Reese

Chapter 40 - Epilogue (Part One)

Eleanor's P.O.V

I got out of the car, having to hold my black dress so that it wouldn't catch on the car door. I walked around to the front of the car where Louis was locking it. He sent me a sad smile once he'd locked it, and wrapped his hand around mine. 

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get my mouth to smile. It felt wrong to do such a thing at such a time.

I looked to my left and saw Niall looking sadly at Katie as she stared hollowly at the hall. Apparently she hasn't let him touch her since she heard. 

Further down the road I saw Zayn, Perrie, Harry and Jessie getting out of one of Harry's cars. Perrie glanced at me and nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as Zayn stuck his arm out, she wrapped hers around his as they began to climb the steps. Jessie took Harry's hand as she sorted out his tie and then gradually they turned to walk towards Louis and I.

"You okay, El?" Louis asked. I turned to him and raised my eyebrows, "I guess. I am at the funeral of one of my closest friend's, so how okay can someone like me be in this situation?"

He laughed sadly, "You never fail to make me laugh." He squeezed my hand in reassurance. "Just warn me when you're going to cry, okay?"

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, sure." I vaguely answered, shrugging my shoulders.

"Hey guys, have any of you seen Liam?" Harry asked as he and Jessie approached. 

"He said he didn't want to ride with any of us. You two reminded him of his 'betrayal,'" I said using quotes with my hands, "to Reese with Jessie while you were in Houston, and Katie isn't in the right frame of mind to see Liam because she feels incredibly guilty at the moment. Zayn and Perrie were riding with you, and Louis and I came straight from the airport. So I guess he took a taxi or drove over."

Harry nodded. Suddenly Jessie spoke up, "Does he hate me?" She timidly asked, which was weird because Jessie was always loud and never nervous.

We all shook our heads vigorously. "No he doesn't. " Harry assured her.

"You didn't do anything together. All you did was kiss and they weren't even together then!" I said, rubbing the top of her arm with my left hand.

She didn't look convinced, but nodded her head anyway.

We all sadly smiled at each other before I saw Perrie waving at us from the top of the stairs.

"Come on, we better go in."

*

The seats weren't as filled as I wanted them to be.

I thought Reese's family would come, but then I remembered she doesn't have any left. So it's just us nine and a few of her university friends.

Louis and I walked to the front and I sat between him and Niall. Katie was nowhere to be seen.

There were flowers everywhere - white lillies and snowdrops. Candles were surrounding her coffin. Candles of all colours and scents that people had brought with them. The entire church was glowing in candle light. It was beautiful, but also incredibly haunting. I'm not sure whether I was a little scared or in awe of the scene before me.

Niall glanced at me but then quickly looked away again, playing with the fabric of his trousers between his index finger and thumb. 

"Hey." I whispered, a croak in my voice after not talking for a while. "You alright?" I coughed quietly - clearing my throat.

He swallowed and I saw his adam's apple lower and then pop up again. Instead of answering he just nodded his head.

Too quickly for it to be truthful.

Just as I opened my mouth to question him further, somebody caught my eye. They were climbing up the stairs, and that's when I realised that there were two of them. Both dressed in black suits; one with a long black tie, and the other in a dark purple. 

I gasped. 

These two men were the least likeliest pair anyone would ever expect to be getting on like salt and pepper.

"Is that-" Louis started.

"Hello everyone - I'm Liam." The one with the black tie stated.

"And I'm Mark, and we're so thankful - from the bottom of our hearts - that you travelled to be here today." Stated the other with the purple tie.

"What the-" Louis started again.

"-Mark?!" 

Everyone in the seats turned to face the doors down the other end of the church, and standing there with pale white skin and a tear stained face; was Katie.