Ashes [Haylor AU]- Smoke Sequel

Chapter 11

Chapter 11:

Cory's POV

The rain was making little droplets on my sweatshirt as I make my way down the street. It had begun raining earlier this morning when I left the house and it hadn't stopped since. It wasn't a stormy rain, it was actually quite calm and settling. I needed this especially for the place I was going. I hadn't been here since Irene had died. I hated the very site of this small cafe. It had been nothing but a spot for people to sell their drugs. the music was good and done by locals so I guess it wasn't that bad.

I walk into the decently sized building. The man that I was planning on meeting had not yet arrived. He had something that I wanted. He had Irene's things. The last of them actually. From time to time he and I would meet up for lunch and he would give me as many of the things of hers that he could fit on the back of his motorcycle. This man was Irene's distant brother. They had only just recently began speaking when I had left for the army. He was the one who had gotten her involved in drugs. But there was no way that I could disown him. Techinically I was the only family he had because I was planning to purpose to Irene. But now he was here looking for a free meal and giving me the last of the sister that he did not want to remember.

"Ed!" I hear that familiar voice yell. I was sure that Jake hadn't spotted me yet.

"How are you mate?" The owner asks.

"Not to bad. Long time no see," He says with a small chuckle.

"Can't say the same for your friends," He replies.

"Now now Ed. Not my fault that this place is falling under," Jake sneers.

"Shut the hell up, I we settled our dirt," Ed growls back.

"I'm just messing with you. I know we did. I'm glad you let my friends infest this place," Jake says as he obnoxiously chews his gum.

"Yeah it was the only option," He sighs.

"After your star stop coming here, ya. She was the life of this place and you know it. You're lucky she stuck around as long as she did after your confession. Now look at you. Thirty and still trying to save your daddy's business," Jake retorts.

"I'm twenty seven and I love this place," was all he could say.

Jake just rolls his eyes and then walks over to me.

"Hey brother," He teases and then drops a plastic bag infront of me.

"Irene's jacket. There's some letters she wrote to you in there along with some of the stuff she wanted to keep that was mine. I don't want any of it," He says with a shrug. He looked much more worn down this time than the last I saw him.

"Aren't you and Ed the same age?" I ask.

"I was giving him hell. He and I have past," He replies. He then takes out a tooth pick from his vest jacket and sticks it between his yellowing teeth.

"So is there anything else?" I ask impatiently.

"Why in such a hurry?" He asks.

"I have a date this afternoon," I choke out.

"Wow..Finally after all this time you've decided to move on from my sis," His chuckle is morbid.

"Yeah. I wasn't going to until I was ready. But I think I found her, I say with a large grin.

"I'm happy for you, I mean I know you're a good guy. I know you'd stay with Irene if she was here today," He replies as he looks down.

"I miss her," I sigh.