"I'd like to invite a special person up who is giving a eulogy to his mother. Linus Onassis, please join me at the microphone."
I look around the room trying to spot him before he spots me. He comes in through the back doors, walking like a regular human. There's a paper in his hand. He walks right past me and doesn't say a thing, doesn't even glance at me.
"I wasn't planning on doing this, but my mother, being the organizer that she is, left me strict instructions of what to do." I laugh through my tears because that is typical Cece. Leave it to her to leave step-by-step instructions of her own funeral.
"I'm just going to read from her letter:
For my service—
Hello everyone. My name is Cece Onassis, and I taught at Demi God Academy for over three hundred years. I was a counselor, teacher, and friend to many of those who I've crossed paths with at the school.
I've given this letter to my dear son, Linus, to read at my service. It's short, I promise, and it's important, so listen up.
To those of you that know me, please don't grieve for too long. I cannot stress enough how ready I was to pass. I couldn't be happier with my life and the way everything around me turned out. I know that your war with Hades went well, because you are all such strong-willed people.
Please don't cry over me. I want you all to celebrate my life. I want you to remember our favorite moments, not the last ones.
To those who fought in the war, congratulations. You are the strongest, bravest gods in the world. You saved Earth and provided a safe place for our young. Know that all the deaths were worth something. Their sacrifices aided your eventual win; without them, you may not be here.
With my last words, I just want to thank you all. You've each touched my life. In my last moments, I know I will picture all of your smiling faces looking down on me.
And know that I will now be looking down on you all. I may be a soft breeze or the warm rays of the sun. I may be a hummingbird on your window or a deer passing by. But always know that I am watching.
I love you all.
For the last time,
Cece Onassis"
The entire hall is dead silent as Linus steps down from the podium and walks to the front row. He sits down and tucks the letter into the front pocket of his jacket. I notice he sits beside Mimi and Lee.
"Next, we'll open the floor to anyone who'd like to say a word about one of the deceased." Again, the room quiets. I watch Alexandros stand from his seat and walk towards the podium.
He pauses and fixes the microphone so it fits near his mouth. He pauses, and his sigh sounds over the loud speakers. He apologizes and then begins.
"My sister died in the Underworld. I don't know who killed her, but I don't care to know. I don't carry hate. I remember my twin sister in every single thing I do. Sometimes I still hear her, chiding me for being emotional.
"In the short time that I've known some of you, I'm sure you knew how strong Alexius was. She was the rock, and I just went along with her because I loved her so much. She made me strong. She made me the man I am today.
"While it hurts me to say this, and over the past few days, I've struggled more than any time in my life before, she'd want us to smile. She had the most amazing smile. It was infectious the way that just her smile would brighten a room and make a day.
"She would want us to smile through the pain. She'd want me to smile through my grief and move forward. A smile can change a life. And I hope that whenever I smile, she's smiling down on me."
Alexandros nods, smiles, and hops down from the podium. He pulls out a napkin from his pocket as he walks back to his seat, and wipes under his eyes, clearing the tears.
I don't know if it's the fact that Alexandros, a huge, dark-haired man just bared his soul and spoke of his twin, or just wanting to tell the world about her, but Shane gets up from his seat and walks towards the front of the room. Mikey follows.
"Hey, everyone. My girlfriend, Megan died a few months ago. I just wanted to thank whoever included her in this service. She was such a great girl, full of life and knowledge.
"Most people don't know her because she was so quiet, but she could fill a room with her energy. She loved listening to music and reading. She was only seventeen when she died.
"Despite her death being the worst thing that ever happened to me, I have learned a few things that I thought would be appropriate to share. So, here it goes…" Mikey puts his hand on Shane's shoulder and smiles, nodding at him to go on.
"We should all live our life like it's the last day. Megan died, but right before, she was having the time of her life. She welcomed Ryder to our school. She opened her heart to everyone. She was the most accepting person I knew.
"Something Megan taught me was to never judge anyone. She would always say, 'everyone has faults. Look past it, and you might find a new friend.' She was everyone's friend.
"We're all grieving for different people in different ways. But we can use this to meet each other and help each other. I hope that each of you will get to know someone new for Megan. She would've wanted an event like this to bring people together."
Shane steps backwards, and Mikey steps forward, tapping the microphone nervously. For some reason, his gesture makes me laugh, and I grab Ari's hand and squeeze it.
"One of my best friends died. His name was Carter. If I had a brother, I would want it to be him. He was hilarious and such a cool dude. I miss him all the time.
"Some teachers, like Professor La, would call us the dynamic duo. We both can teleport, and when we found that out, we thought it was the coolest thing ever. We tried to teleport to each other's spots all the time. We'd play pranks on our friends, like Ryder and Megan. They were the most fun to prank since they were so innocent. Anyway…
"I miss him more every day. I started writing to him in a journal, and I think it's helping. I figured I'd just share that since it's helped me; maybe it'll help someone also."
He steps down from the mic, but then steps back up, as if he forgot something. He fixes it down to his mouth and pauses.
"Martin was a new friend of mine. Ryder brought him into our group. He told me one day that she called him 'the fire guy.' He was quiet and a little nerdy. But Martin was a good man. He didn't deserve to die.
"I wish that I knew him more." Mikey covers his eyes with his hands and steps down from the mic. He shakes his head and sprints back to his seat, quiet sobs shaking his body.
The teachers go up to the microphone next, and as awful as it sounds, I tune out. Mikey and Shane's words hit me hard, and I can't help but relate to what they said.
I wish I knew more about Martin. Maybe I could've made more of an effort to hang out with him. I should have told him how much I liked him and how amazing of a friend he was.
"Stop." Ari pulls me onto his chest, and I cry into him, stifling my cries with his shirt. "No regrets."
"No regrets."
CHAPTER FORTY
threesome
I grab the last box from the floor and drag it into the hallway. My side of the room is completely empty, but I know it will only stay that way for another hour or so.
"I'm really going to miss you!" Kara jumps into my arms and hugs me tight, strangling me.
"I'll be right across the sidewalk. You'll be begging me to leave you alone in a week or two."
"I know I will," Lisa says as she enters her new room. She has a small box in her hand and on the top of it is a stack of picture. She walks to what is now her desk and lays out three pictures, all in white, wooden frames. There's one of her and Carter, her family, and then the one that was displayed at the memorial service of Megan, Lisa, Kara and me.
"Ari's probably expecting me." I reach down to grab the last box and slice my finger on the cardboard. I groan and suck the blood from my fingers.
"Here." Kara grabs my hand and instantly heals the small cut, sealing the skin right back up together like she has a needle and thread.
"I don't know when I'll get used
to that." I shake my head and pick the box back up. "See you for dinner!"
Lisa slams the door in my face, and I turn and walk away, sprinting down the stairs and past the hordes of new people moving in. Two weeks have gone by, and students are beginning to move back on campus. Classes start in another two weeks, and I'm excited to get back into classes and get my mind off other things.
I sprint right across the lawn, and before I can knock, the front door to Ari's house opens in front of me.
"Hey there, roomie." Ari grabs the box from me and kisses my lips as he brings the last box to what is now our bedroom. I walk into the kitchen to grab a water bottle and see Cristos watching Netflix in the living room.
"Here for a visit?" I ask as I sit in the rocker across from him.
"That guest room upstairs…it's mine."
"You're kidding." I narrow my eyes on him, trying to figure out if he's joking or not. Ari never said Cristos lived here. I just assumed it'd be him and me. "Ari!" I yell up the stairs as I run to the bottom step.
"Yes, love?" He appears at the top of the stairs, a slight sheen of sweat over his body. He's been a saint all day long, moving me across the school to his house. I have to admit, I spent more time chatting with Kara than doing the heavy lifting.
"Did you maybe forget to mention a third roommate?"
"What? Oh, is Cristos here?" He runs down the stairs and jumps the last two, landing with a thud on the ground. He runs into the living room and hugs his best friend, in a strange display of affection between the two.
I stop in the doorway and cross my arms over my chest, thumping my foot on the ground.
"Can he stay? Please?" Ari begs.
"Come on. Pretty please!" Cristos reaches for Ari and holds him. They both widen their eyes and pout out their bottom lips. These four thousand, or more probably, year old men are acting like children and I'm the one that's in the 'bad guy' role.
"Fine," I relent, smiling between them. Both boys sprint to me and lift me in the air like I just made their day. They raise me above them, my butt on Ari's shoulders. "But you're cooking dinner."
"Fine—"
"For a month." I smile over my shoulder once Ari places me down, and I sprint up the stairs before Ari can catch me. Before I can get to the top, he lifts me over his shoulder and carries me into the bedroom, not bothering to shut the door behind us.
I giggle as Ari peppers kisses all over my body. The room is completely different than before. I've added a few female touches to the decor and hung up my own pictures. Now it's a mix of Ari and me.
"You guys better not be hooking up!" Cristos shouts from downstairs.
"You wanted to stay!" I yell back, joking with him. I lean up on my elbows, Ari on top of me and kiss the very tip of his nose. "So, what are we going to do now, Mr. Soul mate?"
"Whatever the hell we want."
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
saying goodbye
I haven't said goodbye to Cece, yet. Of course, the day she died, I got to talk to her before she passed. But it wasn't a true goodbye. I think I was in denial.
I say goodbye to Ari, promising to call him if I need something, and walk through campus, past the Admin building, past the student center, past the training center and right at the edge of the woods.
Cece's plaque isn't anything special. It has her full name on it—Cecelia Margarette Onassis. The ground is already grown out above it, the grass bright green and lively.
I sit on the grass, the envelope heavy in my hand, and lean against her gravestone. I've never really visited a grave before. I don't know the protocol or what I'm supposed to say. So I just start.
"I miss you, Cece." I shake my head, clearing my thoughts. "I never thought that you'd go so fast. I wanted more time. Maybe it's selfish of me. But I don't care.
"You knew so much. I wanted to learn more from you. I wanted you to mentor me forever. But you were more than that to me. We both know that. I lacked a mother figure, and you filled that spot easily.
"Whenever I needed someone, you came through. I depended on you, and now I just don't know what to do without you. I miss you like crazy. I miss your spirit.
"I'm not strong like you. I wish that I was. I try to act like you when I'm in a hard situation. Instead of 'what would Jesus do,' I've started saying: what would Cece do? Ari thinks I'm crazy.
"Honestly, he's been my anchor. I don't know what I would do without him. I keep expecting to walk into the student center and see you. Then when you're not there, I sit at my table and look for Carter or Martin. But they're gone too.
"It's just hard facing change. Anyway, I'm going to read the letter you left me now. I think I'm ready to face it." Just then a gust of wind whips through the trees. The branches rattle, and green leaves fall, landing all around me.
I look at the envelope and break the seal. I keep expecting something to happen—a person to jump out from the trees, or a hawk to swoop down and attack me. I'm not used to the safety yet.
I pull out the letter and read it.
Eurydice—
Eurydice Mason, my dear, dear student and friend. Thank you for giving me hope. From the moment I met you, I knew that you were someone special. You have a glow about you that transcends to everyone around you.
Thank you for reminding me that I can help someone. You gave me purpose in my final year. You showed me that I still had it in me, and I needed that. Don't forget what I've taught you and force Linus to be your mentor now. I've told him the same in his letter.
You are so wise. You're a beautiful young woman, and no matter what happens in the Underworld, please know that you are so brave and I believe in you.
Continue on your path. Big things will happen for you, Eurydice, I don't doubt it. You will change lives. You will pioneer new things. Never doubt yourself, and if you do, pull out this letter.
Please know that I am at peace. I am happy. I saw my son excel in life. I saw you come into your own. Your changes have been beautiful to watch. I know you'll miss me, but don't mourn me—celebrate our time together. For it was beautiful.
I will always be in your heart. I will love you forever, sweet, sweet Eurydice.
Your friend,
Professor Cece Onassis
I lay back against the grave and stare up at the sky. There's not a cloud up there, not a bird chirping. It's quiet. I pull out something I haven't used in way too long and flip to a new page.
I visited Cece today. I was nervous but it had to be done.
I will cherish her letter forever.
I will cherish my memories of her.
I miss her so much, but I know that she is okay.
She is in a better place, where there is no pain.
My heart still aches from all of the losses, but I'm getting better.
"Sorry, am I interrupting?" I don't recognize the voice. I open my eyes and wipe the drool from my face. When I look up from my notebook, I see Alexandros staring down at me. At first I'm shocked that he's here, but then I nod my head.
"Is everything okay?" I ask him.
"I have to keep busy. Do you think I can take you up on that offer to work here?"
"Of course!" I exclaim. "They'd probably be more than glad to have you."
"I really appreciate it." He nods, his eyes drawn down towards the grass.
"Would you like to go now?" I ask him. He nods again.
Since classes begin tomorrow, most of the teachers have already moved in. The freshmen came on campus today, with eager eyes and even more eager attitudes. I lead Alexandros to the Admin Building and walk us to the back where the mentor offices are.
I knock on the door.
"Come in!" a voice booms from behind the door. I push my way in, smiling at the man behind the desk, and Alex follows behind me.
"I have someone who'd like a job," I tell Linus.
"It's great to see you again, Alexandros." Alex steps forward and shakes Linus's hand. Linus gestures to the seat in front of the desk, and I step backwards
.
"I'll let you guys deal with it. See you tomorrow!" I smile at the two and then exit. I still have to stop and get my books from Kara. And then tomorrow, classes resume.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
back to normal
I get dressed for the unusually warm day. We're on the top of a mountain, so usually the temperature doesn't get past eighty. But today it's pushing ninety-five, and I'm sweating just standing still.
I slip on a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and my lucky sneakers. I make an effort to straighten my hair and put a headband on, pushing my hair out of my face. As I swipe eyeliner under my eyes, Ari sneaks up from behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.
"Well, aren't you just stunning," he purrs in my ear.
"Oh, please. Look at you." I smile at him through the mirror and look him up and down. He's wearing a button-up shirt and gray slacks. His hair is styled back with gel, holding it perfectly in place.
"I have students to impress."
"Yeah, me. It's going to be so strange."
"It'll be fine," he promises, kissing the sweet spot right behind my ear. "I have to run though. When do you have me?"
"Not until sixth."
"Meet for lunch?"
"Deal." I turn around in his arms and kiss him on the lips. I wrap my arms around him, and press myself to his body. "I'll miss you until then."
"I'll miss you more." He kisses me again and then grabs his briefcase from the bed. He looks back at me, winks, and then rushes out of the room and down the stairs. Kara texts me almost immediately.
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