• The following links are prior chapters to this story:


    Death is no joke: http://gaiaonline.com/arena/writing/fiction/vote/?entry_id=100410509

    Death is no joke-part 2: http://gaiaonline.com/arena/writing/fiction/vote/?entry_id=100411039

    Death is no joke-part 3: http://gaiaonline.com/arena/writing/fiction/vote/?entry_id=100447527

    Death is no joke-part 4: http://www.gaiaonline.com/arena/writing/fiction/vote/?entry_id=100507329







    I suppose it's about time I tell you about my best friend, Jerred.

    Jerred, I guess you could say, was one of those "tough kids" who never cried, never acted sedimental, never even FLINCHED if you punched him as hard as you could in the stomach. Sometimes it would get annoying how tough he was, and how he would never loosen up. Like, I'd remind him one day,

    "I'm sorta depressed today...I keep on remembering the day my parents died..." and he'd just laugh and slap me on the back, saying back to me,

    "Well, tough. It's life." Like HE ever went through anything like that.

    Thing was, today I went up to him at school, in between one of our classes. The starting of the conversation was so cliche for everyone, it was almost as if it was a rule we had to start it this way.

    "'Sup?" he said, leaning against his locker. And then came the not expected reply...

    "Nothin' much. You?"

    "Nothin'." Then there was an awkward silence, as we both tried to think of something that would start a REAL conversation, not a "sup" conversation.

    "So..." I said, as I typically did.

    "Hey, you busy this week?" he interrupted, and got off leaning against the locker. I shrugged.

    "Maybe. Why?" He grinned. I knew what was coming.

    "Slumber party at my house. Allnighter, Friday. You wanna come?" I thought about it. Yeah, an allnighter would be awesome. Frikken awesome. But...

    "I can't," I said, looking at my feet. Jerred frowned.

    "Can't? Why not? Still got bad memories 'bout the pizza incident?" He laughed. I didn't. The "pizza incident" wasn't funny.

    "No, I gotta see my mom...she could revive any day, ya know." Jerred laughed again.

    "Your m--You goody little two shoes!" I stared at him straight in the eyes, straining to look as serious and sincere as possible as I said coldly,

    "Don't laugh about it. I told you that before. I'm NOT a goody little two shoes just 'cause I'm a nice person."

    "Look, man. Face the facts. She's as good as dead. She's just labeled under concussion ta confort ya. Forget about her."

    "She's NOT dead. I know it...you know. I have this feeling or something..."

    "Actually, I don't know. She's not gonna revive 'cause you have a 'feeling'. Now, c'mon. You can't miss out on the party." I shook my head.

    "Sorry man..." Then Jerred smiled.

    "Well, I suppose that's all alright. I mean, I suppose I could understand this tough time your havin' with your mom and stuff..." I looked up at him, not convinced.

    "Really?" I said saracstically.

    "Yeah. But I admit, it's a little dissapointing after all I went through..." He paused, and said quieter, as if someone was overhearing us,

    "It's sorta dissapointin', after I FINALLY convinced Linda to come..." I staggered backwards. Oooooh, man. Linda Saundry...the girl I've always had a terrible crush on since the very biginning of middleschool. Gah, how can I explain this? Next to my parents death and stuff, which was still barged into my life, this "crush" was what I had been so wrapped up in for the past four years. I don't remember ever asking her out or anything like that...the most we've ever had in contact with eachother was a simple "hi" and another simple "hi" back. But I knew it was destiny...DESTINY for us to be together.

    Linda was the perfect girl. She had wavy blonde hair, and her eyes were perfect. Emerald, glistening, and very loving. She was kind and beautiful, as well as comical and smart, but not nerdy. That was the most perfect combination ever. I wanted to go now. More than ever.

    "I-I'll think about it." Jerred let out a large "sigh" of relief.

    "Good to hear that. Now, gotta go to class. See ya." Then he scurried off.

    I was still staggering about after Jerred had dashed down the hallway. What was the RIGHT thing to do? Was EITHER the "right" thing to do? Would it really matter THAT much if I just missed one day of not seeing my mom? And as I pranced about the hall with a smile as the tardy bell rang, I thought, no, it wouldn't matter. As long as it was for an important thing like Linda.