Fade to Black (sequel to riptide)

Part 22

The meeting with the wedding planner went really well and we agreed to keep things slow because we didn't want to rush it and we wanted everything to be perfect. Jackson has a lot going on right now so we don't want to push him too far.
Right now we're going to meet my grandmother for dinner. We went into the restaurant and saw her sitting there. I took Jacksons hand and sat down at the table.
"Hola abuela." I say and she looks up at me with a smile then to Jackson she loses her smile which turns to a straight face and she cocks her head studying him. Jackson holds my hand slightly shaking.
"Calm down babe." I say softly in a whisper. We took a seat at the table.
"How have you been abuela."
"Bueno. ¿y tu Mija?" (Good. And you Mija?)
"Muy bien tienes es mi prometido, Jackson." (Very well. This is my fiancé, Jackson)
"Hello." He says nervously his leg bouncing up and down.
"¿Australiano?"
"Si, Jackson is a citizen of both America and Australia."
"So, let's get talking shall we."
"She speaks English?" Jackson whispers. I just smile an amused smile at him and look back at my abuela. The dinner continued and everything was good and happy. Finally it was over and Jackson could stop freaking out.
"Well Jackson it has been my absolute pleasure getting to know you and I expect you to call me when the wedding planning begins."
"Yes I will ms. Morgado."
"Call me abuela we will be family soon."
"Alright abuela well I'll surely call you soon."
"Good. Lauren he's a good boy. You finally found someone who loves you for you and whom you actually love and I'm very proud of you."
"Gracias abuela."
"I must be going now I'll see you when I see you." I kiss her cheek then she leaves into her car and we watch her drive off. Jackson turns to me looking good in his suit. He hugs me twirling me around.
"I love you." He kiss me.
"That was really good she was really impressed Jackson that never happens only toleration. You're a first."
"I'm so happy!"
"Now let's get home because you in this suit is turning me on."
"You in that dress is turning me on."
My phone rings ruining the mood.
"Hello."
"Lauren! Is Jackson with you?"
"Yeah."
"He's not answering his phone."
"Yeah his phone died what's up?"
"His best friend Frankie just showed up."
"Seriously."
"Yeah, Jackson hasn't seen him in years. He was overseas serving in the Navy Seals."
"He never told me that. We're on our way home now."
"Cool."
"Later." I hung up and Jackson looked at me skeptically.
"Sydney says your best friend Frankie is at your house right now looking for you." His ears perk up and eyes fill with joy then he starts jumping up and down before dashing towards the car. I roll my eyes and follow him then get in and we go back to his house. We walk inside and see Sydney standing and talking with someone in a uniform whose back was facing me. He began to turn around but before I could see his face Jackson brought him into a big hug. It was adorable to see. Then they separated and the guys back was still facing me. I saw Camila and Dinah appear in the doorway.
"Frankie here come meet my beautiful fiancé...." He turns and I see these warm brown eyes.
"Lauren jauregui. The gorgeous green eyed goddess from the beach that he just wouldn't shutup about."
"Hi."
"Don't be so shy baby girl. Frankie is cool." Jackson says.
"Im not shy asshole. I was simply greeting him."
"Ok then." He chuckles.
"I like her Jackson." Frankie says jokingly. We all sat down at a table and talked about Jacksons past and him as a kid. We shared our own stories and really get to know each other. He was a great guy and he seemed to be really close with Jackson. It made me happy to see them talking and Jackson to open up to him like he's the greatest source. They laughed and drank some iced teas. It was heartwarming.
"How's Arian?"
"He's holding up man. He's better."
"I'm glad. I wish I could go down and see him but I'm so busy right now."
"It's ok Jackson he understands."
I went on Twitter and looked through the trends and saw #prayforchristina. I was confused so I pressed on it. It was mostly people just confused why it was trending and one person said Christina Grimmie got shot but I'm calling bullshit. Hearsay. I sent her a little text and asked what was up.
"Jackson Christina's trending." I lean over and tell him. He then shoots her a text to see if she was ok then returned to his conversation. Later on after some more talking with Frankie I got a call.
"Hello."
"Lau s...she's gone!" Camila cries into the phone.
"Camila? Are you ok? What're you talking about?"
"S...Selena just called. Christina got shot at a concert today during a meet and greet. She passed away an hour ago. It felt like the world slowed down. The phone fell from my hand and hit the ground. It bounced back and forth the screen cracking on impact. The tears welled in my eyes. I couldn't feel. The tears poured down my cheek as Jackson tried to figure out what was wrong. Sydney too even Frankie. But I couldn't hear. I was too unfocused.
"No! No! No!" I mumbled trying to make sense of it all.
"Babe Lau what's wrong? What happened?" How the hell was I supposed to tell him. That's one of his close friends. This is too unreal. I looked up into his deeply concerned and confused eyes still seeing a glint of happiness. I don't want to kill that glint. I grabbed his hand and held it. I took a deep breath and wiped my eyes. I gathered my emotions and put them in a bottle for later so I could focus on this.
"I want you to know I'm here and I love you. I need to tell you something and it's going to hurt."
"Come on Lau what's up?"
"I...I just got a call from Camila. Selena was in touch with her a little bit ago. Today as you know something happened to Christina at a meet and greet." He nods and looks at me confused but telling me to continue.
"She was shot. And an hour ago they pronounced her dead." I said my mouth quivering as I announced her death. Jacksons glint of happiness disappeared. His face dropped and his eyes watered but he didn't let the tears fall. After a while of silence and him just looking empty mindedly at his tea.
"Who shot her?"
"We don't know."
"I saw her yesterday. She was fine. She was there. She was alive." He clenches his fist.
"I need to call Mark." He stands up and walks into the other room. Frankie stands up.
"I'm going to head out. I'm sorry for your loss and tell Jackson that ill call tomorrow." Sydney thanks him and I tell him goodbye then i instantly run to find Jackson. He was in our bathroom crying and shaking his face red. I don't say anything and instead sit next to him and hold him close to me. I let my emotion bottle spill over and the tears flowed down my cheeks.
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Jackson has been quiet the last few days. We haven't really done anything or gone anywhere. We comforted one another then flew out to go to the funeral. We got back and Jackson went into his music room. His room with instruments and good acoustics. He wanted to make it into a studio but we just don't have the time. I walked into the room for the first time and saw him writing as he strummed on a guitar and messed on his laptop.
"Babe what're you up to?"
"I'm working."
"Ok well I'm going to order Thai for dinner do you want some?"
"Yes."
"Ok."
I order the food and once it's gets here I bring it to him and I sit in a chair across from him.
"What're you doing?" He asks.
"Eating with you is that a problem?"
"No not at all."
"Jackson can you talk to me. You haven't talked properly since the funeral.
"It's just sinking in babe."
"You sure because you're not communicating."
"I'm mourning Lauren."
"So what have you been doing in here? What are you working on?"
"A song."
"About?"
"Christina. I've been working on a song about what happened and I don't know what to do now. I finished but i don't know what to do with it."
"Can I hear?"
He nods.
"I sit in this kitchen
Staring at your name
The headline won't sink in
Just saw you yesterday
Left you a message
I guess it never came
Can you hear. Can you hear. Can you hear.
But I don't understand
Read it again
Can't catch my breath

Turn off the news it must be wrong
This can't be true, can't believe you're gone
How can they say, you're where you belong
You should be here, and I shouldn't be singing this song

I look at this picture
From the day we first met
It's like I've known you forever
That's what we both said
Rain on that Sunday
3 words in that text
Did you hear. Did you hear. Did you hear.
Cause I don't understand
Read it again
Can't catch my breath

Turn off the news it must be wrong
This can't be true
Can't believe that you're gone
How can they say, you're where you belong
You should be here, and I shouldn't be singing this song

How do I wake up
And start this day again
Tell you to stay home
Just don't get out of bed

Turn off the news it must be wrong
This can't be true, can't believe that you're gone
How can they say, you're where you belong
You should be here, and I shouldn't be singing this song"
"It's a great song babe. It's really good. I can't tell you what to do with it but it's quality. I mean it's not best to hold it inside. I think you need to share it but that's your choice. Are you comfortable with that? What makes you feel that is in the right treatment for it? Does he world need to hear it? And what would Christina want you to do with it?"
"I think I know." He grabs his shoes and outs them on. He grabs keys and his phone.
"Where are you going?"
"The recording studio." I smile.
"Good luck."
"Thank you beautiful." He kissed my foreheads but before he leaves I hand him his food. And he kisses me again. I'm glad he's communicating again.