Youngblood | Lonely Hearts Club

Prologue | Didja know churches had forests and towns in them?

"Are you doing okay, Missy?"

"I don't want to be here anymore, Mark."

"It's only a little longer, Jassy. Can you wait that long?"

"She doesn't want to stay though, Mo. I don't think we should make her."

"I know, I know. But Daddy and Aunt Melissa will want us to stay."

"I'm still here, you know."

"Jasmine, Mark, and Monet. Be quiet." It was then that Melissa Bell snapped her fingers in front of their faces, her harsh tone, though whispered, getting them to shut up instantly. The trio exchanged glances, their cheeks flushed in embarrassment by the fact that they had been caught, before looking down at the floor, remaining quiet so the rest of the funeral could continue. None of them dared to look up to the front of the room to lay eyes on the coffin in the front of the church.

Jasmine Ender sniffled, brushing a strand of golden hair over her shoulder as she laid her head on her sister's shoulder, a few tears sliding down her face. Monet Ivory sighed softly and laid her head on top of her, resting a hand on Jasmine's knee, like she was trying to let her know that she was there. Mark Nijer shot Monet a sympathetic look, grabbing a hold of Jasmine's hand and giving it a small squeeze. Today was going to be very hard for the twins. It didn't take a genius to figure that out. Ever since they had found out their mother had died a few days ago, Mark's mother had made it very clear that Monet and Jasmine were going to need him more than ever now. After all, how do you cope with something like that? So, Mark had done everything he could to make them feel better. Monet and Jasmine, when she wasn't at her Aunt and Uncle's, spent every moment they could at his house. The past week had been a mess, with Melissa and Henry Bell trying to get custody over their niece, since Clara Ender's will made it clear that Jasmine wasn't supposed to go to her father. He'd overheard his parents talking about it. It was a mess and the twins were caught right in the middle.

Still, there were some positives in the middle of the muddy mess. Mark had more sleepovers with the twins over the past week than they had over the past summer. After all, they hadn't been able to spend that much time together since the divorce and when things finally seemed to be straightening out, Jasmine got a job as an actress in a movie, so that meant that the three of them hadn't spent more than two days in a row together in a long time. Still, Mark wished it didn't have to be a death to let that happen.

Eventually, Jasmine whispered something into Monet's ear. A second later, Monet was standing and Jasmine was quick to follow, tugging at Mark's hand to get him to follow. This time, their families didn't stop them and they quickly left the sanctuary and into the common room, Jasmine's hand still wrapped tightly around Mark's and holding onto Monet's jacket sleeve. None of them spoke and their parents didn't follow them so Mark assumed that they knew just as he did. They couldn't handle being in the room anymore, speaking about Clara and her death and what would come after. And so, they left, wandering the church building until the stopped just outside of the bathrooms.

"I couldn't be there anymore," Jasmine whispered softly, leaning back against the wall, sliding down it to sit on the floor. She pulled her black tight-covered legs up to her chest, wrapping her small arms around them and hiding her face in her knees, causing her next words to be mumbled. "I just want Mom..." Her long, blonde hair, reminiscent of her mother's, pooled around her, shining bright like a halo against her black dress. Monet didn't waste a second, dropping down to her knees in front of her sister and holding her arms out to her, like she was asking for a hug. Mark dropped down beside her and Jasmine looked up for a second. She only hesitated for a second before jumping into their arms, hugging them tightly as she cried out. Monet whimpered slightly, laying her head on Mark's shoulder and letting her short, shoulder-length hair cover her face like a black veil. He wanted to say something to make them feel better but he wasn't sure what he could say. He didn't know what it was like to lose a family member, especially someone as important to them as their mother. And what were you supposed to say to crying girls? Sure, he'd dealt with them when they were being emotional before but he'd never seen Jasmine cry, not in all the two years he'd known them. Monet was a different story but that wasn't the point. He wasn't sure how to make Jasmine stop crying and he wanted to do nothing else more in the whole world right now.