Never forget me...
Chapter 17: The funeral
Sage’s POV
There was a knock on my door as I was buttoning my jeans. I walked over and opened it to see Zayn standing in front of me with a cup of coffee.
“Good morning.” He smiled handing it to me.
“Oh my gosh, thank you so much!” I took it and walked away.
“How are you doing?” He asked sitting on my bed after closing the door.
“I’m okay.” I shrugged pulling my hair back into a high bun.
“Are you sure?” He stood up and walked toward me with a protective look in his eyes.
“Zayn, I’m okay. I probably wont be later so please don’t ask. Today’s going to be difficult but I’ll get through it.” I looked into his eyes.
“Alright.” He frowned and looked away.
I reached out and grabbed his hands making his look at me with one swift movement he had his body against mine and his hands on my hips.
“You look beautiful.” He mumbled looking at my lips.
“Thanks.” I whispered leaning into peck his cheek. “We should probably go downstairs.”
He nodded and led me downstairs after I grabbed my jacket.
“-She’ll react to that.” Louis attempted to whisper while raising his eyebrows as I came into sight. “Well good morning gorgeous.” He smiled at me.
“Good morning boobear.” I smiled back at him and looked over at Niall who looked really tired. “Good morning sleepyhead.”
“Morning.” He mumbled eyeing my coffee.
“Here.” I grumbled handing it to him.
“You’re amazing!” His smile grew taking my drink.
“Where’s Taylor?” Zayn yawned.
“In the kitchen with Harry, Liam and Susana.” Louis blurted out.
“She’s here?” I asked clenching my jaw as Louis’s jaw dropped.
“She’s here for the funeral.” Niall added while I dropped my jacket.
“Don’t kill her Sage, stick to the plan.” Zayn warned while I tried pushing past him to the kitchen.
“I know.” I talked through my teeth.
I walked past him and Niall to the kitchen. Taylor and Harry had impatient looks in their eyes as they looked at me. When Liam looked at me, his face changed from hidden anger to worry.
“Hey Sage.” His voice sounded strained.
“Hello.” I smiled to cover my own feelings.
“Oh, hi sweetie. How are you holding up?” Susanna asked with sweet smile that made me want to hit her.
“I’m good.” I shrugged hiding my anger.
“That’s great.” She said kindly as the rest of the group walked in with Cleo.
“Hey!” I smiled hugging her; she always made me feel better.
“Hi honey.” She was gleaming when we pulled back.
“We should go get ready, it’s almost 8:00.” Louis pointed out.
“Okay.” Zayn escorted them out leaving Louis, Cleo and I with Susana.
“Let’s go sit down.” Louis was already working on the plan and it was hilarious to me.
“So how did you meet Anne?” Cleo asked; I guess someone told her the plan too.
“We were friends for years, I cant even remember.” She sighed as Niall poked his head in the room.
“Sage, we need your help.” He was rushing his words and I knew it was serious.
“Excuse me.” I stood up and walked over to him while Louis and Cleo continued to interrogate her.
Niall led me into the library where I watched Liam try to fix Zayn’s suit. I laughed at them and then at Harry who couldn’t get his jacket to look right.
“Want some help?” I chuckled walked over to Harry.
“Please” He begged.
“Thank you all for coming. I know that she was very…blunt but all of you meant something to her.” I paused trying to think of what I wanted to say to these people. “Neighbors, teachers, and old babysitters; you may not think that she remember anything you did for her or us, but she did. She was thankful for everything you did for us.” I looked around and saw Liam comforting Niall so I decided it was time to read the letter. “Now I’d like to read a letter from my mom aimed toward my best friends:
Niall,
You are one of the sweetest boys I’ve ever met. You have always tried to keep everyone else happy no matter how upset you were on the inside. I know that I never really said thank you for anything but thank you so much. You are a great kid and you’ll grow up to be a great man and father. I love you snowflake.
I looked at Niall and saw him smiling as a tear ran down his cheek. The letter was completely right; Niall was the nicest person ever.
Liam,
I’ve always thought you were a great model for Sage; you’re responsible, smart, a nice kid and amazing person. You are great friend and will grow up to be someone who changes the world.
He was smiling and looking at me with tears in his eyes. I knew her words meant a lot to him because she was pretty hard on his right before she passed away.
Louis,
Oh gosh, where do I start with you? You’ve always been that one crazy kid that we didn’t know how to deal with but you’re a good kid. You never let you’re friends stay upset for long and that’s what has always stuck out to me. Never change the person you are because you’re a good person and that’s hart to find now a’days.
He was chuckling to himself while tears filled his eyes. I watched Harry reach over and embrace him in a hug. When they pulled back, they smiled at each other and looked at me with wet cheeks.
Zayn,
You are probably the most understanding and relaxed person I’ve ever met. I think you’re a great person and are very mature for your age, even when you have your kid moments. You are a great person to have around because everyone trusts you. Don’t let other people bring you down.
Harry,
Wow, I don’t even know what to say to you. You’re a good kid and an even better guy. I’m lucky to have someone like you in my kid’s lives. My kids, espescialy Sage, look up to you and it’s easy to see why. You’re going to change lives one day, even more than you already have.”
I looked around at all of the guys and saw them smiling at each other as tears streamed down their faces. Seeing them like that proved to me that I would make it through anything that was thrown at me.
My eyes shot to the back where Susana stood talking to a tall guy with blonde hair. He wasn’t facing me so I had no clue who he was but he was bugging me. Who the hell talks and jokes during a serious part of a funeral?!
“Sage” Harry reached out for the microphone so I gave it to him reluctantly. “Um, excuse me? Do you mind taking your conversation outside where we aren’t having a funeral?” His voice rang with attitude.
I felt my face go pale and my knees grew weak when I saw the mans face. Taylor looked at me with anger in his eyes. The whole room gasped as the recognized who the man was.
“Shawn?” I asked looking into his eyes.
“I like to go by ‘dad’ with you but I’ll take it.” He chuckled walking toward me with open arms. “Hi Sage.”
“Yea, I don’t really care what you want to go by.” I shrugged crossing my arms over my chest.
“Mrs. Johnson, will you take over this please? We have some family stuff to take care of.” Taylor asked politely as he pulled me off stage and toward the hallway. “Susana, please bring your friend back here so we can talk about this?”
“Guys.” I called out for them to follow and they did.
I watched the guys and Cleo follow behind Susana and Shawn. We walked into an empty room; Louis closed the door behind everyone else. Shawn and Susana stood alone in the corner while Cleo attempted to calm Taylor down. I could see the anger building in Harry as he looked at me.
“Can we talk about this, why the hell are you here?” I blurted out over everyone’s conversation.
“Watch your language Sage!” Susana almost yelled at me making everyone shut up. “he is your father, show him some respect.”
“He may be my ‘father’ but he lost all my respect years ago when he cheated on my mom with some broad.” I knew my words hurt her when her face changed.
“Sage, can I borrow you for a minute?” Liam grabbed my arm and pulled me aside to where everyone else stood. “Is the plan off or…?”
“The plan is off, I’m not holding this back. That man deserves everything that’s coming.” Taylor answered in a harsh tone.
“Alright.” Liam shrugged backing up.
“I understand you two are mad bu-“ Shawn started but was cut off.
“You have no idea how mad we are or were. I don’t know about her, but I’m still pissed. You don’t know what we went through, we had to take care of mom after you left. We stayed up late with her, held her while she cried and even listened to her vent about you.” Taylor started to pace the room which meant this was going to get serious. “We listened to her problems and feelings, we shoved down our own feeling about everything and helped her because she was pretty bad.”
“I’m so sorry.” Shawn seemed to actually mean it.
“Your sorry? Saying sorry wont really fix what you did but nothing you do will fix it. I still think of you as a jerk for cheating on our mom with her but we’re past the point of return. We didn’t look for you and invite you because we didn’t want you here.” I looked away from him and toward Susana. “And you, you lied to me. You never knew my mom, you knew my dad; you were the reason they got a divorce. I have nothing nice to say to you and please keep your nose out of my life. We didn’t ask you to invite him so you shouldn’t have.”
“I was just trying to help…” Susana looked like she was going to cry and I wanted to slap her for it.
“Then stop trying to help because you screw up the funeral. I didn’t even want you here and you messed it up. If you stay, keep your mouth shut and head down.” I glared at her and looked back at Shawn. “And you can leave as soon as Taylor and whoever else wants to talk to you about your crappy life choices because I’m done with you.”
“But Sage…” His voice was choked up in his throat.
“No, I don’t want anything to do with you.” I walked over to Zayn and kissed his cheek before walking out of the room.
There was a knock on my door as I was buttoning my jeans. I walked over and opened it to see Zayn standing in front of me with a cup of coffee.
“Good morning.” He smiled handing it to me.
“Oh my gosh, thank you so much!” I took it and walked away.
“How are you doing?” He asked sitting on my bed after closing the door.
“I’m okay.” I shrugged pulling my hair back into a high bun.
“Are you sure?” He stood up and walked toward me with a protective look in his eyes.
“Zayn, I’m okay. I probably wont be later so please don’t ask. Today’s going to be difficult but I’ll get through it.” I looked into his eyes.
“Alright.” He frowned and looked away.
I reached out and grabbed his hands making his look at me with one swift movement he had his body against mine and his hands on my hips.
“You look beautiful.” He mumbled looking at my lips.
“Thanks.” I whispered leaning into peck his cheek. “We should probably go downstairs.”
He nodded and led me downstairs after I grabbed my jacket.
“-She’ll react to that.” Louis attempted to whisper while raising his eyebrows as I came into sight. “Well good morning gorgeous.” He smiled at me.
“Good morning boobear.” I smiled back at him and looked over at Niall who looked really tired. “Good morning sleepyhead.”
“Morning.” He mumbled eyeing my coffee.
“Here.” I grumbled handing it to him.
“You’re amazing!” His smile grew taking my drink.
“Where’s Taylor?” Zayn yawned.
“In the kitchen with Harry, Liam and Susana.” Louis blurted out.
“She’s here?” I asked clenching my jaw as Louis’s jaw dropped.
“She’s here for the funeral.” Niall added while I dropped my jacket.
“Don’t kill her Sage, stick to the plan.” Zayn warned while I tried pushing past him to the kitchen.
“I know.” I talked through my teeth.
I walked past him and Niall to the kitchen. Taylor and Harry had impatient looks in their eyes as they looked at me. When Liam looked at me, his face changed from hidden anger to worry.
“Hey Sage.” His voice sounded strained.
“Hello.” I smiled to cover my own feelings.
“Oh, hi sweetie. How are you holding up?” Susanna asked with sweet smile that made me want to hit her.
“I’m good.” I shrugged hiding my anger.
“That’s great.” She said kindly as the rest of the group walked in with Cleo.
“Hey!” I smiled hugging her; she always made me feel better.
“Hi honey.” She was gleaming when we pulled back.
“We should go get ready, it’s almost 8:00.” Louis pointed out.
“Okay.” Zayn escorted them out leaving Louis, Cleo and I with Susana.
“Let’s go sit down.” Louis was already working on the plan and it was hilarious to me.
“So how did you meet Anne?” Cleo asked; I guess someone told her the plan too.
“We were friends for years, I cant even remember.” She sighed as Niall poked his head in the room.
“Sage, we need your help.” He was rushing his words and I knew it was serious.
“Excuse me.” I stood up and walked over to him while Louis and Cleo continued to interrogate her.
Niall led me into the library where I watched Liam try to fix Zayn’s suit. I laughed at them and then at Harry who couldn’t get his jacket to look right.
“Want some help?” I chuckled walked over to Harry.
“Please” He begged.
“Thank you all for coming. I know that she was very…blunt but all of you meant something to her.” I paused trying to think of what I wanted to say to these people. “Neighbors, teachers, and old babysitters; you may not think that she remember anything you did for her or us, but she did. She was thankful for everything you did for us.” I looked around and saw Liam comforting Niall so I decided it was time to read the letter. “Now I’d like to read a letter from my mom aimed toward my best friends:
Niall,
You are one of the sweetest boys I’ve ever met. You have always tried to keep everyone else happy no matter how upset you were on the inside. I know that I never really said thank you for anything but thank you so much. You are a great kid and you’ll grow up to be a great man and father. I love you snowflake.
I looked at Niall and saw him smiling as a tear ran down his cheek. The letter was completely right; Niall was the nicest person ever.
Liam,
I’ve always thought you were a great model for Sage; you’re responsible, smart, a nice kid and amazing person. You are great friend and will grow up to be someone who changes the world.
He was smiling and looking at me with tears in his eyes. I knew her words meant a lot to him because she was pretty hard on his right before she passed away.
Louis,
Oh gosh, where do I start with you? You’ve always been that one crazy kid that we didn’t know how to deal with but you’re a good kid. You never let you’re friends stay upset for long and that’s what has always stuck out to me. Never change the person you are because you’re a good person and that’s hart to find now a’days.
He was chuckling to himself while tears filled his eyes. I watched Harry reach over and embrace him in a hug. When they pulled back, they smiled at each other and looked at me with wet cheeks.
Zayn,
You are probably the most understanding and relaxed person I’ve ever met. I think you’re a great person and are very mature for your age, even when you have your kid moments. You are a great person to have around because everyone trusts you. Don’t let other people bring you down.
Harry,
Wow, I don’t even know what to say to you. You’re a good kid and an even better guy. I’m lucky to have someone like you in my kid’s lives. My kids, espescialy Sage, look up to you and it’s easy to see why. You’re going to change lives one day, even more than you already have.”
I looked around at all of the guys and saw them smiling at each other as tears streamed down their faces. Seeing them like that proved to me that I would make it through anything that was thrown at me.
My eyes shot to the back where Susana stood talking to a tall guy with blonde hair. He wasn’t facing me so I had no clue who he was but he was bugging me. Who the hell talks and jokes during a serious part of a funeral?!
“Sage” Harry reached out for the microphone so I gave it to him reluctantly. “Um, excuse me? Do you mind taking your conversation outside where we aren’t having a funeral?” His voice rang with attitude.
I felt my face go pale and my knees grew weak when I saw the mans face. Taylor looked at me with anger in his eyes. The whole room gasped as the recognized who the man was.
“Shawn?” I asked looking into his eyes.
“I like to go by ‘dad’ with you but I’ll take it.” He chuckled walking toward me with open arms. “Hi Sage.”
“Yea, I don’t really care what you want to go by.” I shrugged crossing my arms over my chest.
“Mrs. Johnson, will you take over this please? We have some family stuff to take care of.” Taylor asked politely as he pulled me off stage and toward the hallway. “Susana, please bring your friend back here so we can talk about this?”
“Guys.” I called out for them to follow and they did.
I watched the guys and Cleo follow behind Susana and Shawn. We walked into an empty room; Louis closed the door behind everyone else. Shawn and Susana stood alone in the corner while Cleo attempted to calm Taylor down. I could see the anger building in Harry as he looked at me.
“Can we talk about this, why the hell are you here?” I blurted out over everyone’s conversation.
“Watch your language Sage!” Susana almost yelled at me making everyone shut up. “he is your father, show him some respect.”
“He may be my ‘father’ but he lost all my respect years ago when he cheated on my mom with some broad.” I knew my words hurt her when her face changed.
“Sage, can I borrow you for a minute?” Liam grabbed my arm and pulled me aside to where everyone else stood. “Is the plan off or…?”
“The plan is off, I’m not holding this back. That man deserves everything that’s coming.” Taylor answered in a harsh tone.
“Alright.” Liam shrugged backing up.
“I understand you two are mad bu-“ Shawn started but was cut off.
“You have no idea how mad we are or were. I don’t know about her, but I’m still pissed. You don’t know what we went through, we had to take care of mom after you left. We stayed up late with her, held her while she cried and even listened to her vent about you.” Taylor started to pace the room which meant this was going to get serious. “We listened to her problems and feelings, we shoved down our own feeling about everything and helped her because she was pretty bad.”
“I’m so sorry.” Shawn seemed to actually mean it.
“Your sorry? Saying sorry wont really fix what you did but nothing you do will fix it. I still think of you as a jerk for cheating on our mom with her but we’re past the point of return. We didn’t look for you and invite you because we didn’t want you here.” I looked away from him and toward Susana. “And you, you lied to me. You never knew my mom, you knew my dad; you were the reason they got a divorce. I have nothing nice to say to you and please keep your nose out of my life. We didn’t ask you to invite him so you shouldn’t have.”
“I was just trying to help…” Susana looked like she was going to cry and I wanted to slap her for it.
“Then stop trying to help because you screw up the funeral. I didn’t even want you here and you messed it up. If you stay, keep your mouth shut and head down.” I glared at her and looked back at Shawn. “And you can leave as soon as Taylor and whoever else wants to talk to you about your crappy life choices because I’m done with you.”
“But Sage…” His voice was choked up in his throat.
“No, I don’t want anything to do with you.” I walked over to Zayn and kissed his cheek before walking out of the room.
I can't believe I miss out on so many of your updates but I'm glad I found your story again. :D
11/14/14