Two days later the group and I were dressed in black and were on our way to Raine's funeral. Dan had one arm around me comfortingly as we waited for everyone else to join us first joined by Jenn V. and Damien. I pulled away from Dan as Jenn hugged me as silent tears for our best friend fell down our faces. Damien, being a guy didnt really know how to react in times like these and simply patted me on the back before nodding in Dans direction as Rupert approached us and gave a sad smile as Jenn and I reached for him and hugged him close before pulling back as Dan and Damien took their turn in comforting the former fianc of Raine Gertrude Fauling. Then as I was wiping tears away from my face, I felt a hand on the small of my back and turned to see Robert looking at me with an expression that made me cry even harder and hug him tightly as he circled his arms around my waist and rubbed my back before I let go to see that Dan had a look of jealousy on his face. I smiled at him and gave him a kiss on the cheek which seemed to cheer him up to as much of an extent as possible given the circumstances. Bonnie and James had arrived by that time and Bonnie came up to me and hugged me close as James comforted Rupert. After awhile I felt another pair of arms hug both me and Bonnie. I looked to my side and see Katie with tears streaming down her face.
"You know you guys," I said softly through my tears, We still have to go inside."
"It's not fair that one of us has to die like this," said Katie, "She seemed so happy."
"I guess appearances can be deceiving," muttered Rupert as he went inside the funeral home without us. Dan and I looked at each other in question and shrugged before going in after Rupert with everyone else following close behind us.
We stopped when I saw Rupert not going into the room that we were told Raine was in and with a look on his face that was a mix of anger, sadness and shock. I looked in to see Emma Watson of all people mourning over Raine's dead body. My sadness turned to anger as I stepped in and jerked her around by her bony shoulder to see her face tear stained.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I snapped, "You have no right to be here!"
"Actually," said Rupert coldly, "As Raine's lesbian lover on the side Emma probably thinks that she has every right to be here. Don't you Emma?"
"What?" I said shocked as Dan looked at Rupert like he had just gone mental. I expected for Rupert to say eventually that he was playing some sick early April Fools joke but his expression remained angry and serious.
"Yes," said Rupert, his gaze not leaving Emma, "It's true. I just have one question for you Miss Watson that Raine never got to answer. How long?"
"Six months," whispered Emma.
"Six Months?" said Rupert and Dan at the same time.
"You mean this was going on when we were together?" Dan asked Emma in anger.
"Yes Dan," said Emma looking at the floor, "It was."
My mouth dropped open in shock at her words, "Then you have no right to make my life miserable here just because I am dating Dan!" I yelled, "At least he didn't cheat on you!"
"Why should I believe you?" Emma snapped narrowing her eyes, "You are nothing but a promiscuous American and thats all you ever will-"
She was cut off when Jenn V. slapped her across the face which silenced her. Emma looked at Jenn in shock and held her cheek as Jenn glared at her. "If you know whats good for you," warned Jenn, "You will NOT finish that sentence and you will get out now."
"Fine," Emma maliciously smiled then she turned to Dan and looked at him seriously, "I suspect I'll see you very soon, Dan."
Dan looked at her in question as she walked out of the viewing room.
"What did she mean by that?" asked Jenn S. as she watched her leave.
"Your guess is as good as mine," said Dan shrugging as he put his arm around me and led me over to Raine's casket.
>>>
Raine,
We will always remember you as the smart, wonderful person you always were in your life. I just wanted to tell you that after learning your secret, I don't hold it against you. I won't judge you for it and I won't judge you for killing yourself. You will always be the first friend I made here after Dan and thats what I'll remember. Thank you for the job and thank you for your friendship.
Marissa
Raine,
I don't hate you for being with Emma while she and I were together. It's strange how right you always were about the relationship with us and with mine and Marissa's relationship. Somehow I know you and Rupert were doing your best to get the two of us together and I thank you for that. You have helped to change my life for the better. Thank you.
Dan
Raine,
I don't know how to start to tell you how sorry I am about what happened. If I hadn't of taken Rupert for a wild bachelor party then we wouldn't be doing this now. Even though you are dead and gone we'll always still remember you as lively as you were when you were here.
Tom
Raine,
We feel sort of silly writing this when the three of us barely knew each other for more than a few months. We'll miss you and well see you again one day. Hopefully at the same time.
Damien and Jenn V.
Raine,
We'll miss the My Chem requests that you always had at the club that you convinced us to open. We never knew that it would do as well as it did. Thanks and we're going to miss you.
James and Oliver
Raine,
I want you to know that I had always been pulling for you and Rupert ever since the day you came to me with the problem. You have been such a great friend over the past several years and I'm going to miss you so much.
Katie
Raine,
Despite us being polar opposites you were one of the greatest friends I've known in awhile. Im going to miss our shopping days together and our girls night outs. Its not going to be the same without you. Ill miss you.
Bonnie
Raine,
I'm sorry I failed you. I'm sorry for pushing you over the edge to where you are in the position you are now. I am beating myself up over the fact that I have in effect killed you by my actions. I don't hold your choice to be with Emma against you, I love you too much to do that. You will always be in my heart because you were my first and most likely my only true love. Goodbye my love.
Rupert
I walked forward, blinded by the tears streaming down my face and set our final words to Raine Gertrude Fauling on top of her casket as it was lowered down into the ground that was to be her final resting place. I stepped back into Dan's comforting arms as the gibberish that the priest was speaking was ignored by the ones of us that DID know her. My hair came out of my ponytail in small strands because of the cold wind as Jenn S. hugged me with tears streaming down her face. I hugged her back knowing that I forgave her completely.
>>>
I watched as Damien stared at the hole in the ground that had Lauras casket in it.
"Damien," I said approaching him and taking his hand, "what is it?"
"I'm just thinking," said Damien slowly, "About how short life is and how possibly today could be our last."
"I guess that's why we should live each day to the fullest," I said slowly, "And not put things off because we may not get a chance to."
"Yeah," said Damien then he turned to me, "Jennifer Vargas, will you marry me?"
"Yes," I smiled, "I will."
>>>
Thanks for reading!
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