Another Story Part Three

The funeral itself was unbearable. I couldn't control myself much longer and had to leave. Seeing the singer's casket in a hole, it awakened something in me. It made me realize I maybe the youngest member, but life is still short. It can end at any moment and you wouldn't even realize it. I was sitting under a large tree, leaning my back against as Christoph approached. I sniffled softly as he sat next to me. "He's finally buried." He spoke in a solemn tone. "We can finally move on."

"It'll be a hard journey, but we'll manage through it." I said softly. I pulled a blade of grass and stuck it in my mouth, laying my head against the tree.

"That it will be, Olli. It just sucks he was taken so early."

"He had at least forty more years." We turned our heads to see the others approach.

"At least." I agreed. I focused my sight on a small apple at the top of the tree, just watching it shake with the slight breeze that picked up. "Now what?" My friends looked at me questioningly. I didn't see their expressions, but I knew what they were thinking. "What do we, as a band, do now?"

"Take a break, I guess?" Paul spoke. "I mean, after this, we'll need to relax and try to compose ourselves before continuing, or trying to at least." I nodded in agreement, but remained silent. We sat there for several hours, enjoying just each other's company, not saying a word.

~~~~~

"Olli?" I turned around to see Christoph looking at me shyly, his hands shoved into his pockets. "Do you think we could hang today?"

I shrugged. "Sure. I was only planning on sulking, anyway..." I climbed into my car and he followed suit. I pulled out of the parking lot and headed home. The car ride was silent, and an occasional sob came from the drummer, but other than that, it was quiet. "Oh my god he's gone!" He finally burst out as I pulled into my drive. Not sure what to do, I reached over and pulled him close to me, stroking his hair softly as he sobbed into my shoulder. He reached his arms around and gripped at my back, clawing. "He's gone!"

"Shh, Christoph. It'll be okay. It'll be okay..." Truth was, it wouldn't be okay. We've been together for seventeen years, with the singer. Now what? He was gone. We couldn't continue.

Not without him.

After he calmed down a bit, we got out of the car and went inside. I put on a pot of coffee and sat in the entertainment area with my friend. I wrapped my arm around him as he laid his head on my shoulder, his hand on my thigh. I kissed the top of his head softly, unsure of what else to do... I was still grieving myself. "Want some coffee?" He shook his head. "Are you hungry?" He shook his head again. "Do you want anything?"

"Nope..." I squeezed him tight and remained there. "Actually..." He looked at me, a light hue of pink on his face. "No, never mind." His white teeth shined bright as he smiled, chuckling softly. "I don't know what I was thinking."

"I'll get it for you, whatever you want."

"Anything?" I nodded. "I want a k..." His voice trailed off there as he looked away, clearly embarrassed.

"What's that?"

"I said I want a kiss."

My face turned bright red. "Oh, uhm. Wow. I wasn't expecting that." I quickly looked out the window, then back to him. "I understand you're hurting, we all are, but... a kiss? That's a little much, don't you think?"

"You're right." Another chuckle. "I said I didn't know what I was thinking." He laid his head back on my chest and squeezed my thigh softly. "You're still a great friend, Olli."

"You are, too, Chris."