The Hidden Sister of Red Band Society

if you were here...all i need...ends of the earth

Jordi had been ignoring his mother all day, and later on, I saw him playing an intense card game with her. Then, there was the dance.
Homecoming. My one of my greatest prides and scariest fears. My mom took me shopping, and I finally chose a beautiful, short fit-and-flare lavender dress. It had a jewel-encrusted sweetheart neckline and a matching belt. I wore silver heels with it, which I knew would hurt my leg, but I did it anyway. I was given crutches to use, which helped. Asher went as my date, and wore a matching purple bow tie.
Nobody remembered me from school. I was the lone freshman lingering around while Asher socialized with his friends. Brittany went, too, but I felt terrible because she was sobbing the whole time.
About an hour in, I decided to sneak away from the crowd a bit and explore on my own. Walking down a side hallway, I bumped into Leo.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey," he replied.
"How is it?" I asked him. "How's it going?"
"Okay," Leo replied, and walked off. I shrugged, feeling slightly nauseous, and frowned as I looked around. Asher was walking through the exit doors.
"Asher!" I cried, and hobbled over to him. "What's wrong?"
"I don't feel well."
"Tell Brittany."
"No. I'm leaving."
"What?"
"You seem miserable too. Let's just leave and go walk around together or something."
At this I was silent. He was right, I was miserable.
"Come on. Just stay a few more minutes."
"I told you. NO. If you were here, you'd understand."
"Here? Where is here?"
"In my heart. We're over."
Asher walked out, and I watched, shocked and speechless, after him. How could he break up with me? Were we even dating? What just happened?
I walked to the bathroom and locked myself in a stall. I didn't have to be strong any more. No one could see me.
I began to sob silently.

_________________

I needed to get out of the stall, but I couldn't stop crying. The whole day was like a trip to hell and back, and I felt like my life was over. Nobody even remembered me any more. I was officially an outsider, a sick girl, a nobody, a wannabe. 

After finally calming myself down, I opened the door to see none other than Kara standing there, primping her hair and fixing her makeup.
"Kara? Why are you in here?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer. Kara frowned, then, as somebody opened the door, she squinted at me.
"Sorry, do I know you?" She asked. I glared at her and shook my head, before walking out the door. A million and one things were flying through my mind, but I just wanted to get home. Walking into the main room, I glanced around. Then, I found my table and sat down, waiting for something, anything to happen. I felt like a lunatic, just sitting there, and most people probably thought that I was on the verge of insanity. Oh well. They didn't know me, anyway.
I guess I hadn't really been paying attention, but before I knew it, I glanced up at the stage, and there Kara was, kissing my brother. I couldn't help looking over at Emma, who wore a hurt look on her face. I would feel the same way, if I were her. Oh, if looks could kill.
I decided it was time to get going, and I really didn't want to get caught in the middle of a Leo-Kara-Emma feud. Passing by Emma, I whispered, "I'm heading out."
She glanced at me and narrowed her eyebrows, but I continued on. I realized how spooky I must have sounded, but there was no time to turn back now. The wind gently whipped my shoulders as I hobbled outside, but there was a more surprising sight there to be seen. I gasped and ran inside, chucking my crutches on the ground and whisking up my heels in the process.
"Help!" I screamed. "Someone help!"
Immediately, I led some adults to the sight where my tattered ex was laying on the ground, blood staining his crisp white shirt. An ambulance was called at once, and Brittany ran outside to help. I knelt next to him and placed my head on his chest. His eyes fluttered open.
"All I need," I whispered, "is for you to forgive me."
"It's my fault," Asher replied. "I'm sorry. I wouldn't be in this mess if I had listened to you."
"So we're both sorry."
"And both forgiven."
"Yeah."
"All I need," Asher said, beginning to cough, "is for you to love me again." I nodded.
And he left me.  

______________

"No," I whispered. The paramedics rushed towards him with their paddles and other life-saving tools, and Leo, who was also outside, had to drag me away from Asher's body. Tears bubbled up inside my eyes, and I knew it was too late.
"We can't get a signal," one of the paramedics said.
Leo hugged me and I hugged him back. We were like two siblings again.
"I think he's gone," a female paramedic said. I covered my mouth and shrunk my knees, crying hysterically. They beckoned some people back inside, until the only person remaining was me.
I crawled on my hands and knees to where my Asher, my beautiful, deceased Asher, was lying. I cried over his body, stroking his face, his hands, his lips. I mourned for his family, who... I swallowed before whispering,
"They never got to say goodbye."
They would be coming soon, most likely, to say their last words to a boy who was already dead.
I leaned in over his face, my tears dripping on him.
"Asher," I said, crying harder than ever, "I want you to know that I love you so much. And I'm sorry I was such a jerk, but now this happened and you're not here. I'll always love you. You were beautiful and smart and I guess now was just your time, and I want you to believe that even though you got cheated out of life, it was a good one. Sixteen years, you had. And if this hadn't happened, you know I'd trade places with you in a heartbeat. You have more life to live. I promise you that one day we'll meet again, because I'd walk to the ends of the earth for you, and I know you'd do the same for me."