Thank you for the amazing cover SassySatanX ^^
**
I never realized how big of a hole Joe had filled in my life. Even when I refused to talk to him, he still made an effort to talk to me. Now that he's gone, a part of me is missing, a part that played a big role in my personality. My snide remarks aren't as clever and my sarcasm has dimmed; all the things that I took after my father have shifted and don't feel the same anymore.
My mother isn't taking it well; she hasn't opened her door since yesterday and hasn't put anything into her stomach either. The ring, that Joe have her when they got married, was in her possession and I have sense on why she is having a difficult time with the realisation that he's gone.
The gold rose necklace he gave me hasn't come off my neck since he took his last breath. I'm still trying to register everything that has happened yesterday because part of me doesn't want to convince myself that I won't be able to see him smile, laugh or hear his voice again.
"Can I come in?" A voice asked outside of my door.
"Please do," I cried, knowing it was Jake.
"I'm not going to ask you if you're okay cause I can tell you aren't. However, Joe wouldn't want you to cry. Even if I never spent a lot of time with him, I knew he was an amazing hard-working man. I'm so sorry Bella," Jake spoke softly, giving me a bouquet of flowers and string next to me on the bed.
I take the flowers and whisper, "he's really gone," as I put the flowers on the bedside table.
"He might be gone from this world,but he's not gone from your heart," Jake replied, wrapping his arms around me.
"Thank you for being here," I sighed and dig my head into the crook of his neck.
"I'll always be here, in good and bad circumstances," he mumbled into my hair.
"Right, so someone is moving into Joe's house, so I'll go and pack up your things. Just give me a list of things you need," he stated, kissing me on the forehead.
"I'll go too. I have to get over this somehow. Maybe visiting his former house will help in making me realise that life must go on," I shrugged, looking up at Jake.
"Are you sure?" Jake asked me as he squeezed my hand.
"No, but I doubt I'll ever be," I replied, giving Jake a smile and gently squeezing his hand too. I stood up and grabbed my purse, then headed towards the door.
Jake trailed right behind me, step by step, "wow, how'd I get so lucky?" He gushed.
***
The moving truck was in Joe's driveway and works were running in and out of the house. Furniture was transferred through the double doors.
Jake and I have been sitting in the car for over ten minutes, watching everyone trying to frantically get things done fast.
Part of me wishes I spent more time with him this week, but the other part knows I wouldn't be able to handle it as well as I am now if Joe and I bonded. I wonder how Caden is dealing with this.
"Are you ready?" Jake asked, grabbing my hand.
"Ready as I'll ever be," I mumbled and arose from the car, the house towering over me.
"I'll get a few boxes and I'll meet you in your room," he explained.
"Former room," I whispered.
"I'm sorry?" Jake asked, referring for me to repeat myself.
"I said alright," I lied and began walking to the front door.
Workers were fumbling through the door, making it hard for me to get past them. The house looked unfamiliar, like I have never stepped foot into it before.
Ignoring the commotion and interruptions around me, I made my way towards my room that my father had custom made. However, I never expected to see a short dark haired girl around my age, putting things in boxes for me.
"You must be Isabella," the girl stated, engulfing me in a hug. Confused, I patted her in return.
"Bella, yeah. You are?" I asked.
"Oh my bad, I'm Lucinda , but people tend to call me Luce. The Drakes, my family, were the ones who bought the house," she explained.
"I just came to collect my thing," I stayed, gesturing the box.
"I didn't know what you wanted to take with you so I packed up everything," she replied.
"I appreciate it," I stated. Even smiling felt weird to me.
"You don't have to pretend like you're okay. I know what happened and I apologise for your loss," she sighed, and pulled out a picture of her family;a mother and a father and it looks like maybe an older brother.
"Thank you for your sympathy," I stated.
"Would your family like to join us for dinner?" She called, right before I was about to dismiss myself.
"You don't have to, you probably have to unpack and settle in," I responded.
"It's not an issue, I'm sure my parents would want to get to know your mother, since she was the one to sign over the house," she explained.
"Should I bring anything?"I asked. If I am going to get back to normal, I need to distract myself and what better way to distract myself than possibly a new friend.
"Just yourself and any friends to accompany you. I'd love to get to know people around my age." She smiled.
"I have four friends and one girl who's an acquaintance in mind, if that's alright," I shrugged.
"Perfect, their families can join as well if they desire. It'll be a little get- together," she replied.
"Hey, you okay?" Jake asked, walking in. "Oh , I didn't know you had company," he added.
"Jake, this is Luce, her family bought this house," I explained. "Luce, this is Jake."
"Nice to meet you," Luce greeted and shook his hand.
"You two together?" She asked.
"Yes. Just recently," I smiled and looked at Jake.
"You two look good together, I hope to see you both tonight, along with some others. It's a casual get-together and lets start it at six," she stated.
"Works for me," Jake announced and grabbed two boxes from her bed.
"See you tonight," I smiled and grabbed the third box.
I am glad a nice, welcoming family moved into this house, rather than a snobby, stuck up one. If her brother is there tonight, Caden might be able to make a new friend as well. I haven't talked to him since yesterday and maybe a new pal, is what he needs right now. Not that Mike and Jake are trash, just a new face might comfort Caden a bit more.
"Stop moping around and get up," I ordered and barged into my mother room. "Life must go on. It sucks, I know because I was there. But you're never going to get over Joe's passing unless you get up, slap some makeup on, change and do your hair. We've been invited to a small get together at father's former house with the family who you signed it to at six. So get up and try and look presentable. I know it's hard to accept the fact that he's gone, but like Jake told me, he would not want us to be mourning him forever," I stated and there some jeans and a nice top in the bed she was buried in.
Opening the door, ready to yell at Caden and say the things I told my mother, he was already dressed and he had a beanie over his hair. He was slipping on some shoes when he looked at me with the most saddest look in his eyes.
"Are you okay?" I whispered.
"No, does that answer your question? I'm not okay," he yelled and walked right past me, pumping into me on purpose.
"I'll meet you at dads house at six," he added harshly, obviously eaves dropping on my conversation with mum.
I had a feeling he wouldn't be able to recover that easily.
**
"Welcome!" A voice, who I'm guessing is Mrs Drake, exclaimed and invited, my brother, mother and I in.
"Everyone is gathering outside in the in the backyard, you are more than welcomed to look around the house," she smiled, and showed my mother Joe's room.
At the same time, a guy around my brothers age walked downstairs, must be Luce's brother.
"Ah, you must be Isabella," he remarked and stood in front of Caden and I.
"She prefers Bella," Caden mumbled and glanced at him the looked back down at his phone.
"And you are?" I asked.
"I'm Seamus, Luce's brother," he replied."Nice to meet you kiddo," he smirked and patted my head.
"Kiddo?" I asked, frustrated.
"Yeah, look up the definition if you don't know what it means princess," he stated as he walked past me into the backyard.
"You two will get along," I mumbled to Caden and followed Seamus through the glass door leading outside.
Around six forty-ish, everyone made an appearance. Jake was the first to show up followed by Mike and Jasmine. Jasmine quickly made friends with Luce ones she heard she likes shopping and drama. Mike has been trying to get Caden to talk to him but Caden isn't giving in. Mason and Vanessa still haven't arrived, but knowing Vanessa, she's going to show up fashionably late.
"Let's get this party started," someone screeched.
Just in time Nessa.
"Sorry about that everyone, she loves get togethers," Mason hinted and pulled Nessa over to where I was sitting.
"Luce, this is Mason and his girlfriend, Vanessa, the acquaintance," I stated, whispering the last part to her. Mason hears everything so he smirks at my snide comment.
"Hey," she smiled, twirling a piece of hair.
"Nice to meet you," he greeted and took a seat, Nessa sitting in his lap.
"Did you bring your family?" Luce asked Mason. Shoot.
"My mother passed away from cancer when I was seven and my dad is working," he replied with no emotion.
"I'm so sorry," she sighed.
"I'm sure you are," Nessa smiled falsely, earning a nudge from Mason.
"Thank you," Mason replied to Luce.
"So Isabella, where's your father, is love to properly introduce myself," Mason asked.
***
Authors Note:
Who's your favorite character now?