When it happens.

18: Facing it

For all victims of war. I pray for peace. ✌🏼️🖖🏼

Jade

I hear my phone go off and I stretch up.

"Hello?" I ask groggily.

"Hello, Jade? It's Andy the lawyer. We really need to talk." He says as I sit up and let my eyes adjust to the light.

"I can't, the burial hasn't even happened yet, you're welcome to come, it's on Saturday so tomorrow, let's talk then." I say as I rub my temples, I didn't want to think about this, not today.

"Ok, if you're sure." He says and I yawn.

"Yeah, it's at five. Where everyone else is." I say, Andy knew where I meant as he was also the one who had to check out the goods, like the land with my tree, where my family are buried.

"Ok, my condolences." He says formally.

"See you soon." I say and hang up, I rub my hands on my face just as Darren walks in.

"Hey, I was going to wake you. Were you talking to someone? I thought I heard something." He says as he walks in and puts on a white top.

"Yeah, Andy." I say as I shudder, suddenly realizing it's getting colder and colder.

"Oh." He says

"Yeah, he is coming tomorrow." I say. The whole thing was set up by my dad's ex company, since the paperwork didn't finalize while he was alive he was still an employee. Plus I guess they felt sorry for me.

"Ok." He says, I feel his tension fill the room and I stand up and walk to him, I lightly rub his shoulder/ neck muscles and I kiss a shoulder.

"I can feel your anxiety, stop thinking so much, tomorrow is as much as deal for you as it is for me, and it's just a burial, it will be over soon." I say calmly, Darren has been to way to many funerals, honestly I don't think he should come but he insists.

"Should we go?" I ask as I get clothes from the wardrobe.

"Sure." He says and walks out to get ready.

Once I'm ready and we've gotten to school I kiss Darren goodbye and I go to class just in time.

"Ah there you are Jade, I'm afraid you've been moved." My English teacher says, I see my new place which is next to my new 'bodyguards'. The teacher gives me a sympathetic look and I sit down.

"What's with this protect me thing?" I ask once the lesson has started.

"We shall protect you, you're like our baby sister and no, you don't have a choice." Shay, one of the boys says.

"Fine, but please be chill, or you'll make everything worse. That means no threatening my boyfriend or friends." I say clearly to both of them as I do English work they're not bothered to do.

"Fine." They say with a sigh and they give me their numbers.

The bell rings for lunch and Darren is waiting for me outside.

"How was class?" He asks as he puts an arm around me and walks me to the lunchroom.

"Good, I told the boys to lay off for a bit, and chill on you and my friends. And you?" I ask