Family Reunion

Funeral

     Its been a week since they told me about the funeral and today is the day. The past week I've been distancing myself i don't talk that much to anyone and i haven't been sitting with Beth at school. I've been eating my lunch on the bleachers on the phone with Kevin. I'm standing in my bedroom wearing a knee length black lace dress with half sleeves  with my black flats. I've put my hair so it was clipped in the back keeping it out of my face. I check my phone too see a message from Cory and Kevin telling me they will meet me there.

      I walk downstairs to see Kathy and my father in a black dress and a black suit. I told him he didn't have to go but he insisted. "Ready?" He asked. "Yeah." I said coldly. We walk outside to the vehicle and i sit in the back putting in my earbuds so they don't talk to me. I see Kathy look in the back to see me she then looks over to my father holding the hand thats not on the steering wheel. 2-1/2 Hours later we reach the cemetery. As i step out i see Willman and Mae and the group a little bit farther talking by a tree. I look over to see my father and Kathy motioning for me to go. I walk over to them. "Hey Lexi. How are you doing?" Willman asked. "I'm fine. We knew this was happening." "It's okay to not be fine. You know that sweetie." Mae says hugging me. "I'm gonna go to the group." I say leaving the adults alone.

     When i walk up to the group Kevin grabs me and pulls me into a kiss. "Really Kevin not the time to be a horn dog." Cory says pulling an annoyed Kevin from me. "Not cool." Kevin says hugging me from behind. "I missed you. How are you feeling" He whispers into my ear. I look up to him. "I'm okay. I just wish everyone would stop asking me that." "Okay." "Wheres Cammie Cory?" "She had another family thing. She says sorry for your lost." "Well can we hang out after this?" I ask hoping to change the subject. "Will your father be okay with that." Kevin asked me "I know he isn't a fan of Kevin. Especially since you ran from home and slept in a hotel with him." Cory said pointing at Kevin who had a shocked face with a hand over his heart. "Me? What did i do? I'm innocent." He said with a smirk. I looked at him. "You are far from innocent. You took my innocence." I said with a wink. "HEY! I'm still here lovebirds." Cory said fake throwing up. "Its okay to be on a dry spill Cory." Kevin says patting him on the shoulder. "I hate you." He says and walks away. Kevin grabs my hand and we head to the crowd of people.

      We walk over to the group of people and stand near the adults. "Good to see you sir." Kevin says putting his hand out to shake hands with my father. "I wish it was under different circumstances." Cory stands next to me. "Oh right Father this is my other best friend, Cory." They shake hands. "Nice to meet you sir." He says politely. "You too." We see a preacher with a microphone. We all sit and listen to the ceremony. "Now we have a couple of people who would like to say something about Michelle." They preacher says motioning towards me and Mae. Mae steps up. "Hello, I'm Mae and i was Michelle's sponsor. She was a great woman, She told me she had to get sober for her daughter." She says looking at me. Mae went on talking about her for awhile telling funny stories and then it was my turn. I took the microphone and a deep breathe looking at Kevin and Cory for comfort.

      "Hi, I am i mean was Michelle's daughter. She was a great mother always made my smile no matter what was going on. When she started drinking it was hard i was not seeing the mother i had but when she got sober-" I take a deep breathe keeping the tears at bay. "Sober. We started to rebuild our relationship and she was getting better but like Mae said sometimes this disease is hard to fight. I wish she could've fought it but I'll always have the memories that we shared before the drinking and everything. Like making late night runs to get ice cream just because i wanted ice cream or when we just had dance parties in the house cause it was bad weather outside. I'll always have those memories." I said the last part trying to remember. "Thank you." I said with a small smile going back to my friends. "Thank you." The preacher said. We all watch as we see them put her into the ground. I place a rose onto her coffin. 'I love you mom'. As i put the flower down i see Marcus by the tree we were at earlier. I look at the guys and see them talking to Willman and my father. I walk over to Marcus.

Steve's POV

      Alexis went to put a flower onto the coffin and Cory and Kevin came and talked to Willman and I. "So. Did you guys know Michelle?" I ask the two younger boys. "Yes sir. We were there for her through it all with Lexi." Cory said. "What do you mean it all?" I ask curiously. Kevin looks at Cory and Willman walks off with his hands up. "I want no part of this." He says as he walks off leaving me with the younger boys. "What did you mean?" "We were there when Lexi would be up all night worried cause her mother wasn't home or when she didn't come home for days." Kevin quickly says. "Is that why she told me you have stayed with her before." They both looked shocked. "Yeah she told you about that." Kevin says nerviously. "Don't worry i didn't ask what else. She hasn't exactly opened up to me about everything." I say looking at my daughter who is standing looking at a person she then walks off in that direction. "Hey. Do you two know that guy?" I said pointing at the man by the tree. "Who?" Cory asked. They look at each other. "Willman!!" Kevin calls for Willman as the two young boys run off to Lexi.