Jim was looking at the gravestone that had his princess’s name on it while the ceremony drolled on. One of his close friends sat next to him. They were at the beach, where the adventurous girl loved to go often and had shared plenty of special memories with him. It felt like all the happiness was gone from their world, and they couldn’t believe it could happen so quick.

Tulio was trying to hold his tears back, while he’s holding dirt in his hand to put his own daughter’s grave. While his wife, Esmeralda, wasn’t doing much better with her tears dripping down her cheeks and her body shaking. Sarah was comforting her dear friend. She couldn’t possibly imagine losing her own child at such a young age. As for Sinbad, he was holding Tulio’s shoulder in a numb and comforting silent, not knowing what to say to him. All he could do in this moment was comfort him.

His son was absolutely heartbroken. But, who wouldn’t be in this situation? He just saw the flame in his life be blown out in front of him. He didn’t know how it felt to lose someone you love, especially someone that you've known for your whole life. Then you see their death, knowing that you will never see them again; it’s one of the hardest parts of living.

Jane Darling was one of Melody’s close friends in childhood, before Melody met Jim properly. It was like yesterday, Melody and her were playing games or whispering each other's secrets, and teasing each other for their childish crushes. Now that she was gone, Jane was trying her best to hold in tears, yet the overwhelming sadness became too much for her to bear. Peering over at her own best friend’s gravestone. She promised herself not to cry when she found out the severity of Melody’s condition, knowing she wouldn’t like to see her suffering. Next to her was Peter Pan, holding her close in the hopes of comforting his girlfriend, letting his tears flow down his pink cheeks.

Miguel, Melody’s uncle; Chel, one of close friends to Tulio; Quasimodo, Melody’s Godfather; and many more people who were related and non-related family were there for the her funeral. It seems that many family members and friends were very saddened by the young girl’s life ending, but no one could nearly surpass Jim’s pain.

His heart was broken and the worse part is that he never gifted her what he wanted on their 6 year anniversary, guilt and regret still pungent from that day.

'''
When it was over, family and friends sulked in near unison to Tulio’s and Esmeralda’s home. They had pictures of Melody on the table from when she was well, with candles and seashells surrounding it, and a notebook sat there too, just to have people to write how they’ll miss her and never forget her bubbly and sweet nature.

Miguel was talking to Tulio and Esmeralda, giving them his deepest condolences for the loss of their daughter. Some people kept calm facades, but most of them were still visibly upset and shaken by the loss of the precious girl. Sam was looking for Jim, just to check how’s he's holding up. You could say she’s his sister, but frankly, she isn't. She was Jim’s first friend when they were kids. Most of the time, she just watches after him since she knows how to take herself, and now that Melody is gone, she knows she has to keep her eye on him for a long time, because she’s absolutely frightened by the idea of him sulking and being sad for the rest of his life.

She found him in Melody’s room, rummaging through an old scrapbook of pictures, with Melody and him together, and the friends they had throughout their life. Jim has been quiet ever since Melody passed away, hardly eating, very rarely looking like he’d been sleeping, and had almost no emotion aside from numbness. Sam has been looking after him since Melody’s death and makes sure he eats enough, that he doesn’t slowly spiral into anorexia. She knew Melody wouldn’t want him to be this way, and she had told him that multiple times. It all seems to be in one ear and out the other, since all he does is working on his car or waitering as usual, but that only shows how he is used to being when he was a trouble maker, which it isn’t healthy for him, especially now.

She was about to pull the scrapbook away from him but Jim yanked it back towards him. He was scowling, though unmoving, not speaking, either.

Thoroughly frustrated by his mood, Sam hissed, “Jim, put the book away. It isn’t nice of you to look at her things after... you know...besides, that’s her parents job to look through some stuff. Shouldn’t you wait unti-” Jim cut her off, his tone snappy, but still depressingly low.

“I asked them if I could keep the scrapbook. Y’know, since most of the pictures are of us, so problem is solved.” As he returned his attention to the pictures, Sam sighs and brushes her pale blond hair, recognizing the tough road ahead of her.

“Jim, I get it that you're still upset about this, but come on. You can’t just act this way forever. We’re all worried about you, and this attitude of yours doesn’t help either.”  Sam stated while pointing him with a glare, showing that she means business.

“I know that I may not understand how it feels to lose someone you love, but you aren’t alone in this. I mean her parents, Jane, Pete, for God's sake even your parents, and other people who aren’t related to her, I’m even surprised that Shadow Man, or whatever his name is here!” she raised her voice slightly, but  didn’t want other people to worry about their situation. 

Jim, however, hasn’t moved a muscle, he was still looking over the picture of Melody when they went to vacationing up at the water park. He was reminiscing about how she always splashed him the most, even with their group of friends, she always knew how to cheer him up there, when he wasn’t in the mood to go.
Sam got frustrated finally had enough of his silence “For once can’t you just listen to me and thinking over your future?” Sam pulled the scrapbook away from him, frustration finally boiled over in her gut, but his grip is still firm and the book ripped totally in half. It was likely none of the pictures weren’t damaged but the book was very old and papers flew around. 

“Now look what you did Sam!” Jim snapped, absolutely fuming with rage and pushes her all his might. Sam was quick enough to not hit Melody’s drawer, and was able to continue holding herself up. “It’s not my fault that someone was too stubborn to listen to me for a month.” she dusted herself acting like anything never happened knowing she seen worse. 

“Can’t you just leave me alone? I don’t have time for this!” Jim was picking up the pictures that had been sprawled across the floor.

“I did plenty of times James.” Sam had said his real name, knowing how much he had hated it, he only let Melody said his name when they're alone. Sam was hoping it’ll get his attention but expect it only got worse. 

Lets just say it got messy, very quickly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The others were downstairs, chatting and attempting to ignore the ruckus from upstairs, everyone well aware that Sam was trying to reason with Jim.

Sarah sighs, worried about her son and Sam getting too rough in their fight. Sinbad, her husband was next to her holding her shoulder, knowing fully the tough girl won’t let his trouble maker son get away with it.   

“You think they’ll be fine?” the mother of Melody asked, worrying about the teens upstairs as their quarrel continues to rack nervous brains.

“I’m sure they will, Sam can take care herself, and she is quite stubborn.” Sinbad had said who feels confident in the tomboy. 

Shadow man chuckled. “You sure about that?” He was playing with his tarot cards, hoping someone would ask about them eventually.

Sinbad gave an annoyed looked, lowering his voice into a growl “Yes I do, and what's with the cards?” That, the Shadow man had answers to.

“Ah, well you finally asked. Jane, please take a card.” He handed out a random card to her. Jane took it from him, and looked at the picture, still not totally understanding.

“What does this mean?” She asked, throwing him a perplexed look.

“A mess, my dear. Oh, and you might want to move away a bit. Those people who are near at the stairs, at least.” Some people gave him a look and those around them a strange and confused look, but eventually moved away. Then it came directly after.

Jim and Sam were strolling down the stairs, both laced with bruises and battle wounds up and down their skin. Still at each other’s throats, mostly Sam had less damaged on her while Jim still kept a livid composure. When they finally came down to the ground level, Sam was about to pin him down, though Jim kicked her harshly, sending her to the staircase, despite still getting up. In the heat of the moment, she kicked him even harder in his jewels. 

A large wave of discomfort and humor came over people down stairs, most tried to look away, and most guys had thought of what a cruel place that they were in. Jim was curling up into a ball coughing and gagging a bit, trying to get up. Eventually, Peter got to him before he could become more damaged than he already was. 

“Jimmy, I know that you're mad, but please, buddy, you might want to calm down or else Sammy might ruin your chances of ever being fertile again, okay?” The redheaded boy said in wary voice, shaken that Sam was going to knock him out. Jim held still for a moment, as Sam calmed down, finally dealing with herself, but instead Jim’s stubbornness caused him to throw a poorly executed and weak punch at her. Badly. Sam held his fist, glaring at him with tired eyes, causing Peter to turn pale.

Sam kneed his stomach, causing him to fall once again to the cold and dusty ground. Again there was the same reaction as last time, with some of the men looking away, considering never to fight with the pale blonde girl, despite never intending to originally.
“I hope that you're done, especially with that brave idiot state you think is so cool to put up?”
Instantly, men gave him the obvious signs to stop, while some women sent him a glance asking subtly you really want to continue? with raised brows and crossed arms

Jim sighed, struggling to sit himself up, since he sincerely felt like vomiting now. Sam extended her hand out, trying to give him a peace offering, proving she’s back to her regular self.

He had a moment to look at the hand, thinking over his decision. He decided, finally, to take it, then bringing himself up with her, gently swaying and holding his stomach. The people sighed in relief, thanking God they finally settled things right. The great majority who had listened in on his conversation with Jane looked over at Shadow Man thinking how he had known this. 

He just grinned “And you think I’m more terrifying than her, boy,” his tongue flicked as his cards twirled in the air, and back into his hands.

Tulio went over to Sinbad with a scared and nearly astonished countenance “Where the heck did you find that girl?”

Sinbad looked over him not moving “Long story short Jim found her at the playground, apparently she went through some things in childhood that are a bit personal.” 

“You think?” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the mess was made and done everyone left saying sorry for their loss and went home.

Jim and Sam were all bandaged up, walking by each others side, acting like nothing never happened, despite soaking in the awkward silence between them. Jim opened his mouth as to say something, but stopped himself thinking over what to say. Sam was patiently waiting for him to speak up. After much consideration into his words, he finally spoke up.

“I’m sorry the way I acted towards you. I should have known better, that you were just trying to help me, and I was just being a jerk.” 

“And an idiot to fight someone who has had way more experience in their life?” She retorted with a smirk. 

Jim rolled his eyes,  thinking over how he found her, even with the push of uncomfortable sadness in his diaphragm, he forced out a fake laugh. “Hahah very funny Sam, you’re hilarious, you're really a joker.”

“Hey you were warned by Peter and me twice and yet you had chosen to continue, just be glad I didn’t hit your baby-keepers again,” She snorted jovially.

Jim shook his head a bit, realizing how stupid he was to try to fight his first friend knowing exactly what she has been through. He stopped at his home, acting like he needed to do something. He honestly needed to let out what he had been holding in since the day of Melody passing away.

Sam was looking him over, knowing him for most of her life, though wouldn’t be surprised at what happens next

Faintly she heard a sniff, then his sobbing, and all the pain that he had kept locked inside finally released into a wave of deafening emotions that he didn't fully understand at the time.

He leaned into her shoulder, despite her being an inch shorter than him, and cried quietly into the safe comfort of her shirt.

         Sam had her arms on his back comforting her friend patting his back softly “It’s alright Jim I got you, Just let it out, there’s nothing to hide.”  she could feel how shaken he was, his hands gripping tightly around her shirt as he wept.

“I miss her” he muttered into her shirt. 

“I do too buddy, I do too” she had a myriad of tears slipping down her cheeks, and had a more somber expression, feeling weak seeing how much pain her friend was in.

Far away from them, Shadow Man was walking home playing his cards again, before his shadow began freaking out. “What is up with you? Cat got your tongue?” He questioned the figure.

The black figure was moving around in a frantic manner, then eventually a card came out from his hand shaking a bit, signaling something isn’t normal.

The man looked at the card confusing eyes widen a bit not believing. “Well then… I guess this will be an interesting year, won’t it?” he shoved it into his pocket, making sure no one was looking. “Looks like the boy won’t have to move on huh?” he kept walking home and thinking over how his plan would turn out. 

“See you soon Melody, or should I say your highness?”