Casey Sparks

Chapter 10: The day before

Okay. So tomorrow it's the funeral and mum hasn't stopped crying in weeks. Mum and I have taken the photos of him from around the house, made a collage and framed it in memory of dad. We have it up on a cream coloured wall and underneath it is a small auburn brown table on top is a vase full of flowers and candles. Mum thought it would be a good idea to get vanilla scented candles because they were always his favourite.

My phone buzzed indicating I got a message. I look down to see it's from Zara she sent,

Hey Casey. I thought I would just let you know that I'm sorry. I really miss talking to you and texting you when something happens. I broke up with Jake. It turns out that he was dating someone else once you left, stupid guy. I heard about your dad and I really would like to come to the funeral to pay my respects to him, your mum and you. If you would let me? x

When I read it my heart stopped. I missed her too and I should actually be the one apologising to her, I'm the one who slept with Jake. I didn't know what to say. I showed my mum and asked for advice "well that's great honey. If you want to be friends again, say she can come and maybe apologise aswell. If you don't, don't just leave her hanging let her know"

I sat in my room staring at the wall trying to think about what I could say. Do I want to be friends again? How much? Where did Jake leave to? Is he happy there? Is it close? Hold up. How did he get into my head and why do I care about his happiness. I texted Zara back saying:

Um..Hey. I don't think you should be the one apologising. I'm sorry about that night, things got out of hand. I miss talking to you to. I'm glad you broke up with him, he can find another girl and treat her like trash. But not my bestfriend. I would really like it if you came, it would make me feel a bit better. x

I sent the message and closed my eyes. I found my mind going to the blonde girl Dylan's with. I've seen her somewhere before. I just can't remember where.. I look at her (not in a completely obvious way) and I she laughs at something Dylan must of said. That laugh. I know that laugh, it's Jakes laugh. She has the same nose as him. And she needs do die her hair because even in the distance I can see her brown regrowth. Ew.

I open my window and call Dylan's name. She looks up at me and smiles. Why is she smiling? Dylan comes to the window with a grin from ear to ear, "what is it sparky?" I roll my eyes when he called me that "I was wondering if you would come to my dad's funeral? It would make me feel better having you there." I tried not to shout it so loud the neighbourhood could hear. He looked surprised his mouth opened and closed like a fish for a couple of seconds and finally he said "I'd love to."

I smiled, I almost had shut my window when he yelled "sparky wait!" I opened my window back up in confusion "can Rosemary come to?" He said who the hell is romemary? The blonde girl smirked "Can I please bring someone else aswell?" Rosemary? What a weird name. "Are they going to bring someone too and it will turn into a huge party?" I questioned. She smiled and shook her head "who are you bringing so I can put them on the guest list?" I ask through my teeth fake smiling all of a sudden she looks shocked "oh um can't you just write plus one?" She flicked her hair off her shoulder and started twirling it. I smiled and slammed my window shut. Why did I just do that? How could I just do that? Why didn't she want me to know who it was?

I went down stairs and mum was crying on the couch. I jog over to mum and sit beside her. I hug her and she sniffs placing a tissue to her nose. "Have you got something nice to wear?" She sniffs again wiping her nose "yeah" I lie. "I'm just going to jump in he shower and then I'll make dinner" mum said as she collects her mountain of tissues on the coffee table.

I walk up the stairs and stub my toe on the last stair, I fall over causing me to roll down the previous 19 steps I just waked up. I'm not sitting at the bottom on the stairs holding my toe breathing heavily. Mum can't hear what just happened because she's already in the shower. I finally walk up the stairs feeling like a cowboy and walk into my room. I lie down on the bed and doze off.

I get woken up by mum "sweetie dinner is ready" I jump up out of bed carefully going down the stairs watching every single step I take. "Are you okay?" Mum laughs I join in laughing "yeah I just stubbed my toe before so now I'm being careful" I sit down and eat dinner with my mum both of us staring at the empty chair that dad used to sit in and mum gets up and leaves the table. A few minutes later she comes back and apologises and I shake my hand dismissively. We both finish our food and I go sit on the couch mum goes to the freezer and gets out cookies and cream ice-cream. My favourite. She puts some in a bowl for me and herself and puts it back in the freezer. She hands me a bowl with a spoon and sits down next to me while I put on gossip girl.