~Ray~
I hated funerals. I despised how people would just show up and pretend that they were the closest to the person who died- like they had this unbreakable bond and that the death had significantly affected their life. My favorite though were the guilt ridden persons; these are the ones that waits till your dead to tell you how sorry they are for the horrible things they've done.
On that note, this particular funeral was proving to be too emotionally draining and had topped my loathe list easily. Caleb had left a scar in the hearts of many that might never heal.
"Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust" the island priest spoke and I watched him sprinkle the dust onto the casket before attempting to leave.
"Ray" Mal appeared infront of me and I concealed my astonishment. "Can we talk?" She pleaded and I nodded, having a few words I wanted to say myself. It wasn't until we'd reach the road that would take us to our different destinations that our conversation began.
"We haven't had a descent conversation since the day I fought with Mia" she began and I stopped her
"Caleb, told me what you did" I glanced over at her "How you set Mia's house on fire?"
She froze, halting in her steps and I stopped alongside her. Caleb didn't tell me willingly but I was too angry to be an angel that day. God knows what he did to Amelia and the thought made me furious. Apparently he had escaped rehab and followed his mother here, saw Amelia, fell in love and decided to make his move. But boy did he become unlucky and venture after the wrong frikin' woman.
"I- I had no idea you were in…" She tried to explain and I suppressed my threatening anger, holding up a finger.
"You seem to be bent on hurting Mia for something she had absolutely no control over" I pointed out
"She killed my mother"
"A drunk driver killed your mother. The sooner you accept that the better because I swear to God, if you ever so much as look at her again" I warned, swiping my tongue across my bottom lip to avoid saying something I'd regret. "You must have been so relieved when you heard that Miss Ven's son was the person who killed her, not you" I shook my head dismissively "You are such a disappointment Mal"
I watched as tears streamed down her lifeless face and I took a deep calming breath. She had let grief and revenge drive her actions and now she needed to pay.
"I'm giving you till sunset to turn yourself in" I scanned her weary form, she must have been so burdened with guilt, so uneasy and restless. Honestly I was doing her a favour "If you don't, I will and trust me when I say, if I do, you will go away for a really long time, as opposed to community service and probation."
She nodded understandingly and I walked away, leaving her standing in the spot.
***
~Mia~
My eyes shot open and I inhaled sharply, gripping my tender throat in relief. I let a grateful sob go. I could breathe. I was still alive and I could breathe. I scanned my surroundings, I was at home (Ray's home), in my bed. I heard the door open and I sat up to see Aleecia. I jumped off my bed and ran to her, hugging the life from her body. She gasped, patting my back hesitantly and I smiled, hugging her even tighter. For days I was told that she and Ray were dead.
Even though I tried blocking my mind from the thought, eventually you start to weigh the possibilities.
"I can't bre" Aleecia began to complain, ceasing her protest as Ray entered the room.
I let go of her, looking up at him in awe. A few days ago I was struggling to keep my head above waters, struggling to keep his memory alive in my mind. I couldn't explain how happy I was to see his face again. I didn't care that we weren't really talking to each other when I got taken, all that mattered was that he was here and I could see and touch him.
He smiled, pulling me into a snug hug, before laying a warm kiss on my forehead and pressing me closer into him. I melted into his arms, clinging to him like he was my lifeline, because he was. He was the other half of my world, the light in my darkness, root to my flower and colour to my grey. I wished more than anything that we could stay this way forever.
Aleecia cleared her throat and we parted to look at her. She smiled. "I know we are all happy to see each other again but um, Ray, don't we have some things we need to discuss?"
"Yea." He looked away, gathering his composure "Yes, we do" He nodded "I'm sorry, I know you're recovering but things are about to get a whole lot more complicated" he explained with sorry eyes and I sighed. After my previous experience, all I needed was a break.
"What day is it?" I asked as they ushered me from the room and towards the kitchen.
"Saturday"
"I missed Miss Ven's funeral, didn't I?" I grumbled, mentally slapping myself.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. It wasn't your fault" Aleecia assured but I couldn't help thinking it was all my fault. I kissed Caleb, Caleb killed his mother because of me, I wanted to go to the beach with Caleb and Mal burnt my house down because I killed her mother, burning Miss Ven in the process. How wasn't this my fault?
I grunted, the word Mother pressing at the walls of my mind. My biological mother was supposedly missing and I never asked about her. I had no idea who she was or if she was still alive. Come to think of it, I didn't even know who hired my Shadow. I just assumed it was my father since he was the one who sent me here but it could be anyone. On another note, I had no idea how I was still alive. The last thing I remembered was Caleb's face and his hands cutting off my air supply.
I guess we had quite a few things to discuss after all.
"Mia, there's something I need to tell you" Aleecia stopped me at the kitchen door and I nodded, knowing exactly what it was.
"I know. I'm sorry I forced myself into your relationship."
"About that"
"It's okay, I figured you guys would get married eventually. After Caleb, I'm perfectly fine being your friends. If you want me to be. I mean…"
She burst into laughter and I looked at her confusedly, wondering if I said something wrong. She skimmed my face. "Mia, Ray's my best…"
"Hey" Ray appeared, shutting her up. "Let's go" he demanded, looking a bit annoyed. Aleecia rolled her eyes and followed him. I took a deep breath. I could sense a bit of hostility between them. I shrugged, it wasn't my business. I sat around the table.
"The point of this meeting is to stop with all these unnecessary secrets" Aleecia argued and I nodded. No more secrets.
"No. No. The point of this meeting is to clear up misunderstandings." Ray spoke through clenched teeth, staring into Aleecia's eyes and I looked between them both. Okay. Misunderstandings.
"This is a misunderstanding" Aleecia snapped and I searched my mind for possible meanings.
"This" Ray pointed in between them both "Is intentional"
I sunk into my chair. I thought I was over getting hurt by the things Ray did or said. I inhaled sharply. I guess I was wrong.
"O come on Ray. It's nothing but a sho…"
He held up his hand in rebuke
"This conversation is over" He demanded and Aleecia's face became the replica of the colour red. She was burning with fury.
"You can be such an asshole sometimes"
I nodded in agreement and he glared over at me. I straightened myself.
"I can't do my job because of you" he spoke, anger lacing every word "I have never failed so many times in my life. Aren't you satisfied?"
"Ray!" Aleecia scolded and my heart stopped beating.
"What more do you want?" he scoffed "What?"
The room became silent and I swallowed my emotions, taking a deep calming breath.
"I'm sorry" I offered, dismissing the slight stabbing pain in my chest.
He snickered and leaned back in his chair, scanning my face with an angry sneer.
"All this is my fault" I diverted my attention to my hands in my lap. All this was truly my fault.
"Are you satisfied Ray?" Aleecia ridiculed and his face softened. She got up "You better fix this before it's too late." She patted the chair hesitantly "Don't make the same mistake your brother did" she whispered, walking out.
He looked over at me and I looked away, wondering what she meant. Then it hit me- I really knew nothing about Ray. I couldn't believe he has a brother. He was such a distant person. Atleast, on second thought, he wasn't like that with Aleecia. It seemed as if she knew everything about him. I sighed. Maybe I knew so little because I wasn't important- I wasn't his girlfriend/ fiancé.
The room became awkwardly silent once more and every part of me wanted to leave but I was glued to my seat.
"I was lying" I whispered finally, putting an end to the quiet.
"About?"
"I don't hate you. I want to but I don't" I admitted "I also didn't sleep with Caleb. We weren't in a relationship, every time I kissed him you were there and it was only to get to you. When I went to his house he slept in his living room and I slept on his bed. We…"
"Amelia stop"
I rested my head in my palms shamefully "I know. I'm sorry. This means nothing to you but it means everything to me that you know." I grunted and he reached for my hands pulling my fingers from my face and clasping them into his, while resting them on the table.
"Amelia, my life isn't cupcakes and rainbows, it will ruin you" he sighed heavily "If I tell you, everything changes"
I took a moment to think about his words before nodding "I can handle it" I persisted, wanting nothing more than to be apart of his life, even if it was merely as a friend.
He nodded "I know and that's what scares me the most. You shouldn't have to"
The room became silent once more. He exhaled through his mouth, releasing my hands and leaning back into his seat. "Here goes"
He opened his mouth and muttered three words and I froze. O dearest Lord Jesus. I couldn't believe what I heard.
I took a deep breath. "What?"