The Ultimate Summer: The sequel to the Ultimate Senior Year Plan

_Mike_

I was putting on my tux getting ready to say goodbye to Cal for the rest of my life. I still had my wedding ring on my finger. I knew I wasn't going to get rid of this ring no matter what. I stared at myself in the mirror, my eyes were puffy and red from crying all night from Cal's death. I knew he was going to die but I somehow hoped and prayed for a miracle. I walked downstairs and i saw two people I never thought i would see ever. Luke stood up from the couch and so did Ash. They ran up to me, both of them gave me a hug tight. I let the tears slip from my eyes. "Your father called us he said that the funeral was today and we didn't want to let you be by yourself. Cal was our friend too." Luke informed me and I just hugged them tight. I knew that Luke and Ash wasn't on talking terms but I was happy that they could put aside their differences for the sake of Cal. "So you and Cal got married." Ash put his hand on my shoulder. "He wanted to get married and I knew he was only getting sicker and sicker by the minute. I had to make his wish come true." I replied to Ash and Ash nodded his head. "Mike, you are a good boyfriend. I never thought you would be seeing how you were in high school since freshman year but Mike you are one of the good people." Ash said while we got out of the car and was about to enter the funeral.  "I thought you were in treatment." I exclaimed to Ash and Ash shrugged his shoulders. "I need to be there for you and I couldn't come to Cal's funeral. He mattered to me too. The people at the treatment center understood that. I'm doing better Cal." Ash stated to me while Luke went inside to sit down at the funeral ceremony. I just nodded my head, "I'm glad you are okay Ash. I want you and Luke to be happy and have everything you could dream of. I'm glad that you guys are here." I said to him while we took our seats down in the front of the casket. I felt Ash's hand on my shoulder and I felt Luke's hand on my shoulder. They were comforting me but I knew they were heartbroken over Cal's death. Cal made my world better, he made me better. He made me fall in love and i don't think it would be possible for me to fall in love ever again. He mattered to me and right now having to say goodbye to him is crushing every ounce of my heart. I mean whatever is left of it at least. I just kept thinking of his son and what he felt knowing his father was now dead. He would grow up without a father just like Cal had to and I knew right then I would be there to help his son. i made a promise to myself. The funeral had a open casket and somehow Cal looked so peaceful in the casket. I got up to the front of the stand. I just stared at Cal having the wedding ring on his finger. I was glad that he wasn't suffering in the least bit at all. I turned towards the crowd gulping with nerves. "Calum Thomas Hood, was the love of my life. He changed me for the better, in his last moments, Cal was truly happy. He became my husband and I don't regret getting married to him at all." I looked around the crowd, I saw the Hemmings just shaking their heads. Ash's sister, Mandy was clutching Ben's hand. I could see the heartbreak around the room. I could feel the tension in the room and I wanted to wake up and see Cal laughing and just being alive. I wished he wasn't sick at all anymore. "When Cal came into the last year of school, Ash, Luke and I weren't friends in fact we made sure not to get in each other way but Cal made us become friends. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have these amazing friends like these guys. I don't regret falling in love with Cal because we made each other happy but it does hurt every being in me having to bury the love of my life." I bit my lip trying to hold in my tears. Ash got up and rubbed my back. The tears fell from my eyes and I just tried to read the rest of the speech but my tears were clouding up my eyes. Ash grabbed the paper and finished the speech for me. I watched as Ash read the speech but I wasn't focused on that anymore. Luke led me back down in my seat which Ash finished the eulogy of my husband. I grabbed my hands together. The eulogy was now done and I watched as they laid my husband down into the ground and I saw a woman that I never thought I would see again. It was Cal's mother. I walked up to her and I just stared at her. She had tears in her eyes and she looked skinny like she was unhealthy. I wanted nothing more than shout at her and make her feel horrible but I couldn't do that not when she was sobbing and shaking. I grabbed her into a hug and she sobbed into my chest. I let her sobbed on my tux. She pulled away from me. "I did love Cal, I know it  didn't seem that way after the fact that I wasn't around when he got sexual assaulted by the teacher but i let my pride get in my way and now my son thinks I hate him when I don't" Mrs. Hood confessed to me and I just nodded my head. I lead her into the funeral, I put my arm around her shoulders and we watched as they buried her son and my husband. She laid her head on my shoulder. She apologized to me and she touched Cal's casket before they put more of the dirt covering the casket in that moment. We all walked back to the cars, Mrs. Hood left back to the car. I watched as she went away. Ash, Luke and I all headed back to my house where we just sat there not saying anything in that moment. Ash and Luke was still angry at each other and I don't think that will change unless Ash tells Luke the truth which he won't.