Wild Ride - The Alternative Version (Book 2)

Chapter 76~Smiling But We're Close To Tears

Elise's POV

When I was getting ready for work the next day, having had yesterday off for the funeral and such, I was the only one awake in the house. I'd just decided to eat a bowl of cereal, sitting at the bar and looking through the paper. I noticed Danika's obituary in that specific section of the paper, and I grabbed a pair of scissors and cut it out in case Abbie wanted it. I set it beside me and continued eating in silence, going on to the sports section, just for something to pass the time.

I'd checked on Abbie this morning when I'd gotten up, and she and Kaylee were still snuggled right up to each other. Kaylee had herself wrapped right around Abbie, her head in the crook of her neck. From what Jimmy told me last night after he'd gone up to get them in bed, Kaylee had been up there, already lying next to her in bed giving her a hug. He'd been afraid Abbie would unintentionally hurt her feelings again because she was upset, but Abbie had told him she wanted her there and agreed to let her stay for the night. I guess Kaylee made her feel better.

Since I'd thought both of them were sound asleep, I was surprised when Abbie came around the corner. I heard her before I saw her, her footsteps just shuffles against the floor. I looked at her over my shoulder, and just stared at her for a moment as she stopped in between the hallway and the kitchen.

“Hey.” I greeted her lightly.

“Hey.” She mumbled.

“You ok?”

She just shrugged. “I didn't sleep too great last night.”

“Because of Kaylee?”

“No, she's fine. She actually kind of provided a comfort. I just couldn't sleep because I couldn't stop thinking about... y'know...”

I nodded. “I see. So, you just woke up?”

“Yeah. I sort of had a nightmare, but Kaylee's still sleeping.”

“Do you want breakfast or anything? I don't leave for a little while longer, I've got time to make you some bacon if you want it.”

She nodded. “Yeah, sure.”

I finished my bowl of cereal, putting the bowl in the sink and getting out the bacon we kept on hand in case Abbie should ever wake up in the mornings during summer break, and that time seems to be now. I'm sure she was hungry, she barely ate last night after funeral and stuff, which was understandable. She just nibbled on some french fries and called it a night.

As her bacon was cooking, she'd spotted the obituary on the bar top. She stared at it sadly, and I watched her hand go up to the friendship bracelet from Danika on her wrist. I watched her carefully, waiting to console her if she needed me to. She seemed to be pretty under control for a little while as she read down through the obituary, and then she just looked at the bracelet and a few tears slipped down her cheeks.

I went around the side of the bar and came up beside her, wrapping my arms around her. She leaned into me, resting her head against my stomach and I kissed the top of her head before letting my chin rest there.

“How did you do it? How did you get past the death of someone really close to you?” She asked me.

“I just kept going. I knew there wasn't anything I could do to change it, that was just life. We're born, we live, and we die. It's how it works, and though it hurts when it's someone you love, you can't just drop everything and stop living because they're gone. You have to move on. But you can't rush yourself into it either, so don't just try to pick all the pieces up at once and start running with them because that'll just make it worse in the end. Danika would want you to continue on with your life, I know she would. Everything's going to be ok, Abbie, I promise.” I told her, and she sniffled. I pulled away enough to wipe her tears from her face, and she stared up at me with big, sad blue eyes.