Chp 6
~Chapter 6~
"Tomorrow?! Romania?!"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"Well, duh! I have to pack! This outfit I'm wearing right now is the one I was buried in! It's too morbid! Besides, it keeps giving me wedgies. I have to go home and get some of my jeans and sweaters and pictures and hats and CD's and…"
"Ok! Go ahead! Just make sure your mother doesn't see you. Go tonight."
"Sure thing! See ya later!"
He left the lair and went to the surface. Once out of the tomb, he took flight. The cool night air felt good beating against his face. When he reached his house, he had to figure out a way to get in, without disturbing his slumbering mother. He couldn't exactly just go through the front door, up the stairs, and waltz into his room.
'My window! It's always opened.'
That was true. Ever since he lived in that house, he kept his window opened at night. He didn't like being all cooped up with everything closed. He prayed that his mom didn't decide to change the norm and close it. He glanced up at his bedroom window and much to his relief, it was opened. He floated up to it and snuck in. He didn't notice, until he entered, that his mother was sleeping in his bed. He smiled, then proceeded to gather his things. He packed some clothes, hats, CD's, pictures that meant a lot to him, and such other necessary items. He was about to get his sunglasses when he realized that he wouldn't be needing them. After everything was stuffed into his gym bag, he walked over to his sleeping mother. She was curled up and holding a picture. AJ gentley removed it from her grasp. It was a picture taken on his twenty-first birthday. He smiled and put it back on his night stand. Then he bent over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I love you, Mom," he said softly. "I'll miss you. Goodbye."
Denise stirred a little.
"AJ?" she called out, still asleep.
He got startled and decided to leave at that moment in case she woke up.
The next morning, Denise woke up with a strange feeling. She sat up on the bed feeling disoriented. She looked around and her eyes fell on the picture of her and AJ on the night stand. She picked it up and stared at it. Then she touched her cheek. The one AJ had kissed.
" *sigh* AJ. You have no idea how much I miss you. If only I could turn back time and change everything. But I can't. The past is past. I just have to let you go."
She started crying.
Just then, the phone rang. She picked it up, her hand shaking.
"H-h-hello?"
"It's Elaine. Denise, are you alright?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure? Are you crying?"
"Yes."
"Yes for which one?"
"Both."
"Oh, Denise. You want to talk about it? I'll be right there."
"No, it's ok. Thank you, Elaine. But really, I'm fine. It's just that, that I-I feel like AJ's been here. I feel like he's still here with me, you know? Pretty weird, huh?"
"No. It's not weird at all. Of course he's with you. He'll always be with you."
"I know. I know."
"Listen, do you want to go out today? Shopping? At the mall? Or would you rather just go to the park and relax?"
"I don't know. I don't think I---"
"Please, Denise? You have to unwind. It will be good for you. Besides, I need someone to accompany me. I have to buy a new dress to attend my friend's daughter's wedding. I need your opinion on what I look good in and what I don't. Please?"
"Oh, alright. Can you pick me up in an hour?"
"Sure. Alright. See you then. Bye, hun."
"Bye."
She hung up to get ready.
An hour later, she heard the beeping of Elaine's car. She hurried out the front door and into Elaine's Mercury Sable.
"Hi! You look really good, Denise!" greeted a smiling Elaine.
"Oh, please. Don't lie, Elaine."
"I'm serious! Have you lost weight?"
"Probably. I haven't eaten anything ever since, you know."
"What?! Ok, that does it! After we go shopping, I'm going to treat you to a nice big, Italian meal at The Olive Garden! White chocolate raspberry swirl cheesecake included!"
"Uh uh. No way. I couldn't possibly ask you to---"
"You didn't. I volunteered."
"Thanks, Elaine." She hugged her. "I don't know what I would do without you."
"No problem. Ok, let's go.'
They zoomed to the local mall. The first store they went to was Lord & Taylor.
"What about this one?" Elaine asked, holding up a gold sequenced gown.
Denise scrunched up her nose.
"Nah. It's too flashy."
"Ok. How about…this one?" This time she pulled out a red dress with rhinestones as sleeves.
"Uh uh."
"This one?" She took out a wine colored chiffon gown.
"Nope."
"This one?" She asked pointing to a silver satin one.
"No."
"THIS ONE?!"
She held out a lavender short thick strapped dress.
"Now that is definitely…not you!"
"Ugh! Well what exactly IS me?!" She looked around and randomly picked out a garment. "This one?!" It was a plain and simple black dress.
"Actually, yes. That one's the right one."
Elaine looked at her incredulously.
"THIS ONE?! I'm going to a wedding! Not a friggin' funeral!"
She didn't realize what she had just said until she saw the pained expression on Denise's face.
"Oh, Denise, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to---"
"No. Forget it. I knew I shouldn't have come. Don't worry about it. I'll take a taxi back home."
"Nonesense! You're not going anywhere! You know what? You're right! This is the perfect dress! It's simple, yet elegant. It's perfect! Thank you, Denise. You have ended my search."
"Yeah, anytime," she said sadly.
"Eh, umm, where do you want to go now?"
Denise shrugged.
"Ok, how about…Spencer's?"
That was one of AJ's favorite stores. But Elaine didn't know that.
"Sure. Why not."
On their way to Spencer's, they passed a group of young college kids, happily chatting and fooling around. One of the kids looked like AJ. He even had a bright yellow Tommy Hilfiger sweatshirt and sunglasses on. Denise stared at the kid. That's what AJ should've been doing now, enjoying life. Denise quickly wiped the tears away before anyone saw.
They finally arrived at the novelty store. It had a whole bunch of pranks, jokes, and nasty (as in sexual) stuff displayed on the windows. The new fad seemed to be South Park memorabilia. Denise decided to buy an "Oh my God, they killed Kenny!" shirt. Elaine looked at her strangely.
"I didn't know you liked South Park!"
Denise looked at her.
"AJ loved it."
"Oh."
After they shopped for everything they needed, or for that matter, didn't need, they went to The Olive Garden for lunch. Denise wasn't that hungry, so she just ordered soup and salad.
"That's it?! No white chocolate raspberry swirl cheesecake?!" asked Elaine.
Denise shook her head.
"But it's your favorite!"
"It used to be."
"Denise! You've got to stop harming yourself! AJ wouldn't want it! You should enjoy your life!"
"I don't want to! My life means nothing without AJ in it! Besides I only lost him five days ago! Let me grieve!"
"You're right. You're right. It's just that, I hate seeing you like this, Denise. Ever since I've known you, you've been such a happy and optomistic person. You would always tell me the bright side of life everytime I was down. I want to do the same for you."
There was a long pause.
"S-s-so are you going to give away his stuff or---"
"I'm keeping everything the way it is. I'm not touching anything. The way he left his room is the way it will remain."
"Why?"
Denise looked at her.
"Because I'm not ready to let him go."
Chp 7
Chp 5
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