The Planet Among the Stars (Completed)

Chapter 10

"Did your mom plan this without my knowledge?" Shaun's dad stared at his son.

"No." Shaun shook his head, "She hasn't been sober enough to plan anything ever since Abby died."

"Wait-" I said, "Jane Evans isn't your mom's name?"

"That's my mother, Abby's grandmother," Mr. Evans said.

"The funeral is tomorrow at 1," I said, switching the topic from the fact I didn't know Abby's mom's name.

He rested his arm on the table, "I never got an invite."

"Yes you did," Shaun said, "It's in our mailbox. Don't forget, you have a home."

Shaun's dad closed his eyes and sighed, "I can't risk running into your mother."

Shaun nodded, "I wasn't planning to go either."

"It's your daughter-" I said. Then I remembered what Shaun had said about his mom.

"I know... but Shaun's mom is not in her right mind. I'm not willing to go into all that legal trouble," Shaun's dad shook his head.

He had a point.

I thanked him for the food and stood up. I looked around and realized how messy the living space was, "Do you want me to clean this up?"

Mr. Evans looked surprised, "I mean- if you want too. I need to go and work. Make yourselves at home I guess."

"Okay," I said. I felt it was the least I could do in return for breakfast.

Shaun looked at me like I was insane, "I thought you needed to get home."

"I mean I do... but it's least I can do to say thank you."

Shaun rolled his eyes but looking around, he decided to help me.

I started throwing away the trash on the table. Shaun grabbed the butter and honey and put it back.

By the time we finished, it was about noon. I opened one last cabinet to put away some unused napkins. However, when I opened it, I stopped.

A small couple stood in the picture frame. Abby and Shaun, who looked a lot younger in the photo, stood next to them. The picture had dust on the edges. The present Shaun came behind me.

"When was this taken?" I asked.

"Long time ago I guess," he whispered, "Before mom started drinking."

The kids in the picture had big smiles on- Shaun especially. Well, I had never seen him smile. However, Abby looked like her normal self, except she seemed lighter. As if she weren't so worried and scared all the time.

"You were a cute little kid," I laughed.

Shaun gave just the slightest smile.

I dusted the frame a little.

"I remember it now," Shaun said suddenly, "We took that at the park. It was Abby's birthday and my grandma wanted to take our picture. That was back when I liked hanging out with my family." He then looked at my expression, "What?"

I shrugged, "I just- I didn't know you smiled."

"Well, I don't do it very often."

"Even around Alven?"

Shaun raised his eyebrow, "Alven?"

"Isn't he your best friend?"

"Yeah."

"Doesn't he make you smile?"

"Well, he does make me laugh sometimes. But yeah, even that's rare."

"Oh."

"Yeah. But I haven't talked to him in person since Abby died."

"You haven't?"

"Well, it's just hard. Don't tell anyone this but he really liked her. As a crush I mean."

"I never knew," I said.

"Yeah. But I don't know, I just feel bad. It's just hard to talk to anyone close to Abby about her death knowing I could have stopped it."

I tilted my head, confused, "But you talked about her to me. She and I were best friends."

"I know," Shaun said.

"Why?"

Shaun held the picture frame in his hand, "I don't know. You just seemed to understand."