The drummer's cousin

Scarlett POV

Guests murmured around me sniffling and talking quietly. I had long since stopped listening to the preacher who stood at the podium. I looked everywhere but the front of the room. I looked at the long drawn out faces and the watery eyes. I looked at the folds of black fabric that swathed the church pillars. I did everything I could to avoid looking at the vacant face of my grandfather. Whoever decided that putting a dead body on display at the front of the funeral is comforting to the family needs to be shot.

The preacher finally stopped droning on and the pall bearers went to the front. My cousin was among them. I hadn't seen him in years but he hadn't given me so much as a hello. I followed in the back of the crowd of people leaving the church. The cool spring air left goosebumps on my exposed legs. My heels tapped on the pavement as I made the short walk to the back of the old stone church. The crowd of mourners parted for me sending sympathetic glances my direction. I glared at anyone who stared at me for too long as I made my way to the front. My Grandfather’s coffin was being slowly lowered into the grave plot. I could bear looking at it now that the lid was on it. The gold plate on the top of it shone in the evening sun. I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes but quickly held them back in. Don’t let them see you cry Scarlett I chided myself. When the time came I picked up a handful of dirt. It was cold and moist in my hand as I threw it in. Whirling on my heels I stalked back towards the large brick building next door. I sped past the chairs, tables and refreshments that had been set up for afterwards. I walked through a set of heavy double doors and finally found myself alone. I slumped down and put my head in my hands. It hadn’t been a surprise when Grandpa had died he had been sick for months. I had just never truly accepted that he was sick. I finally let the tears flow that I had been holding back for weeks.

“Hey Scar.” I heard quietly.
Looking up I saw my cousin Josh looking at me worried. He slid down the wall and sat next to me.
“You ran off rather quickly afterwards are you okay?” Am I okay? His words echoed in my head. Of course I was not okay. Did I look okay? I wiped the tears from my eyes thankful for waterproof makeup before meeting his eyes again.
I nodded my head slowly.
Josh looked at me like he didn’t believe me. He looked for a second like he was considering what to say before deciding to say nothing. He stood up and offered his hand to me.
“Well they are probably expecting us so we should go back in.” he commented.
I took his hand and he helped me up.
“If one more person tells me I’m sorry for your loss I think I will stab myself.” I said annoyed.
Josh laughed.
“You and me both. So why do you look like you should be in a club instead of at a funeral.” Josh commented raising his eyebrows at the short hemline of my dress.
“I’m almost 18 Joshy-poo I can dress how I want.” I retort tapping him on the nose before putting on a small smile and sashaying into the room.

I mingled among the mourners who kept expressing their sympathy. I nodded and smiled slightly at their words always aware of the rather large lump at the back of my throat. The underlying tones of panic touched the back of my mind but I fought to keep them at bay. In all reality I was scared. I had lived with my grandparents for as long as I could remember. I had helped grandpa through my grandma’s passing and was with him till the end. In that room smiling fake smiles and trying to be gracious I realize how utterly alone I was. Standing in a room full of people but utterly alone.

The mingling went on till a man in a dark suit emerged from a wooden door in the wall. At his appearance the room quieted down. I made my way slowly to the door my slightly wringing hands outwardly showing my nerves. My aunt and uncle had decided to have my grandfather’s will read at the funeral. Not quite 18 the next few minutes would decide my fate for the next 93 days. I Slipped through the people and through the door and sat in a straight back chair off on the side. I saw the rest of the family and close friends take seats around the spacious office. My grandfather’s lawyer, Mr. O’Conner, made his way to the front of the room and sat at the desk. He shuffled through papers placing his reading glasses on his nose.

“Family and friends of Jonathan Devine we come here today to hear the will of the newly deceased….”
His words droned on numb in my ears. He read the gift bestowed on various friends and family members. Growing ever the more nervous waiting for my name I picked at the hem of my dress.
“As to my granddaughter, Scarlett Devine, light of my life and light to the world as well.” My aunt raised her hand to interrupt him.
“You don’t need to read this part Scarlett will be coming home with us it is already arranged.”

I looked in surprise at my aunt across the room. Her simple black suit and string of pearls hardly betrayed her haughty manner and her nervousness at not yet being left anything. The lawyer skimmed the papers gazing nervously at her. “As to my granddaughter, Scarlett Devine, the light of my life and light to the world as well.” he persisted, “You stayed with me through everything till the end. I leave to you the entirety of my estate.”
My aunt emitted a cry at his words.
“If I pass before you are 18,” the lawyer continued undisturbed, “Then I entrust you and the estate until your 18th birthday to your cousin Josh Devine.”
It was Josh’s turn to be shocked. A look of bewilderment passed in front of his face. I let out a breath that I hadn’t know I had been holding. Now I knew, I was going to spend the next 90 days entrusted to my rather immature cousin whom I hadn’t seen since I was 12.
My aunt rushed to the front of the room enraged at being cut out of the will.
“This can’t be right!” She exclaimed.
The lawyer shook his head telling her that it was final.
She turned her serpent gaze on me. “You wicked, wicked girl you should have gone with your parents to Peru.” She sneered.

Everyone in the room gasped at her outburst that brought back bad memories. I stood up and rushed out of the room tears pricking at the corner of my eyes. I hadn’t asked for this to happen. I hadn’t asked for my grandfather to leave me everything. Her outburst was cruel and uncalled for. I heard heavy footsteps echo behind me. A large hand fell on my shoulder. Turning I saw the concerned face of my cousin. “Scarlett, I’m sorry.”
I glared at him disbelieving.
“My mother was rude and mean. It was uncalled for.”
I rolled my eyes and sighed.
“93 days.” I spat out.
“What?” He asked. “93 days, in 93 days I’m 18 and you will be rid of me.”
He looked at me at a loss for words.
“You’re not going to be a bother you can stay with me as long as you want.” He offered sincerely.
“No thanks.” I said with a tight lipped smile. “So where do you live anyways?”
Josh bit his lip and scratched at the back of his neck. “How do you feel about tour buses?” He answered with a question.

Notes

so here's my first single author story :) so I figured I would make the announcement here first, I'm in the middle of launching 3-4 stories....so I don't have anywhere close to enough time to update a worthwhile update daily. My tentative updating schedule is:

-The drummer's cousin: Tuesday-Wendsday
-Strict rules and broken curfews: Thurs-Friday
-Whitehall school for boys: Sat-Mon
-Camp Moon Lake: whenever I have time

yeah there will be random updates if I have time but that's the hopeful schedule (which gives 1 update weekly)
so let me know what you think :)
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-Daphne