Who: Jen Evans and NPC!Sebastian Wheeler What: Some bad news When: Sunday afternoon Where: Evans residence Rating: PG
If bad news was supposed to be preceded by ominous signs and black dogs, Jen's foreshadowing never took place. It was a relatively calm Sunday afternoon. Like most, Jen was busy delving into the plot of a good book. She didn't like people knowing that she was a cheap date, and that corny romance novels were her guilty pleasure. But such was life. Everyone had their own ways of getting off. This was Jen's. Or... one of Jen's. Just as she was about to turn onto the last page of one of the chapters, the phone rang.
Jen blinked and looked up at the flahsing light of the cordless. If an ominous feeling hadn't washed over her before then, it was surely there now. She couldn't explain how or why she felt so uneasy about this phone call. She just did. Slowly, she marked her page and went over to pick up the phone. Her hand shook slightly, though she tried to reassure herself that it was nothing.
"Hello?"
Honestly, she was most worried about hearing that something had happened to Nat or that Laney had run away and was squatting in a neighbor's tree house. She wasn't at all expecting to hear the voice on the other end.
"Jenny?"
Save for a brief exhale of slight panic, Jen was frozen solid. Sebastian. Her brother. Jen couldn't even remember when was the last time she'd heard from him. It must have been ages ago. She didn't even think he had called her for her birthday this year.
"Bast," she replied, finally finding her voice. "How.... are you?" Jen wasn't accustomed to having to create small talk. Most everyone on the island knew she was a loner and tended to leave her to her own devices. This, however, was different.
"All right, how about you?" Sebastian's voice sounded heavy, as if he hadn't slept in quite some time.
"Been all right," Jen replied. Even though he hadn't said much, Jen was getting more and more nervous as the seconds ticked by. Sebastian wouldn't just call her for any reason. Something had happened.
"Oh good," he said, sighing slightly before continuing. "Listen Jenny, uhm... It's mum. She... well, she passed on. Just this morning."
The array of emotions that hit Jen in mere seconds was enough to send any ordinary person into convulsions. Jen was made of stronger stuff than that, but she still found herself gripping the back of the nearest chair. "Passed... You mean she died?" Jen frowned. "But... but how? Was she ill?"
"Yes, Jenny. She had cancer. I thought you--"
"Cancer? Since when? She never told me she had... Cancer where? For how long? How did she--" Jen bit her lip to keep back the tears that were already forming.
"For about two years now," Sebastian explained. "It was in her lung. You know mum smoked quite a bit. Even when she was diagnosed she kept on smoking and--"
"How did she die?" Jen couldn't help the way her voice wavered at the question. Why she wanted to know all those details, she wasn't sure. All she knew was that her mother was gone, and she wasn't there by her side.
Sebastian sighed over the phone. "She'd slipped into a coma just yesterday. I was going to call you, but by the time I woke up this morning, I'd gotten the call that she was gone. I'm sorry, Jenny."
Jen swallowed roughly and nodded as if he could see her. "I'm sorry too. Is dad... How's dad?"
"Dealing with it rather well. He'd been the one to watch her deteriorate over these past few years. I expect he's relieved that she's not suffering anymore."
"I see." Jen covered her mouth in hopes that it would help to push in a sob that was threatening to escape her lips. "When is the funeral?"
"Tuesday. And don't worry. Dad and I have made all the arrangements. You planning on coming?"
Jen sniffled. "Yes.... of course."
"Okay," said Sebastian numbly. It was clear he wasn't sure of what else to say. "I'll see you soon then, Jenny?"
"Not if I see you first." It was a silly game they always played ever since they were young. Her reply today wasn't as cheerful as it might have usually been. As she clicked the off button on her phone, Jen remained motionless in her spot. She had to think over everything she had to do before she left for the funeral. She had her school and her family to think of. Mentally, she made a list of things she had to get done before her departure.