Because She's Gone||By:IvyG123

1-Year

{Luke's Pov}
"Ashton, please. It's been a year, she wouldn't want you to still be like this," I calmly said to Ashton, gently placing my hand on his shoulder. "It wasn't your fault." Ashton didn't react, he just continued to stare blankly at the wall.

"I was there Luke, I was the one who she was with," Ashton said, his voice was quiet and raspy. I loosened my tie and sat down next to him, I took a deep breath.

"Ashton, I need you to listen to me. Y/n had been depressed since year 5, this was her 4th suicide attempt. It doesn't matter who was with her that day, she had her mindset. Nothing was going to stop her," I said patting Ashton's back gently.

"How can you be so okay with all of this Luke? She was practically your sister," Ashton said. I could hear the anger in his voice, I took a deep breath.

"Two reasons really. 1: I got really used to my neighbors dying from suicide and being taken away. 2: Y/n would have kicked my ass if she ever saw me moping around because of her de..." I stopped myself from finishing my sentence when I noticed tears running down Ashton's face. I pulled him into a hug. "Come on bud. We got to go. The car is waiting," I whispered. Ashton sighed and got up, I fixed his tie a little then tighten mine back up before we both walked out of the apartment, he and y/n had once shared. It haunted me that she used to live here, I miss her so much.

The car ride was silent, Ashton just stared out the window for most of the time, I was really starting to worry about him. We pulled up to the cemetery, I saw Brooke, Mom, Dad, Jack, Ben, Caroline, Calum, and Micheal all standing there waiting for me and Ashton. Ashton and I got out of the car, when I got closer I realized that Brooke had tears in her eyes, I walked right up to her and hugged her. She was 15 now.

"Alright, let's start this," my mom said clearing her throat. I pulled back from Brooke. I put my hand on her shoulder and we started walking towards the grave. Calum waited for Ashton, then grabbed his hand and held it we all walked over towards the grave. Brooke placed a rose on her gravestone. Then she stepped back and looked at Ashton tears were streaming down her face. She walked over to me and hugged me, crying into me. Ashton stepped forward to the grave, he paused for a moment and whispered something, then set the rose down and walked away, expressionless. My mom, Brooke, Jack, Ben, and I all walked over to Jakes grave, setting a single rose each on the stone. Then we all left the graveyard. Mom, Brooke, Ben, and I were all crying as we walked towards the car, I wiped my eyes. That's when I saw her, Y/N's mom. My heart stopped. I swallowed hard.

"Brooke, come with me. We are going home," She slurred, looking dead at Brooke, she looked drunk or hungover at the least. It was hard to tell with her because I don't think I had ever seen her sober.

"No! I'm not going home with you!" Brooke yelled as her fists clenched at her sides.

"Brooke! You f**king get your ass in that car right now!" Her mother spat back.

"No! You have ruined my entire life! Do you realize that Jake and Y/N are all your fault! You don't even know my birthday! My life sucks because of you!" she screamed back, tears rushing down her face. The next few seconds were a blur, besides Brooke's mom slapping her across the face, my mom yelling several profanities, and Brooke's mom leaving. The second after Brooke got slapped the ran back to me, hugging me like she did when she was 6 and I was 10. Her hands gripping my shirt, her face buried in my chest.

~Flash back~{9 years[luke is 10]}

"Luuukkkeee?!" I heard someone yell from downstairs. It sounded like a small scarred girl. I went running downstairs, Brooke stood in my house doorway, her eyes filled with tears, tears staining down her face. Her whole body was shaking.

"Love, what's wrong?" I said rushing over to her, picking her up.

"Mommy is being mean," she paused and sniffled "she..she... She made y/n leaveee and... And... She hit me. She...she...she... I...I...I...think she...she..." Brooke stuttered, she had developed the stutter when her father left, and her mom abusing her hasn't helped.

"Shhh... It's okay, you are safe now. Your mum can't come here, this is the safe place. Everything is going to be okay," I said cutting her off, I pulled her into me, she buried her face into my stomach crying into me, she clutched my shirt. I picked her up and carried her over to the couch, I rubbed her back, trying to get her to calm down. She finally stopped crying. Then she looked up at me

"l...l...l... Luke, c...c...can you... we... Can we do some...s...s...thing?" She asked, her body was still shaking like she was going to have a panic attack.

"Yeah, but first let's get you calmed down. Okay?" She nodded. "Alright, close your eyes, and just think of a really happy time or place. And take 3 deep breathes," she did as I said, she slowly started to stop shaking, I felt her heartbeat slow down. "See? It's working," I said. I reached for my phone and played Remembering Sunday by All Time Low, Brooke's grip on my shirt slowly loosened, and she drifted asleep, I didn't move because I was too afraid I would wake her up.

~Flash back over~

"Brooke, shhhhh its okay," I said, trying to calm her down. I felt her heartbeat speed up, she gasped for air. She was having a panic attack. She gripped my shirt even tighter. Before she fell to the ground, I sat down, pulling her into my lap, I slowly started rocking her back and forth.

"Brooke, think about the happy place, breath, everything will be okay. She's gone now. I won't let her come back to hurt you again. I promise. Brooke, I just need you to think about the happy place," I said calmly, I stroked her hair. I looked up briefly, and nodded my head signaling for everyone to go to the car, mom nodded and walked away.

Brooke's fist slowly loosened, and she took in a few shaky breaths. Before she looked up at me. I wiped the tears from her cheeks.I helped her up then we headed off to the car. We got in the car and my mom gave me the "is she okay?" look and I nodded.

"Hey Brooke, Luke, do you wanna stay at the apartment tonight?" Ashton asked, and I looked at him shocked, I hadn't expected that at all. Brooke looked at me, I shrugged. She turned back to Ashton and nodded. She looked at her feet the rest of the ride, when the car stopped it was at Ashton's apartment Ashton, Brooke, and I all got out. I gave a kiss to my mom and waved bye to Ben and Jack. And told Calum and Micheal to text me. When we got inside, I looked down at Brooke, she was staring at the couch. I wondered what she could be thinking.

"Anyone hungry?" Ashton said Brooke shook her head.

"Yeah! we are," I said. She glared back up at me, I looked back at her, and mouthed "please" she looked back down at the floor. We walked into the kitchen, it was a bit messy but not too terrible.

"Sorry about the mess. I'm not the really clean one," I laughed a little. Ashton made pasta, we all sat and talked for a little. But most of the dinner was quiet. I noticed Brooke hadn't eaten.

"Brooke please, just a bit," I begged. She looked back at me. "For y/n," I said quietly, she glared at me. Then she looked down at her pasta taking a small bit and eating it. I smiled slightly. After dinner we all laid on the couch, watching movies.

It was peacefull, but not the same without Y/n.