Cheers and Goodbyes
They were all together again, laying down on their spot four years later.
- Hey guys.. which one of us do you think will die first?
Aliyah asked
- Aaaaand Rooftop Aliyah is back ladies and gentleman
Connor joked.
Whenever they got up to the rooftop Aliyah would just get in this mood of asking the most random, weird questions.
- Well, together with thinking we need to stop bringing you here before you turn into a psycho and kill us all, I think definitely Rose, all those drugs can't be doing her any good.
She laughed.
- Well Hunter, worry more when I stop taking them.
They laughed together. And it felt so good.
- Just promise me that if I leave first you guys will all be together at my funeral no matter where you are in life, even if you aren't talking to each other anymore.
They all stayed silent.
- Somebody promise before it cries!
Hunter joked.
- I promise you Aliyah that if that ever happens I will gather each and every one of them no matter where they are. I will drag them here.
Noah promised and she smiled knowing he would in fact keep this promise if it ever came to it.
- Well if I die first..
Rose interrupted before Hunter could finish his sentence
- If you die first we will know you probably joked about the wrong persons drug addiction and ended up dead in a ditch
Noah laughed
- Yeah, after my body is found you guys keep an eye out for a painting of it .
The others laughed.
- Man I've missed you guys! Even you two bickering just feels right.
Connor only now noticed how happy he was they were all together and how much he wished Allison was there too.
He often told her that she was wrong for cutting ties with everybody
- I wish we'd brought beer.
Hunter said, remembering how he had bought them their first ones years ago.
- I'll run by Mr. Mohas and pick us up a twelve pack. Wanna come with Ro?
Noah volunteered more because he wanted to spend some time with Rose than he wanted beer.
- Sure! I'd love to check out the ditches around here!
She said as Noah held out his hand and helped her get up.
- Ha ha ha ! Very funny!
Hunter said and smiled as he watched them leave together.
- Now it feels right, Connor.
He said and they both smiled.
Mr. Mohas little supermarket was only a few minutes' walk away. They were walking slowly and Noah still couldn't believe she was there. He could smell her perfume. She still wore the same one.
It smelled like summer.
- How's Jack?
She asked. Meaning their father. Lorelei, his mother had passed away before they moved out. Now they lived with their father, he owned a law firm and was often on work trips so during that time they would stay at their grandmother's old house in Pine Hill.
- He's doing okay. Working as usual but he does what he loves so he doesn't mind. He's asked about you many times. But you'll see him tomorrow. He's asked to meet us about Mr.P's will.
- Maybe he finally decided who gets to keep the books..
- Sorry to break it to you but I've already written my " moment" on the middle page of "Crime and Punishment" and as you know all too well that means it's now mine.
Noah and Rose would always find the middle page of whatever book they were reading, and when they came to that page they would write the date, time, place they were reading at and their signature. They called it the "moment". This way years from then their great grandchildren would have a sweet memory when reading the books.
- Yeah well you know how it is with old books, you never know, the page might just go missing.
- You're ready to play dirty I see..
- Hey its "Crime and Punishment", be lucky I'm not murdering you for it.
They laughed.
She was looking at him smiling and she really hoped he wouldn't hate her one day when she decided to leave. She really wanted to make amends with all of them. She wanted to see them all together again for the last time.
Wanted to make sure they would have each other's back when she left.
- Hey diid you guys ever go back? To the lake house?
- No. Hunter and dad went a few times but I just didn't feel like going without you guys.
- I miss it sometimes. It was so quiet and peaceful there.
- Me too. We can go there sometime. If you feel like it. If it won't bring back bad memories from…everything. Together, once Allison's back too.
They climbed the steps and got into the store.
The few people there greeted Noah with a smile. The little man behind the register was writing something down when he noticed them. He looked for a second then bolted to his feet in surprise.
- If it isn't little Rosie herself!!
He said looking happy to see Rose.
- Hi Mr.Mohas. It's very nice to see you again.
- You too. C'mon get over here and give me a hug!
Noah laughed a little knowing Rose hated hugs and watching her awkwardly give a hug was priceless.
- Here for the funeral huh? Sorry to hear about Mr.P. He was a very good man, still can't believe he's gone.
- Yeah neither can we
Rose said and really meant it.
- Little Rosie, how happy I am you are okay, it's a miracle you got out of that accident alive.
Rose didn't respond. She stroked her hand , feeling the pain kicking in again.
- Anyway we're just here for a few beers.
Noah didn't feel like talking to other people about Mr.P or the accident right now.
- You kids up the roof again huh? Gotta tell you, kinda glad you didn't send Hunter for the beers. He keeps scolding me over them not being cold enough.
Typical Hunter they thought and gave an affirming smile.
Rose's phone rang and she went outside to answer it as Noah paid for the beers.
She looked at the phone ring, Irene was calling. She didn't feel like talking to her tonight so she declined the call and waited for him.
He came out holding the beers.
- Want help with those?
- Nah, I got it. But here, this one's for you.
He said, handing her a little lemon candy bar. Her favorite.
- All things lemon right?
He smiled remembered how she only liked lemon ice cream, and lemonade, and lemon cake.
- They still got these?
She had wondered before, if what he felt for her, if she felt the same. But then he would do something so unconsciously and she'd know he was the only person who knew her like that. She knew she felt different about him. That if she had to choose one person in this world whose hand she would want to hold forever. She would pick his. But then she remembered Allison.
- Thank you. For today.
She smiled at him and he felt that warm feeling in his chest again.
- Got Aliyah a cherry one.
- She'll cry.
- Yeah, most probably.
They laughed and walked back.
The night was getting colder and Aliyah started shivering.
- Hey guys, you know how Rose went to some fancy private school?
She asked Connor and Hunter who were laying on her left.
- Yeah, what about it?
Hunter remembered Noah mentioning it before.
- Well my cousin went there too. She told me the other students weren't very nice to her.
- What do you mean?
Hunter asked, taking off his jacked and covering her with it.
- Well according to her, they once locked her in the basement after gym.. It had tiny high windows and they only found her an hour later.
- What? Are you sure?
Hunter and Connor were now sitting up. Hunter looked mad.
- Yes. She said the other kids even tried to cut her hair once so she'd tried to break loose and had accidently hurt one of the boys holding her. Of course he was the son of someone important so she said her teacher had requested she be expelled but Irene, her grandmother, had made her apologize to the others.
Connor thought of her hair. They were so long now, he wondered if that was the reason she hadn't cut them.
- What? Why are we only learning about this now?
Hunter remembered how he had promised her he would be there, and he realized he hadn't. He felt a sharp pain cross his chest. There was nothing he would have wanted more than to have been there. He knew that apology might've just broken her heart the most. First her mother, and now this.
- Well because I had reached out to Rose back than and she told me it wasn't true and that she was fine. And you know how she gets when ..
Just as she was about to say something more they heard their voices. So she stopped talking.
Noah and Rose came up the stairs to the rooftop. They handed them the beers.
- And this one's for you Aliyah.
Noah said handing her the candy.
- Its for me? Oh Noah, you are the most thoughtful friend I have ever had.
- Oh for goodness sake don't start getting emotional again. I gave you my jacket. That didn't make you cry.
And only now she realized she was no longer feeling cold and that he had covered her with his own jacket. She looked at him and thought she could hear her heart beating a bit faster. She shook the feeling quick .
- Yeah thanks. That was very thoughtful too.
Hunter felt like he was slowly turning a bit red so he changed the subject.
- Ugh I knew I shouldn't have sent you two geeks to get the beers. These aren't even cold! He had them out the fridge again didn't he?
Noah gave Rose a smiling look and she smiled too.
- What time did dad say he'll be here tomorrow?
Hunter asked annoyed.
- 9 am, so we gotta get up early.So we better keep the night short. You know how dad is!
- The coolest ever?
Aliyah, now studying law, was promised a summer internship at his office.
- Yeah, the coolest!
Hunter replied sarcastically and Noah smiled.
- I guess its just me and you left not studying anything huh?
Connor smiled and hi-fived Rose
- I tried, it turns out it isn't my thing.
- Well you can sell your paintings one day, and I'll just live on your couch.
- I'll get the best couch than.
- Cheers to that then!
He said and they cheered with their beers.
- I say cheers to Mr.P. For all he taught us..
Aliyah said, getting up and holding up her bottle, her eyes welling up.
- And for all he was
Noah said, raising his bottle too and putting his arm around her
- And for all he will always be to us.
Connor said as he got up too.
- To Mr.P!
Rose and Hunter said joining in on the group hug.