𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐊 . . . 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝

𝟏𝟔. 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐤𝐢𝐝 𝐚 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐞

16. funeral for a kid a year older than me

season three, episode six: you can tell the heart of a man by how he grieves

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Nessa looked at herself in her floor length mirror that was attached to her closet door, smoothing her black dress with her hands as she took a deep breath, realizing just how awful today was going to be.

Bryce Walker's funeral was today.

At first, Nessa refused to go. She refused to sit with everyone that she had known for years and mourn Bryce Walker, who had taken everything from her, even if he was once her best friend for much longer than he was her enemy. She was absolutely hellbent on skipping the funeral.

But, a couple of days ago Zach had wandered into her room with his laptop and tears streaming down his face as he struggled to write a eulogy for Bryce's funeral. Mrs. Walker had asked, or rather begged, Zach to speak in honor of Bryce today, and Zach was terrified.

He knew that he had nothing all that spectacular to say about Bryce, especially considering how their friendship had ended, but Mrs. Walker was a grieving mother, and Zach could not say no. So, he walked into his sister's room with his tail between his legs and asked if she would consider coming to the funeral.

Not to support Bryce, but to support him and give him strength. He couldn't do this alone.

It had taken a while. A lot of thinking, and a conversation with Scott about if she should really do it, but last night Nessa had walked into Zach's room and said three words before she walked right back out – I'll do it.

So, now Nessa was standing in front of a mirror, preparing herself for one of the hardest things she would ever have to do, and she was only grateful that the majority of her friends would be there too, and that Scott would also be in attendance. She knew that if anyone was going to get her through this ceremony without it being a complete shitshow, it would be him.

"Are you ready?" Zach's voice flowed through Nessa's bedroom as he pushed her door open. Nessa took one last deep breath, nodding as her heels clicked on the hardwood floors. Zach rubbed her back and walked downstairs with her, to where their mother was standing, ready to go.

Mrs. Dempsey looked at her daughter, guilt flooding her face. Their relationship was still struggling under bits and pieces of trust after last spring, and they didn't talk much. Karen sighed, wrapping an arm around her daughter. "I'm very proud of you." she whispered, and Nessa nodded.

"Let's just go, okay?" Nessa requested, and the rest of her family obliged. They piled into Mrs. Dempsey's Ford Escape and drove down the streets of their small town, nobody daring to say a single word.

When the family arrived, most everyone was already there. Nessa walked into the church's foyer, immediately spotting everyone she knew.

Justin and Clay were standing with Clay's parents, solemn looks on their faces. Chloe was standing in the corner, and her eyes lit up as soon as she saw Zach and Nessa. She walked over to them immediately, giving both siblings a comforting hug.

Nessa continued scanning the room, looking for the one person who had the ability to calm her down. She saw him soon enough, wearing dress pants with his blue Liberty Tigers football jersey pulled over an undershirt. The entire football team, except Zach and Justin, had elected to wear their jerseys in honor of Bryce today. Scott was standing against a wall, briefly conversing with Charlie St. George. He noticed Nessa immediately, smiling at her.