Thursday 20th January
After we played cards, we got bored and just started to talk about middle school.
When Alex was kinda fat and he always farted in class. Alex was a real dweeb that it made my insides churn. That was up until before we got into high school though. I and my mom travelled to visit my grandparents over that break, and when I resumed high school I realised that Alex and Mona both registered to my school. Norfolk High.
The first day, while I stood beside my locker, I gave Alex a call to let him know that I was headed for class. I hadn't seen him since I resumed so I wanted him to walk me to class. Then his phone rang in the pocket of a tall and muscular figure talking to some girl beside my locker. Then I watched him pick up the phone and look at me. Then he smiled. At first I accused him of stealing my friend's phone. Then he called me by the name only he called me.
'Hey, Connie'
*************
I slept in Alex's bed and as my eyelids opened, I saw him staring at me.
"Morning Connie. Are you fully awake or should I tickle you till you admit it?"
"Weirdo." I said chuckling.
"Do you wanna know what's for breakfast?"
"Isn't your Mom home?" I said while we came down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Nope. She had to go early so she'd catch the bus."
"Oh, alright."
"So..... I was wondering..." Alex was starting at the floor weirdly again like what he does when he wants to ask me a stupid favour.
"What dweeb?" I said, while picking up an apple.
"Well I was wondering if we could visit Mona today. It was unfair enough that she didn't get a proper burial, so I just want to skip school so we can go there. You in?"
That's right. Mona wasn't buried. Her so called parents said they didn't have enough money to fund a burial. It stung my flesh like a million bees came in full force to strike me.
A thought that was in my head though, was that I and Alex funded it. But neither of us had money. In fact I myself was flat out broke. So we just buried her.
"Sure I'm in. But skipping school for a makeshift burial?"
"Nahh... the skipping school part is just so we could hang out with her. The burial could be on a Saturday or something." He said while making his award winning pancakes.
"Okay then. It's set. Eat up so we can go."
"Regardless, we've already missed the warning bell for homeroom so it'd be useless if we went now. Now toss me one of those pancakes I'm starving." I said grabbing a plate and stacking the ones that he had prepared.
Honestly I don't know how Alex makes the best pancakes. Seriously. It's as if he measures the ingredients to perfection and fries it to perfection too.
Taking a bite, it felt so light on my tongue. I could practically feel it melting.
"So Alex, about those tapes...." I asked.
"Those tapes carry enough emotional breakdown coming from one person. You sure you can still handle this?"
rrringgg!!
My phone rang vibrating all through the jeans I was wearing. Only for me to pick it up and see an unknown number.
'Hello?' A deep masculine voice and British accent responded.
'Hi. Who's this please?'
'I'm Nolan Wesley. Is this Constance Martin's cell?'
What? Nolan? Did Miss Hazel do what I think she did? Damn. I actually thought I could escape this.
'Yeah it is. Hi Nolan'
'Yeah. Hi. Um... Miss Hazel gave me your contact details so I could ask if you could tutor me in Calculus. Are you down?'
'Yeah but not today i-'
'I didn't say today. But I'd like to know when before the end of this week. Thanks'
Then he abruptly ended the call before I could say anything else.
Not me thinking how amazing his accent was, but me thinking how rude he sounded.
As I walked back into the kitchen to meet Alex, I saw him washing the dishes and making hot cocoa.
"Why are you so husband material?" I asked smiling.
"It's just a trait I guess. Who was that on the phone anyways?"
"Oh, it's Nolan Grant. Miss Hazel told me to tutor him for calculus."
"What does Miss Hazel have to do with calculus?"
"It's complicated I guess. By the way how is he like?" I asked knowing I looked so interested.
"Well he's this cliche guy that every girl wants to die for. But he also has this damn proud attitude that makes him sound like everyone's superior."
"Wow. You don't seem to like him huh?" I asked sipping my cup of cocoa.
"The fact I'm on the team makes him so angry. He calls me sloppy and slow. He then said the most embarrassing thing."
"What?" I asked almost bursting into a fit.
"That I need to diet myself"
Laughing, I turned my face away from him and went into a corner to ease myself of the stored up laughter.
"I can't seriously believe you're laughing Connie."
"Why? Why can't you believe that?" I said still laughing.
"Damn you Connie. Get ready let's get going to Mona's grave. I mean it." Alex said suddenly sounding serious.
************
After we got into Alex's Dad's old truck, we were already set to leave. All we had to do was to pick up the flowers we had ordered and go on to the grave site.
I didn't know if I could say that I was pumped up to go and see Mona after so much time, but honestly I felt like as if so many bugs were stored up and crawling in my chest. And all forms of jokes and laughter from earlier faded away into oblivion.
While I was staring out the window, looking and feeling lost because we were about to go to my best friend's grave, a warm and comforting hand was placed on mine wrapping itself until it looked like we were one.
"It's gonna be alright Connie."
Holding his hand ever so tight, I realised that I really did have someone to fall back to. Even though he had told me so many times. I still always needed reassurance.
After getting Mona's best combination of flowers which are carnations, roses and some lilies, we drove off to the most famous hill and cemetery in all of Norfolk. Casper's Grove.
A quick chill rushed up my spine and the atmosphere changed replacing it was one that felt extremely nostalgic. When we arrived, Alex parked his car and we began searching among all the headstones to find Mona's grave.
"I guess Mona's grave should be at the front among the new and clean ones. What do you think Connie?"
"Yeah it should be. Because we've searched all around here." I said not looking around.
After searching for hours, we saw finally saw it at a secluded spot near a shack at the graveyard.
'Here lies Mona Beatrice Whyte
Who died on the 17th of January
May her soul rest in perfect peace.'
"You can go up first, Connie." Alex said handing me my share of the flowers we bought.
"Hey Mona. It's been weeks now. I think about you almost every day and it drives me crazy. I do hope you're well and living good in heaven. We had so much fun and made so much plans when you were alive. Remember when we went on each other's family vacations? That you met my grandparents and laughed at my grandfather's moustache? Remember when we shared everything from our first boy crushes to our first dates? We texted each other all the time, sent selfies and made plans about our future lives. Those plans won't come to pass now. In that one moment when I could've come and visit you on your birthday and I didn't, then when you died everything we planned vanished. I miss you now and forever." I said red faced already down in severe tears.
"Alex you're up." I struggled to say huffing and puffing each step of the way as he guided me out of the graveyard.
"Aren't you going to tell Mona anything?" I said trying to turn back.
"I already did. Mona is in our hearts. She just can't come out and present herself. Let's go get you cleaned up okay?" Alex said.
I nodded and Alex drove the both of us away from the graveyard.
With my heart heavy and soul almost shattered, I managed to fade into sleep in Alex's car.
************
A/n: Hey guys! Sorry for taking so much time to update the book. I was so busy so I couldn't find enough time to update. Better speed ahead I hope! Please read comment and vote your take on the characters.
Cheers.