Analisette was awake way before Adrine. She sat in her living room planning the funeral for Lolita and Rick.She pushed the list away and inhaled deeply,held it,then released it. "Funerals shouldn't be about money but about the person,or in this case people,"She thought shaking her head in disapproval. Adrine reached out for her in his bed and woke up quickly when he noticed Analisette wasn't there. He pulled himself from his bed and headed for the living room,in hopes that she was there. Adrine seen her rubbing her eyes then spoke with concern,"How much did you sleep?" She turned her head to see him in the hallway and said with a slight smile,"Enough,how about you?" He walked into the living room and sat next to her on the couch,"Same. I was looking for you,I thought maybe you stepped out." She shook her head no then replied,"I was just going over the things i have to do for the funeral,the list gets longer and longer each time i look at it. I asked everyone in the building if they wanted to contribute to the funeral,they gave me some money but,"She looked at the money on the table then into his honey brown eyes,"Its not enough,I don't know what I'm going to do." Adrine looked at the money then grabbed the list and read it. He took the list and ripped it in half and said,"We will get through this together,Ill take half and you take the other." Analisette smiled at his simplistically kind gesture and kissed him a thank you. After she looked around and said,"Do you want breakfast?" Adrine smiled and said,"Ill make it baby,what do you want?" She smiled then replied,"I don't know what you know how to make." Adrine dropped his jaw acting like he was in shock,"Didn't you know that I throw down in the kitchen?" Analisette tried to hold a straight face. Adrine nodded his head and walked like he owned the world into the kitchen. Analisette listened as he mumbled how 'he got this' and smiled. Then she herd him curse over and over again,but ignored it as she smelled something sweet and herd sizzling.
Analisette looked at her half of the list. It read: Go through Ricks artwork for display. Contact any friends or relatives (Maybe run an ad).Tombstones.Plot. Church. She shrugged and thought Simple..right?
Adrine brought out a plate with perfectly non circular pancakes,a peeled orange,and a glass of apple juice. His smile was unsure as she took a bite. "This is really good,i could live with this,"She said as she devoured the plate halved the orange and handed the bigger half to him. He ate it and said,"I still have to tell you about yesterday." Analisette frowned then replied,"Yeah,what happened?" Adrine broke it down slowly, explaining in the most non graphic way how Rick and Quinten got into a fight then Rick died,Lolita shot Quinten then shot herself. Analisette felt a close on her wonder and nodded in understanding. "Its a shame that we wont know really what happened,but that's what the facts tell us."Adrine said hoping that she would understand. Analisette shrugged,"At least they were together.I cant even imagine what I would do If...But i know for you its the same if I.." She couldn't get the words out,it was too hard to say,too hard to even think of the what ifs. Adrine hugged her and said,"We don't have to worry about that for a long,long,long time.I'm not going anywhere and neither are you." She half smiled.
After discussing their separate lists they did their morning rituals and went on their ways.
Analisette went straight to Ricks apartment and seen that it had recently been cleaned,probably when Lolitas was cleaned. She felt her chest grow heavy with the pain of them being gone,but quickly remembered her mission. She seen various paintings,from cityscapes to portraits. One specific painting caught her eye, it was a woman running. Analisette was captivated by it. Then it hit her,the woman in the painting was Lolita. Tears welled up in her eyes. He made her look so beautiful. "Is this how you saw her Rick?" Analisette smiled and put the painting to the side,wanting to show it at the Church. She picked two more portraits, and three cityscapes. "You were such a great artist Rick,I wish you could have been here to hear me say that."
She took the paintings up to her apartment and layed each one out respectfully. Then her phone began to ring,the caller ID read Minerva. "Hey,Alise,"She said in a unsure tone. Analisette smiled,"Hey,Minnie.How are you?" Minerva replied in the same tone,"I'm good,I was calling to ask if you needed any help? My mother has the kids for a few days so I'm completely free." Analisette looked at her list and said,"Um,you could call the cemetery and reserve two plots and see how much the tombstone is going to be." Minerva was silent for a minute then agreed. "Just keep me posted ok Minnie." Minerva agreed then they said their goodbyes.
Meanwhile,Adrine had made the call to the morgue where Rick and Lolitas bodies were being held and arranged for them to be moved to New City for the service and burial. His list was much easier than Analisettes with:Get Rick and Lolita to New City.Buy a flower arrangement.Pick a day for the Church service.
Adrine was speeding through his tasks and text Analisette along the way. He was on his way home to discuss the date of the church service with Analisette when he ran into Clifford. Adrine walked over to him and said,"Hey,how are you?" Clifford looked down,"Still bad." Adrine put his hand on his back and replied,"Its going to get better,don't worry." Clifford looked up at him with hope,"Analisette told me you guys are going to have a service,when that happens,we all could close this sad story." Adrine smiled and nodded,agreeing with him. Clifford smiled back then said,"Analisette also told me that you both are planning to get married." Adrine laughed then said,"Yes,as soon as things get..Easier." Clifford looked around,"Make sure Grace don't hear about the wedding,you know her ass would tell all of New City in five minutes." They both looked around secretively then laughed loudly as they said goodbye.
Analisette left a note on Adrines door that read meet me in the garden. Adrine made his way to the rooftop and seen Analisette sitting on the edge of the building looking out. He quietly sat beside her. "Alot has happen in New City since I've been back.More than I would have ever imagined." Adrine held her hand and replied,"What I've learned is,sometimes we have to go through things like we have in order to find out about ourselves and who we are." Analisette smiled,"I would have never thought Id be here with you,engaged." Then she looked away,"Or planing the funeral of two people we grew to care about." Adrine stood up and put out his hand,she took it and stood in front of him. "Whatever the emotions that we go through,we will go through them together and survive stronger.I know this is a sad time,and it hurts me to see you going through so much pain,but we will get through this.Its up to us now to live out their dreams." They embraced each other and looked out into New City together.
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