THE FUNERAL, Part II: A REASON

A/N: don't forget to vote and comment❤️ this one's sad...😭

AUTHOR's POV

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HER LONG STEPS on the grass were silent but determined. The look of exhaustion on her face was permanent and it was impressive how she could handle hiding it from the world when she wanted to.

Evren's stunning, clean features were replaced by almost lifeless, obscure ones, adding the stress she was on.

Going to her best friend's funeral was certainly not something she was hoping for, especially at such a young age.

Amidst the ridiculous conspiracy speculations Colber always had a thing for, he laughed at a young Evren when she said she felt like she could be the one from the two to die first.

"No way, you like to put yourself in the worst situations ever but you always get through everything, you're a survivalist Evren, unlike everyone I've met before", he told her back then.

Maybe, she thought for a second, he could be right. It was true she loved adventures, craved for adrenaline and wicked experiences.
All in all, a ride-or-die type of kid who loved what triggered her mind and body.

Colber used to say she was too crazy about solving mystery puzzled documentaries, always trying to keep up with every little sign or detail.

But now, she found herself hating the fact that she might just be in middle of one too. An extremely real one. And oh boy, she was scared.

Wearing a long black t-shirt with a pair of black ripped jeans and grey old trainers, she moved her heavy body alongside the pavement. Her head was touching the side of the backpack, leaving her to realise how tired she was from walking.

A sigh left her mouth once her eyes opened to catch a glimpse at the great amount of people reunited together forming a circle.

Taking a couple of steps ahead, she decided to stop next to a wide tree, hiding herlsef while curving her body for her but to touch the floor. She took off her backpack and a blue notebook.

Watching the scene from afar, her wide orbs observed how every single person was standing up, all wearing black clothes, as if there were hundreds of ants looking for a place to start their next home.
But no, unfortunately, we were talking about a human's burial.

The pencil on her hand moved itself almost automatically, scratching the paper beneath it. That's when she decided; an angel. She would draw the death of a fallen angel.

Colber's existence was a blessing in the middle of all the horror inside Evren's life. He had been like an angel to her, protecting her since the first time he met her.

He was the light that overshadowed the darkness around her. But now he was gone, the blood took over, the light had died. Colber represented something pure which had met its final destiny. Could there be anything else as absolute as such?

She was drawing quickly but stopped halfway, leaving the sketch incomplete. A tear escaped her wet eyes, crossing the heat of her cheeks' skin until it reached the paper.

There she was, crying again. How much she despised it... vulnerability - her most longing enemy. She felt weak, powerless, somethings that did not combine with her strong uptight personality at all.

Her fingers traced the path of the tears that left her eyes, she just couldn't believe it. How overwhelming it was to say goodbye to her most trusting friend...

Her vision became blur, but her ears noticed the sounds coming from afar. "Amen"

Evren wasn't a religious person, but she also felt the strong connection of love enveloping the place. Grabbing her sports coat, she closed the zipper against her body. While on foot, she draw careful steps on the floor, walking further until she reached another tree.

She was now even more close to the scene. Her orbs recognized the tall man standing next to a white rectangular shape stone with a microphone on top of it. He was in his fourties, had blond hair, a white beard and a saddened expression.

"Mr. Foster" Evren's voice was shaky, as she identified Colber's father giving a speech.

Colber's mother, Amelia Foster, was holding a tissue to her face, as she was being held by some of her family acquaintances, the black pair of sunglasses flashing the pain and the sorrow.

Evren's heart skipped a beat, watching his fathers mourn the loss of their only son.

"Myself and Amelia, we are... Heartbroken yet extremely devoted to contribute as well as we can so that the truth can be found. For a lack of better words, we did not expect for this to happen while we were on vacation, to- to hear the voice of our son the morning before, only to find out hours later he was-" Mr. Foster stopped, taking a long breath,

"We miss him dearly... he was gone too soon. My son was precious, he had a beautiful heart, there was nothing but love in his soul. He did a lot for this town, he fought for his loveones.. he- I want you to remember him that way. I know Amelia and I will."

"We raised a son hoping to watch him grow, to see him having kids, grandchildren... God was kind to give us such present in our lives. Whoever took him away from us wasn't a follower of God, but a very sick, lost human being. We hope God does justice."

"And to my son, I'm sorry if we failed as parents somehow. We'll always love you. You can find peace now... you can be free Colber."

Amelia Foster was a misery, crying and moaning out load when she grabbed the arm of her husband, both putting white roses near to the pedestal. There was a photo of a young Colber with a ball on his hands, smiling happily, covered with dozens of mini flowers.

Silence followed when the two figures hugged each other in the middle of all the people. Evren could notice some of Colber's team mates looking at each other in hopes of finding someone who hadn't showed up.

Sean was on the left side, with a neutral face, next to an upset Cassidy. They did not seem down, rather melancholic. Travis was on the back looking at his watch.

All of a sudden, Evren was surprised by the sound of something breaking behind her. Turning around, the astonishment on her face was visible, now that she had witnessed the view of a total inconsolable Brendan Rhys.

He was also sitting on a tree's root, holding a broken bottle of whiskey, the blood pouring out of his hand. He looked like he was in so much pain, his head down and his arms shaking.

Evren was shocked to say the least. The bad, tough guy was not unbreakable anymore, was him?

Could it all be an act? She had to ask herself. Sure, but then why would he be faking his emotions like that, if no one was watching but her?

Evren was a very intelligent person, she would choose her brain over her heart a million times, or the left of it. But now, she was confused and bewildered. Could she trust what her eyes were seeing?

After all, it did say in the newspaper that Rhys was proven innocent, though she did not discharge any minor possibility. Yet, observing Brendan hurt like that made her remember the feeling she also felt deep inside her - so much grief.

That's when she had a long forgotten vision of her and Colber two years ago.

She was in his bedroom, the color of her hair was clearer, she looked younger and slimmer. As for Colber, he was less tall but always had a smile on his face.

"Cmon, go easy on me" He said, playing with his rebel hair.

"I'm just saying! You're not the same when you are with your friends. I like you better like this, funny and genuine. You don't need to put the weight of the world on your shoulders." She told him.

"I'm fine, Evren. For an out law like yourself, you worry too much, you know?"

"We're friends. Of course I worry about you." She remarked, fully aware that the two had only met two months ago. They were bonding so well.

"Well, you don't need to. You know everything about me. I trust you with all of that. So have a leap of faith on me too, okay?"

She said nothing, only mirroring him trying to figure him out. A few seconds later, her mouth opened reluctantly,

"Have you ever thought about what happens if we ever lie to each other?"

"Lie? Why would I do that?" Colber asked, getting irritated.

"No, I meant like- what if we ever decide not to reveal something? A secret, a memory, I don't know.."

"That's weird, I don't think I'd hide something from you." He said, rethinking his answer, "But I mean, who knows. Then there's got to be a reason, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Whatever though. I would never put you in any trouble." His green eyes flashed compassion while he eyed Evren, laughing. "Not that it matters. You're troublesome yourself."

Evren laughed too, she agreed.

  A reason, that's got to be a reason... a reason why Brendan was a stranger to her all along, when in fact he was just as close to Colber as she was.

She watched has Brendan stood up, the cold mask returning to his fetaures. He made his way to the center of the circle, slowly, as if he was a ghost. Everyone turned their face to acknowledge a very disturbed Brendan reaching the microphone.

He was still bleeding, and he definitely looked drugged out. He reached for a paper beneath his pocket, before saying with a rough voice,

"Colber- he. He never had my blood type, the same color of my eyes or... or even the same taste for football teams. It was- it was funny cause I was into the Italian league while he kept fascinated about Liverpool."

Looking back at his paper he continued, "Honestly, he was... he was the opposite of me." But found himself stopping again, looking back at the crowd.

Closing his eyes, he gained the strength to proceed, "I never had a family. Not really. But Colber he- he was my brother, whatever you people say."

"And he was different. I am, as you can probably see" he cracked, "-an absolute jerk. I'm not worth it- but he was. He was!!"

"I-- oh Fuck this!" He screamed, the paper on his hands falling to the ground. "I don't deserve to be a captain, I don't deserve to take his place. Colber was meant to be the one holding the trophies- not me! Not anyone else!"

"You took that away from him!!" Shouting into the microphone, Brendan felt a pair of hands grab him.

Evren wachted petrified as Jonathan tried to get Brendan out of the there as quickly as he could. Everyone was in daze.

"You robbed him- YOU, you lied about him, till this day you still lie about him! AND TO HIM! CAUSE YOU LIED TO HIM! YOU KILLED HIM! STOP! LET ME TALK!" Jonathan asked Kit for help, everything was a mess now. Evren was horrified.

"HE WAS DIFFERENT!! AND YOU LET HIM DIE! HE-"

Brendan was finally on the floor, fighting with his long legs as if he was having convulsions, while Jonathan and Kit held him down. He had reached his limit, he had exploded with all the pain inside his rib cage.

It was too much to handle, even for a guy like himself.

Evren was lost in her thoughts, completely unmoved. But she was certain of something. The hate and rage that ran through her vains was the same as she witnessed pouring out of Rhys's mouth. He understood her.

And she did not know why, but at that moment, she believed him, his words and his innocence. He had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. No way he was acting up.

She could be making a huge terrible mistake, yet her heart was what she was focused on now.

"I would never put you in any trouble."

Could it be it? What if Colber knew something was up all along but did not mention it to neither of his closest friends because he was afraid of what could happen? He said he trusted her, yet apparently he relied on Brendan too.

"Then there's got to be a reason..."

Maybe. Maybe Colber planned it all along, for them to meet each other when the time was right. But that did not make any sense- for what purpose would he do that? What was he afraid of?

She could be imagining things. She could be mixing it all up, fuck, she might have understood it all wrong.

It did not matter now. Evren had make up her mind. She was betting on him. She was going to trust Brendan.

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To be Continued

I feel so sad😞 Next up Brendy Boy is going to finally talk to Evren, an alliance is rising... Can they trust each other? What will they find out?

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