"You look beautiful, Annie," Mrs. Emerson says, a sad smile on her face. She had to re-do my makeup twice because I always started crying. "And you look so handsome, Austin."

Yesterday was the viewing for our parents. Seeing those two caskets sat at the front of the room. Both caskets had to be closed, due to the damage of the wreck. That made me cry even harder.

Today is the funeral, and I don't know what I'm going to do. Seeing our parents be put in the ground? How can someone watch that? Especially at our age. Tears start to prick at my eyes and Mrs. Emerson quickly dabs them away with a tissue. I smile at her gratefully. I hug Austin close to my side as we sob over our parents.

I don't even know why I'm wearing makeup in the first place. Obviously, I'm going to cry. It's a funeral after all. With a sigh, I grab a tissue and start to wipe off all of the makeup. Mrs. Emerson gives me a sad smile and pats me on the back.

"Ready?" she asks softly. I hesitate, then nod. I grab Austin's hand, as we prepare to say our final goodbyes before we head back to California. I'm not really ready to see my parents be put into a hole, but it has to be done, I suppose. My parents were amazing people, but it will be a small crowd gathering for them.

My grandparents have already passed due to old age, and my aunt and uncle live in Paris with my cousins. So, there's only going to be me, Austin, Mrs. Emerson, the priest, and some family friends. They deserve so much better.

"Yeah, let's go," Austin answers for us.

I grab my shawl from the empty backseat of the car and toss it over my right arm. Mrs. Emerson grabs my hand Austin isn't clinging onto, and we slide out of the car on her side. I look up and see a huge crowd of people. Tears brim my eyes when I recognize my aunt and uncle in the crowd. They came.

"Annie!" a voice says. I look around until I spot my two best friends, Justin and Holly waving at me. I walk over to them and they both envelope me in a hug. They hug Austin next, all of us huddled together.

"I've missed you guys so much."

"We've missed you too!" Holly says, tears in her eyes.

"You need to visit. Like a lot," Justin says. I smile at him.

"Guys, this is Amy Emerson. She and her family took us in."

"It's nice to meet you! You're an amazing person," Holly says, almost tackling Mrs. Emerson in a hug. Mrs. Emerson laughs softly, hugging her back.

"It's honestly the least we could do," Mrs. Emerson says with a smile towards me.

"This is Holly, and I'm Justin," Justin explains, giving Mrs. Emerson a quick hug.

"Nice to meet you both." Mrs. Emerson says.

"Are you going to give a speech?" Holly asks me, motioning to the podium set behind my family's caskets.

"I sure as hell am going to try." She gives me a breathy laugh and another hug.

"You'll do good," she whispers, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Yeah, you get through yours, and maybe I'll get through mine," Austin says with a small smile.

Holly and Justin were just like family to us. They called my parents mom and dad. We were their second family. Just as she and Justin's family were my second family. Her and Justin are twins, just like me and Austin are.

"Thank you to everyone who has shown up today. I'm sure the Cassidy family is very grateful," Father Gage says. "Would any member of the family like to say something?" I hesitantly raise my hand. "Ah, Annie. Come on up here, sweetheart." I walk up to the podium, feeling all eyes on me.

"As Father Gage said, thank you all for showing up. It really means so much to me that you would do that for my family. I'm sure they're smiling at us right now." Tears well up in my eyes and I quickly try to blink them away. "I just want to tell you guys some stories of my family. One time, we went to Kings Island, and Austin decided that we should get lost." A few people laugh at this.

"So, he dragged me off without my consent and we ended up finding the biggest ride in the park. We somehow managed to sneak on, even though we were far from being tall enough. Then the ride got stuck, and we were right at the top. We had to call our parents when we got off, and let's just say, we were never allowed back into Kings Island." Everyone laughs, making me smile a little.

"Austin has always been mischievous in that way. Causing trouble without a care, and a smile on his face. My dad would always let him get away with it, since it was 'his boy'. But I didn't care. Me and Austin are just so close. We never fight, never get mad at each other, unless it was pretend of course. I'm so grateful to have him by my side today."

"And my mom. She just...she loved to cook so much. I thought I was going to be a thousand pounds by the time I turned twelve, but I was wrong, of course." Everyone laughs, even me. "Again, I just want to say thank you for being here. It means so much to me."

"Thank you, Annie," Father Gage says as I step away from the podium. I nod and join the rest of the crowd.

"Austin?" Father Gage has Austin come up, and he clears his throat.

"Our parents were some of the greatest people anyone could ever know. They were kind, caring, loving, and hardworking. They did everything possible for Annie and I to have an amazing life. I know they're watching over us in Heaven, but I wish they were here instead. My mom once told me when our grandpa died, that he's not gone, he'll always be with me, and to not grieve because he wouldn't want that. She said she feels the same way. Don't grieve, I'm not laying to rest where I'm buried. I'm alive in your heart and mind, where I always will be. I miss you mom and dad. Til we meet again."

"Thank you, Austin. Holly is going to pass out two roses to each of you. The white is for Hank, the pink is for Jenna. Please place the flowers on each of their caskets," Father Gage instructs, and we all do so.

I get my two roses, and I'm the first person to walk up to the caskets. I hesitantly walk up to my dad's casket, his being the first. God, I wish I could see his face one last time. With a sigh, I place the white rose on his casket and blow him a kiss.

I walk over to my mom's casket and place the pink rose on her casket, giving her a kiss as well. Austin and Mrs. Emerson are right behind me, paying their respects. Austin breaks down, and I pull him into a hug.

"I miss them so much," he cries, and I cry with him.

"I miss them too, bub."

My aunt Kim gently grabs my hand and pulls us back to the crowd of family and friends. Uncle John pulls me into a tight embrace, letting me sob into his chest. Aunt Kim holds onto Austin, our hands never come apart.

Why did this have to happen? I don't think I'll ever understand. They were the most amazing people in the world, and yet, they died so young. Both of them deserved to live a long, healthy, and happy life.

Everyone starts to leave, before my parents are buried. I guess that's what you usually do at a funeral. But I can't seem to look away from them. I don't want them to be gone. I don't want them to be buried in the ground forever. They should be alive and here with me right now.

"Come on, sweetie," Mrs. Emerson whispers to me, pulling me into a side hug. Austin's on the other side of me, trying to keep it together.

"Bye mom and dad," he whispers, rubbing circles on my back with his thumb.

I take one last look back at their caskets, before turning away. We walk through the grass and over to the car. I slide into the backseat, then Austin on my other side, and Mrs. Emerson slides in next to me. She made sure to have a driver, since we both knew we'd be too upset to drive ourselves.

I look up at Mrs. Emerson, tears brimming in my eyes. "What now?"

"We get ready to go back home," she whispers. Home. Los Angeles will never be my home. Indiana is my home. Always has been, always will be.

——

"Welcome back, guys," Carter says with a smile when Austin, me and Mrs. Emerson walk through the front doors. I force a smile, not really in the mood to talk to anyone.

"Let's go get your stuff unpacked, sweetie," Mrs. Emerson says, saving me. I nod and follow her up the stairs, avoiding everyone's stares. Austin joins us, looking completely drained. When we walk into my room Mr. Emerson is sat on my bed.

"How'd it go?" he asks softly. I stare at the ground and shrug. He wraps me up in a hug and I silently cry into his chest.

"As well as expected for a funeral." Austin shrugs, laying on my bed.

"We'll let you guys have some time, okay?" Mrs. Emerson says.

We nod and they walk out of the room, shutting the door behind them. I slide down the closed door and silently sob, not wanting the boys to hear me. Austin sits down next to me, letting me sob on his shoulder as he joins me. About an hour later, Austin decides to go to his room to sleep.

"Come get me if you need anything," he says, holding me tight, then leaving the room. I slide back down the door once it's closed, trying to calm my tears again. Then I remember that Nick knows about what happened to my family, but he doesn't know that I went to a funeral instead of New York.

I grab my phone from my bag, and send him a quick text, asking him to come to my room. Within a few minutes, there's a knock on my door. I stand up, and wipe my eyes, in case it isn't him standing there. I pull open the door and smile slightly. It is him.

"Hey, what's up?" he asks, and his smile turns to a frown. "Have you been crying?"

I nod and motion for him to come into my room. "You know how I told Carter we were going to New York?" he nods, so I continue. "Well, we actually went to Indiana for my parent's funeral."

"Oh, shit. I'm so sorry, Annie," he says, pulling me into a hug. I start to sob uncontrollably into his chest. He holds me tight, letting me soak another one of his shirts.

"Annie, are you crying?" a voice asks, outside my room. I clear my throat and try to make my voice steady.

"No, it's a show I'm watching!" I call back. Nick slightly laughs at my lame excuse.

"Oh, alright. When you're done unpacking and what not, come to the game room, okay?" the voice says. I can't figure out who it is. Nick mouths the word 'Randy', and I nod.

"Okay, I'll be there." I hear retreating footsteps and let out a sigh. "I'm sorry for soaking another shirt."

He chuckles and shakes his head. "Like I said before, it'll dry."

I smile at him and give him another hug. "I guess I'll go see what Randy wants."

"Be careful, he's quite the trickster," he warns me with a smirk.

I laugh and nod, opening the door for us. "I'll be cautious." He chuckles and walks with me out of the room.

"See you later, Annie," he says and walks away. I walk up the stairs to the third floor and walk into the game room.

"Hey, Randy." He looks up at me and grins.

"Hey, Annie. Welcome back," he says, handing me a light blue controller. These boys are really starting to get me. They all know I love light blue and cheerleading.

I smile and take the controller from his hands. "Ready to be crushed, Emerson?"

"You're the one about to be crushed, Cassidy," he retorts as the game starts. That's highly unlikely. Ever since I moved here, I've played video games pretty much every day, and I'm actually really good at them.

"You're on. Prepare to become zombie meat." He chuckles at how competitive I am. Wow, only a week living here, and I'm already turning into them. I'd be lying if I said they hadn't affected me in some way. Cause they definitely have.