Copeland’s POV

Today was the funeral. It was Saturday, what a beautiful day. I shouldn’t be burying my friend this young. We should be playing Monopoly today. He should be beating me at it, begging for the electric company, always my last card.

I should be staring out the window as we lay on the couch, watching some movie. I would be propping my legs up on his and he would tie my shoes together, untie them, and then play with the laces.

We should be meeting Cece for ice cream. We should be sitting with Cece’s dad’s friend, Alan, in his cat shop, playing with the ginger colored kittens that had just been born. We should be doing this, not sitting in cold chairs at his funeral, staring at his casket.

Everyone took turns going up and saying a few words. When it came to me, I took my time to walk up to the podium. Each step felt heavy and laden with unused memories.

I finally got up in front of everyone, feeling all the eyes on me, the last speaker. I grasped the paper in shaky hands.

“Hello, I’m Copeland Quinn. Um, I don’t really know how to start this since I’ve never spoken at a friend’s funeral, and I never really planned on it.” I gulped it down. Easy, take is easy.

What did Zack always say? Take it easy, my cheesy. Don’t ask why he said it, he just did.

“So, Zack Sykes was a great friend of mine. I’ve lost track of the years since we had met. Most people might say during one of these eulogies that he was an old soul with wisdom; but that was just not the case,” I got a few laughs out of that, but not much. “Zack was energetic, kind of a spaz, but loved to joke around and have fun. He’d was always a great friend. When I was anxious over a test, he’d tell me to, ‘take it easy, my cheesy’ and would proceed to crack up like he was the funniest guy in the world.

“He wore the same pair of vans every day. They were purple lightning vans and the black laces were frayed on the left side. He had his hair in the exact same style every time he got a haircut. I never saw him leave the house without a little guitar pick on a necklace he wore all the time.

“Zack teased me every time we would play Monopoly because I’d hang on to the electrical company, even when I was bankrupt. When he came over to my house, we would watch Wall-E, even though we’d seen it a million times together. He would insist this because he knew I liked that movie best.” By this time, I had tears pouring down my face so hard that I could barely see the crowd.

“But you know what? Some might see him as a usual kid with the same style, same patterns every day. But no, he was special if you knew him like I did. He said the weirdest things and played the funniest pranks. You might have all heard about two years ago when Jaime’s Traveling Taco stand was filled with bouncy balls….” I laughed a little. I saw Jaime in the audience go pale.

“Wait, that was him!?” He called out. I nodded.

“He crawled up on the roof and I handed him the bouncy balls.” I laughed a little, clearing the tears. Everyone was giggling.

I knew it. Even at his own funeral, Zack could make everyone laugh.

“He loved making people happy. One of my last memories, just brief, but good, was when we were on an off period together. He told me he liked a girl but was too nervous to ask her out. I called him a weenie about fourteen times that hour.” I chuckled a little. Oliver and Hannah smiled a little, wiping away front row tears that spilled onto the grass.

“Even though I called him a weenie and he still didn’t go ask her out, I think I know who it was. He never told me a name, but deep down, I’m pretty sure I had a good idea of who he was talking about.” I smiled, thinking about it.

Oh yes, I knew it all.

“But anyways, Zack was a good kid. He was funny, my off period buddy, Taco Tuesday partner, and one of my best friends.” I finished off, nearly bursting out in tears as I quickly left the podium. My dad patted my back. I saw Cece give me the thumbs up. I smiled weakly. I’m glad she could make it.

Fifteen minutes later, they were lowering the casket as I said my last goodbye. I looked away as the last of the dirt was thrown on. We all went to stand under a cluster of trees. My dad nudged me as I turned around.

I saw Jackson, standing teary eyed behind me. He wasn’t with Cece.

Which was very odd considering they were always together.

“Copeland? Can I talk to you?” He whispered, his voice crackling. I nodded and pulled him to the side. I didn’t see Cece the entire time, even though I peered around for her.

After what happened at school, I was curious. I wanted to talk to her about that.

“What is it, Jackson?” I asked him. He sniffled, his eyes reddening.

“It’s…C-Cece.” He choked out. I stood silently, biting my lip in surprise.

“Cece?”

“S-she b-broke up w-with me.” He sobbed. Oh man, that’s harsh. I mean, break ups are always rough.

“What happened?”

“She was so clingy, but she was rude and controlling. Cece was so demanding. I-I had t-to g-get out of t-that r-relationship. I told her what I was feeling a-and s-she just d-dumped me!” He cried. I gave him a big hug.

Why had Cece done such a thing!?

I mean, yeah, Cece can be a little blunt and brutal sometimes, but that was just something that was part of her personality. I patted his back. Gosh, first Zack and now his break up. He was going through a rough time.

“Hey, do you maybe want to go get a drink with me at the diner?” I asked, trying to lighten his spirits. He nodded, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze. I linked our fingers together.

You know, Jackson’s not such a bad guy…

“I’ll meet you then.” He smiled and then went to find someone, I have no clue who. I walked off with my parents, trying to find them in the crowd.


Cece’s POV

I watched sadly as Jackson started to stalk off. Tears welled in my eyes, not just because of Zack’s death.

“No! Don’t! Please don’t hurt her!” I yelled at him. He just turned around and slapped me. I was reeling. No one was around to hear the whimper of pain.

“Shut up. You’re just going to have to deal with it.” He growled and walked off. I couldn’t stop him. I wasn’t strong enough to stop him. If I wanted to, he said he was going to hurt the ones I love. I couldn’t let him do that.

So I continued to stay silent as he searched for Copeland.

Walking back to the party, my dad caught me in his arms.

“How’re you doing, baby?” He asked softly. I shook my head. Over his shoulder, I saw Jackson talking to Copeland. After a moment, he took her hand. She smiled.

My heart shattered all the more. I lost my best friend. I failed to keep her safe. Zack was gone. I was alone.

“Not good.” I whispered. He pulled me into his chest. I wished my mom was here. I wished Zack was here. I wish everything was okay.

“I’m sorry, Cece.” He whispered softly. I cried into his nice shirt.

My old life was coming to an end. No more of us three. It was just me now. Jackson had finally won. He had gotten to Cope. I couldn’t talk to her. She would push me away. I saw her try to find me, her face furrowing in disgust as she hugged him.

My life was tumbling down and I held onto my dad like he was going to fall too.

I would never find another Copeland to fill this gap in my heart. I wouldn’t find another Zack. I will never find another you.

Jackson was right. I just had to deal with it.

Notes

Wow! Last chapter! Gosh, it feels like it's gone by so fast! I'm sorry that I hadn't updated as often as I should have. I was pretty busy with some of my other stories!

Anyways, Jackson won. Zack's dead. What's going to happen now?

Well, good and bad news. Maybe a sequel. Maybe. It depends on when my awesome partner-in-crime returns. I'm basically leaving it up to her to write the first chapter and get that rolling because I won't write a first chapter for the sequel until she comes back. Sorry!

Thanks for reading, loves!

-Chaos'sWolf