#v content

November 2017

Act 1: Scene 4

 I know I agreed to this in order to feel a bit better, if only to see the looks on my family's faces as I sang the pants off them (and also the looks from my old band members who realized they were in the presence of someone far out of their league) but at this moment, I kinda just wanna go back to my room and keep crying. Maybe make a few pop rocks and throw em around the room so I could manifest the messy feelings boiling in my chest. 

I've seen Aunt Mariane who was getting the stage ready for us, she'd always loved being on stage and that included setting it up too I guess, a bunch of other cousins who were all drinking cool aid as if it was champagne and taking a sip and a toast for every single horse shoe they got on the targets. Things were starting to go in full swing just after half an hour of being here and normally I'd be joining in on the events. 

But...

I swallow hard, biting my lip, spotting light brown hair and a large pair of glasses. Larry and Kate were over there, mingling with a few of my older cousins, a couple who'd already started crying and another roasting a marshmallow looking numbly into the fire. Larry and Kate weren't here to see off my Dad's spirit, they were just here to get some kind of recognition for their shitty band. Did we have a few music producers in the family? Sure. Did I also have a few cousins and uncles that ran their own music branches that were highly successful? Sure. But that doesn't mean you can come to a funeral trying to pitch your shitty band just to get recognition. 

This is a family event. A family event! They weren't even distant friends at best, how dare they come here just to further their own goals?!

"Allure, how are you doing?"

I take a deep breath, just a tad calmer. Yeah, I didn't really want to see the band again, but they did know someone who happened to be a close friend of mine. I wish he could open his eyes, but he's far too kind and good hearted for something like that. Dammit. 

I turn to look over at him and can't help the way my scowl melts a bit. Steve's hair was longer now, a short ponytail pulled to the nape of his shoulder, and the roots of his white bangs were more gray than anything. But he had more laugh lines in his face now, and the eye bags and stress that used to drag his shoulders down seem to have lifted, even if just for a little bit.

I turn around and open my arms, he doesn't hesitate, sweeping me up into a grand bear hug, face buried into my neck as he spun me around, holding me tight. I huff out a laugh into his ear, a tear streaking from my eye. He gently set me down on the ground, brown eyes sparkling, "I know this is a sad event, but seeing you in person always brightens my day."

I giggle and slap his shoulder, letting him twine our fingers together, "Eve, I didn't know you were coming too! I would've texted you when I got here!"

He laughed, "I wanted to be a surprise! Also," he chuckled sheepishly, "I meant to send out a gift for your birthday last week but I missed it so I was going to come out to visit you when I...heard about the news." He looks up at me, keeping eye contact, but still so gentle. "How are you holding up?"

I start to tell him that I'm fine, that everything's getting better, but it catches in my throat as a hiccup and more tears flow down my cheeks. At least I'm not getting all snotty anymore. He pulls me into a hug, wrapping his hands around my waist. "I'm so sorry, Allure. I should've been here, maybe I could've even gotten a potion to help you and your Mom! I just feel like if I was there like I was supposed to be, I could've helped slow it or at least let him pass with less pain."

I shake my head, sniffing. He's not the only one that felt like they could've done more, but at this point I've been looking at it from every angle and no matter how hard I try, I just can't see it going any other way. "Eve, it wasn't your fault, or anyone else's. Dad...Dad didn't want anyone to worry so he kept it secret, by the time we found out what was going on, he was already on his way out. Don't you dare blame yourself, Eve, of else I'll have to kick your ass to snap you out of your funk."

He laughs into my neck, but I can feel his cheeks heating up and his mouth feels more like he's frowning than anything else, "You promise?"

I squeeze him tighter, "Obviously, Eve."

He slowly pulls out of the hug, wiping his eyes, "So, I hear you've gotta sing with the, uh, the others tonight?"