The Last Punch

As Tony and I walked hand in hand down the street, being trailed by the guys, we started to go by the small café where Ray worked.
"Hey Vic, you could go see your girlfriend!" Tony shouted out behind us. He scoffed and threw his middle finger in the air.
"I see it!" I said leaping over to the store. I saw the thrift sign and my heart started to light up. As I made my way in front of the door I flung it open and headed inside. "Arlene!" I said happily running over to her to give her a hug. Her mouth turned to a large smile, and that made me even happier.
"Alexandria!" She said lifting her arms, which seems frail and hurt.
"Momma.. Are you okay?" I said giving her a tight yet gentle hug. The guys came into the shop and I turned and smiled at them.
"Oh the band members!! And who is this cute little girl!" She said as Jaime came closer with Ellie.
"This is Ellie... Lian and Jaime's.." I smiled, Jaime handed her to Arlene. A tear came to Arlene's eye. She wiped away the tear but more came. "Momma." I said trying to comfort her.
"This is just so beautiful, she's so beautiful." She continued to tear up and couldn't help it. "I mean what better could happen now?"
"Well... Tony and I are engaged." I blurted out as Arlene continued to bounce Ellie.
"Alexandria!" She started to cry harder.
"Are you okay Momma?" I asked rubbing her back.
"I just feel like you guys are being so honest and I have to pay my part." She cried. "Alexandria... I have cancer, it's terminal. They said I have 2 weeks at the most." She said faster than she had ever said anything before. I could barely comprehend, I felt the air flow out of my chest. The air wasn't coming back in and I began to feel dizzy and sick to my stomach. A heavy tear rolled out of my eye and down my cheek.
This couldn't be happening, I thought everything was happening right. I had take. Tony by the hand and made him mine just as Arlene had said. I did as she said and she was paying the price for something she never even wanted I. the first place.
I quickly ran to the small closet I had sat in with a 16 year old troubled girl that was basically me in my younger years. It was flooding back to me. Lexi was her name and I was with Ahren at the time.
I baracated myself I the closet and it felt like I was seeing my life flash before my eyes. I was sobbing on the old wooden floor of the closet.
First I lost my biological mother and now I’m going to lose my basically adoptive mother. I heard fast paced movement on the floor outside and a knock soon came to the door.
“Axl, please come out..” Tony said standing tall in front of the door.
The other guys follow him to the door and I could hear Ellie beginning to cry. For a one year-old she was often very silent, only uttering the words ‘dada’ and a long ‘aaa’ sound. The long sound was usually her way of saying Auntie. She began to loudly say what sounded very close to ‘Al’. I wiped the tears from my face and had to get out of this closet.
I cleared the mess in front of the door and slowly twisted the knob to crack the door. I looked out slowly and made eye contact with Ellie. She leaned to my direction wen she saw me.
“Ell…” I whimpered as I left the closet and took her into my arms. The rest of the guys came around me and brought me into a group hug. I leaned onto Tony’s shoulder and just sobbed.
As the guys started to pull away I didn’t budge, only moving to let Jaime take Ellie. I could hear Arlene sign and start to make her way over, taking Tony’s place when she got closer.
She rubbed my back and comforted me, much like she had done countless times before. Her arms were frail, yet comforting and careful.
“Alexandria, I don’t think I have ever told you this. But when we first met I thought the world of you. You were juvenile beyond belief, yet caring and dare I say, even more charismatic than I was at that age. Over the years you have blossomed into an amazing woman and I’m proud to have had you in my life.” Arlene comforted me continuously until I got a grip of my emotions and let go of her.
“I love you momma..” I cried, another tear staining my cheek. I quickly surged over to Tony and he kept me under his arm.
“And I love you too Alexandria. I know you’ll miss me, and I know this will cause you pain and grief, but you have to remember that I will be in a place free of hurting. And just remember…” She said with heavier tears forming in her eyes and rolling down her cheeks. “Once you meet a good guy you know won’t hurt you, take him by the hand and make him yours.. But you may not have to because you know he’ll never leave your side..” She whispered, looking at Tony and smiling.
———
Just 2 days later, on Friday, Arlene was found dead on her couch by her neighbor who had been checking up on her periodically. It was 7 in the morning on that Friday when we had found out. Tony and I were sleeping when we heard a knock at my door, this was unusual because everyone was asleep in preparation for the extra long day tomorrow (being the wedding and all). Tony got up quickly to see who it was, my heart nearly dropped when I heard him utter the words, “Arlene” . The next 10 hours I was unconsolable, and after that.. came the regret. The regret that I would never see her again. The reset that I would never hear her smooth words again. Her comforting gaze and and bright smile will forever be alive in my heart…

Notes

Hey guys! I hope you liked this. Only 2 more chapters!! A good-ol' fashioned long chapter was in order and I hope I delivered as much emotion as I was aiming to. I have some plans for the next part of this trilogy, but are there any older characters you would love to see comeback for the last fic?! Comment, rate, subscribe!! <3 xoxo