Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

The next morning, I woke up, still thinking about yesterdays funeral. Ben dropped Marissa and I off at my house and left to go home. He told us, "If you guys need anything, just call and i'll be here in a flash, OK?" Marissa nodded her head and went inside. I gave him a sad smile to Ben and kissed him on his cheek before he drove away. I walked inside and went to my room to find Marissa crying silently on my bed. I let her stay there, and even when my mom called for dinner, she didn't come down. I took her a plate up, but I saw that she didn't eat it. I didn't know what to do for her or what to say to her. I couldn't say it would be OK because I knew it wasn't. When my grandma died, everything wasn't OK and everybody knew that. I was just sad to see my friend, lying there, crying over her father and her dying mother.

I went downstairs after I took my shower and got dressed. I went into the kitchen to find my mother not there. A little yellow sticky note was left on the table.

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Every thirty mintues, I checked my phone, but no phone call. I was hoping she was OK. At lunch, Ben found me and sat beside me. "So, I was thinking, If Marissa is doing OK. We could go to the park again?" I smiled and laid my sandwich down on my tray. "Yeah, that would be great." Ben smiled, his amazing smile that I loved, "OK, awesome!" I was glad that we were going to the park again. It was so much fun last time, but I would have to call Marissa and see if she was OK then I would have to call my mom and see if I could go. "So, how is Marissa? Has she called?" I nodded and finished chewing, "She hasn't called, so I'm thinking she's OK. Well, I'm hoping." RING!! Lunch was over. "Hey, you want me to walk you to class?" "Sure, that would be great." Ben grabbed my hand and we walked down the hall to Mrs. Gunther's class. "I didn't know you had Mrs. Gunther." I looked at him confused, "Yeah, why?" "Oh, I have her too, but another period." "Oh." "Yeah. She's a real witch," he said in a whisper. I laughed and we stopped in front of my classroom. "Well, here it is." I smiled a joking sad smile and he quickly kissed me on the lips, hoping no teacher or other staff saw. I smiled at him and hugged him. "So, I'll see you after school? Where do you wanna meet?" "Um, meet me in front of the building and we'll walk to my car together." I nodded and headed off into my classroom. He waved and headed off to his class. I sat down and the bell rung.

I got out my notebook for english, but I didn't pay attention much. I was thinking about afterschool. I couldn't wait for our second date. I smiled and the girl beside me gave me a weird look. "What are you smiling about?" she said in a whisper. Her tone was a kind of mocking tone and I knew she wasn't going to be friendly. "Let's see, none of your business?" She flipped me off and looked up at the board where the teacher was still talking. I still sat there in a daze, thinking about last weekend and about everything that had happened. About the wreck, Marissa finding out her dad died. My date with Ben at the park. Marissa finding out her mom was also dying. I couldn't believe what happened. It was like, I arrived and everything went to crap. "Miss Stokes, are you with us today?" Mrs. Gunther said and I snapped out of my daydream. "Oh, yeah. Sorry," She gave me a snobbish look. "Sorry doesn't cut it in the this class. You have extra english homework." She turned around and I gave her a snarl. "What a hag," I said in a whisper to myself. She turned around sharply. "What was that, Miss Stokes?" She walked up to my desk, chalk in hand. "Nothing. I said I couldn't find my notebook in my bag." "Don't smart off to me. Dentention tomorrow!" and she turned around to write the homework on the board. God, Marissa was right about her. She is mean!

Soon enough, school ended. I met Ben outside the front of the building and he kissed me on the lips tenderly. "So, how was the rest of your day?" I rolled my eyes and told him about Mrs. Gunther. "Ah, don't sweat it. She is a hag." I laughed and we got inside his car. "Hey, let me call my mom and Marissa before we go to the park, OK?" He nodded and I called my mom. It rung four times before she answered, "Hello?" "Hey, mom. I was wondering. Me and Ben want to go to the park today. I was wondering, can I go?" There was silence. "Sure honey, but don't be long, OK?" "How about an hour?" "Yeah, that will be fine. Dinners at 4:30 OK?" "OK, love you mom," "Love you too, sweetie," Then she hung up the phone. I pressed end and then searched for Marissa's number. I called and asked if she was OK. "Yeah, I'm fine. You two go have fun. Me and the TV have a date for Degrassi today at 3:30." Then she laughed, "OK. We'll be home around 4:30 because that's when my mom is having dinner ready. See ya then, OK?" "OK. Have fun," and we hung up. "Well," I said to Ben, "She's doing good. She said her and Degrassi have a date this afternoon." He laughed and we headed to the park.