emetery.

I look up at the enormous words on the metal gate and tighten my grip on the red tulips in my hands, breathing in and out carefully.

"I will wait for you here until you're done," Luke tells me and I turn my head to nod at him.

I push the metal gate open and walk inside the graveyard. Overhead, dark clouds spread against the dull sky of the winter. A Northerly breeze blows by, brushing my cheeks and I shiver slightly. The grayish white headstones dotted the landscape that lays in front. The rustling of the dead leaves and their crunching under my shoes are the only sounds that can be heard; other than that an eerie silence echoed in the place. Spotting Ana's gravestone, I head to it and I smile at the headstone before I sit down on the brown dirt.

"Hey, Ana," I start. "So, eight years, huh? I really hope they're treating you good up there. You're going to be surprised but a lot has changed since the last two months," I frown,

"I never realized two months actually passed since I last visited you. Time is really passing fast. Last time that I came here, I was fanning about Alex and ranting about how Luke is a pain in the butt. Alex is now a really good friend of mine and I might like Luke? I don't know. I'm still confused,

"All I wanted to do is to get to know Luke more, but now that I kind of have a crush on him, I feel weird. I don't want to be one of those girls who fan over Luke whenever he passes by or looks their way, but I can't do anything about it, can I?

"He's actually waiting for me outside; he's the one who gave me a ride here. It's really sweet of him how he doesn't mind 'practically' wasting his time on me," I feel a smile coming on my lips and I let out a small chuckle.

"Oh, the girls and I are going to perform at the fun fair. Honestly all my life can do is get worse. Jennie hit me with a dodgeball. I bruised my bottom before I came here; the girls and the guys were trying to cheer me up and we went to the mall. Also I may or may have not accidentally dropped Sophie's sunglasses in the fountain at the mall,

"Apparently it's not a good idea to check if they are smudged near the fountain. She didn't go after them obviously, but I'm sure she's going to remind me of it every time she sees me,

"Jennie and Luke are going to start to hang out now and for some reason, I don't feel so good about this. Like I have a feeling that they will get closer and closer until they start dating and well...that sucks, but I'm always assuming things, so I'm going to stop listening to my mind," I continue on with my story.

"I think mum and abuela are rooting me with Luke. I'm not sure about mum, but I'm pretty sure about abuela cause she was being all winky,

"I think that's everything? I'm sure mum and the guys updated you on their lives when they visited earlier," I say,

I clear my throat, gulping down nothing. "I just wanted to say that I really really miss you, Ana. Like sometimes I wish I could go back in time and stop myself from being stupid, but I guess everything happens for a reason,

"It's just that sometimes I wonder; what was the reason for you leaving? You didn't deserve it, but Luke told me that this may be the best for you, so that's convincing enough. I just wish it hadn't been you who left," I croak out, my voice cracking and I swallow the stupid lump in my throat. My eyes start burning and the tears prick the corners of my eyes.

Just great. Now my face is going to look like freaking Minnie Mouse's bow.

"Well I should probably go," I push myself and stand up. "Luke is outside and I can't keep him waiting."

"Almost forgot," I suddenly remember the flowers and I place them next to the headstone.

"I love you, Ana," I smile downwards and a whistling, comforting breeze passes by, making my smile widen.

I start heading back to the exit of the cemetery and as I walk, I notice Luke standing near one of the headstones looking down at it with his hands in his pockets.

"Hey," I say as soon as I approach him. I look down at the gravestone, knowing who does it belong to.

Thomas Carter

1967-2011

In a memory of a loving father, son, husband and brother.

"Life is not just about living and loving, it's about trying and experiencing too."

"I will wait for you outside," I tell him.

He turns his head to me and shoots me tight-lipped smile. "It's fine. Let's just leave."

"Okay."

It stays quiet between us for awhile as we walk back, before Luke speaks up. "You good now?" He questions as we walk back to his car.

"Yeah. I am," I smile at him.

"You kind of look like you were crying though," he points out, raising an eyebrow.

"I do?" I frown, touching my cheeks and I feel water on them. I quickly wipe my cheeks.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Luke asks again.

"Yeah, I'm sure," I give him a reassuring smile and he nods.

At last, we make it to Luke's black Nissan and we both get inside, before Luke turns on the car and he drives away. I immediately open the window and let my head fall back on the seat.

"You know you can talk to me, right? I'm your friend. You can come talk whenever you want," Luke speaks up.

I smile at his kind offer. "I know that, but I'm fine, I swear. I'm better now." He nods in response.

Another day. Another year.

| | | |

Sophie started talking to this Daniel guy, hoping it would be a good chance for her with the opposite gender. She went on one date with him and it went nice, so they continued talking, but then he started chatting about things related to politics and stuff like that. He also started talking about how 'Africa' needs help and that pretty much triggered Sophie.

I raise my hand up until Mr. Miller spots me. "Yes, Miss Falls?" He gestures for me to talk.

"May I go to the bathroom?" I ask, smiling sweetly.

"Miss Falls, there are ten minutes left 'till the bell rings and this is an important part, can't you just wait until the lesson is done?"

"But I really have to go. It's an emergency," I widen my eyes in exaggeration, hoping it would help my case,

"It's a red code emergency," I add. "A bloody red code emergency." I mentally cringe at myself and try to ignore the fact that I just embarrassed myself and punched my dignity. "Like a leaking, bleeding-"

"Stop, please," he holds up his palm and I press my lips in a thin line. "Go, Miss Falls," he waves his hand, grabbing a hall pass and holding it out.

I grab my backpack and rush to the front of the classroom. "Thank you," I take the hall pass, smiling nervously and walk outside.

I go down the hallway and take a right, spotting Sophie and Daniel standing by her locker. Sophie has a fake smile plastered on her face and she looks like she's seconds away from knocking the guy in front of her out.

"So what are we going to do?" Riley's voice pops up from behind me and I almost have a heat attack.

"Jesus, Riley. At least give me a warning like the ads," I breathe heavily, placing my palm on my chest.

"Sorry," she grins sheepishly.

"Do you guys have a plan?" Colette's voice comes up from behind me this time and I almost have a second heart attack.

"For God's sake, give me a warning that you're going to pull a Jack-in-the-box on me," I throw my hands up and Colette shrugs.

"We have three options: one, 'abuelo' is in the hospital with crying. Two, Queen Elizabeth wants to see you right now. Three, lesbian Romeo and Juliet," Riley suggests.

"I think the grandpa one is suitable for our situation," I pitch in.

"We don't really have our 'royal' outfits on and the lesbian thing has a small chance in working out," Colette says.

"Okay then," Riley clasps her hand together. "On three, we wil start running."

"One..." Riley starts

"Two..." I continue on.

"Three." Colette ends and we go sprinting down the hallway.

Sophie sees us and her face lights up, then she notices our fake sad demeanors and her face morphs into a false worried expression.

"Sophie!" Riley gasps and Daniel sends her a look of confusion.

I feel bad for the guy because he's actually very nice and he seems to really like Sophie, but a best friend gotta do what a best friend has to do.

"What's wrong?" Sophie asks in alarm, playing along.

"It's abuelo," I say hurriedly.

"What's wrong with him?" She panics.

"He's in the hospital right now and we must go visit him," Colette masks on a nervous expression and I have to admit, I almost fell for it.

"It's terrible, Sophie," Riley starts fake sobbing. "H-he's so sick and there's a h-huge chance he m-might not survive."

"Uh...what is happening?" Daniel asks in confusion.

"It's my grandpa," Sophie frowns. "He's in the hospital and I need to go see him now."

"Now?"

"Yes, now," Riley sniffs.

"I'm so sorry, Daniel, but I have to go," Sophie apologizes giving him a sincere look, but I know she is resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"It's okay. Do you want me to call you later?"

"No, it's alright; you don't have to," she waves it off and he nods.

"Come on, Sophie," I usher her.

The four of us race down the hallway again and as soon as we turn around the corner, we burst out laughing.

"God, we're so evil," Riley chortles.

"To be honest, I kind of felt bad for him," I tell them.

"Don't. He was just getting started on the Africa thing again and I was about to punch him," she crosses her arms. "Thanks for the save, guys."

"No problem, babe," Riley smiles at her.

"Anytime," Colette says.

"Don't you guys have a class right now?" Sophie asks.

"Yes, but-"

Riley gets interrupted by the bell. "-the bell is going to ring anyways and it just did."

"To home, we go," Sophie announces.

| | | |

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