I woke up that morning to the radio playing softly on my shelf. I rubbed my eyes, not quite awake, until I figured out exactly what song it was. I sat up quickly, banging my head against the top. I backed off, my mind going wild.
"It's getting colder in this ditch where I lie, I'm feeling older and I'm wondering why…" Not only was this our song, this was my voice and I had written this verse.
"Taylor, turn that off…" Zac mumbled sleepily. I shook my head, rolling over and setting my head back down on the pillow.
"No, I like it."
Isaac was on the other side of the aisle, and I could see him smiling in his sleep. Zac was right, it was too early in the morning for our own music, but this song and I got along just peachy.
I listened to the rest of the song, amazed at how much that song had influenced our style. I rolled over, mouthing along for a few lines until I was swatted with a pillow.
"Taylor, shut up…" Zac mumbled, drawing his pillow back under his head.
"Fine. Didn't get any last night? Is that why you're so pissy?" I drawled sarcastically.
"At least I'm not a player, unlike a certain, soon to be disowned brother of mine."
"I'm not a player, I just crush a lot."
"Guys… do you mind? I have no idea why the hell your radio's on, Tay, but for the love of God, turn it off." Isaac grumbled. I sighed, then reluctantly reached over and turned the alarm off.
"Any better?" I said, turning over once again.
"Yes, thank you." Isaac said, the smile from his face long gone. A few moments passed until one of us spoke again.
"Do you guys know what day it is?" Zac asked softly.
"Yeah, I do…" I answered, equally soft.
"Three years ago today… And we're here, in Detroit. God…" Zac mumbled, his face turned towards the wall.
We pulled up to a hotel about an hour later, only a few miles from the cemetery where Kendall had been buried. Zac was the first off, suitcase and children in tow. We checked in and were lead to our rooms, and 15 minutes later Isaac, Zac, and I met in the hall, prepared to face too many old memories. Zac had sunglasses on, an obvious attempt to hide his eyes once we reached her grave. We took a rented convertible, top rolled down. The entrance to the cemetery was a narrow road, complete with a stone archway and flowers lining the fence.
It took us about 10 minutes to find her family's surname, since we didn't know our way around and there was only two other people there.
"Kendall Hanson… Here she is…" Isaac was the one to find her grave, surrounded by flowers and a stuffed gorilla. An envelope was leaning against the grave, addressed to 'Family of Kendall'. I picked it up, then stuffing it in my pocket for future reference.
"Well guys…" Isaac started. "…3 years."
"Too long." Zac mumbled, the first words he had spoken since the hotel.
"She definitely didn't deserve it." I said quietly.
"Nobody deserves to die." Zac said. "So why her?"
Isaac sighed, sitting down on the warm green grass. "Only God knows the answer to that one."
We all sat there in silence for a few minutes, until I remembered the envelope. I pulled the slip of paper out, quickly scanning the words.
"Oh my God…" I mumbled, my eyes darting from the paper to Isaac. "Ike… read this…"
3 years today. Seems like 300. I know you'd come here today… You're in Detroit, welcome back to Motown guys. Is it all like you remember it? Everything seems so different to me, I'm sure it seems that way to you, too.
You're having a concert tonight. I have tickets, and a small surprise, if you're interested. Row LL, seats 314-312. Look me up if you're interested.
Love, Chloe
And Zac… She stills loves you.
"This is a joke. It has to be." Isaac mumbled, reading through it once again. "She wouldn't do that…"
I shook my head, amazed. "Yes, she would." Isaac handed the letter to Zac, who read it quickly, and his hands started shaking when he read the last line.
"How would she knows if Kendall…?"
"Love's eternal, I think we all know that." My voice was shaking slightly, but out of the three of us, I was the most composed.
"We might as well find out tonight… God I hope it's her…" Isaac stood up once again, wandering over a few rows. I chose to follow him, watching the alphabet skip from H to J, then J to O. When Isaac found what he was looking for, he knelt down besides the grave.
"Arthur Ouellette… And Michele Ouellette. Arthur died February 26th, 2002. Michele died June 3rd, 2011."
I stood quietly for a moment. "Michele was her mother, wasn't she?"
Isaac nodded. "The mother that hated my guts. I can't say I blame her."
I shook my head, "You've got to let that go…"
"I let that go years ago, Tay. It's a matter of remembering that I have a problem with."
"Well… Maybe… She'll be there… She knows stuff, stuff that not even Zac knows. She misses Kendall the most, except for maybe Zac. Maybe she just misses us, too."
"Maybe." Isaac repeated softly.