One More Chance With Time

3.

Three days later

"I would like to thank you all for coming to our daughter's fune-." Holly Vega said through puffy red eyes as her voice caught in her throat before she tried to speak again as she tried to get the words out. Her husband placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Funeral." She manged to finish. "I...She...She would be so happy to know that so many people cared about her. That so many people would show up to pay their final respects to her."

Trina and the rest of Tori's close friends were sitting in the front pew of the church that was almost packed to the brim with friends and family and the students and teachers of Hollywood arts. Trina was staring blankly into space.

"What happened to our youngest daughter...will haunt us for the rest of our lives. There will always be a hole in our hearts that will never...never heal." Holly said as she began to sob and her husband gently helped her sit down on one of the provided chairs. She continued sobbing as David Vega took the stand and looked down at the coffin that contained his daughter's body and shuddered.

"Those of you...those of you who knew Tori, if you want to come up to the front and talk about her are more then welcome to." He said simply as he sat down next to his sobbing wife and buried his head in his hands.

Many students and teachers came to the front of the church to tell their stories about Tori and how she had impacted their lives. Lane came forward to tell everyone from Hollywood arts that grief counselors would be available for anyone who needed them and Sikowitz told everyone about the first time he had met her, how she had blossomed.

Beck headed for the front of the church and cleared his throat as he prepared to speak.

"My name is Beck Oliver." He said quietly. "When I first met Tori...she accidentally spilled something on me...I don't even remember what is was." He said quietly. "She was so nervous her first day...but as time went by, she kept getting more and more confident and happier and happier. He paused as he fought back tears "She was always smiling. Almost every time I saw her, she was happy with that grin on her face. Without her...everything is going to be a bit darker." He said quietly as he sat down.

Jade looked at the rest of Tori's friends and saw that Andre had his head buried in his hands. Everyone else just couldn't speak so she made the decision to step up to the front of the church to speak.

"My name is Jade West. And I...I'm sorry." She said as she turned to look at Holly and David Vega and then down at Trina. "When Tori first came to Hollywood arts...I...I was mean to her. Cruel to her. Nearly all the time. But she never sank to my level. She was always nice to me...always kind to me. She helped me out with so many problems and eventually, I realized something. She was my friend. She was...she was one of my best friends and I didn't realize it until...until it was too late."

Jade took a deep breath and grabbed a nearby tissue and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I...I was the one who found her." She said quietly. "I saw her. I saw what happened to her and there is no way she could have ever deserved what happened to her. I'm so sorry..." She said as she broke down and Beck gently escorted her back to the pew.

More and more people came forward to talk and offer condolences and support to the family with encouraging words and prayers. Holly and David would thank them but the look of despair in their eyes never faded. Jade thought it would always be there. And Trina...Trina just stared blankly ahead, seemingly not hearing anything or feeling the comforting hugs that people kept giving her.