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CHAPTER FORTY SIX " TASTES LIKE A MILKSHAKE TO ME "
DYLAN STOOD, SILENTLY, WATCHING AS BILLY'S WOODEN CASKET WAS LOWERED INTO THE GROUND. Steve's hand gripped her own, tightly, he hadn't let go the whole ceremony. Dylan's free hand was placed on Max's shoulder, who was stood in front of her. Dylan couldn't see the Max's face but Dylan knew she was crying, she could feel Max trembling underneath her arm.
The funeral was small. Billy's family, consisting only of his step-mother, also crying, and his stoic-faced father, Tommy H., Carol, a few other popular kids, and Max's friends, who weren't there for Billy, but rather to support Max. Dylan was there for the same reason, she had told her professors what happened and had been excused for the next few days, not without recommending she see a student counsellor upon her return. Though, Dylan probably would've come Max or not. She'd just rather not admit that.
The priest said a few words and then the small crowd began to disperse. Max was pulled away with her family but not before Dylan managed to give her another hug, tight and long. "Thank you," said Max then left.
Dylan and Steve walked to his car, still holding hands. Dylan knew the rest of her day wouldn't be any less somber. She had to pack her bags for her flight the next afternoon. Steve said he'd take her out to supper first but Dylan knew even that would leave her sad, knowing it would be their last for a long while.
"Did you want to get changed?" Steve asked once he was behind the wheel.
"No," she replied. Dylan looked down at her black dress. It had been one of her favourites once upon a time. Now she'd worn it to two different funerals, it was her funeral dress. But she was too exhausted to change and she didn't want to waste the little time with Steve she had left. "This will be fine."
Steve nodded. He reached in the backseat and grabbed a crewneck laying on the seat. He loosened his tie and pulled his button-up over his head, switching it out for the sweater. "That tie was killin' me the entire time."
Dylan rolled her eyes, cracking the smallest of smiles.
He took her to Midwest Eatery, Steve offered to go somewhere nicer, even drive a bit out of town but Dylan wanted to keep it classic.
The waitress handed them menus but neither cracked them open before deciding: burgers, fries, shake.
"What time do you leave tomorrow?"
Dylan groaned. He'd brought up the topic she wanted to avoid before they'd hardly even sat down.
"I think it's around 4:30, right before supper," their waitress placed their milkshakes in front of them. Dylan grabbed for hers, sipping it back. "Oh, I've been dying for one of these."
"No milkshakes in Cali? I find that hard to believe."
"There's milkshakes but then there's these milkshakes. I've yet to find one that compares."
Steve took a long swig of his own shake, twisting his face to make it look like it was exaggeratingly lost in thought.
"I don't know. Tastes like a milkshake to me."
"You'll see once you finally get out of here. Then you'll know how great these shakes are and you'll think of me."
Steve shifted in his seat, awkward. "Yeah. I don't know if I'll ever get out of here."
"You could. You just haven't."
"Dyl, you know it's not that easy, if it were..." He didn't finish. "I've got my dad breathing down my neck about his company. Threatening to cut me off. It's too messy."
"I know it's not entirely easy for you, Steve, I do. But you can actually do whatever you want."
"I don't want to have this stupid argument again." Steve said, his tone frustrated and hostile. "You're not even my girlfriend, you don't get a say anymore."
Dylan sat back, stunned. What he said was true but it still stung. The waitress laid their food down in front of them and Dylan thanked her politely but otherwise, she was quiet. She kept her eyes down, pretending to focus hard on her food.
Dylan sat there for awhile, thinking. Then she spoke, without thinking. "Come to California. With me."
When she looked up, it was now Steve who was stunned. "Think about it. I'm in a dorm but the semester is hardly started. I'll get a refund, we can get a place. I mean your job here is gone indefinitely, anyway..."
She would've continued to ramble but Steve stopped her. "Why would I go with you? You broke up with me."
He frowned. "I'm not going to California so I can get my heart broken, again, and crawl home with my tail between my legs and my dad say 'I told you so!'"
"Steve..." Dylan grabbed for his hand across the table, she looked him in the eye, hoping to appear sincere. "I didn't want to break up. I didn't want to break your heart. You decided not to come. What was I supposed to do?"
"I don't know. Not that."
"Don't be petty. You know we can't be together if you're here and I'm there. You knew that. We've been over this."
"I know. I know. I'm sorry." Steve ran his hands through his hair, mussing it up even further. "You really want me to come with you, seriously?"
"I want you to come with me." She told him firmly, sure of what she wanted. "I don't want to leave without you again."
"I don't want you to leave without me again."
He reached out for her hand this time. "Then don't make me. Come with me. Please."
Steve laughed. He still appeared tense but less than. "Okay. Shit. I'll come with you. I'm coming with you!"
Dylan laughed, too. She eagerly leaned across the table, kissing him excitedly on the mouth.
She was aware this wouldn't be easy. There was his dad to deal with, there was finding a job for him, a place to stay, getting along... but she was okay with all of it. Excited even. So, for the moment, she would celebrate it.
