Bandmate ||Ricky Garcia||

e p i l o g u e

           

                       

 Years later

_______________________

Audrey's POV 

I never thought I'd have to spend the day of my graduation at the cemetery. We crowd around grandpa's grave letting the petals fall over him. It's been a year since his death from a heart attack we were all just waiting to happen. It surprised us that he was able to fight for this long. 

It's a good feeling because none of us are sad. We saw him lose himself year after year slowly disappearing, at least now he's in heaven with full memory. I always hoped he could make it for one more year so he'd see me with my orange and blue gown. But as I stand here I know he wouldn't even have a clue on who I was.

Grandma clenches on to my mom and dad's hands. Her tears still stain her rosy cheeks. We stayed at the cemetery for around an hour before heading back to our old house. Which isn't so far from where Andi now lives. He decided to stay here after he graduated last year since the place where he was doing an internship hired him. 

Mom had bursted out crying when he first showed us his apartment. To think Andi is a 27-year-old now living with his fiancee Laura baffles all of us. We're just waiting for the wedding date to be set.

Jos and Emery are already planning on their outfits while Ricky and I will probably go shopping last minute. Jos and Emery have been together through all of college and his tours. It was difficult as the years progressed. The band got more recognition and we were starting our internships. Time swallowed us whole. We would go months at a time without seeing each other which drove everyone crazy.

Emery and Jocelyn broke up and got back together at least 4 times by now. I'm starting to wonder if maybe they too will get married. Ricky and I took breaks a few times during these past years but we were never apart longer than a month.

For the first few months after he dropped me off at BSU, we kept in touch and texts were a ritual at a point. Slowly our heated exchange of text messages cooled off. We still talk daily but not as often. It took us some time to develop a schedule that worked for both of us.

Last year he insisted on coming over to my grandpa's funeral, but I told him to stay back in California. He had an important meeting that I didn't want him to miss. During the service last year, I would look every few seconds to my right, creating an illusion of his presence to give me comfort. The only difference is this time he'll be here. In a matter of hours, I will see him for the first time in 7 months.

''Okay, let's change to go to dinner. Andi, you'll meet us there?'' Dad asks as we all unload from the car. Andi gives him a thumbs up before running to his car. Laura was still at work and since her car was towed because she was in an accident a few weeks ago, now Andi is her personal Uber.

''Audrey remember to wear the black heels! And hurry we have reservations!'' Mom yells across the yard as I opened up the door. Even at the age of 24, she's still controlling what I wear.

I get the heels and start to run back to the car. Mom is adjusting her makeup as we begin to pull out of the driveway. My phone starts to buzz and I look down at the screen.

I'll be there in a few hours, it read. I clench my phone to my chest. The urge to smile is uncontrollable.

"He's getting here soon?'' Dad asks, looking at me through the mirror. I nod counting down the time till I see him again.

~.~.~.~.~.~

To my surprise, Jos was sitting on the porch once we got back home. When she stood up I saw she was wearing a white skirt and a flushed top. She shimmies her way to the car as it parks.