The Baddest :Book One: (Editing)

Chapter 4 [Edited]

I hear two loud thumps and a yelp of pain. I can tell the yell came from Shepherd, I'm guessing Phoenix caught them. I continue down the stares and notice the front door is open, letting in the night breeze. Streetlights let off a yellow glow, stream in from the door. Axel and Shepherd are drag in by Phoenix from their ankles. He throws down both their legs and they look up at me from the floor. Phoenix closes the front door and points at me, looking at the boys.

"Apologize." They both mumble something I don't catch under there breath. Phoenix gives them a deadpan look, "louder."

"Sorry," they say poorly in unison.

"Now go clean up the mess you made up stairs." They both look at him like he grew two heads.

"I refuse-"

"I ain't doing-"

Phoenix gives them one of his death glares that sends chills down my spine. I watch them both clamp their mouths and walk up the stairs with their heads down. I shake my head and plop down on the couch, Phoenix takes the seat across from me.

I'm afraid to ask, but I need to know. "How long have I been out?"

Phoenix looks back up at me, from his phone. "Um . . . you really want to know?"

I nod and wish I could take it back as soon as I do.

"Five days." My hands shoot up to cover my eyes. I'm doomed, my mom probably has called the police and placed a missing person report already. "We contacted your mom if thats why you are worried."

"Mostly. What did you tell her?"

"Well I pretended to be a doctor. And told her-" I moan interrupting him. My mom most likely seen right through their ploy. "Do you want me to finish?"

"I don't need to know what you told her. I'm already one foot in the grave."

Phoenix shrugs and turns his attention back to his phone, I stand and walk towards the door. I find my shoes right beside the door on a shoe rack. I grab them and slip them on quickly, before someone notices.

I frown, remembering everything suddenly. J is dead. I lost my best friend. A wave of grief washes over me. Tears covering my vision as I lace my shoes faster making them fall sloppily over the side of my shoes.

"Where are you going." I spin around to see Axel and Shepherd coming down the stairs. I wipe my eyes before they can see I have been crying. "Are you crying?" Too late.

I sigh and open the front door. "I have to go."

I close the door behind me before the guys can protest. Maybe being friends with them just isn't going to work after all.

**

I walk up onto my porch and raise my hand to knock on the door. I sigh and lower my hand. What am I going to tell her. The truth? Before I can figure out a way to explain the front door is open by . . .

Shawn.

I gasp and he looks at me with horror, then seeing its me he throws his arms around my waist.

"Shawn." I pull him away and cup his face in my hands, feeling if he is real. He was in a coma, wasn't he? The doctors said he could stay here, we just had to made sure to keep track of his vitals. The only reason he could stay was because mom is a surgeon and knows what she is doing. How is this even possible?

I hear a scream and look up to see mom running towards us. She pulls me away from Shawn and squeezes me into a hug, I gasp as the breath is knocked out of me.

"Mom . . . Can't . . . Breath . . ." She lets go and I see anger flash in her eyes. She raises her hand above her head and brings it down across my face. I look at her shocked, she smacked me.

"You lied."

"Mom I can-" she holds up her hand. Stopping me from my explanation, which was probably best.

"I already know."

I would ask how, but I really just want to drop it. Mom looks at me with tears in her eyes. Her emotions are everywhere, and I know why. She lost someone that was like a second son to her. I look down to see Shawn crying too. I look and see mom holding her car keys and flowers. Where are they going this late, wearing black?

Mom notices my questioning gaze, "J's funeral."

This late? I don't understand. It's like 7:30 right now anyways. My mom also answered my other question. "His mom and dad wanted to have his funeral late, because that's the time of his death, we were on our way now. J would want you there."

"How did you know I knew."

"Phoenix." I'm taken back by what she says. I open my mouth only to close it again. I repeat this a few more times, I can imagine myself looking like a shocked fish.

Mom rolls her eyes, "Honey I know all those boys. I helped wipe their butts. That is the only reason I'm not kicking you for staying at the guys house. I know they would have kept you safe, and Phoenix's mom knew as well."

I nod and realize we need to be somewhere. I run into the house and yell at mom to start the car. I grab the only dress I actually own, and guess who bought it for me, J. I sob while putting on the dress. I have never let people see me cry, and I refuse to now. I want to cry and let it out now, instead of at the funeral.

The dress is a solid matte black, silver swirls covering the breast area. It goes halfway to my stomach before puffing out. I slip on my leather jacket and black flats. Thank you J, for everything. You even got me a dress to wear to your own funeral.

I laugh, which comes out more like a sob.

We drive all the way on the other side of town. It is more daylight on this side of town. The sun isn't covered by as much hills or buildings. The sky is a peach and lavender color and the clouds look like cotton candy. We pull up to the crowd of people and graveyard. There is two graveyards, one on our side of town, the West side of Keystone. And on the East side is this one, which is where most of J's family is buried. I spot J's family and walk over to them, another family on the other side of the graveyard.

I leave mom and Shawn to talk with J's aunt.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Wild." They turn around, Mr. Wild has his arm around his sobbing wife. Tears start to burn my eyes, but I push them away. I can't cry here, I just have to wait until I'm back in my room. Just a few more painful hours, and then I can let the walls down.

"I'm so-so happy you could m-make V," Mrs. Wild says. I nod and spin around, I hate to leave them like that, but if I stay any longer I'm going to burst. I hold back the tears a little more. I'll be strong, for J. I walk over to the tree line that surrounds the crowded graveyard. I hide behind a tree, leaning against it. Tears flow down my cheeks, and I choke on my own sobs. I cover my eyes and slide down the tree. My dress flows out around me, like a black sea of velvet. Tears fall down my cheeks and on to the dark fabric, making it look shinier.

I feel their present, how I don't know? I look up through my fallen hair and see all three of them standing there. They all wear black suits with a white shirt under it. Shepherd has a blood red tie, Phoenix wears a dark green tie, and Axel wears a navy blue one. They all have on their famous black sunglasses and wear frowns.

Axel holds out his hand, but I don't take it. They have seen the side of me that no one has seen. They can't see anymore than this. They have seen me when I was vulnerable. They watched me grieve when I fell asleep on the bench. They can't see anymore, because from now on. I'm a 18 year old bad girl, and my walls are up and never coming down.

I'm being strong for you, J. Val was so proud of you. Now it's time I make sure I'm tough for both of us.

**

A/N
Sooo, if you enjoyed this chapter click that little star. If you did thanks for voting! If you want to see more chapters add this book to your private library to get notifications on the latest posted chapters. Comment and tell me if I missed something or you just want me to know your opinion. Thanks for reading. And don't forget, to keep it simple.

-Emz