Stuck In Time

Fifteen

Soz

***

Calum

"I shouldn't have let him go with Michael," Ashton spoke after nearly four hours of silence.

"Ash-"

"I knew Andy was sick, so I should have just taken him myself. Why would I trust someone else with my little brother when he's sick? I should have taken care of him," His voice was quiet, his face blank.

He wouldn't take his eyes off of the boy lying motionless in the hospital bed.

"Ash-"

"No!" He screamed, suddenly turning to face me. I jumped, my eyes going wide. "He- no... Cal, I can't-" he turned back and grasped Andrew's hand that was sticking out from the white blanket that was covering his body. "Wake up," he whispered.

We both knew he wouldn't.

***

Michael

"I killed him, Luke," I whispered, backing away from the slightly ajar door to Andrew's hospital room. Luke reached out for me, but I flinched away. "No, don't touch me. It's all my fault, Luke... I killed him,"

"You didn't kill him, Michael. The ambulance did," I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. It was ironic how it was an ambulance that killed Andrew. We were so close to the hospital. The ambulance was speeding out of the lot, and I wasn't paying attention. I was too busy hating Ashton to pay attention to the fact that the ambulance could hit us- which it did. It went straight into Andrew's side of the car. I will never forget that moment.

"M-Mikey," a soft, scared voice choked out from next to me. I turned to see Andrew staring at me with tears and blood streaming down his face. I glanced down and nearly screamed.

There was a huge piece of glass sticking out from Andrew's stomach. He followed my gaze and actually screamed.

"Mikey-"

"No, it's okay, don't cry. You're gonna be fine, okay?" I grasped his small, blood-covered hand in mine and squeezed it. I felt so horrible for lying. I had a feeling he wasn't going to make it.

I quickly undid his seat belt, ignoring the cries of pain as I pulled Andrew over to me. I held him close, whispering comforting words to the small boy. I could hear the sirens. I smiled a bit, glancing down at Andrew.

"Hear that, Andy? See, they're gonna help you. You're gonna be okay," but Andrew looked up at me with a terrified look on his face.

"I'm gonna die," he choked out through a sob. "Mikey, I don't wanna die," I shook my head and hugged him close to me, ignoring the feeling of the glass in his stomach poking into me.

"You're not gonna die," I kissed his forehead and looked into his frightened eyes. "I'm promise."

But I lied. I was holding him when he died. I knew it had happened as soon as it did. He let out a small breath, and his body went limp against me. I remember letting out a sob as I realized what I had done.

He was too young.

***

*nervous laugh*