↑Aunt Clara

And the song 'What Now' by Rihanna is how December feels. She feels empty yet so full of emotion and she doesn't know what to do. She's asking the world what now? This song is so sad, it makes me cry in different languages.

Enjoy loves.

XX

"I'll put the rest in the car."

We were collecting the rest of our things from the place we had called home ever since our father died. I ran my hands along the bare walls, once filled with photos and drawings Tommy had brought home from school.

We had been boxing and taping all of our belongings with the help of Aunt Clara and Etty. Henry wanted to help but he had to help his friend set up for the party later.

When we moved to my mom's room. I refused to step through the door. Her. Her smell. Her laugh. Her memories. She was everywhere yet no where in sight. That would unleash a myriad of emotions that I was uncomfortable showing. So no, I would not step into my mom's room.

I even suggested we throw her stuff away. It was just going to take up space and there was no point in keeping memories of something that constantly made you feel too much. Aunt Clara insisted we keep it, but it was more of a demand. So we're keeping it.

When we had made the last trip to Aunt Clara's Honda, the kids piled into the car while I walked with my aunt to the landlord's office which was a two minute walk from our apartment.

"What brings you here Ms. December? Are you here to turn in the apartment keys?" He pondered. He was there when the ambulance arrived so he knew what happened and was very lenient when it came to our lease. He understood that no one could pay the rent any more and waved his hand at us having to give a month's notice before leaving.

"Yes, Sir. I've got my mother's copy and my own. Thank you for wavering the lease." I told him sincerely.

"It's no problem at all my dear." He smiled a thin smile. "You're mother was a great person. Always so kind. I know she'd be very proud of how well your taking this. Tell Tommy I said hello." I agreed to his request and we left his office without more conversation. Our landlord was a very nice man. My mother often didn't pay her rent on time, but she'd drop by his office with one of her famous apple pies and all was well. I was grateful for him to say the least.

As we headed back to the car, Aunt Clara wrapped her arm around my shoulder. "I'm very proud of you Dessie. You are taking care of Tommy better than I ever could. Syd would be proud of you. I know it." She smiled sadly at me and kissed my forehead. Everyone kept saying how my mother would be so proud of me, but would she really? As far as I could tell, my life was spiraling out of control at a rapid rate and I stood there, watching. With my hands tied behind my back.

I caught a tear falling from Aunt Clara's eye and as quick as lightning, she whisked it away. I pretended not to see.

When we got into the car and buckled in, Etty let it be known that she had a question.

"What is it my sweet?"

"Why didn't you talk to Aunt Sydney?" Etty asked bluntly, making my aunt visibly tense.

She cleared her throat before replying in a small voice, "Auntie Sydney and I had a fight, a stupid, stupid fight a long time ago. We just stopped speaking."

"But mom, when me and Henry fight, you make us forgive each other." Etty told her mother in a duh voice.

"I know baby. But we were both stubborn and I regret it every single day." She rubs a hand over her face and lets out a shaky breath. The awkward tension in the car is thick enough to cut with a knife. I cough.

"Well, alright. Let's go home. We can stop for ice cream on the way, how does that sound?" She looks in the rearview mirror as the kids cheer behind me and I can hear Tommy squealing. The kid was a sucker for ice cream. Just like his older sister.

"Aunt Clara, do you think we could stop by my job so that I could tell them I won't be returning?" My voice sad. Seeing that the commute would end up being more costly than what I was being paid, it was pointless to keep my job at the floral shop, but this didn't stop me from being melancholy about the whole situation. I had developed a strong bond with the owner Justine and her daughter Iris. I had become accustom to seeing them every day and even though she was six years older than me, Iris and I were great friends. If she had been in my age group, we definitely would have sat together at lunch.

"No problem sweetheart." Aunt Clara allowed as I gave her directions to the small shop that was my second home.

~.~.~

When we arrived at 28 Willaby Road, I stepped out of the car and with a deep breath, made my way inside the shop. Walking through the aisles, I inhaled the wondrous scent of the numerous flowers. The fragrance was so intoxicating that it was almost dizzying. I lightly ran my fingers along the petals of the flowers, making my way to the back room. Justine was at the register, ringing up some white Calla lilies for a regular customer, Mrs. Ackley.

"Hey Mrs. A. Great selection. Calla lilies are a favorite of mine." I told the sweet, old woman.

The corner of her eyes wrinkled up as she smiled a dentured smile at me. "Why thank you December, dear. I told Harold I wanted to get the tulips, but he was adamant on the Calla lilies." She converses with me, referring to her husband.

"Well you tell old Harry I said hi." I winked as she laughed and walked outside with her flowers.

"Hey Justine. How's it going?" I asked as I leaned against the counter. The owner of O'Connor Floral Shop was placing money in the cash register as I stood there. For an older woman in her early 50's, Justine was beautiful. She had long, auburn hair, peppered with small streaks of silver. Her green eyes disguised her age with their youthfulness.

"I'm doing good, but that's not important. How are you doing?" She demands, her eyes staying on my face.

I let out a sigh, "You heard didn't you?"

"The whole town's heard baby." I guess it was inevitable.

"I'm living. I've got to. For Tommy, for me." I tell her. It was the simple truth.

"Do you have any family to take you in? Because you know I would be more than willing to take you and that cute little Tommy in. Of course I would need more money. I'd just have to sell more flowers, more publicity would help, we could put up fliers and-"

"JUSTINE!" I tiredly laugh. "I am absolutely grateful for your offer but our mom's sister Clara, she's taken us in." I point outside to the grey Honda.

"Well as long as you have a roof over your head, I'm fine." she lets out with a relieved huff.

"I actually came by to say that I can't...I can't work here anymore. My aunt's house is half and hour away and the commute would just be too much." I confess.

"I figured that would be the case." she says with sad eyes. "Well you're welcome here anytime you're in the neighborhood. You know we're family." She walks around the counter and pulls me in for a warm hug. We stand there for a minute or two and she pulls back. "You should go say goodbye to Iris. We'll miss you ya know." Justine tells me.

I nod and want to tell her that I will miss her too, but I'm pretty sure she can see it in my eyes.

I walk into the break room, Iris was turned away from me. When she turned around, she looked at me and I looked at her and she looked at me.

And I looked at her.

Words were stuck in my throat. How much I'd miss her and how much of a friend she was to me. How thankful I was for her. But we didn't need to say any of those things. We simply stared and the next thing I know, she crashed into me. She was was a good 10 inches taller than me so the hug was somewhat awkward, but we managed.

"I'm going to miss you, December."

"Me too."

"You'll miss yourself?" she pulled away with a faint smile. I smiled back at her and we both began laughing.

Her tall figure towered over my 5ft1 height as we looked at each other, friends for the past three years that I had been working here. Her dark brown, almost black hair was tied into a messy bun while her kind blue-green eyes lined with eyeliner popping out at me.

"Don't stay trapped inside your mind, Dess." she whispered in my ear lightly as she gave me one final squeeze. I give her a slight nod and she walks me back to the front.

"Before you go Dess, hun, I can't do much, but I want you to have these. As a parting gift of sorts. And here's your final paycheck. It's been a pleasure to have you as my employee." Justine hands over a bouquet of flowers that is twice the size of my head as well as an envelope with my paycheck. The flowers were my absolute favorite, royal blue roses. Sure they weren't natural, the color having had been genetically modified but they were the prettiest things I had ever seen in my life. I knew that they were the most expensive flowers in the shop and I would never be able to afford the size of the bouquet. I nearly cried on the spot.

"Thank you so much Justine." I say and begin carefully navigating my way to the door. I needed to leave quickly before I broke down. The mother and daughter waved as I looked behind my shoulder one last time. When I stepped out of the shop, I sucked in a major breath, the overwhelming feeling of being choked up threatening to show on my face.

I walked over to the Honda that had been waiting patiently for me and climbed in with some difficulty as I juggled the roses and opening the door. When I got settled in, my Aunt's eyes widened in surprise.

"Well. Those are..."

"The most awesomest flowers I have ever seen in my entire life! They're totally wicked!" (A/N The Incredibles ;DDD) Etty finished for her.

"I know." I smile into my flowers as we make our way to the ice cream shop and later to the house.

It isn't until weeks later that I noticed Justine and Iris didn't show sympathy, or more so pity. They knew I didn't want it. They knew I didn't need it. And I would be forever grateful.

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XX

Hey everyone! How's it going? No- honestly I wanna know. How's your day been? I mean we are friends after all.

Any who, I hope you guys liked this chapter! So it's official. December and Tommy have moved out of their apartment. Do you think it's right for Dess to hold in her feelings? I don't but she's so stubborn, she doesn't even listen to me. Kids these day, amirite? Lol

If you forgot or needed a refresher, this is Iris and Justine O'Connor.

And these are those blue roses that December got. Aren't they just magical?

Ok my peeps, give suggestions if you feel the need to.

(p.s, 2 chapters in one day, can someone say 'Triniti has no life' or what? LOL but fr. ~_~)

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Love ya,

-Trin<3