Book One: (The Rat) "One Hot July"

Chapter Nine: A Confession

Chapter Nine

A Confession

[Aubrey Vestal - July 23rd, 2335 - Hollowvile Cemetary]

She's so nervous I don't think I'll be able to get the words out of my mouth.

I finger the ring box in my jacket pocket. She has no idea, but I can't her without telling her the truth.

She pushes open the gates, holding tightly to the teddy bear and the roses as she makes her way down the pathway. I can see her trembling, she's nervous, but more so she's afraid.

She hasnt been here in nearly eight years, since the day they burried Mahanna Chappell a week after she died.

She stops infront of the grave, forcing herself to smile.

"Hey, Mahanna," She sits down on the ground. "Long time no see."

I sit down beside her, listening to her talk. After a few minutes she stops talking and laughs, grabbing onto my hand. "I quit gymnastics, Mahanna. I won five championship gold medals. And I got the perfect- well, almost perfect- guy. Im happy."

"Almost perfect?" I ask, she smiles at me, a few tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I miss you, Mahanna." She leans into my shoulder and I put my arm around her.

"Hey, Mahanna." I say, frowning a little. "You remember that day you talked to me?" I feel Azusa stiffen. "Do you remember the girl I told you I liked? Well, I finally got her. Took me almost twelve years. She almost killed me once, kicked me in the jaw three times, and Im pretty sure she's going to punch me in a minute. But I guess its worth a try right?" I smiled down at Azusa, who looks a little shocked, then continue. "Neither of us has been her for a while, but well start visit more often now. Or atleast I hope we can. We might not depending on her answer. But, I hope you'll give us your approval. Im going to make her happy- if I can. She's not hard to please, but her personality is really killer, Mahanna."

"What are you talking about, Aubrey?" I stand, pulling her up with me and I reach into my pocket.

"I called your parents this morning, it took about three hours of talking to him for him to agree." I went down on one knee. "Azusa, will you marry me?"

She's pale for a moment. Then her eyes well up with tears.

"Yes."

I stand up, smiling, and pull her up into my arms. She kisses me, smiling at me, then she turns to smile at the grave.

"Hey, Mahanna," She wippes the tears from her cheeks. "Im going to bring my kids here in the future. I hope they'll love you as much as I do."

The image of the little girl floods back. She's doing more than smiling, shes holding onto me, smiling up at me.

"Mahanna." It's me calling her name. Her hands are tugging on my pants pockets, and I pull her up into my arms. Then I see Azusa standing infront of me, tracing her thumb over her my lip and kissing me over Mahanna's head. She kisses my cheek, then kisses her mothers cheek.

"I love mama and daddy."

"And we love you, baby." Azusa takes my hand, smiling.

"Aubrey?" Azusa looks at me. "Are you alright? Your smile is a little creepy."

"How mean." I puff out my bottom lip. "Im just happy." She nips my bottom lip, smiling.

"And so am I."