4 days later.....

I woke up in a hotel room with my Aunt Morgan asleep next to me, my phone chimes, I lean over and grab it, checking the time it was 4am, it's a text from Nate,

Nate<3-Hey B, not sure if your awake or not, but I'm texting to say good morning and that I miss you a lot, I know you've been busy with dance and your father's funeral, along with trying to locate your mother still. I'll be there today, my mom called me out of school, I was wondering I f we could meet for breakfast and coffee before the funeral.

Me-Hey Nate, I miss you a lot too, good morning to you as well, id love that, where would you like to meet and what time?

Nate<3- how about that café near your hotel? Around 7am? Gives us enough time to eat before the service starts.

Me- sounds good, see you then.

After that I get up, get dressed in some jogging stuff, I grab my iPod, headphones and cell phone, I put my music on and leave the hotel room with my key, I head for the elevators, when I'm on the elevators, Till it's gone by Yelawolf comes on, I look at my reflection in the elevator doors, bruises were fading, but the pain was still so intense it was insane. I still felt empty and lost, I hadn't seen Nate since my aunt arrived, I was so busy with getting caught up for the dance competition and arranging my father's funeral, my feelings for Nate just kept getting stronger, being away from him helps a bit with my thoughts staying straight, we haven't talked about the kiss, I didn't want too, I wasn't ready for this, I'm not worthy enough of having him. When the elevator hit the first floor and the doors opened, I stepped off, walking through the lobby to the front doors, I exit the hotel and begin to jog, heading toward a beach I loved to run on, I jogged down the beach in the wet sand, the waves never hit me, I stopped for a moment and looked out into the water, pulling out my cell phone, I pulled up instagram and a new post, pointing my camera towards the beautiful sun slowly raising since I was nearly 5am, I snapped some pictures as the sun rose and posted them with a smile. I loved taking pictures of scenery as much as I loved to run and dance. Best Friend by Yelawolf and Eminem comes on, I smile, something I rarely did, but the moment it started I busted out every word and every line perfectly,

"Ain't never been much of the church type
But I believe in the last days
I walk through Hell almost every night
But I believe it's a pathway
Say boy, what you doin' with your life
With those tattoos on your face?
Say boy, you know that you'll pay the price
Well, I guess I'll see when I head that way

To the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
I hold You nearest
My best friend, best friend
Let the trumpets blow with Your appearance
I can almost hear it
My best friend, best friend
When you wish me Hell upon my soul and spirit
Behold these lyrics
I got a best friend, best friend
Yeah, I got a best friend, best friend, yeah

I don't know much about Holy Bibles
But I grew up in the Bible Belt
I put my love for a woman on idle
Because I got beat with my mama's belt
But I learned from my mistakes
Try hard to respect people for what they believing in
But if you spit on my fucking grave
And wish me Hell then I wish you well
I'mma send you straight up to my best friend

To the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
I hold You nearest
My best friend, best friend
Let the trumpets blow with Your appearance
I can almost hear it
My best friend, best friend
When you wish me Hell upon my soul and spirit
Behold these lyrics
I got a best friend, best friend
Yeah, I got a best friend, best friend, yeah

God, please could you arm me with the armor
To calm me when there's drama like Gandhi?
Could have gone the other way many times
Could have turned Dalai with the lama
But I squashed my beefs and things seem to be looking decent
Recently, but don't jinx it, it's like Clint Eastwood
Looking for peace though, maybe not finna enter
The priesthood, but at least should
Make an attempt to show some remorse
And to be some sort of a repenter
For the people I've been a menace to
Not a preacher, but a shit starter and finisher
Into the mind of a thick skin, but a short temper
This patience of mine is thinner
Than twine is when I
Get attacked so I might say something back that might offend you
So if you don't like when I rap or
What I have to say on the mic then you
Might wanna act just like quarterbacks
And take a fuckin' hike when I snap 'cause I'm a sinner
(I got a best friend, best friend)
Plus balls and intestines
And they never been yes men
They gon' tell me when I'm fuckin' up
The minute I'm ever giving it less than
I'm about to vomit and I can feel it coming
Cause failure's something I can barely stomach
And I only listen to my gut
So unless you're my fuckin' belly button
Don't tell me nothin'
You ain't my (best friend, best friend)
Who you think I'm talking 'bout?
Lifts me up when I'm down and out
Still look to him without a doubt
Still got a (best friend, best friend) Shout it out
Like there's never been a louder mouth
Should have never been allowed a mouth
Now that I got a higher power now when I blackout, power outage
They powerless, but they crowd around
They tend to flock like shepherds, the black sheep
But I be the worst thing that these motherfuckers ever heard
When I'm counted out
You be D-O-A, they'll announce
But pronounce you dead when they sound it out
So prepare for a rival
Your arch enemy surrounds you now he's all around you
Not even the doctors at the hospital
Are gonna shiggy-shock you back to life
It's in-piggy-possible to revive you
That's word to the diggy doc
Stiggy-stopping is not an option
Something I'm not gonna do
I'm the Iggy Pop of hip-hop when I walk in the booth
Dawg, I'm the truth like Biggie rockin' with 2Pac in the suit
Talking to Proof dropping a deuce
Fill up a syllable clip like a refillable script
Cock and I shoot
Who you think's my glock that I use?
That I pull from to get my strength up against these haters
And he'll be waiting at the gate when you get sprayed up
Sending you hoes straight up to deal with my (best friend)

To the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
I hold You nearest
My best friend, best friend
Let the trumpets blow with Your appearance
I can almost hear it
My best friend, best friend
When you wish me Hell upon my soul and spirit
Behold these lyrics
I got a best friend, best friend
Yeah, I got a best friend, best friend, yeah"

When I finished I began to jog again until I turned around and headed back for the hotel so I could get ready for the day and be ready for when Nate and I had to meet for breakfast. I got back to the hotel around 6, I was sweaty and out of breath, my phone chimed and I checked it, I had a new follower, Conor Maynard, I hadn't heard of him, I clicked on his profile and saw he was from Brighton, UK. I decided to follow him back, and then he DM's me,

Conor- Hey I saw your profile and I saw your covers on YouTube, you have amazing talent! Also your pictures are beautiful!

Me- Thank you!!!

Conor- You're welcome darling.

I smiled at myself, he was pretty cute, and he was sweet! Wait a moment, he's two years younger than me I'm 16 he's 14, plus I really already had a place in my heart that belonged to Nate, I grew up with him, I could have guy friends and someone British too! I need all the good I can get in my life. I get on the elevator, I hit the button for my floor, the doors close, Dead by Madison Bear comes on, I burst out into singing it the moment it starts, as the doors open to the elevator I step off as a group of kids my age are coming down the hall, they stop the moment they hear me singing and I keep going as they cheer me on and record it on their phones, I even dance a bit some of the moves I had been learning in dance, when the song was over they started clapping and wanted pictures with me, I didn't say no, I took some pictures with them and gave them my cell number so they could send me the video through email at some point, I also had them follow me on instagram so they could see anything new I posted. I smiled for the first time in 4 days, it felt good, and I felt good, even though we were burying my father today I felt at peace with what happened, I wasn't over it, but my father made some bad choices in life, I prepared a speech as well for this. I get back into my hotel room, I go shower and get ready, and when I'm ready my aunts up and getting dressed,

"I'm meeting Nate for breakfast and coffee before the services, I'll be at the café down the road," I say as I brush my hair out.

"Okay sweetie, has your mother contacted you yet? Or picked up any of your calls?" Aunt Morgan asks.

I shake my head and she just nods, I go finish getting ready, curling my hair, I had on a black dress that hugged my body, showing my curves off, I looked beautiful and that's how I felt for the first time in a long time. I had picked this dress out the day Nate and I went to the mall, he thought it was amazing and I loved the way it looked on me, it was perfect for the funeral. I grab my purse, putting my cell and my speech in it; I kiss my aunt on the cheek,

"Bye I'll see you around 8am," I smile at her.

"Bye Brook!" she waves to me as I leave.

I head back to the elevator and get on, I hit the lobby floor button, and I get off at the lobby and head out of the hotel. I walk towards the café, my heels clicking on the sidewalk, I look around, it was quite out, it made me smile, the peace, the beauty, this place wasn't much, but it was my home. As I walk up the café, I spot Nate standing outside in a suit waiting for me, he looked amazing and so handsome, it took my breath away, I was lucky enough to have him as my best friend since we were in diapers. Nate turned as I walked up,

"Hey stranger!"

Nate smiled at me, looking me up and down, "Wow, you look gorgeous B!"

He pulled me towards him, wrapping his arms around me, holding me close, he smelt good, and it felt good to have his arms around me finally. It felt like forever since I got one of his hugs, was this what it felt like to fall in love?

"Lets go inside," I say smiling, I pull away and place my hand on his arm.

"Okay B," he says putting his hand on mine.

I pull my hand away gently, then we walk inside the café, order our food and coffee, then take a seat, they call out Nate's name and he goes to grab our stuff. He sets it down when he comes back,

"There you go," he smiles.

"Thank you," I reply.

"You're welcome Brook," he replies back.

We eat breakfast then my aunt meets us, we get in her car and we head to the funeral home, when we arrive, we get out and go inside. The service begins, once we are getting ready to follow the hearse I hear my mother's voice, I whip around,

"Brooklyn?"

"Mom? Where the hell have you been?! The cops are looking for you." I reply.

"I know, that's why I came back, I met someone Brooklyn," she smiles at me, grabbing a tall guys hand; he was kind of scary looking.

"Wow mom, classy dad dies and you already have a new man? How long has this been going on? Wait you know what don't answer that, just get a hold of the officers that want to speak with you." I shake my head at her.

Her new man looks at me, "don't speak to your mother like that."

I look at him, "excuse me? You're not my father you don't get to boss me around asshole, I'm 16 not a little girl anymore, I've been through so much shit you wouldn't believe me if I told you all of it, so don't tell me what to do ok? You will never be my father and I will never obey you!"

With that I walk away from everyone, I hear Nate say,

"Dude, back off of her, she just lost her father! You don't get to tell her what to do, you don't have that right."

I get into my aunts car, my thoughts spinning, I barely hear my aunt and Nate get in, Nate touches my arm, causing me to jump, he pulls his hand away quickly, reading my face, he sees it all, the anger, the hurt, the betrayal. He doesn't say a word, I close my eyes, as we all start moving, tears start to run down my face, I saved my speech for the cemetery; I needed air for this one. When we arrived at the cemetery I open my eyes, wiping my tears, I take a deep breath and get out, Nate grabs my hand, I let him, we walk holding hands, we leave room for them to bring the casket out, I watch them holding onto my speech, my heart hurting more and more as they set him down. Some words are said before I get to do my speech, as I approach the center I take a deep breath before I dive into it,

"my father was a complicated man, he was angry at times, I understand now why he was so angry, it took me 6 years to figure out why my dad was the way he was, I fully understand, he was always so intense, I kept my grades up to try to please him, I felt like that wasn't enough, I'm not going to tell you guys what I went through with him, its none of your business, sorry for the rudeness, I'm just a private person when it comes to how my home life was with my father. I know you all have heard rumors and stories, but remember it's not your business to know, I remember a vacation we took before he started drinking, it was the best vacation ever, Nate was with us, we went to Hawaii for 2 weeks, I got the worst sunburn ever, my father nicknamed me lobster until the burn was gone, then the drinking started and I won't go into what I dealt with. I just want to say, I'm sad he's gone, despite everything I miss him, no one can replace him, and I will not take orders from any guy that tries to be a father figure towards me."

As I finish everyone claps, I spot my mom and her new man, staring at me, and I roll my eyes and shake my head. Then they lower my father into the ground, I grab a rose and drop it onto his casket as it goes down, my heart shattering, it was real, he was gone and he was in the ground now, Nate grabbed me and hugged me tightly as I burst into silent tears. Once I contain myself, we head to the car, my aunt Lola lived near the cemetery and she was hosting the after funeral get together. I get in, Nate slides in next to me, putting his arm around my shoulder and pulling me towards him, I lean my head on his shoulder, we head to my aunt Lola's. We spend a few hours there, we all talk about the good times with my father, my mother's new man introduces himself as Todd, I brush it off, my phone rings, I pick it up,

"Hello?"

"Brooklyn? Its officer Stevens, your mother got a hold of us, shell be coming in for questioning later tonight, your home is free to go back to, it just needs to be cleaned that's all, I'm sorry for your loss," officer Stevens says.

"Thank you," I reply.

"You're welcome," he replies back.

We hang up and I look at Nate,

"I'm ready to leave."

He nods, "okay B."

He goes to tell my aunt, who hands him a set of keys a hotel key card, he comes back,

"Lets go, your aunt got you a car it's in the garage and she rented an extra hotel room, she said we can use it shell keep the other one," he says.

I look towards my aunt and smile, she smiles back, then we leave, Nate gets into the driver's seat, I get in and he starts the car and heads towards the hotel, I fall asleep on the way there, when we get there Nate carefully wakes me up,

"Hey B, were at the hotel sweetie wake up," he says.

I slowly wake up and we get out and go inside get on the elevator and go to the same floor my aunt and I stay on, the room was right next to hers, I smiled as we went in, Nate dropped his backpack I didn't realize he had, on the floor, he shut the door.

"Go shower and ill put some clean clothes in there for you." He says.

"Okay Nate," I reply heading for the bathroom.

I close the door, leaving it unlocked, I get undressed, turn on the shower and get in, I let the warm water hit me, I close my eyes, then I hear the door open,

"They are on the sink B," Nate says.

"Thank you," I reply.

"No problem B," he replies back.

I shower, and then get out, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around me; I look at the clothes on the sink, one of Nate's t-shirts and a pair of his sweatpants, along with a clean bra and underwear. I sort of forgot I left clothes at his place, I hadn't been there for days but I was staying there a lot. I got dressed and walked out of the bathroom, Nate went to shower real quickly, and I was drinking a bottle of water when he came out of the bathroom shirtless. We went to lie down, he put the TV on and I leaned my head against his chest and fell asleep.

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