The Dead Among Them

|2| That Harsh Day

Autumn, April 16th, 2015

Ashley, age 8

Thursday afternoon, I knew something was wrong. I mean, Jax was always called to the office for bad behaviour. But I student messenger was usually the one to come in and collect him, and the principle wouldn't have that solemn look on his face.

I think Jax knew something was wrong as well. Because he got up slowly and cautiously, looking at Mr Frantle and then at our principle like they were going to hurt him. I got nervous for him and wanted to go with him, but I knew they wouldn't allow it. So I sat still in my seat and watched silently like the rest of the class.

When Jax and the principle walked out, the class erupted into whispers and mumbles. Some students looked at me as if I knew what was going on. But my response was always just a shrug of the shoulders.

"Ok, ok guys. Calm down now. We need to move on. Gossip later in your free time." Mr Frantle quieted the class.

As he carried on with the lesson, I looked around the room trying to get my mind off of Jax's concerned face as he stepped out the door. There's an old smashed fruit stain on the window of Mr Frantles classroom from a week ago, when he angered a student into having a small stroke. I guess that happens in your life when your one of the most hated teachers at school.
The rest of the school day dragged on longer than I could bare. The unknown was eating away at my mind, creating an urgency to discover what had happened to my best friend. What happened to Jax? Why hasn't he returned yet? Why did the principle look so grave? When the final school bell rang, I gave up on questioning Mr Frantle about Jax's location. Besides, his responses were short and unjust; "It's not my place to tell Ashley." And "You'll have to ask him yourself". I rolled my eyes and picked up my bag, walked out scuffing my shoes out of the school gates and toward my dad's crappy ute.

I jumped in the front seat, smiled at my 3-year old sister in her booster seat behind my dad and sighed loud enough to grab dad's attention like young kids do.

"What's the matter darlin'?" He asked with his strong Australian accent.

I slumped my shoulders and once again sighed dramatically. "The principle came and collected Jax from class today."

Dad furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What's new? That boy is always causin' trouble 'mongst them angry teachers of yours."

I shook my head. "It was different this time." I faced my father in my seat and scrunched my forehead up in worry. "He didn't come back. And the teachers had this look on their faces like Poppa has when talking about Nanny Jae." I explained. Trying to get him to understand my concern.

"I'm sure it's fine Ashin." He replied using my nickname. "Maybe Aaron got in another fight or somethin'."

I nodded. "Maybe... Can we visit him? Just in case?"

Dad looked unsure. "I dunno Ash... Jax will tell you in his own time. And I gotta get home and make dinner before it gets late. Your aunt is comin' over this arvo... and if dinner isn't done, she'll kick me in the clacker." He joked.

I giggled. "Okay. But can I ring him when we get home? Or have they not fixed it since Rhi chewed through the connector cable?" I ask.

He chuckled. "You can use my mobile. The kid's a biter, she chews on everything since she got her first teeth."

I turn in my seat and face my baby sister. "You're a duffer." She just giggled in response and yelled "Bum!" and burst into more laughter.

Dad sighed. "I knew I shouldn't have let James look after her last weekend. She's been yelling that all week."

I laughed and shook my head. "Can Jax come over this weekend? I tried to ask this earlier but you were on the phone to your work all morning. It sounded serious."

"He was over last weekend, Ashley." He said with annoyance. "Don't you guys get sick of each other?"

"No."

"Well, I'm fed up with noise you make. It disrupts my work. And I'm sure Rhiannon is sick of the racket you kids make late at night." He argued.

I shook my head I disagreement. "Nah ah. Rhi loves Jax."

Dad raised his eyebrows. "Rhi? Are you sick of Jax coming over darlin'?"

"Bum!"

Dad sighed.

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When we got home. Dad gave me his phone and walked into the kitchen to make dinner. I dialled in Jaxon's home phone number which I remembered off by heart, and pressed call. I waited as it continued ringing for a minute. And then I was sent to voicemail. "Ciao! You've reached the Fontana's! We aren't home right--" I hung up and dialled again.

"Ciao! You've reached—"

"Arghh!!" I hung up and again and searched dad's contacts for Jax mum and stopped scrolling when I read Christina's name. I pressed on the contact and held the phone up to my ear again. It rang three times when she finally answered in a weak tone. "Hello?"

"Mrs Fontana?" I asked.

"Speaking, who's this?"

"It's Ashley." I replied quickly.

"Oh hello sweetheart. You want to speak to Jaxon?" She asked softly.

I grew concerned by her tone of voice. "Uh, yes please."

".... Alright sweets, just... be gentle." She pleaded.

Be gentle? What does she mean? There was silence for a bit, and then I heard breathing. "Jax?" still breathing. "Jaxo—"

"Ashley?" He interrupted with a croaky voice.

"Jax? Are you okay? What happened?" I questioned.

There was more silence. "I..."

"Jaxon... you can tell me. Whatever it is, I'll help you through it. You're my best friend." I tried to reassure him.

He sighed, and I waited patiently for an answer to the questions that had been bothering me all day. Finally he answered. "Dad was in an accident." He sniffed. "They say he might not make it through the night."

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Took me ages. But here it is. The second chapter. I know it's boring... but I'm putting this in here to complicate Jax and Ashley's friendship. I want you to see how close they become through hardships and who they turn into through these events. More should happen next chapter... I hope. I'm just trying to keep this in the right frame.

Farewell neighbours.