patting his back. Chris pushed a hand through his bright red hair, a stunned look on his face.
Emma pulled away from Blake, who was still in shock. "Hey, Mr. Business owner, are you okay?" He slid the cash-filled envelope into his pocket, looking down at his feet. "In the will, he said he couldn't think of anyone better to run it than his favorite boys. But what if he's wrong? What if I'm not ready? What if I mess everything up?"
She shook her head. Philo obviously had a lot of faith in him and Chris. He just had to give it a chance. Chris turned towards him, holding up the papers. "Life is full of what-ifs, man. You can't hold yourself back just because you're afraid of what's to come. Let's go for it, just how you've been trying to convince Emma to go for her dreams. Let's go for it, Blake. It's always been us against the world. Trust that we can do this... together."
Blake swallowed, looking at Emma for a moment before looking back at Chris. How could he tell her to go for her dreams if he wouldn't go for his own? "You're right... you and me can do this. But what will you do with The Underground?" he asked.
Chris smiled, pulling out his phone. "Niki's gonna go crazy when she finds out she's the new owner." Kandy grinned, hugging him tightly, and Emma grinned, too. Niki would be the perfect owner for The Underground; she loved the nightlife lifestyle. "She's gonna freak out," Emma whispered. Everything was changing so quickly.
In just a few weeks, she and Blake broke up, Philo died, and now Blake and Chris had become business owners. And it would only get more crazy with prom and graduation right around the corner.
Mia note- Even on bad days the sun still shines congratulations Blake and Chris
YOU ARE READING
It Started With Hello
Romance***** Emma Pear knew she wasn't the most popular girl in high school. Her nose was usually buried in a textbook, and her grades were as spotless as her reputation for always following the rules. "Nerd" was a label she'd long since embraced. Her pare...
