Funeral Blues

Mr.P's funeral went just as everybody thought. Many people showed up. His former students, friends, and everybody from Pine Hill.

The gang was sitting in the back all the time. They only got up to greet people now and then, and to say their last goodbye. They knew nobody there felt the way they did. They were the only ones sharing that gut wrenching feeling sitting there together in silence.

Than everybody left. Everybody but Rose.

She wanted to say her goodbye alone. Her and Mr.P had a father daughter bond and they all knew losing him for her meant like losing her father, the only one she ever had and that she would ever have.

She said she'd meet the others back at the house. Noah really wanted to stay with her but he knew better than to ask. He knew she needed this and he wanted her to be okay.

After they were all gone, she stood next to the stone bearing his name.

- I know I let you down a lot. And you probably wish I had visited more often. I'm sorry, I really am. But I know you understand me…you always have.

I don't know what it feels like to have a father, but if its anything like it was having you, than I have missed out on a lot.

Thank you for everything. I will miss you more than I can put into words today, or any other day.

Tell Grandpa I'm okay.

She knew she was about to cry so she got up and gave him one last look, then walked home.

She was never the biggest dreamer. But for years now she had always dreamed of walking home to the others. Home to people who cared about her. She just never thought it would be this way.

Everybody from the neighborhood had come over to Mr.P's house. It was crowded with people walking around. The rooms buzzing with hushed conversations about anything but the fact that he was gone. And he would never come back. And that the gang had lost the one person in Pine Hill who loved them without judging and who somehow kept them all connected.

It was crowded but they felt all alone.

- Hey Hunter, maybe you should give Rose a call. She isn't back yet, maybe you could pick her up, just so we know she's okay..

Aliyah didn't say it but she was scared Rose wouldn't come back again.

- No, she needs her time. She'll be back don't worry.

He had somehow seen through her. But she was right to be scared. Rose had the habit of disappearing without a notice. But she too felt like she wouldn't leave today.

The living room was crowded with people. There wasn't a place to sit down. And even if there was Noah didn't feel like sitting next to anybody and pretend to be okay . He felt alone and numb standing next to the windows, resting his head on the glass.

Than Anne saw him.

- Hey, you okay?

- Hi Anne ! Yes, fine. Just thinking how different it's gonna be now that he's gone.

It just already feels surreal. Everything changing so fast..

- Yeah well that's life, it stings sometimes than it heals, or we get used to it maybe, but at least we know for sure it won't always feel this way.

- Yeah, it might not hurt the same one day but I'll miss him this much forever.

- Hey at least he brought the gang together again huh?

- Well, yes I guess. Allison isn't here and if she missed the funeral she probably won't come at all.

- What can I say.. you know how she is. She'll process everything in her own time I hope.

- How is she ? I tried writing but I guess she doesn't want to talk yet. Ever since the accident both of them seem like, I don't know distant , different

- She's okay. Trying her best at least. She'll bounce back. Being away will help. Rose is back too.

- Yeah, I got to see her little before the funeral. We didn't get the chance to talk much, not sure if she wants to either.

- Look what happened between all of you wasn't your fault. Or hers. But she sure feels guilty and guilt is a heavy burden to hold. And she's held enough. If there is someone she would talk to, its you. She's staying with me for a little. You know her she would never say but she doesn't seem to be on the best terms with that Grandmother of hers. God knows what the deal is with her. It makes me wonder if she was safer with her mother's disinterest. At least she was here and we could check on her, it just doesn't feel right her being out of our sight. But hey its Rose so there is not much we can do. And Zoë's house probably brings back bad memories.

- Yeah maybe she just needs some time too.

- Hey even if she doesn't want to talk, you can just be by her side today. I have a feeling she wouldn't mind that.

She said tilting her head towards the windows. And he saw her sitting in the concrete step between the peach trees. He gave a warm smile that meant thank you and went outside.

It was still a bit windy outside.

She was lost in her thoughts and didn't even hear him approaching.

She was stroking her right hand , the one she had hurt in the accident he remembered.

It was a full moon.

She looked even prettier to him in this light that made the blossoming trees look like a million pink butterflies had filled their branches.

- Hey, still think that's where you came from ?

- Hey, still think that's where you came from ?

When they were little Rose kept telling everyone that her parents had picked her from an orphanage on the Moon. She really liked the moon, and probably the thought of being picked. Or maybe she just wanted to belong anywhere else but here.

And Noah was the only one to never make fun of her for it.

- It still makes more sense than my mom willingly giving me life.

He smiled.

- Still no sign of her?

- I'm not looking for one. I'm used to her absence, wouldn't want to change it.

- Hey look, just wanted to let you know that..

He said and then realized it probably wasn't the right time.

- Mr.P would probably be happy to know you're here.

He really wanted to tell her how much he had missed her and how much it had hurt being away for this long, and that he was angry for all the missed calls and unanswered texts. But right now he was okay with just having her there. And he hoped they would have enough time to talk about everything else.

- Do you think he's happy? That there is still a chance to be happy after, you know, this. After we leave this?

- Well, he lived a very admirable life. He did what he loved all those years, changed all those lives, including ours and he's probably with Eloise under some peach tree so yeah, I guess.

Do you?

He asked but the others joined them outside so he never got a response.

- So this is nice, all of us together again. I am even slightly happy to see Helmet head here. Who would've thought!

Hunter was only trying to lighten the mood now more than pick on Rose.

- Yeah, only Allison's missing. I really hoped she'd come back too.

Aliyah felt bad they hadn't mentioned her all day.

- Well, maybe she just didn't miss us enough. She will one day and she'll be back don't worry.

Hunter had other things he wanted to say, but he'd rather say them to her. He wouldn't feel okay talking about things with Allison not being present.

- I'm sure she misses us, she just probably needs a bit more time. She'll be back soon.

Connor truly wanted to believe that, but he knew Allison wasn't the best at communicating her issues, or solving them. None of them were but she needed someone to blame to justify what she felt. She had chosen to blame them. And he knew.

- How you been ? Still up to no good?!

Hunter jokingly asked Rose, changing the subject , knowing she wouldn't want to talk about Allison until she had actually talked to her . And knowing that her shutting everyone out had hurt Rose the most.

- Yup, still killing people all around the city at night and painting their corpses by day.

Saved the best canvas for when I get to you.

- Wouldn't be surprised if that isn't a joke you know.

- I know. Maybe its not.

She said and winked at him. She knew he had purposely asked.

Hunter and her seemed like they never get along but everyone knew they were better friends than her and Allison ever were.