Sunken

chapter six

Let it be known that nobody knows exactly how to deal with death. Lorelei's was no different.

When Cassandra broke the news to Felix and everyone, it would have been an understatement to say that they were distraught. It as if no one could have seen this coming despite how close they  all were to Lorelei. Needless to say, her death was unforgivable, incorrigible, and had rocked the small community to its core.

As for Christine. Oh, poor dear Christine. She took it the worst. When she finally arrived home, she refused to leave Lorelei's house, curling up in all of the paraphernalia. Photo upon photo scattered the floor and her tears had thoroughly soaked the rug. Not even the sweetness of pie or the warm love of all the cats in the world could get her to smile. She had just lost her best friend who she could talk about anything to. Why was life so cruel? Why hadn't she been more attentive? She knew something was up when Lorelei called sounding a little less hinged than normal but she shoved her away like a bratty little girl in favor of what? A silly essay?

If only she had known. If only she had known all the pain Lorelei was going through. She would have come home immediately and sat down with all the pints of ice cream and episodes of sitcoms the two could stand. But that would never be the case.

This wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair, she had wailed, kicking and screaming like a child throwing a tantrum. And she had every right to. The death of any friend is jut awful, the grief she felt was immeasurable. She refused to see anyone, shutting herself in just like Lorelei had in her last few months.

But that didn't last long. Christine was always a social girl and eventually sought out the comfort of a classmate, the two having had grown close during the first week. The classmate, despite his shy nature, was a shoulder that Christine could lean on. He was sweet and purely comforting to a severely distraught Christine.

Everything in their lives was on the up and up until... Cassandra.

The main culprit herself had barely any words to say. Too many thoughts suffocated her. There was clearly no excuse for her actions. As for apologies, who would she even apologize to? Christine? She could hardly even talk to her in the state she was in. Lorelei's friends? She couldn't face them or her own boyfriend for that matter, for they all knew what she had done. Onyx was the most vocal, furious and roaring that Cassandra had used Lorelei. 

And the more Cassie thought about it the more she realized that Onyx was right. She had cheated on her boyfriend, thinking that it would somehow, by the grace of God, turn out okay. But cheating in any form was never going to turn out okay.

She had used Lorelei's feelings for her to satisfy herself in her failing relationship. She had lied and planted all sorts of ideas about a perfect life out on the sea with her in Lorelei's foolish and needy heart all the while never planning to follow through with them. But Cassandra never expected for it to turn out like this. Lorelei drowning herself in the very sea that Cassandra had promised to her.

Cassandra knew that the things she had done were in all senses of the word unforgivable. She manipulated Lorelei, lied to her, and hurt her in a way that could never be healed. And as much as she would deny it in favor of her boyfriend, she did love Lorelei.

But in her defense, however, Cassandra threw back that Lorelei thought that her friends hated her.

It was true, they resented Lorelei for wanting Cassandra more than anything else. Foolishly they had let petty jealousy blind them to Lorelei's suffering.

Onyx, for as angry as he seemed on the outside, was positively miserable. Another pointless argument had resulted in another unnecessary death. For many nights Onyx had drunk himself into a stupor, cursing at himself for not being there for Lorelei after Cassie had tossed her aside. He could have prevented a death, but did nothing. Like watching a train wreck while holding the controls.

Onyx had thought he had learned his lesson the first time with the death of his ex but his petty hatred had gotten him again. Even after all the help Lorelei had given him, the hope to turn his life around, he couldn't get over the fact that Lorelei ran right into Cassie's arms. Right into the arms of the person he hated most.

He missed Lorelei. He missed her so much and there was nothing he could do about it aside from clutching the knife she had left on his porch so tightly his hands bled.

Needless to say, Onyx was an absolute mess, but this time Lorelei wouldn't be there to help him.

It was clear that everyone missed Lorelei, Christine the most, of course. The town just wouldn't be the same without her. It was like a piece that had fit perfectly into the puzzle had been ripped out suddenly, and everyone was still trying to catch up. But it doesn't change the fact that they loved Lorelei, and still do.