Memorizing You

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Alice fixed her black dress and repositioned the white flower that was pinned on her chest. Ted was fighting with the black tie on his neck, tying and untying it. She sighed inwardly and moved to him, fixing his tie for him.

No one said a word. It was like a moment of silence.

After the news of knowing that Jane passed, Linc called Alice and told her. Though it broke his heart to tell her, he needed to because she had the right to know.

Alice grabbed the paper on her desk and scanned it one more time, it was her speech for Jane.

The service was to be held at the cemetery. Almost everyone was there. Wesley, his family. Linc, a few classmates. Alice, Teddy, Edgar, Ellen. Even Danny was there with his parents.

Tom was sitting at the front row, just staring at the white open casket. He couldn't bring himself to greet the people who came for his daughter.

Alice saw Tom and held on his shoulder. He turned and saw Alice, he smiled tentatively and turned back to his daughter who now lies peacefully in the elegant casket.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here." she whispered. Tom raised his hand and laid it over hers that lies on his shoulder.

"It's fine, Alice. You wouldn't have made it if you were still here." he said, "It was fast. Like she just wanted to see us then go back to her peaceful state. Only she didn't come back." tears prickled on his eyes again.

It was a painful fact that Tom already experienced all kinds of loss. Loss of parents, loss of wife, and now loss of child.

They started the service.

~

They have recalled their moments with Jane Rome. They retold stories about her and praised her a lot of times. This was her day.

Alice looked at the faces of the people in the small garden that held a small party for Jane. She distinctly remember what Jane said one time when they were talking about passing.

"I don't want anyone to be sad on the day that I die." she said back then. Alice looked at her with a skeptical look.

"Why not?" she asked.

"Because then I would regret ever leaving the world. I mean, my time is finally finished, everyone should be happy that I took part in the world and is now done with my mission." she explained with that bright smile of hers and pale blue eyes and bleached blonde hair that waved naturally.

Alice looked up to the sky and smiled, "Mission accomplished, Jane." she whispered.

When she looked down, Danny was standing not twenty feet away from her. He was wearing a black dress shirt and a white tie, black dress pants and a leather shoes. She smiled at him and saw him smile back.

No, it wouldn't be some cliche where they run towards each other in slow motion.

He waved at her. While she waved back, Ted saw the two and rolled his eyes, "Can't they get anymore shy?" he muttered and walked towards Danny.

Danny didn't saw Teddy approaching him, he was busy looking at Alice. Teddy grasped Danny's arm and basically dragged him towards Alice which caused Alice to laugh lightly.

"Come on, guys. We don't have forever to wait for the two of you to make up and just kiss." Ted said and took Alice's hand and placed it on Danny's hand.

Electricity ran up to their arms as they made contact.

"Now kiss." Ted said, he wanted to badly to just push their faces together, when he turned around Alice and Danny pulled each other in a tight embrace.

Linc watched Alice and Danny, he felt a longing in his chest. Wesley walked up to him, at first he thought he was going to punch him or even beat him to death. But to Linc's surprise, Wesley gave him a brotherly hug.

When Wesley pulled back he said only one thing and left, "She loves you."

~

Danny turned his head and looked at Alice's relaxed state. They were lying on top of the hood of her car, parked at the empty parking lot of the school. Watching the stars shine above them.

"Staring." Alice said while her eyes closed.

"Gazing." Danny corrected and propped his elbow and rested his head on his palm.

"Creepy." she said with a smile on her face.

"Romantic." Danny said and smiled when Alice opened her eyes, letting him see the emerald orbs.

She turned her head and smiled, "It's amazing how a lot of your habits still stay to you." she said.

"You mean I used to stare at you?" he asked. She nodded and placed a kiss on the tip of his nose, "What else do I used to do with you?"

She furrowed her brows to think when Danny reached out and smoothed the crinkle on her forehead.

"Well, you always pinch my nose when you're annoyed at me." she said, Danny chuckled and pinched her nose.

"Like this?" he asked, she gripped his wrist and squirmed out of his reach. They both laughed and hopped down from the hood of the car, Alice looked at her watch and saw that it was already ten.

"We need to go home." she said, he nodded and they got in the car. Danny looked at Alice as she drive away from the parking lot.

"You want to stay for dinner?" they both asked at the same time, causing them to laugh. When they sobered up, Alice glanced at Danny.

"I'd love to." she said and grinned at Danny's smile.

They arrived at Danny's house and ate dinner, Mrs. Thorn asked if Alice would love to stay for the night, she accepted and informed her parents.

As they lay next to each other at Danny's bed, his arms around her. Her head on his chest, they both understood that this wasn't their decision. Rather Jane's decision.

If it weren't for her, Alice wouldn't rush back to Watson and see Danny again. She wouldn't realize that Life was too short to let go of the people you care about and love the most.

Danny placed a kiss on the top of Alice's head, "I'm glad you came home." he whispered.

"I'm glad too." she said and snuggled closer.

As Jane look down at them, she can't help but feel happiness wrap around her. She looked at the bright light and grinned, "They're together now." she said.

"I can see that." the deep voice said, she looked down on her best friend, and like a film, the scene changed to Linc who was crying quietly in his room. She bit her lip and felt a hand on her shoulder, "Go."

Linc felt something warm touch his cheek, wiping away the tear that fell on his cheek. He opened his eyes and saw Jane smiling down at him, she was wearing the white dress that she wore at the service.

"Jane?" he asked. When she nodded he wanted to launch himself at her and hug her closely.

"Stop crying, Linc." she said and kissed his forehead.

"I love you." he whispered.

"I love you too." she said back and was gone. Linc swallowed a lump on his throat and let out a long breath.

"So much." he added quietly and went back to lying down on his bed.