Sierra's POV

I want to get the funeral over with as fast as possible. It's been a week and finally it's here. Michael wanted to make it a nice funeral, so he planned it. I decided on what to put my father in and what casket to choose.

I'm getting dressed. I put on my black jeans, black boots and a black v-neck shirt. Why should I get all dressed when I killed him? I go out into the living room where Michael and Lisa are waiting. Shanone and Scot should be here soon. Lisa has on a black dress, black heels with a stylish black hat. She looks me up and down and ask,

"Is that what you're wearing? "

Michael, who was looking down at his feet, looks at me. He has on a black suit and a red tie. He has on his penny loafers. I look at my clothes and then at Lisa. I respond,

"Yes. "

I haven't been talking much since I got the news. And when I do, I don't have the energy to say a complete sentence. So I answer with one word. Either I don't have the energy or something in me is saying, "Why bother?"

The front door opens and Shanone and Scot enter. They are dressed up as well. Black. Shanone looks at me and says,

"Sierra what are you waiting for? Go get dressed. "

Lisa says for me, "She is dressed. "

Shanone sighs. Scot puts his hands in his pockets and says,

"Well, we should go or we'll be late. "

I head toward the door. Followed by the others. After the ceremony we're suppose to go to Michael's parents house. We as in everyone attending the funeral. They offered and Michael accepted.

I get into the car and wait. Everyone else gets in and Bill stars driving. I've prepared a song for the funeral. I haven't told anyone but the preacher.

I guess this is my way to apologize to him.

We pull up to the funeral. Paparazzi are behind the gated area screaming our names for us to look.

They keep screaming for me to turn around. Shanone and them are escorting inside. I break away from them and face the paparazzi. I feel Michael's and the others eyes watching me.

I flick them all off and yell,

"Fuck all of you! "

Michael grabs my arm and pulls me back over to them. The paparazzi can go to hell.

They lead me inside. I see Officer Daniel in the back. I go over to him. He looks at me and smiles. He says,

"I hope it's OK I'm here. "

I say, "It's fine. "

He nods. He looks around and says,

"May I sit with you. "

I nod. I lead him over to where we are sitting. Michael watches him the entire time. I sit next to Fonzo. Daniel is next to me. Michael and Lisa are behind me and with them is Shanone and Scot.

Everyone settles. The preacher stands and begins. After he's done, he calls up Fonzo who prepared an eulogy. I laughed at the memories he brought up. That's the first time I've laughed all week.

Once he was done, people thought it was over, but then the preacher said,

"Before we end this ceremony, we have one last person who wants to say something. Well, sing something. Sierra Thomas has prepared a song. "

I stand up and go to the front. My friends stare at me in amazement. Probably because I haven't said a sentence all week and now I'm going to sing an entire song. I take a deep breath.

Last night, I was worried that I might cry and not be able to sing, but I have no more tears to shed. I'm dried up.

I grab the microphone and say,

"This song is dedicated to my father, Davie Thomas. "

The music begins. I take a deep breath. This is my apology to you.

"Seems like it was yesterday when I saw your face,
You told me how proud you were, but I walked away
If only I knew what I know today
Ooh oooooh
I would hold you in my arms,
I would take the pain away,
Thank you for all you've done
Forgive all your mistakes
There's nothing I wouldn't do
To hear your voice again
Sometimes I wanna call you
But I know you won't be there!
WOOOH OOH I'm sorry for
Blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself by hurting you..."

I see people crying because of my words. Michael is even tearing up. I glance back at my father's casket. I look back at the crowd and continue.

"Some days I feel broke inside,
But I won't admit
Sometimes I just wanna hide
Cause it's you I miss
You know it's so hard to say goodbye when it comes to this
Ooooh ooohh
Would you tell me I was wrong?
Would you help me understand?
Are you looking down upon me?
Are you proud of who I am?

"There's nothing I wouldn't do
To have just one more chance
To look into your eyes
And see you looking back! "

"Woah wooh I'm sorry for, blaming you, for everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself

"Oh If I had just one more day
I would tell you how much that I've missed you since you been away!

"Oh it's dangerous! It's so out of line to try to turn back time....

"I'm sorry for blaming you for everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself

"By hurting you...."

The music slowly fades away. I give the microphone to the preacher. Everyone seems to be in awe. Then, they all start cheering. I walk down the three steps and sit down. Michael puts his hand on my shoulder. I turn my head slightly to show him I appreciate it.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

I invited Daniel to join us after the ceremony. He agreed. When we arrive at Michael's parents house, people start to greet. They say how sorry they are and how I did a wonderful job singing.

They don't know that was me apologizing for killing him. They don't need to know.

They also don't know that they are overwhelming me. No one seems to notice, but Daniel. He asks,

"You wanna go somewhere private? "

I nod. Since he's never been here, I lead him into the game room. Once there, I take a few deep breaths. He says,

"I could tell they were overwhelming you. "

I say, "Thank you. I needed to get away from them. I just want to go home and stay in bed. "

He smiles and says, "You can't do that all the time. "

I shrug my shoulders and sit down in a chair. I say,

"Well, I think I can get away with it for a few weeks. "

He chuckles and stares at me. He then looks around and notices he was standing next to a pool table. He asks,

"Do you wanna play? "

I don't see why not. I shrug my shoulders and say,

"Sure. "

He gets the table ready. I grab a pool cue and a pool cue chalk. I chalk up my stick and wait for him to finish. He asks,

"Do you wanna break? "

I nod. He stands aside and watches me. I position the cue like normal and take the shot. Daniel says,

"Nice one. "

As he sees which direction he wants to shoot, I sit down and ask,

"So, how come you use your first name instead of your last name? "

He asks, "What do you mean? "

"You have everyone calling you Officer Daniel. "

"Oh...well..my last name is embarrassing. "

He aims and shoots. He gets a solid ball in. I ask,

"What's your last name? "

He smiles and says, "I'll tell you, but only because I know it'll make you laugh. "

I'm getting very curious. I say,

"It can't be that bad? "

"Ready? "

I nod.

"My name is Daniel Clutterbuck. "

I try and keep a straight face, but as he waited for me to respond I started laughing. He smiles and says,

"I knew you would laugh. "

My stomach was hurting from laughing so hard. I ask,

"What is Clutterbuck? "

He chuckles and says, "I don't know. I never asked my father. "

I take a few breaths and say,

"Thanks for making me laugh, Officer Clutterbuck. "

He smiles and says, "No problem. "

He shoots again and misses. I get up and choose which ball I wanted to hit. He leans against his pool cue and ask,

"So, how long have you been dating Michael? "

Him saying that made me mess up my shot. I look at him and laugh. I say,

"You made me mess up! You asked that on purpose. "

He laughs and says, "You can have another shot, but I was serious. "

I smile and say, "I will take that second shot and Michael and I are not dating. Far from it. I'm just staying at his place for a while until I can find a permanent place. "

"Oh, yeah, I forgot, he's dating that Lisa chick. "

I say, "You do realize that chick is Elvis Presley's daughter? "

He nods and says, "I know. Am I suppose to be starstruck? "

I aim and shoot. I make one. I say,

"I'm glad you aren't. And I'm glad you aren't starstruck by me. I need new people in my life and it's hard to find them. "

He nods and says, "I understand. I probably don't know the exact experience, but I understand. "

I smile. I aim and shoot. I miss. Daniel seems like an OK guy. As he studies the pool table, I ask,

"Since you're asking questions about me, I want to ask questions about you. "

He smiles and says, "Go ahead. "

"How long have you been in the force? "

"Ten years. "

I say, "Wow. How old are you? "

"30 years old. I'm a Christmas baby. Born on December 23rd. "

I smile and say, "Wow. I bet people try and get you one present. They say it's for Christmas and your birthday. "

He laughs and says, "I do have a few friends who does that. I find it annoying, but I can't complain. Especially when it's Jesus's birthday. "

I nod and say, "Well, I won't do that. "

He looks at me confused and says, "What do you mean you won't do that? Don't you mean you wouldn't do that? "

I laugh and say, "Well if you don't want us to be friends, then fine. "

He quickly says, "No, I just didn't know we would continue to hang out. "

I smile and say, "Well I hope we hang out again. "

He smiles and says, "Absolutely. "

Just then, Michael comes through the door. He looks quite upset. I ask,

"What's wrong? "

He says, "I was listening at the door. I can't believe you. "

I say, "What are you talking about? Why were you ease dropping? "

He says angrily, "Your father is dead, and you try and hook up with an officer!? "

My heart shatters. Did he really just fucking say that? I feel tears forming as I yell,

"Don't you dare come at me with that SHIT! You know full damn well I wouldn't do something as LOW as that! You...you...you asshole! "

He steps back, surprised at my words. I continue,

"Don't you fucking dare...."

I begin to cry. I quickly wipe my tears and turn to Daniel. I say,

"Take me somewhere. Now. Please. "

He slowly nods and pulls his car keys out. He follows me out the door and into his car. I buckle up and curl up as best I can as I begin to softly cry.