Chapter one
Skylay was crumbling. It had been a short three months after her not so gorgeous wedding. It certainly wasn't the fairy tale happy ever after wedding she had dreamt about when she was younger.
On Monday afternoon, Skylay had called her parents over to her house. She was having marriage problems already and wanted to sort it out with them. She had stood on her porch for hours, giving them countless calls, texts, even going as far as emails. Staying up all night with Ryan nowhere to be found, until finally, there was a blaring knock upon her small, weak wooden door.
A soft sigh of relief escaped her lips. Finally, her parents had arrived. She would have to ask what had happened to them.
Swinging the door open, she was met with two unfamiliar faces. Both had a shiny golden badge on their chest with their eyes holding pity and sorrow."Mrs. Burk?" One on the left spoke. He had dark brown hair with silvery eyes.
Skylay's mind went blank, only nodding her head as their words echoed through her mind, refusing to process what she was hearing.
"We are so sorry to inform you, but there was a horrible crash…" Their voices faded out completely. Gone, they were saying they were gone. Her parents were gone.
Skylay took a sharp inhale through her nose as her eyes closed tightly, refusing to let anyone see how close she was to true, raw, and pathetic tears. The night of the accident, she was weak. At the lowest she had ever been. So, Skylay had pulled out her phone, and tracked down the media of her love. A simple message from Skylay was all it took for Derek's eyes to widen to the size of asteroids.
It was a simple message, informing him of what had happened. Her spelling was wrong, indicating she was crying. Her spelling was never wrong.
Derek had bit his lip, knowing there was no way he could let his best friend of ten years go through this alone. They were with each other from when they were five, up until seventeen. Now, both of them are twenty eight and haven't spoken a single word.
The wrinkles on his face had become apparent as his rough, calloused hand rubbed up and down his face with an exasperated sigh. The first thing he did was message his parents, though, he was sure they were in bed and would respond in the morning.
He would go to the funeral, though, he was sure his wife would have to come along. Although Derek was well aware of the drama it would cause, it didn't seem he had a choice.
As the moonlight shined through the living room window, it shone upon his light brown hair that had few streaks of silver. His blue eyes glimmering in the white light. He had been gorgeous, always had been, even at a slightly older age.
With his fists clenched ever so slightly, he began to prepare himself for the ache he was bound to feel in his chest as he was met with his everlasting love.
Skylay couldn't believe she had done that. Texted him in her time of weakness. Now, her stomach was filled with anxious butterflies that refused to budge no matter how much her fingers fiddled together. Barely aware of the people around her, she found it desperately hard to keep her eyes from roaming the room in search for her late best friend.
Finally, the door opened.
Derek stood in a three piece black suit, black dress shoes covering his feet. His hair slightly slicked back, giving everyone a view of his face. His nose was the slightest bit cooked from the time Skylay had accidentally broken it whilst trying to knock a cup off his head with her leg when they were a mere nine years old.
For an odd reason, Skylay felt measly in her attire. Her black dress reached the top of her knees with few pieces of lace covering the plain color. The lace curling into a rose at each end, a golden rose necklace resting upon her collarbone. Whilst her hair was pulled away from her face, the tips reached just below her waist. Her feet were covered with black ballet flats whilst her legs were bare, revealing her pale skin.
The Rose family, Skylay's maiden name, always had a thing for roses. But it wasn't just for their name. They had thought they were beautiful. So, Skylay had many collections of rose themed items in her closet and elsewhere.
Derek's eyes quickly and carefully danced around Skylay's body, she had looked good. The way the sunlight beaming in from the window filled room bounced off her pale skin, making it seem as if she were glowing. How her curly red hair absorbed every stare and glance it was getting made it seem all the more beautiful. Her eyes scanning the room, the green color popping every time it came into the light.
Beautiful, utterly beautiful.
Upon the two making eye contact, Skylay couldn't take it. Her eyes welled with fresh tears that soon fell upon her rosy cheeks. A small sniffle filled her ears as the sight of her best friend stood in front of her. Oh how she had missed him.
Upon seeing her tears, Derek simply opened his arms, causing Skylay to barrel towards him, her arms wrapping around his torso whilst his went around her waist.
"Oh Derek… it's all my fault." Skylay had sobbed out desperately, her tears soaking through his suit jacket that had been the deepest of black without being soaked by her tears. Derek only shook his head, rubbing her back slowly.
"It's not your fault, you didn't know. Don't blame yourself for this." One of Skylay's aunts had caught him on his way in and informed him of what had happened to the two he considered second parents. Of course, he could see how one might blame themself, but there was no need.
The two stayed like this for what seemed like forever, enjoying holding each other so tight as how they used to. The way their bodies seemed moulded just for each other. The way Skylay's head rested so perfectly upon Derek's chest.
It wasn't until a high pitch clear of the throat broke them apart. There, stood a busty female with platinum blonde hair and bright red lipstick. She wore a tight fitting black dress that looked more fit for a night out at the club than for a funeral. It was then Skylay glanced down at Derek's finger.
A wedding band shown in the sunlight. Her stomach clenched as tightly as ever, refusing to let go.
Tearing her eyes away, Derek had pulled away from her and now stood next to the woman with his arm wrapped loosely around her waist. Now that she took a good look at the new woman, Skylay realized there was a striking resemblance to her, and the one night stands her husband has had.
Interesting.
"Oh, I've heard about you. You must be Evelyn?" The woman's voice was clear of jealousy, her purple acrylics digging into her palm.
"No, I am her sister. Skylay." Skylay glanced over at Derek, not sure how to take the situation before her. Only, his head was dropped towards the floor.
"Hm, I don't think Derek has ever mentioned you." Hearing the jealousy deflate in his wife's voice, Derek stepped in as quickly as he had stepped out.
"Skylay, this is my wife, Ava." Derek spoke softly, watching Skylay's voice crumble the slightest bit more. Although she had known, just the words allowed caused the clenching to deepen in the worst ways.
Skylay only smiled, sticking her hand out to shake, revealing her left hand she had been covering with her right. She was clenching her fists, but that's not what Derek took notice of.
No, he only took notice of the gleaming wedding band across her finger.