LOVE AND DEATH, edward cullen

twenty eight

I didn't bother asking my brother if he wanted to come help. I tried to listen through his door and all I could hear was faint music that sounded too heartbreaking for my taste.

I walked out of the house and pulled out my car keys. Charlie was in the middle of putting a bag of trash into the can by the road, brushing his hands off on his jeans before he walked towards me. "Going out?"

I nodded curtly and opened my car door, tossing my backpack into the backseat. "They need my help back at school for the winter formal. Sunny asked."

"Oh." He said while putting his hands on his waist. "It's nice to see you getting out again. Hey listen — I thought maybe you could visit Julie Black. You rekindled with Embry right? Why not try to hang out with some of your old friends."

"Yeah, maybe." I shrugged.

Charlie exhaled slowly through his nose. "Pen, I — I don't want to see you fall back down into that dark place again. I want to help. Whatever you need."

I finally turned to look my father in the eyes and nodded. "Okay. I'll go see them tomorrow." It was Friday and my winter break already started so theirs probably did as well. Anything to keep my father from having a heart attack, I was willing to make an effort.

I started to climb into my car and get myself settled until he held my car door open and nervously scratched the side of his face. "Why don't you bring your brother tomorrow? Seems like you two could be spending some time together during this — event in your lives."

"Thanks dad," I smiled politely. "I'll see you later tonight."

I drove to the school in silence. It was drizzling and the sun was setting earlier at this time, only a few headlights passing me and street lights keeping me company.

The school was occupied with at least twenty students. All from the student body clubs or volunteers, then a handful of teachers to oversee what was happening as well as protect.

I was in the middle of hanging up blue streamers while standing on a large ladder. Sunny was holding me steady by occupying the feet of the ladder. Amanda was walking around with a clipboard and Angela was at her side, the both of them overlooking the table that was currently blowing up balloons.

"Pen, it's crooked."

"What?" I tilted my head back and narrowed my eyes at the blue stream. "No it's not."

"Yes it is." She groaned. "In the left! You got it twisted with the white streamer too. You have to go back and fix it. Make sure they line up together and don't roll them, they're supposed to flow."

I turned my head and glared down at the girl. "Do you want to get up here and do it?"

She immediately let go of the ladder and held her hands up in defense. "Hey! I'm just trying to help — Amanda is uptight enough already."

I rolled my eyes and reached over to fix the streamer by pulling off the tape and untangling it. "What's your guys deal anyway? You barely talked the past two weeks."

Sunny grew silent and I had to throw a ball of used tape at her head to get her attention again. "Excuse me." She glared up at me. "It's because — well — "

"Well?" I arched an eyebrow and taped the streamer back up. "You two are usually stuck to each other's hip."

Sunny sighed heavily. "Because we kissed and she left so suddenly and I think she regrets it."

"What! Why didn't you tell me?" I turned around on the ladder, almost losing my footing but quickly catching myself and holding on tighter. Sunny was frowning up at me like a kicked puppy but her words stung the most. "Because you haven't been around. We haven't talked either in days — you're always so quiet and reserved lately. You don't hang out anymore."

I grew silent and fixated my eyes on the ground below. I think I knew my depression was effecting everyone around me but I've grown too selfish to care.

Truthfully I was enjoying my time in solitude. Nobody else understood what I was feeling so I hid all my emotions and locked them away into a box.

"Hey! It's looking good guys."

Amanda came over and broke the tension. She was beaming up at me and Angela gave me a thumbs up. Sunny shifted awkwardly on her feet so Amanda flashed her a quick smile before walking away.

I climbed down the ladder carefully and stood beside Sunny as we both watched Amanda walk away to another crowd of students.

Sunny crossed her arms over her chest and heaved out a sigh. "Whatever. She'll come around at some point."

I looked at my friend and lightly nudged her with my elbow. "Don't say that. You should ask how she's doing." I looked back at Amanda. "Maybe she just needed some time to figure out how she's feeling."

"Maybe." Sunny shrugged her shoulders. "What about you? How are you feeling?"

I pursed my lips then clicked my tongue. "Ask me again in a few days. I'm still trying to figure that how." I looked at her and smiled. She accepted my response and I knew we were okay. Sometimes that's all it took was a little bit of communication. I would need to start that more at some point.