It was Tuesday night and Abel and I were laying on the couch watching a movie, mum and Maze were cooking in the kitchen when my phone started ringing.
'Sweetheart, someone called Jackson is calling.' Mum called and I got up, Abel looking at me pissed off, I wandered into the kitchen and sat on the stool to answer the phone.
'Hey Jackson, what's up?'
'Cain? It's... it's Lincoln.'
'Hey buddy, did you have a good birthday?' There was a noise, like a strained noise and I looked at the phone before putting it back to my ear.
'I need you guys... to come... here... please?'
'What's wrong? Is everything okay?' My mum looked at me with some worry.
'Lincoln buddy, I got this okay?' Someone else said on the other end of the phone.
'Hey, Cain right? It's Caden, remember me?'
'Yeah, of course. What's going on? Is everything okay?'
'Ah, there was an accident, Lincoln and I need some friends, are you and Abel free to come down?'
'Yeah, Caden is everything okay?'
'Ah, no.' His voice cracked before he took a deep breath. 'My brother and Lincoln were in an accident last night, Jackson didn't make it, You're the only person Lincoln called all day so would you mind coming over?'
'No, of course not, well be there as soon as possible.'
'Thanks. I'll text through our address. See you when you get here.' I felt sick as I hung up.
'Is everything okay sweetheart?' Mum asked and I put my phone down on the counter.
'No, ah, no, um, one of my friends died last night. They've asked Abel and I to go over there.'
'What's wrong?' Abel asked as he walked over, I looked at him and I could feel the panic seeping out of my pores.
'We have to go, Lincoln wants us to go see him, Jackson died.' Abel looked shocked but nodded.
'Okay, go get our jackets and put your shoes on.' He said and I wandered up stairs to get our heavy weather jackets and put my shoes on, Abel always put his shoes by the door, weirdo. The drive was silent and Abel held my hand. I moved to the middle seat and put my belt on before lacing our fingers and holding his arm, resting my head on his shoulder as we drove. It was close to ten as we pulled in the drive and Abel held my hand as we walked up the stairs, he knocked on the door and I felt so sick, Jackson was just a baby, we only saw him on Sunday. Caden opened the door and smiled at us weakly.
'Hey guys come in.' He looked like hell. 'Sorry to drag you out all this way, Lincoln passed out a few minutes ago, we don't want to wake him, he's been in hysterics most of last night and then kind of catatonic today.' He smiled looking at Lincoln.
'That's okay, are you okay?' He smiled down at his feet and shook his head.
'No, not really.' He muttered. He took a deep breath and smiled. 'Mum, dad, these are some friends, Cain and Abel.' Caden said introducing us to two very torn up looking parents.
'Hi boys.' The man said and I looked at him sadly.
'We're so sorry for your loss.' They smiled sadly.
'Thank you, if you'll excuse us, we're heading up to bed, it's been a long day.' Abel and I nodded and they headed up the stairs.
'I'm really sorry for dragging you guys out here.' He said walking into the kitchen, we followed to see Lincoln passed out on the couch.
'It's okay.' He smiled and pulled soda's out of the fridge for us.
'Baby, I'm going to talk to Caden outside, okay?' He nodded and took his jacket off and making me put it on before I smiled and pulled Caden outside.
'Are you okay?' I asked as I stepped next to him.
'No, I'm not, my brother-' He started huffing and gripped the banister tightly. 'My brother's gone. He's gone. I saw him one minute-' He grunted out and took deep breaths. 'He's gone.' He cried and I reached out and gripped his bicep.
'I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry.' I said and pulled him into a hug as he cried.
'I miss him. He's my baby brother, he's not supposed to die before me.' He cried and I held tightly until he stopped. 'I'm sorry.' He said sniffing and taking deep breaths.
'It's okay, you don't have to be sorry, I haven't even processed it yet, but I have Abel and you have us. If you ever need us just call me okay? You have my number, we'll come down and talk or you can cry, we'll be here for you.' He nodded and smiled.
'I have to be strong, I have to, for my parents and Lincoln. He's a mess, he was driving and then there was just this car out of no where apparently. He hasn't said much, just keeps apologising.'
'I can't imagine how you guys are all feeling.' He smiled weakly. 'As I said though, we're here if you need us okay?' He nodded and wiped his face.
'I want you guys to come to the funeral, it'll be this weekend, on the Saturday.'
'Yeah, of course, well be there.' He nodded and we headed back inside. Lincoln was still asleep and Abel stood near the tv cabinet looking at the photos on display.
'I'm sorry he was asleep, he probably won't even remember calling, I'm sorry for dragging you guys out here.'
'It's okay.' I smiled as I gave Abel his jacket back and he took my hand. 'If you need us before Saturday just call okay?' He nodded and Abel and I headed home, the car ride silent as I clung to him. We didn't get home until near midnight, Abel pulling me up the stairs. I stood there trying not to cry, Abel taking my clothes off until we were both standing in our boxers, the air was cold and my eyes were stinging but I'd managed not to cry so far.
'Come on baby, let's get into bed.' He said pulling me over and under the sheets where he held me tightly and I cried. 'It's okay, I got you.' He whispered but I felt the tear drops on my shoulder as he cried.
The funeral was hard for us, Abel had to be there for Lincoln and I was there for Caden who did well keeping it together but cried as he carried his brothers casket into the church. Abel held my hand the entire service and I couldn't thank him more. And slowly, as the days went by we went back to normal, I suppose it was easier for us, we weren't as close to Jackson and his family as others were. It was Monday morning and Abel had staid at his place last night, too tired after working for his dad all weekend to come over, I got a phone call that morning from him apologising because he'd passed out and didn't tell me he wasn't coming. I didn't mind, I knew the construction work he did for his dad was hard, he was a hard worker. I was at my locker sorting out my books when someone cleared their throat and I closed my locker door expecting Abel to find some guy standing there with a big smile on his face. I'd never seen this kid before in my life.
'Ah, hi?' I felt weird, who just stands there smiling like that to a complete stranger.
'Hey, hi, ah you probably don't know me, my name is Benjamin.' I looked at him confused and kind of freaked out, who the hell is this kid? 'I'm your brother.' I frowned at him now. What?
'I don't have a brother.' I said stepping back.
'Oh well, like, half brother, we have the same dad.' I flinched and glared at him.
'I don't want to talk to you, leave me alone.' I said stepping back again but he stepped forward looking worried.
'No wait-'
'I said I don't want to talk to you, leave me alone.'
'What's going on?' Abel asked as I fell back against him.
