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Chapter 13

Back to school and back to my daily routine. I already received all my letters from those music colleges that offered me scholarship and my future is finally bright.

I got the best birthday gift ever this year. Dad took me to have a trip in Candy Museum and mom took me to Ice Cream Museum in Illinois on Monday. I know it was a day late but that's okay because those things I love.

Now I'm just sitting down on the picnic blanket in auditorium and waiting for Sam to have our weekly lunch Wednesday together.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. The boys were asking me about my tuxedo for the prom." Sam says and sits down opposite me.

"And I'm forget that this week is prom week." I simply said.

"Your future already bright your sight." Sam simply said.

I chuckle and take my food then give it to him. "So, when I went to New York last week, you have your lunch Wednesday alone?"

"I ate in cafeteria. You know that I did this so you won't be alone." Sam smiles at me.

"I know and I don't know what should I wear for prom." I said to him and eat my food. "Oh I know! I will ask dad to have shopping this week."

"I have this." Sam takes something from his bag and give me a scrapbook. "For a week you went to New York I learned how to make scrapbook, Tina taught me and I made one with your and our pictures as your birthday present. I might can't give you a trip to New York or somewhere else but you know that wherever you go, I'm with you." Sam smiles at me.

"You are so sweet." I chuckle and open the scrapbook. "Aww this is beautiful. Thank you." I smile at him.

"No kiss nor hug?" Sam asks me.

"I'll give you thousand kisses, Sam Evans." I chuckle and keep looking at the scrapbook. "How could you find these pictures when I was baby?"

"Oh I found those in a box in your cabinet." Sam says to me.

"You are so sweet." I smile at him and kiss him softly. Sam kisses me back until we pull each other away. "So, you gave Orly food right?" I ask him.

"Yes. I cooked for dinner every night and every morning I only eat lucky charms for breakfast." Sam nods.

"Aww poor my baby." I chuckle and hold his hand.

Sam smiles and pulls me closer to him as I sit down on his lap and he hugs me from behind. "But I'm glad that you're here. So you probably won't see that guy who likes every single of your pictures on i********:. What's his name? Yes Dylan." Sam says.

I turn my face at him and laugh. "Are you jealous?" I chuckle. "Or are you stalking me?"

"He texted you a lot. I read that." Sam rolls his eyes.

"But I never answer his text if it's not necessary. He knows I'm taken to you. He was just my duet partner. That's all." I said to him and hold his hands.

"We were only just roommate but now we are more than just a roommate." Sam simply said.

"That sounds like a p**n in my head." I laugh. "Trust me, me and him are nothing. I spent most of the time with dad in New York."

"I'm sorry, it's you are the best thing that happened to me since I went back here." Sam half smiled at me.

"You said it was Quinn." I raise my eyebrows at him.

"First it was a year ago and she cheated on me." Sam says to me.

"Look, do you trust me?" I ask him.

"Well the fact that I'm the first guy you kissed so yeah I trust you." Sam nods.

"Then do the be scared. You always said that wherever I'll go, I'm going with you. So I will always be honest with you." I smile at Sam.

"I know that." Sam smiles back at me and rubs my hair then takes his food. "You know Joe came to me this morning."

"For?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Boys talk. He said he is into Quinn and from that the duet they did I can see that Quinn also feel the same way. I mean I can tell since I had duet with her before." Sam says to me.

"Do you can feel something incredible when you are with me like when you were with Quinn?" I ask Sam.

"You have no idea." Sam chuckles. "You made me nervous a lot. And I don't know why just seeing your smile makes me smiles. Even when I just think about it. It's just incredible." Sam smiles at me.

I smile back and him and hug my legs watching him eating in front of me. "I love you." I mumbled.

"What did you just say?" Sam raises his eyebrows at me.

"I didn't say anything." I shake my head.

"Okay you're lying. You said you loved me." Sam smiles at me.

"Yes I love you. You are so adorable." I giggle and cup his cheeks.

"That was first time you said that. And you know what? I love you too." Sam smiles at me and pecks on my lips.

~~

I'm standing in front of dad's office door and grin at him. "I know that look." Dad turns his face at me then continue grading some paper.

"Daddy, can we go to the mall after this for shopping for prom?" I grin at dad.

"No." Dad shakes his head.

"What?" I frown.

"Pumpkin, we already shopping a lot. Even when we went to New York last week." Dad simply said.

"But this is prom, dad. Please. I won't ask for shopping until senior year begin. I promise." I said to him and show him my pinkie.

"Alright alright. You promise?" Dad turns his face at me.

"I promise. If I break my promise I will be still pretty." I grin at dad.

"Sweetie.." Dad raises his eyebrows at me. "You already spent three times of shopping this months when you can only shop for once a month." Dad simply said.

"Please." I pout at him.

"Alright. After this. I have parents teacher conference evening." Dad says to me and put his paperwork on the table.

"Are you going to be parents or teachers this time?" I ask him.

"Both." Dad chuckles.

"Why I didn't know that?" I frown at dad.

"Well, Mrs. Calls met me in the hallways and gave me the invitation directly so.. come on. I promise after this we can go shopping." Dad says to me and walks out from his office.

I walk out from his office and cross my arms on my chest. I walk following dad to the gymnasium. I never go to the teacher parents conference like this before and since I really want to go shopping so I have to come.

I'm sitting down on the bleachers as dad is walking away and talking with some parents and teachers. Dad is having both parts in a conference like this. As a parent and as a teacher.

"Want some crackers, pumpkin?" Coach Beiste sitting down next to me.

"No, thanks coach. Dad doesn't let me eats sweets too much." I giggle.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Coach Beiste asks me.

"Oh I'm waiting for dad because he doesn't let me to drive by myself since Quinn's traffic accident and he was like "you are really careless in everything." So.. besides I'm asking him for shopping for prom." I giggle.

"I see." Coach Beiste nods. "You know if I have kids, they would be in the same age with you now."

"And you don't have one?" I turn my face at her.

"Nah. I ever think about adoption but then I realized that being single parent is hard." Coach Beiste says to me.

"But dad do it." I chuckle.

"Your dad is an amazing father. He chose to left the love of his life and make you happy." Coach Beiste says to me.

I half smiled and nod. "Hey, I got all the information. You want to go now?" Dad walks to us.

"Crackers, Will?" Coach Beiste asks dad.

"No, thanks." Dad shakes his head.

"Yes." I nod and get up. "See you tomorrow, coach." I smile at Coach Beiste.

"See you, Shannon." Dad says to her as we walk out from the gymnasium. "I met Sam's father and he said that Sam will move out from our house next week. His parents got jobs back in Lima. They already paid the rent of a house." Dad says to me.

"Sam didn't tell me anything this noon." I frown. "So there will be two of us again." I chuckle.

"Yes. It will be." Dad smiles at me.

I smile back at him and just being quiet. I'm thinking about what Coach Beiste said to me lately. Dad gave up on his love only to make me happy and I feel that I'm so selfish. I need to do something but I don't know what is it.

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I'm sitting down on the couch in family room and reading a magazine. Suddenly I heard rush steps from dad's room and dad is running to me now.

"Sweetie, pack your clothes. We have to go now!" Dad says to me.

"What happened?" I raise my eyebrows.

"It's your mom." Dad shakes his head.

"What happened with her?!" I frown at dad.

"Just pack everything important right now! We will go to Cincinnati." Dad says to me.

I run upstairs and take my bag. I put some clothes, wallet, and other stuff that I probably need. Dad said Cincinnati? Which mean that is my grandparents house? What is actually happened?

I take my coat and put my shoes on. I run downstairs and run out from our house. "Sam, you watch the house and don't go anywhere!" Dad says to Sam and gets into his car.

"What is actually happening?" I ask dad.

"Just get into the car right now!" Dad yells.

I turn my face at Sam and he is just standing by the door and half smiled at us. I let out a sigh and get into the car. My feelings seems not right.

Dad start driving. His phone can't stop buzzing. I look at to the phone and it's called from nana. I take dad's phone and answer the calls.

"Will, she didn't make it." Nana's voice.

"Nana, what do you mean?" I shake my head as tears slowly fall down to my eyes.

"Your mom.." Nana simply said and hung up the calls.

"Daddy, what is going on?" I turn my face at dad.

"Your mom got traffic accident. You know that she is still in Ohio right? And she was going to visit aunt Kendra and nana but..." Dad shakes his head and still driving. "We just pray for the best okay." Dad rubs my hair.

I turn my face to the street as tears falling down to my face. Nana said that mom didn't make it and what does it mean?

~~

I walk out from dad's car quickly. I run into the hospital and look around until I see my grandparents, aunt Kendra, and uncle Phil all are crying.

"Nana, what's going on?" I ask them.

"Your mom is inside." Nana simply said to me.

I walk into the room and see they're already covering mom's body with the whole sheet. I shake my head and cover my mouth with my hand.

I open the white sheet and see mom is closing her eyes and her skin is really pale. I take her hand and her hand is as cold as ice. And I'm pretty sure I can't feel her pulse.

I can't believe this is happening. So all the things she told me on the phone last night was the last thing she told me. About being brave and how proud she is with me.

"Mommy, it's me. You can hear me right? Please wake up." I sniffle and cry as I hold her hand.

Dad walks in and shakes his head. I turn my face at dad and keep holding mom's hand. Hoping that there is a miracle and she will awake and squeeze my hand.

Suddenly the door is opening. I turn my face and some nurses walk in. "Excuse us, we have to bring the the human corpse to get clean up." The nurse says to us.

"She is not dying. She is alive!" I shake my head.

"Honey.." Dad turns his face at me.

"Daddy, she is alive!" I shake my head and cry.

Dad walks to me and hugs me really tight to calm me down. The nurses bring mom's body out of this room. I'm just crying in dad's hug.

"I don't have a mother anymore." I cry.

"Hey, look at me." Dad pulls away and cups my face. "Her body is probably going to be bury deep down the ground but her spirit will always be with you. Your mom will always be with you no matter where you go or what you're doing." Dad says to me.

"She will never walk down in the aisle with me when I get married, she will never see the day I get labour, she will never be there when I graduate from school and college, she will never be there for the next Christmas or my 18th birthday. Who will be there now?" I cry and wipe my tears away.

"I will! I will never leave you alone." Dad looks at me as tears fall down from his eyes.

I cry and hug him again. Dad hugs me back and rubs my hair. I never imagine of losing a parent. I always wondering what if I leave first before my parents but now it's different.

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I'm sitting down on the bed in my bedroom. We are actually having an open funeral ceremony here. But I don't want to go out and see other people.

It's been two days ever since my mom passed and I really hope that this is will be the worst nightmare ever but I haven't wake up from that nightmare just yet.

"Hey, everyone are downstairs." Grandpa standing by my door.

"I don't want to meet them." I shake my head.

"How long you're going to lock yourself up in your room?" Grandpa walks in.

"I don't have a mother anymore." I shake my head as tears fall down.

"You know everything good in your mom, I see in you. She is willing to change to be better person handling all her depression and anxiety for you. Terri was difficult to handle but when it comes to you, she could change to be such a sweetheart. Look at you, you got your mom's beauty. I remember she called me at 2am because you kicked her belly for the first time." Grandpa smiles at me.

"She does really loves me?" I raise my eyebrows.

"She does. More than herself. Now, I know you are upset and we are all, still. But crying over and locked yourself in your room won't bring her back." Grandpa says to me.

"Nothing will." I look down.

"I know, dear. I just want you to be strong for this. Your mom doesn't want to see you cry." Grandpa says to me and walks out from my room.

I let out a sigh and lay down on my bed and hug my pillow. I turn my face to the side table next to me where there is a picture frame of me and mom together. I can't believe I'm mother less now.

"Hey, all your friends are downstairs." Dad walks into my room.

"You are not sad?' I ask dad.

"I'm devastated. Your mom and I were together for more than twenty years. We've been together since we were 16. Then we married when we were 21 after I graduated from college, we got you when we were 23 and we've been together ever since you were fifteen we got divorced because of my stupidity." Dad looks down and sits down on my bed.

"Are you blaming yourself for this?" I ask him and sit up.

"Kind of. Even if I could be a better person and selfless, she probably wouldn't leave. Now the only thing I have is you. Now I have to fully raise you alone with my own hands. I have to be a dad and a mom for you." Dad says to me.

"But you usually did that. People said that being a single parent is hard but I want to show them that my dad can do it." I said to dad and hold his hand. "Dad, I love you and mom equally. I never thought or imagine if my parent leave me. Now the reality hits me. I know I can't see mom anymore nor hug her nor cry in her hug whimpering something but there's thing that I can do. Mom always want to see me go to college and I'm sure when the day I get to college she will be there with me. She is my guardian angel now." I smile at dad.

"You know what? Everything good in your mom is in you." Dad smiles back at me.

"Grandpa just said that." I giggle.

"Yes. Everyone would agree with me. You got her beauty and her optimistic brain and a brain like a detective just like her. Terri was hard to handle but when she took care of you, she is changed to be the real mother. People told me like you're marrying Terri? Don't expect to have a child with her or you would be both husband and a nanny. But? Look at you. You grew up. I didn't screw anything up except for the divorced." Dad says to me.

I sigh and lean my head on dad's shoulder and hug him. "There are only two of us now dad. We have to be strong."

"I know." Dad nods and kisses my forehead.

I wipe my tears away and look at the picture frame. I know mom doesn't want me to be sad. I have to be strong for me and dad.