antagonized :: andrews

Death and all his friends

School is always the same. Someone is late so Mr. Philips gets mad. Then we have boring classes, and in lunch Billy always picks on someone. Then there's more boring school and mr. Philips gets mad at someone again.

This day in particular was different. First of all I was the one who was late, alongside Billy. Billy was the one to get most of the yelling, which I didn't feel all to happy about.

Then we had about English literature and I enjoyed it! I was the only one doing the tasks and the only one listening. When lunch came around it was as if we'd turned into a whole different school. Billy didn't bully or annoy anyone this lunch. He was with his friends talking about whatever, but the thing is he was staring at me the entire time. Like he wanted to be with me instead.

I tried ignoring him as best as possible, but it wasn't easy. Imagine someone watching your every move. It is not easy to say the least.

Throughout the entire day Mr. Philips only got angry and yelled at someone once, and that was at me and Billy came late which I understand.

For the first time in a long time I had a good day. And I felt as though nothing could ruin it. "Abby!" Diana said loudly, interrupting my thoughts.

"What?" I asked groggily. "I asked if you wanted to come to my house with Anne?" Diana said, laughing. "I would love to" I said smiling. We went to Diana's beautiful household and stayed there for a couple hours.

"It's dinner time!" Diana's mother yelled. Diana looked confused before yelling back "already?". "Yes, it's 5pm. Hurry the food won't stay hot forever!" Her mother shouted.

I looked at the girls in slight panic. "God The time flies. I've got to go, I forgot to tell Gilbert where I am. Goodbye, see you tomorrow!" I said while hurrying out of the house.

When I was almost at home I could see many people, that I did not recognize, surrounding the house. I walked faster, both in confusion and in eager to find out what was going on.

"What's going on here?" I asked Gilbert, who was facing away from me. He jumped a little before turning around. The first thing I noticed was his tear stained face. "Dad is gone. He died in his sleep" he said, his voice trembling.

John is gone. He is dead. He will never speak, breathe, laugh or read again. He won't do anything. A couple hours ago he was breathing, talking, eating and smiling. He was alive and now he is just dead.

The only person I could say anything to, and the only person who understood was gone. All I felt like doing was to break down and cry. I wanted to scream in frustration and cry in sadness. But I had to stay strong, Gilbert's dad died. He was my uncle, but Gilbert's dad. I know I would have wanted my mom to stay strong for me.

Then I did the only thing that seemed natural. I  hugged him. I squeezed him so tight so I wasn't sure that he even breathed. Eventually his breath slowed down to a normal rate and he wasn't sniffling anymore. That's when I let go.

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I've been to five funerals . My grandfather's funeral, my grandmother's, my aunt, my cousin and my father's. And now I was going to my uncle's funeral. Funerals weren't a new thing for me, i was used to them. The difference from those funerals to this one is that in the past ones I could cry and fall apart, but now I had to be strong for Gilbert.

I was standing in front of the mirror, pushing down on my dress. The dress was a black silk dress that fell right below my knees. I had pulled the hair away from my face, as usual.

Finally I went down stairs. Gilbert was not sitting in the kitchen as he usually does which was weird. I walked into his room and found him sitting on the bed, fully dressed, just staring out the window. I hurried over to him, my heels clicking as I walked. "Gilbert, we have to leave now" I said softly as I stroked his hair. "Right, I'll be down in just a second Abby" he said, and I could tell by his voice that he'd been crying.

I walked down stairs and put on my coat. Not so long after, Gilbert came down. I handed him his jacket and then he walked out of the house. I followed him instantly, and we walked to the funeral.

When we arrived everyone was staring at us, the pastor even. The funeral was much of a blur really. One moment we were walking, the next we were back home.

"I am so incredibly sorry for your loss" Ms Barry said as she held my hands. "He was a good man". I nodded in response. "Thank you, and yes he was".

Many, many people came up to me talking about John and how he was so wonderful, when in reality they didn't even know him. I saw Gilbert walking out with Anne and Diana talking to her parents. Josie Pye was here and all the other girls, but they weren't the ones I wanted to talk to at the moment, or ever.

After some time of debating with myself I eventually went up stairs to my room. I walked in and sat down on the bed. Suddenly the door opened and in stepped someone. I turned around quickly, facing Billy. Funny thing, he always seems to know where I am.

He walked over to me and instead of saying anything he pulled me into a hug. I felt like crying then and there, why not right? But I had to stay strong, for everyone, for Gilbert. And so I held the tears back.

He pulled away and sat beside me in silence. I looked at his hand, which was laying on his knee. The hand looked so welcoming, like it wanted to be held. So I did that, I held his hand in mine. He tensed up a little bit before relaxing and squeezing back.

We sat there in more silence, until the door to my room opened and in came Billy's father.
Billy immediately let go of my hand and stood up. I looked at him in slight disappointment. "We have to leave Billy" Billy's father told him. Billy nodded and turned around to me. "Goodbye, Abby" He said, his smile full of sympathy. I gave him a small smile before turning to the door.

"I am so incredibly sorry for you loss, Abigail" Billy's father said to me. I gave him a short thanks before they walked out. I sat in my bedroom, all alone. I was alone now. Sure I had Gilbert, Billy, Ruby, Anne and Diana, but nevertheless I was alone.

Gilbert was in his own mind, as expected. Ruby was too obsessed with Gilbert and would never talk about anything but Gilbert. Anne and Diana where so close they were practically joined at the hip. And Billy, I'm not sure if he likes me or if he's only doing what ever this is to make me feel better. But I would like to get some answers before I start to get feelings, wait. I think I already have.

Double post! Short disclaimer: I'm not following the plot 100%, i'm just writing what I remember.

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