Chapter 4, Part 1: The Burial

Thursday

Alissandra Cadence

     Three days have passed, which actually turned normal. Nothing so special. And it is currently Thursday, the day of Mrs. Caulfield's burial. And I haven't heard anything about Jason either. He also stopped texting me as if he were giving me space.

     "Mom! Are you coming???" I shouted since mom is upstairs getting prepared, and she's literally taking forever.

     "Yes, dear. Just wait a moment. I'm coming..." she said while blowdrying her hair.

     I have prepared already and I'm wearing the new black dotted dress that I just bought, a black fedora and a nice pair of black heels. Yes, I had to wear heels since my dress doesn't fit well with any of my sandals.     

     "Come on, mom! The burial will start soon!" I said while putting lipstick on.

     "Ahh, Jeezus just wait up, Alissandra! Are you itching to go out already?" and now she's pissed.

     Mom went down already and wore her sandals. She is also wearing a black dress with a blazer and sunglasses.

     She looked at me for a bit, lowered her sunglasses, and said "You look really good, dear."

     "I wish I'm also as young as you, and as pretty as well," she added while fixing her hair.

     "You already look good, mom. Let's just go, we're gonna be late," I said.

     "Okay, okay," she said and grabbed her bag and the keys.

     We went out already and Mom asked "Where the hell is your father, Alissandra?"

     "He'll be here in a minute," I said then looked around.

     Dad is supposed to be driving us to the burial, but he had some errands to run. He won't be attending the burial for some reason, maybe about work. As usual, like really.

     "Where the hell is Doug - oh there he is!" mom said and pointed out dad's car.

     "Oh Jesus gracious, where the heck have you been?" mom asked as he went to the car and opened the door.

     Mom already went in and also me. I sat beside dad and mom is in the backseat. As I sit inside the car I just saw our neighbor wearing a suit and getting in his car. We've been here for years but we don't really socialize with our neighbors. I don't really know them but I am already familiar with their faces.

     "What the hell are we waiting for, Doug?" mom asked, and she is obviously irritated.

     Dad suddenly snapped out "Oh, yeah." he said and accelerated the car already.

     "Oh for God's sake, Doug! We're gonna be late, stop daydreaming!" she said.

     And we went on our way to the burial peacefully. Mom's actually hysterical about things. And despite my mom's attitude, dad doesn't really care. He's just cool and calm.

     We arrived at the cemetery and we could already see the people that are already gathered up as we went out of the car.

     "Hey Doug, I'll text you later when we're about to go home, okay?" she said.

     "Okay, honey," dad said and kissed mom then left already.

     As we walk to the grave area there's a banner that says "Life is a destination. But merely a stop along the way." with Mrs. Caulfield's picture printed on it.

     I totally regret wearing heels, as it gets stuck in the grass. I really hope that my feet would get along with me today. As I don't wanna make a scene, especially on this type of occasion.

     "Oh, there they are," mom said then pointed to Mr. Caulfield as we approach them.

     "Mrs. Cadence!"

     "Mr. Caulfield!" they said in unison as they see and approach each other.

     Just like best friends that haven't seen each other in ages.

     "How are you?" he asked.

     "Good, as always. And I'm really sorry about your wife. I hope you'll get through this," mom said with full discretion.

     Mr. Caulfield just smiled and said "Let's gather up, the burial will start pretty soon," and led us to the grave area.

     Mr. Caulfield is pretty nice and he is so calm about the situation, regardless of what happened to his wife. He just smiles to get through the pain.

     We all gathered up as the burial started. The pastor began and said "The life given us, by nature is short; but the memory of a well-spent life is eternal," and continued by a eulogy.

     Then I suddenly saw Jason sitting right next to Jessica and Steve, which I didn't mind at all.

     As all the people began their speeches and after all that, all of us began throwing lilies on Mrs. Caulfield's grave. Until I saw someone, our neighbor. He is also here and he's sitting right next to mom. I wonder how he knew the Caulfields.

     And suddenly, mom stood up to throw her lilies to the grave. And he just moved and sat beside me and said

     "Hi."

     "Hello," I said awkwardly as I feel weird about him. He's actually really good looking, has really black hair, and is combed well. His brown eyes and thick brows make him look mean though. He also wears glasses and he's somehow buffed. And he is also tall as hell. He literally gives me those superman vibes even though he's way more attractive than Clark Kent. But he seems absolutely quiet, I could tell even though he just approached me.

     "What's your name?" he asked

     "Alissandra Cadence."

     "Oh, I'm Dwayne Caulfield," then he offered his hand.

     Wait, what? Caulfield?

     I also offered mine then we shook hands. His hands are ginormous.

     "We are actually neighbors though," I said.

     "Uhh, I'm sorry, what?" he sounds so confused.

     "I live in the black two storey house right next to yours."

     "Ohh, wow. You live there?" he looked so surprised.

     "Yes. We've been living there for years. It's kinda weird and funny that we haven't met though," I said.

     And It's kinda surprising that he is also a Caulfield. Jessica never told me about her relative that is also our neighbor.

     "Well maybe because I don't go out too much, and I'm also living by myself. But it's still kinda surprising since I grew up there. I've been there since I was a kid," he said

     "Oh, did you? Wow, haha," I actually know him by face but he doesn't know about me though.

     "So, do you know any of my relatives?" he asked.

     "Well, yeah. Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield is a friend of our family. And Jessica was once my best friend."

     "Once?" he asked while his eyes squinted.

     "We were best friends before, but she started avoiding me when she knew that the guy she likes confessed his love to me, which is actually my best friend that is also her childhood friend. Bah, it's really complicated."

     "What an aspiring love triangle of best friends," he said then laughed quietly.

     "Everyone, let us all stand as we pray," the pastor said and everyone stood up. Mom is also already heading back to where she was sitting.

     We suddenly stood up as everyone else did and Dwayne quickly moved to where he's sitting then he laughed discreetly for a second. It's kinda obvious that we're not paying attention to the burial. And mom is now already beside me.

     "We love and adore you, Lord, in Jesus' name, we believe and pray, Amen. Heavenly Father, let your presence manifest in this place. As we gather here to mourn our beloved, may you bring healing into our hearts. Be our alpha and omega in this funeral service," the pastor said in the prayer.

     "Amen," we all said in unison.

     And the funeral service began to cover Mrs. Caulfield's grave with dirt. And the people began crying. And after that, the burial finished.

     Mom just left me for a second and all of us already began to leave the cemetery - and someone just poked my back.

     "You know what, Ja-"

     I looked back and saw that it was - Dwayne.

     "Oooh... Hi!"

     "Jay?" he looks so confused.

     "Oh no no no, that was nothing. Forget about that. I just thought you were someone else. Hehe," I said rapidly, trynna reason it out, and then scratched my nape.

     "Okayy? And yeah, I just wanna ask you if - we uhh...can hang out tomorrow?" he asked.

     "Umm, maybe? I guess? I'll try," I said.

     "Okay, may I have your number?" he asked.

     I grabbed my shoulder bag, took a pen, and tried to look for a piece of paper but there aren't any.

     "Oh, you could just write it here," he said and offered his forearm.

     "What? No," I said then kept looking inside.

     "Oh come on, it'll wipe out soon."

     "Are you sure?" I asked as I attempted to write it down already.

     "Yeah, don't worry haha."

     "Okayyy," I said then I started writing my number on his forearm. His arm is really huge, muscly, and somehow veiny. This is such a huge turn on to most girls though. But from the way he acts, I don't really think that he already has a girlfriend.

     "There," then I already put my pen back in my shoulder bag.

     "Thanks, and by the way. You're already going home, right?" he asked.

     "Yes, my dad is actually driving us home."

     "Oh, okay then. See ya," he said and waved then left already.

     Mom then approached me and asked.

     "Did we forget something, dear?"

     "I don't think so... I think we're all good, mom. Let's go," I said then we already left the cemetery.

     "Have you told Mr. Caulfield that we're leaving already?" I asked.

     "Yeah, hold on. I'll just text your dad," she said and grabbed her phone.

     As we wait in the corner, I just saw Dwayne in his car. He waved at me, I just smiled back and he already passed by. He literally gave me chills. And in a few minutes, dad arrived. We already got inside the car and already headed back home.